unconventional sewing room tools
 

What tools do you use, that are probably considered unconventional but that you find really handy or indispensable?

Lint brush - no one ever mentions these, but I don't know what I'd do without one. It picks up all the little threads and dog fur (my dog is extremely generous with the fur!) that are on the fabric.

Telescopic magnet - http://www.amazon.com/2593-Telescopi.../dp/B0002SQYDC these are sold in hardware stores and are generally used to pick up screws that fall or some such. I love it for dropped pins or needles. I just have to wave it in the general area and it'll find it.

L square ruler. (I just grabbed a cheap one from the dollar store, but really handy also)

Binder clips. I got the tiny ones and use them in place of wonder clips. (they are definitely less expensive).

I love to hang my normal quilting tools on pegboard especially the huge quantity of quilting stencils.

I also use the lint roller to pick up the thread from my design board!

I've heard of people using a toilet brush (new!) for cleaning the threads off of the design wall. I use a wooden spatula to smooth the higher blocks onto the design wall because I'm too short to reach up there.

Chopstick for pushing the fabric out to make the points. 1/2 size index cards, post-it flags, 3 sizes of binder clips, masking tape. Pot scrubber to clean cutting mat. Round magnetic metal bowl from the auto supply shop. It has a great rubber base so it stays put. It holds a tiny flashlight, tweezers, snips, tiny screwdriver and a pencil. It cost less than $10 and I love it.

I have all the above and keep most of the items in a toolbox. Anddifferent size clamps.

I like a short handled tablespoon measuring spoon to use on the bottom side of the quilt as I'm hand quilting..I use it like an"Aunt Becky".

I like this!!!

Straight Edge rulers. I have one 4ft and one 6ft. They are coated metal and very inexpensive. $12 for the longest one at Lowes. They are 2 1/2 inches wide. Perfect for straight edges on the quilt and marking grid lines for quilting. I also use a laser line level that shines a perfect 90 degree angle. I darken the room, lay out my quilt to be aligned with one beam and can see exactly where the quilt isn't square if not aligned with the other beam.

I use a round belt hanger to hold my hand quilting stecils on a decorative coat rack on the back of the door to my sewing room...among other non sewing things hung there!

I sharpen the tip of chopsticks with a pencil sharpener and use as a stiletto. I've bought three "real" stilettos but prefer the chopstick. I also use chopsticks in my bobbin drawer to keep bobbins of the same thread together. Knitting needle point protectors keep them from sliding off.

I have a double sided fishing tackle box with clear covers, and adjustable inserts. It's about 11 x 14. I use one side for thread, and the other side for just about all my other "gadgets" that I have. I love I and wished I had another one...just can't remember where I got it!

- Pegboard -- I hang everything on it - rulers, stencils, thread, any stabilizer in reusable containers and shelves.
- Embroidery floss box -- I use it to sort my sewing machine needles.
- Tackle box -- I use it to sort my sewing machine feet.
- The little plastic bags used for embroidery floss -- I will put thread and bobbins that have matching thread in these bags and hang them on the rings that you get in the office supply stores.
- Large rings from office supply stores -- I put the small rulers on the rings and hang them on my peg board.
- Elmers glue and washable glue sticks -- they hold fabric together (use the glue sticks to hold the binding on the quilt for sewing and they are really helpful when I hem pants (since no pants are ever short enough for me). A 3 foot level for squaring up quilts.
- Comic book cardboard and sleeves - I put my quilting magazines in them to keep them nice.
- 3 ring binders and sheet protectors -- I use them to hold patterns (both those I print from the internet and those I buy that are single patterns since they tend to get lost when I put them in a good safe place)
- office organizer -- I use it to keep my most frequently used tools

From the way you described it, I think I have the same fishing tackle box you do, Mine is made by Plano and I got it at Cabela's. I love it!

Great idea! I keep a small stool at my design wall because I am too short also. But it is a pain to keep getting on and off of it and once I "forgot" I was on the stool and took a giant step backwards to get a better look at the quilt. Ouch! I did get a good look at the floor, though!

I use small pieces of oxygen tubing to put over the sharp end of my small scissors and seam rippers after I've lost the covers for them!

Hemostats for grabbing short thread ends, before they pull out of the needle.

I use a mushroom brush to remove lind from my cutting board.
I use a long bristle soft makeup brush to remove dust in and around my sewing machine.

An ashtray (you probably have one in a drawer somewhere) to hold bits of thread while sewing, the odd pin you find on the floor, etc. Ashtrays are almost never flat and the sides keep your miscellany from falling out.

Heavy Duty 1" contractor retractable tape measure that locks... put that puppy out and it's not going anywhere while you measure.

Canned goods... put on my 6" wide ruler while cutting so it doesn't move on me...doesn't matter how careful I am, if I don't have it weighted down, it will move.

Tupperware orange peeler...same as a stiletto for me

Blue painter's tape... use if for so many things...holding pattern up on cabinet while I cut things out, marking rows on quilts while arranging them on design wall, embroidery tack downs, etc etc etc

binder clips -- yep cheaper than the fancy dancy ones

flashlight -- look under the long arm at my stitches

Baggies --- keeps things grouped together

artist scrapbooking clear plastic boxes from Michaels -- 14 1/2 x 14/ 1/2 x 4 high --- wonderful for putting finished blocks in during swaps and for grouping project fabric together

Chop sticks are one of the most useful tools I have in my arsenal, the lint roller is an absolute must, the little tubes that have the strips for use in home INR machines are wonderful for storing needles, the little Altoids boxes are perfect for storing those buttons that I have no idea where they came from but can't part with, a block of wood 4" x 4" with a dowel stuck in at one end makes a fantastic spool holder, metal flower pots with the hook for hanging on your balcony or a fence make great thread catchers at the machine or near your ironing board. I painted mine and put some stickers on them, and now they are designer thread catchers. That shelf liner that sticks like glue under my portable ironing board makes sure it won't move, have it sitting on a card table near my machine. Necessity is the mother of invention or something like that, but quilters are among some of the greatest folks at using items for uses other than the original intention.

