Stuff you Use for Quilting, that isn't originally for Quilting!!!
 

What has wandered into your arsenal of quilting/sewing tools and supplies, that is not originally meant for such??

* toothbrush -- great mini whisk to get rid of loose threads
* Pampered Chef scraper -- simplifies finger pressing!
* sticky notes -- always ready for reminders of machine settings
* and more will come to mind later!






**Inspired by Pester's thread of non-quilting uses for our quilting things

At night I wear one of those thingys like a small miners headlamp focused on the needle area. Really helps. Magnetic dish from Harbor Freight for small scissors, seam rippers, etc. Telescoping magnet to get all the pins off the floor every night. One of those sticky rollers to get all of the loose thread off me and the quilt. I know there is more, but can't think.

a 45 record holder for my rulers
file cabinets to fit under my sewing table which was originally a desk
a dresser for my fat Q's
a chef's aluminium rack in my closet to hold my stash
pencil case to carry my cutter to class
a compass to draw circles for applique and etc
a protractor to design quilt blocks
a silverware caddy to hold my scissors and etc
elmers glue stick for applique
chop sticks to press my seams down
graph paper to design quilts

a 45 record holder for my rulers
file cabinets to fit under my sewing table which was originally a desk
a dresser for my fat Q's
a chef's aluminium rack in my closet to hold my stash
pencil case to carry my cutter to class
a compass to draw circles for applique and etc
a protractor to design quilt blocks
a silverware caddy to hold my scissors and etc
elmers glue stick for applique
chop sticks to press my seams down

Painter's tape to mark straight line quilting patterns.
I also use a silverware caddy for tools, pens, pencils, etc.
Small dining table for my sewing table.
Empty plastic slide boxes for pins, and other small items.

There are probably other things I can't think of right now!

Old clear plastic creamer containers for water for my steam iron, scotch tape to hold templates in place, small ceramic plant pot for various sissors and cutters.

I have a couple good ones that aren't my original idea:

mustash trimmer for ripping seams and never cuts material
toilet bowel brush for picking up threads off of carpet
toilet brush holder to catch odds & ends by sewing machine.

Mole Skin foot pad to mark 1/4 inch on my sewing machine. Keeps my seems really, really even :)

I use a Chinese chopstick as a stylus to keep fabric in place as it feeds through, works great and it dirt cheap.

I just heard about the Toilet Bowl Brush Saturday @ Quilt Grp.
It just cracked me up.......but hey anything that will work...I'm game

I use a dish drainer to store my rulers.
Gift wrap tissue paper (white) for applique, paper piecing and tracing my quilting designs,
Shoe cabinet to hold fat quarters.
Hanging closet organizer to keep fabrics for my WIPs separated.

I hand quilt and I have arthritis in my hands.

I use these needle nosed curved, spring loaded pliers to pull the needles through. They really save my wrists.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/To...uct/D338-51/2C

I got mine from Harbor Freight for $2.

Six foot cabinet to hold my fabric stash
decorative baskets to hold thread garbage behind my sewing machine another decorative basket on my cutting table (old kitchen table -garage sale find for $20), because gosh forbid I walk the 5 feet to the other basket to throw out scraps!
Old computer desk that doubles as sewing table (plenty of quilt books underneath)

Hubby - he's colorblind but can't be beat when it comes to value

Small scrapbook orginizer that works great for holding my rulers, shears, needles, quilting odds and ends. Works great to keep it all compact and in one place since I don't have a dedicated sewing place.

Random metal tin to hold my saftey pins

Piece of foam stuffed in my machine foot peddle. Helps with speed contol.

chop sticks for turning and pushing out points.

cuticle stick for manipulating fabric near the needle on the machine.

foam insulation for design wall.

folding table with foam insulation for my piecing and quilting.

vinyl on foam insulation to help the quilt slide smoothly.

silicon spray to make the quilt slide smoothly when quilting.

non stick oven cover to help the quilt slide smoothly (aka cheap supreme slider).

parchment paper for an applique pressing sheet.

freezer paper for applique.

marble for pin basting a quilt

bull nose clips to hold the binding in place

various size tweezers to hold thread or fabric in place while sewing.

laundry basket for a scrap bin.

bathroom vanity and old kitchen counter tops from our remodel are now the work surface in my studio.

my sliding glass door are used as a light box to transfer designs.

a black light to help me see my glow in the dark quilting lines.

