Thread: Any non-sewing items that you use for quilting?

I found my smallest crochet hook works great for closing and opening safety pins when I was quilting.

I also have a tweezers handy when sewing. Use it to pull up thread from the bobbin, pick off any stray threads, pull out pins from under the pressure foot (but not yet under the needle), etc. I use the back to poke out corners as it has a rounded point.

What non-sewing items do you use?

I use wood corn holders--the ones they use to spear corn on the cob in restaurants--perfect to help start peeling Wonder Under !

I don't know what it's called, but my daughter who took Japanese and Chinese, used this very thin paper with small grid lines inside of large grid lines, and the sheets are about 12x18, she used them to practice her writing, but now i use them to graph my quilts and copy patterns, they are like onion skin.
Use round needle nose pliers for grabbing a needle I can't pull out.
use a table cloth with felt backing for my design board.
Use a headlight that workers use around their heads to HQ ( always have the light in right spot).

[QUOTE=Sierra;5974876]

Originally Posted by Gannyrosie

I don't know what it's called, but my daughter who took Japanese and Chinese, used this very thin paper with small grid lines inside of large grid lines, and the sheets are about 12x18, she used them to practice her writing, but now i use them to graph my quilts and copy patterns, they are like onion skin.

That paper is called vellum and it isn't really "paper". I use it all the time for designing quilts. It erases repeatedly very well (use a white art eraser). It costs more than paper, but you can keep changing what you are doing so you end up reusing the same page over and over, unless you don't need to keep adjusting your pattern to achieve perfection :>) . I find I have to go to a business supply store too get it. I think, due to computer enhanced drawings it is not so easily found as it was. You can design a pattern for an entire quilt top on this 18x12" piece, and when it is as perfect as you can make it, take it to Staples (or some such place) and for very little they will blow it up to the size you really want it to be on your quilt top. They also can do it from a photo on your iphone. That way you have your unique pattern complete!

Hmm, that's one more thing I forgot to add to this thread!

Thanks Sierra, never thought of getting them blown up. Adding note in file.

I have a small collection of nice cookie and canape cutters which make great templates for quilting designs.

Tweezers are very handy, especially if you've got little bits of paper stuck to the back of foundation paper piecing.

I use a painted wooden flatware/napkin holder (for picinics) for keeping up with my rotary cutters and scissor. I also use a wooden block with slits cut into it, to hold my rulers. It was origanially made to hold playing cards, but it works great for my rulers. I also have a bigger one that was the base for a recipe book holder. I just took off the piece of plexiglass that was attached that covered the book.

Great thread...........reminded me of some things, as the pool noodles. I too incorporate many of the mentioned items. However, I wish there was a picture of the Orvis fishing thing mentioned by Vernal??? One additional thing I use is, fish tank filter tubing cut in short lengths to put on the tips of my small scissors ........calla

Forgot to mention that I use the rubber finger tips purchased from Office Max for FMQ