IBQLTN

Matchbox car garage for threads.
Empty kleenex box (cube) for stray threads and 'snips'
Scrapbooking boxes for holding projects

Can't think of anything else I haven't already read.

Tartan

-red viewer..the red half of the 3-D glasses from kid's cereal box.(sometimes the $ store has red heart shaped glasses for Valentine's Day)
-metal shower rings for hanging rulers
-snap lipstick case for holding bobbins for transporting to a class.
-empty diaper wipe box for misc. sewing tools by my machine
-tiny crochet hook for pulling dark thread out of quilt sandwich

blossom808

wow some great ideas here.. Thanks all.

olebat

Gift wrap/basket wrap section. Not worth buying an entire roll unless you have a lot of friends with whom to share, or you plan to use the rest for decorations or maybe even gift or basket wrap.

fayeberry

Would someone please explain about using red glasses....never heard of this and can't figure it out..?????

dreamboat

cookie cutters to trace and cut applique pieces.
round popsicle sticks for stilletto.

suzee

The red cellophane masks the color so that when you look through it, all you see is value. This helps when organizing fabrics in shadings from light to dark.

olebat

When trying to determine the color value of fabrics, the color often "obscures" the vision. By viewing the fabric through red glasses, the color is muted, and only the value is obvious. This enables the designer to select color values which contrast each other, giving more dimension to the design. Close values tend to blend together, diminishing the design. If you know the quilt you are making is destined to be viewed by someone who is color blind, selecting high contrast value is particularly helpful. The red glasses make this process much easier.

greykeeper

I use many of the mentioned ones\a.. but I have the pleasure of all the sewing 'STUFF' I like. {I live alone).I I was blessed with an old oak business desk that is 38" x 68" with 6 side drawers and a center drawer tat go all the way to the back (37").I can keep everything but rulers and ats in it. Two deressers are filled with fabric and all types of interfacig and suc. Big rolls of all the interfacing type, and leathers are standing in an apple barrel. Scissors and rotary are standing tall in yogurt container. I used cuticle (orage) sticks, long before the stilletto. The end is wood, so can be used on slicker fabrics, and its flat at the end, gives more grip with no way to puncture the fabric. I have office trays side by side to separate small tools. At the back of center drawer are the tube turners 1/4" rulers etc., etc. *I use hemostats to get things out when my fingers won't, and when threading my serger.* Before there was Grid-grio I took a sheet of sticky sand paper and put very small strips under my ruler for traction.* I nailed 1"x 1" s on a wall covered them in fabric and then attatched "snow" fleece sheets down to length desired and that became my working wall. No pins needed, fabric just sticks to it.

greykeeper

I use many of the mentioned ones\a.. but I have the pleasure of all the sewing 'STUFF' I like. {I live alone).I I was blessed with an old oak business desk that is 38" x 68" with 6 side drawers and a center drawer tat go all the way to the back (37").I can keep everything but rulers and ats in it. Two deressers are filled with fabric and all types of interfacig and suc. Big rolls of all the interfacing type, and leathers are standing in an apple barrel. Scissors and rotary are standing tall in yogurt container. I used cuticle (orage) sticks, long before the stilletto. The end is wood, so can be used on slicker fabrics, and its flat at the end, gives more grip with no way to puncture the fabric. I have office trays side by side to separate small tools. At the back of center drawer are the tube turners 1/4" rulers etc., etc. *I use hemostats to get things out when my fingers won't, and when threading my serger.* Before there was Grid-grio I took a sheet of sticky sand paper and put very small strips under my ruler for traction.* I nailed 1"x 1" s on a wall covered them in fabric and then attatched "snow" fleece sheets down to length desired and that became my working wall. No pins needed, fabric just sticks to it.