I position grocery bags on the floor at every point where I think I'll want to discard stuff. For example, one sits on the left side of my sewing machine and another sits on the right. I have 4 positioned at different spots around my cutting table. So handy!

I know Eleanore Burns throws her scraps over her shoulder, but I don't have the staff she does :-)

* standing deskt top file folder organizer to hold rulers, and smaller bins at front for rotary cutters, scissors etc.

* desk top lazy susan with bins in it normally for pens etc -- holds all the miscellany I use at the sewing machine: scissors, small rulers, stitch rippers, trimming scissors, tape measure, extra bobbins, pins, pens, markers, chalk sticks, etc.

* brass fireplace newspaper holder -- holds files and patterns

* decorator/cutesy metal cans/pails on top of my cutting table and at sewing machine, one for crumbs and one for loose threads, fabric smaller than crumbs and any other garbage!

* decorated 6 quart basket holds ironing board needs -- spray starch, sizing, water squirter, tea towel for press cloth, etc.

* snap type hair clips to hold binding or hems for hand sewing

* zip lock bags for storing blocks pre-cut and waiting to sew; and larger projects; extra large ones to "kit" projects

* chewing gum cannisters for storing odds and ends ... whatever fits! :)

* preserving jars for storage -- plus can be pretty, being that they are see thru

* comfy couch!!! -- definite MUST when hand stitching/binding!! :lol:

* and oh, can't forget the TV!! :)

I took a sample bottle for a migraine tablet and converted it into a replica of the pounce container. It even has a flip lid that makes refilling it a breeze.

A canning wand meant to pick up the lids and seals out of boiling water (it's magnetic on one end) to pick up pins and dropped needles off the floor. (saves me bending all the way, or even finding it)

Oh, and I have a long arm machine- I sewed a 10 foot long zipper onto my leaders for quick loading of the quilt. Zippers that long are meant for sleeping bags and tents.

Been using the toilet brush for 10 yrs,
magnetic dish for seam ripper and scissors
Hanging clear plastic shoe org for my quilting spools of thread.
Magnetic telescoping thingy for picking up pins.
baby ponytail holders for keeping bobbins from unraveling.
Tall coffee cup for my other scissors
old treadle machine drawer for note pads and glues and such
I know theres more, just can't think it is the end of the day, I mean just saying, lol

Non skid shelf liner under foot peddle, keeps it in place.
Antique hat pin used to hold fabric that last lill bit before it goes under the foot, plastic mayo bottle with slit cut in top for worn out needles, bent pins, rottery blades anything sharp that will fit in it. Lid is glued on so no one can get into it! used 0000 grade steel wool to stuff pin cushions, helps keep them sharp. Lill girls pony tail bands used around bobbins to keep thread on, bent needle noes plired to pull stubern needles. Wide painters tape to hold down elec. cords so I don't trip over them. Make up (I really like the eye lash one best) brushes to clean my machine, a lot I use has ben mentioned Thats a start

I have a baby wardrobe to store things in, lots of baskets in all sorts of sizes, a chicken coop for a bookshelf, a 3 dresser with deep drawers for storing rulers and matts. Bambo sticks, sharpened in an electric sharpener. Clear paint cans(from Michaels) to store large safety pins, Packages of needles and buttons. Hat boxes to hide embroidry items. A wonderful red, yellow and blue tool box from Harbor Frieght that allows me to have a mobile sewing room. It holds lots of things. I use a small paint bucket to put trash in and it travels well. Love blue painter's tape for lots of things. Plastic shoes boxes help me keep the sewing caddies separate. I can pull an empty box, go do a line of things I need for each caddy and when I get to the end all I have to pull is the focus fabric and accent colors. I can stack them inside of each other, taking up less space around my sewing machine. I can start and stop, without loosing anything.

