Pass On The Best Idea You've Had While Quilting
03-04-2011, 06:34 AM
#321
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 547
Originally Posted by whereaminow
I haven't seen this one posted yet - If you have a block with many, many pieces (Or an applique block) lay out the pieces and iron onto a piece of freezer paper, one piece of paper for each block. This way you can cut out multiple blocks, have them ironed onto the paper and the pieces won't go flying everywhere if they get knocked about. They stack up very nicely.
Thanks for such a useful and wonderful tip - everyone :)
Debbie in Austin
03-04-2011, 06:40 AM
#322
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 4,392
Originally Posted by Sashing-Sarah709
Hi guys,
Just a fast note (I still have company) to let you know that 8296 quilters have read this thread . . .
Just a fast note (I still have company) to let you know that 8296 quilters have read this thread . . .
At the sewing/quilting expo yesterday, one vender was demonstrating using texture magic for gathering. Sew a narrow strip where you want the gathering and then steam it. If you want more gathering, put on another strip. It made very nice, even gathering.
At one of the seminars (on notions), the presenter recommended the "new" rotary cutting blade sharpener, supposedly developed by knive sharpening experts. She admitted that the old ones don't work, but says this one does. I bit. I'll report on it when I've tried it out. It's the "Orbital Rotary Cutter Blade Sharpener" by USA Sharpeners.
03-04-2011, 07:17 AM
#324
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Flemington, NJ
Posts: 1,167
Originally Posted by MaryAnna
I've almost forgot to mention my best tip....
I clean the sole plate of my iron with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser- it works no matter how bad your iron is, and I haven't had to buy that goop iron cleaner in years! remember that stuff? yuck.
I'm not sure if the eraser will work on teflon sole plates, mine is stainless steel.
Blessings,
MaryAnna
I clean the sole plate of my iron with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser- it works no matter how bad your iron is, and I haven't had to buy that goop iron cleaner in years! remember that stuff? yuck.
I'm not sure if the eraser will work on teflon sole plates, mine is stainless steel.
Blessings,
MaryAnna
This is a really great site.
03-04-2011, 09:37 AM
#325
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Maine, Where else!
Posts: 1,526
What a wonderful batch of tips, thanks everyone, I've learned a lot.
I have a couple of those little 48 drawer parts cabinets (I think I got it at Walmart)for all my little assorted goodies, like jewelry findings, pompoms, odd small spools of threads. crochet needles. flower stamens, odd pencils. etc, etc.
One of the midsized drawers is full of safety pins that I bought from a laundromat/drycleaner place-perfect for pinning a quilt, no rust and they're over 20 years old. I think they charged me a dollar for a whole box of them. But if you are a regular at the drycleaners you might want to ask if you can buy a box of them.
I have a couple of those little 48 drawer parts cabinets (I think I got it at Walmart)for all my little assorted goodies, like jewelry findings, pompoms, odd small spools of threads. crochet needles. flower stamens, odd pencils. etc, etc.
One of the midsized drawers is full of safety pins that I bought from a laundromat/drycleaner place-perfect for pinning a quilt, no rust and they're over 20 years old. I think they charged me a dollar for a whole box of them. But if you are a regular at the drycleaners you might want to ask if you can buy a box of them.
03-05-2011, 11:11 AM
#326
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 113
Originally Posted by Sashing-Sarah709
I'm new to quilting but I was delighted to pass on a bit o' wisdom I learned to another newbie last night at the quilt shop and saved her $10.00. :thumbup:
Last year when I started quilting, I bought a cone thread holder with a long arm since I needed to use cones and not spools. It was worthless because all it was just a disc with a shallow indention and a long plastic arm to send the thread to my machine. The arm kept falling off and the cone would walk off time and again. I have a wonderful elderly quilting neighbor that I visit with often and I told her of my thread woes. She laughed and told me to use a small glass jar and to take that thing back. "You'd never have made it through the depression spending moeny like that." LOL She was so right about the jars! Now I save all my small jars and bottles for cone thread holders--they're free, storage is easy, thread doesn't unravel and they work. :-D
What good idea have you had that would benifit others? How about passing them on just in time for weekend quilting? :-D
Sashing-Sarah709
Last year when I started quilting, I bought a cone thread holder with a long arm since I needed to use cones and not spools. It was worthless because all it was just a disc with a shallow indention and a long plastic arm to send the thread to my machine. The arm kept falling off and the cone would walk off time and again. I have a wonderful elderly quilting neighbor that I visit with often and I told her of my thread woes. She laughed and told me to use a small glass jar and to take that thing back. "You'd never have made it through the depression spending moeny like that." LOL She was so right about the jars! Now I save all my small jars and bottles for cone thread holders--they're free, storage is easy, thread doesn't unravel and they work. :-D
What good idea have you had that would benifit others? How about passing them on just in time for weekend quilting? :-D
Sashing-Sarah709
03-05-2011, 11:56 AM
#327
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Posts: 228
Let's see, what bits of kit do I have that you can't buy at a quilt shop.
Travel size/table top ironing board and travel size iron. It's small enough to fit on my sewing desk, you can get a 12" block onto it, and it's a nice comfortable size for pressing seams as you piece, whether they're long or tiny fiddly small ones (I do quite a bit of curved piecing). I only ever fish out the big iron and ironing board for pressing the whole top before basting.
I have a metre long (40") aluminium ruler I got from a toolshop which I love. It's light, and it's useful if I want to cut/draw really long lines as well as being handy for smoothing the fabric out when I'm basting.
Travel size/table top ironing board and travel size iron. It's small enough to fit on my sewing desk, you can get a 12" block onto it, and it's a nice comfortable size for pressing seams as you piece, whether they're long or tiny fiddly small ones (I do quite a bit of curved piecing). I only ever fish out the big iron and ironing board for pressing the whole top before basting.
I have a metre long (40") aluminium ruler I got from a toolshop which I love. It's light, and it's useful if I want to cut/draw really long lines as well as being handy for smoothing the fabric out when I'm basting.
03-05-2011, 08:23 PM
#328
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,061
I like the clear plastic boxes that are made for storing matchbox cars and I use them to store my spools of thread. They will accommodate both the skinny and regular spools of thread in a double layer. If you cannot find them in your area Menards has something rather similar with lots of sections that will hold one layer of spools. Keeps your thread clean and corralled in one place.
03-07-2011, 07:52 AM
#329
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 85
Oh my goodness! Thank you one and all for a great response to my question. There are so many GREAT tips for ALL levels of quilters. Sorry for my delay (I only started the darn thread) but my real life trumps my virtual life sometimes. Besides, hubby is cutier than you guys! LOL :lol:
Thanks again and I hope everyone got as much out of this thread as I did. :thumbup:
Sashing-Sarah709
Thanks again and I hope everyone got as much out of this thread as I did. :thumbup:
Sashing-Sarah709
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