I keep one of those grabber things on a handle in case something falls down behind the table or sewing machine. I've used it several times.

I have a grapefruit spoon that I use to help set safety pins

I use a metal carpenter's 6' ruler with clamps from my workshop to cut my batting. I have the batting above my cutting table which is 4' x 8'. I clamp the ruler across the table and then cut halfway on one side and then go to the other side to finish cutting the batting. I also use the carpenter's "L" metal ruler to make sure my quilt sides are staying square while quilting on the frame. I have a slot along my dead bar that I can slip the L ruler into to make sure it square with the frame. I use laser lights with degrees marked on them to align the bottom of the quilt when I'm at the last part of it. Sometimes I have to shift this way or that way to get it even across the frame. Using the laser light and turning off the lights makes it quick work for me.

Swim noodles- cut in 6 or 8" lengths, run a long shoe string through it and you have a binding buddy. Just roll your binding on it as you press . When ready to attach binding hang it around your neck and binding rolls right off. Also cut in longer lengths you can roll table runner, baby quilt & other small projects onto a noodle. I use a clean mascara brush to clean out my machine.

I use Tupperware lids for circle templates.

Painter's tape for sewing guide and to act as a third hand (tape things down) when cutting etc. Pant hangers to hang cutting mats and stencils when not in use. A drinking glass that was my mother's to hold pens, small rulers etc handy.

I used plastic boxes with dividers from Sears to hold buttons, snaps, some decorative threads and general small stuff. I also use large washers as pattern weights when cutting out patterns with the rotary cutter. I also use divided trays from the office supply store to hold gauges, markers, thimbles and small stuff I like to have on my sewing table ready to use.

A hammer to bang those pesky thick seams when making pillows cases, etc, into submission. A few good wacks and the piece just glides under the presser foot without even a bump. A re-purposed toilet paper tube with a slit cut into it for a binding roll. Made a slit in the center and slip the end of the binding into after pressing in half, roll up the binding as it's pressed, take it to the machine and place on the right hand side of the table and unroll as needed. If you have a thread stand which I use all the time to wind bobbins so I don't have to unthread the machine, you can also use the post to hold the binding tube in place.

I am using the top of those pails you can get from Home Depot. I am making some round placemats.

I robbed my hubby tools and some fishing things. I took his ice pick and I use that to pick stiches out on the quilting machine, his hard plastic fishing ruler that I use when cutting wide strips of cloth or batting. his hammer, I also take plastic hose like they use in milk lines and cut that as wide as my bobbins and cut a slit in it and put over my bobbin so the thread don't come lose. and im still keeping an eye out for other things he may have lol

OK, am I the only one to use this particular item, or the only one who will admit to it?

I had some thread that slipped off the spool. I could not find my thread nets, so what did I use? A condom. It worked perfectly. I just snipped a hole in the top for the thread to pass through. I have since kept a supply on non lubricated condoms in my sewing box.

Love my metal retractable tape measure. I use it a lot esp. When i want to rearrange furniture, etc. And, yes, i have my own tool box in my sewing room. Hammer, screwdrivers, a level.

Sandy

i would LOVE To be at your guild when you share this tip!

I buy those tiny hair bands that are knit, soft and squishy. Then I put the bobbins on large notebook rings. I hang them on my sewing machine hooks.

sandy

I have a magnet. These are good for retrieving metal objects that may fall inside an old machine. I don't know if this is true, but I've been told to be careful when using magnets near computerized machines.

Tothill, now that's a clever way to use those dang things. Cute idea but don't get them mixed up with the ones you might still use...................not knowing your age. I use the nets from the florist shop as they just throw them away anyway and they're free. Most are twice the length you need so you can get 2 out of 1 net. Have them on all my embroidery threads.

Ok, not much makes me go hummmmmm, but tothill your "unusual tool" has my mind in a whirl. Reminds me of something that happened when my kids were little. I was in a mini mart on a Marine Corps base and my son had just learned to sound out words. He spotted a package of condoms near the register and sounded out the name "Trojans" in a very loud voice. Then he asked, Mom, what's a Trojan? and the Marine ahead of us in line responded, yes, Mom. What's a Trojan? It seemed like to me that the mini mark became deathly quiet as everyone waited to hear my definition of a Trojan. My response was "It's a horse. See the picture on the package." OMG! I could not check out fast enough.

I hang my rulers from shower hooks hung on a curtain rod. My sewing room has windows on 3 sides so I put the curtain rod inside the window frame, would love to have pegboard but machine and surround sits against only wall w/o a window so am limited as to where I can store rulers. Works for me.

I got one long time ago at Big Lots for $7. Couldn't pass it up. Found another one at local hardware on sale for $4.50 because of broken hinge. Dh fixed the hinge. He says I have more toolboxes than he does. Bout 50-50 actually.

I have to laugh because my niece was with me the other day at JOAnns' They had packages of finger cots. She just looked at me and put them back. They look like micro-mini condoms. Had to laugh when she told her mom what she saw and said they should get some for the doxie, Oscar. That's all I'm saying.