The Bible.

Yes, it's true.

It is the perfect thickness to go under my heel so that I can run the pedal with the front part of my foot. Else my foot cramps up.

BTW, it is not the only Bible we have in the house; this one is an older one that gets little use. If someone needs this particular version, they can find it just as easily under my sewing machine as they can on the bookshelf!

Our pool table makes a wonderful design wall, cutting space, and basting area.

I have a cabinet that was originally part of a pier for some of my fabric and pantos, the mirror from said pier under my LA so I can see bottom stitches, a vacuum to remove lint from the bobbin area, a car speaker that has a powerful magnet on the back to drag and collect pins(I've had back surgery so bending is a no no), rubber cement for the back of my ruler so it doesn't move. I'm sure there's more but it's early yet.LOL And plastic tackle box inserts for needles, tools etc.

A paint brush for sweeping off the cutting table.

That is the first time I have heard of foam stuffed in foot peddle. I am going to try that for I have a heavy foot and maybe that shall solve my problem. Thanks.

-an old fashioned dresser under my cutting table. It has shallow drawers to store all sorts of things.
-two of the plastic cabinets like men use to keep screws etc,,,, I store my machine feet, empty bobbins, machine needles etc
-an old dining room table behind my machine which holds up whatever large pieces Im sewing on

fine grit sandpaper for cleaning my cutting mats, sharpening my blades.
baby wipes for cleaning my mats also & the surface of my machine as well as the oils from my hands
white gloves arn't just for party manors
my crikut cutter isnt just for paper crafting
markers, pigma pens, colored pencils, crayons, rubbing alcohol all used for drawing on fabric from designs to covering up boo boos!
coffee filters as stabilizer

I have nerve damage in both hands and my left is worse then my right. I can't feel the needle or the thread. My thumbs are pulled back towards my wrists. If you put my hands palm up the thumbs look like frogs legs. I just taught myself to sew with my right hand and pulled my needle through sometimes with my teeth. I'm glad you mentioned the needle nose hooked pliers. I'm going to get me a pair. I have a pair of regular pliers in the kitchen to open everything. Thanks for the yip.

I laughed so hard I almost wet myself! Now that there is FUNNY!

A book shelf to store fatquarter bundles
A child's wardobe closet to store flannel
Christmas cookie tins for notions, odds and ends.

* plastic chewing cum cannister for disposal of sharps -- rotary blades, needles, bent pins, etc.

* I haven't but I've seen it in LQS's ... a CD storage tower for storing FQs

I keep an old pair of kitchen tongs to pick up things that my long handled magnet can't pick up. Works great

When he isn't around, a pair if red lens glasses, or a least the red cellophane will work. When DD saw mine, she had to have a pair, see our glasses used when buying fabric. http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-95308-1.htm

Lots of great ideas here...I'm taking notes.
I use a heel sander from the dollar store to pick up frogged stitches, a bamboo scure (just realized I dont know how to spell squre *shisk kabob stick) (blush) as my stilus.

I use many of the items already mentioned but my favourite and most useful item is my barrel shaped wallpaper seam roller. It sits beside the machine. As I am piecing I use it to press the seams. No running to the iron and I save on electricity. I press finished blocks and tops with the iron.

Try it. I think they come in wood but I could only find plastic for about $4.00. Make sure the roller is barrel shaped and not flat.

Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
I have very limited space for storage in my condo, so I use a fabric six shelf hanger intended for sweaters to hold my fabric stash.

I use a mini tackle box to hold all my hand quilting stuff for a given project. The separate compartments hold my pins, needles, thread, siccors, bees wax, needle gripper and thimble, etc. It's wonderful!