What sewing things have you bought that you wish you hadn't?
 

You know, those "seemed like a good idea at the time" things. A few years back I bought not one but two pair of Gingher scissors, one large and one craft size. I had wanted them for decades and finally they were on sale and I could use coupons on top of the sale and took them home and used them but then...not so in love with them. Oh, they're beautiful and shiny and cut like a dream but they seem very slippery on thin fabrics and for what I sew now (cutting out a doll pattern) the large ones are too large and the small ones are too small. sigh...so much for satisfying wants.

That and some fabric I have to make quilts that I no longer want to make AT ALL using those fabrics. For example, owls. 4 different panels of owls - what was I thinking? The actual pattern used sailboats but I saw the owls and thought they would be adorable but now they creep me out (so many!) and my grandson doesn't like owls.

I have no idea what to do with these things. Seeing them makes me anxious so craigslist maybe?

What about you? What makes you want to turn back time?

I bought the quilt calculator. It can calculate how much fabric you need to buy when you new so many squares, strips, etc. I don't think I have ever used it😝

Ditto! Waste of hard earned money!

Owls are very popular...you could sell those panels and use the money for something you like now. :)

I'm not really good at selling things and it's probably 3 yards total. I'm a returner - if I have a receipt I'll return it. Fabric I usually donate. I just donated a bag to Goodwill and these owls and some other flannel and fleece I think I'm going to donate to a 'Newborns in Need' org in my area. They take donations of newborn clothing and juvenile fabrics and make quilts and clothes for at risk babies and small children in the area. Not that I couldn't use the extra money myself, but I feel that there is always someone going thru a worse time than I so rather than hoard crafty things, I donate them to those who can use them. It makes me feel that I'm helping in a very small way.

I think it's mostly fabric I've purchased that I thought I could match up to something else and make a gorgeous, bright quilt with, but then I couldn't find the right matching fabric or pattern to make it shine. Usually, it's something I bought to take me out of my comfort zone like others keep recommending I do and it's not a good idea. Unless I buy the matching fabric at the time or I have a pattern/design set for it at the time of purchase, it just sits there. I've also gone crazy and purchased too much of some fabrics and after making a quilt or two with it, I still have more. I'm now making more quilts, some just lap size, to use it up before I buy any more fabric and I'm making new rules for myself so I don't do this again!

Before I had a stash built up, I was always positively thrilled when I came across some fabric score that someone else had passed along. I don't think you should underestimate how much you are helping others when you donate crafty things. I give away all my scraps and other fabrics I know in my heart I will never use, and I am happy to know that someone else will enjoy going through their new treasures.

Ummmm - I don't think any one wants to read a list that long!

The clear plastic table you put on your machine. Big waste of money. The quilt catches on the edge of the table.
I finally bought a cabinet and I love it. The machine sets into the table so it is flush.
Then I bought a long arm table with a Baby Lock Jane machine. To small of a machine so now Im thinking of a Block Rocket for $3200.
I waste so much money trying to save money.

I still have my Gingher sewing shears put away because I never know when I will need them. I love my duck bill Gingher and they are always by my Bernina. The only thing I may collect too many are patterns.

This thing: The Fabulous Fabric Glide

That two piece purple do-dad. It still sits up in my cabinet gathering dust. :)

All the odd fabric and patterns!!!

That is the first thing I thought of.

Purse patterns. I keep thinking I'll try again to make a purse that I like from a pattern that I hope will be what I want. I haven't made a purse yet that I like or kept. I think I just have to accept that I'm not a purse maker, and one of these days I'll collect all of them and see about passing them on to some of the bag makers here.:)

The Flynn Quilting System. Spent more time chasing the rollers than quilting. Threw it out years ago.

I bought that Quilt Calculator for a friend one Christmas. She kept drooling over it & she said she was a whiz at math ... but she never could figure it out.

I love my Flynn frame but I know what you mean about the rollers ....taped pencils to the edges of the table so the rollers could not go wayward. not my original idea it is suggested in the instructions and my table is a tad shorter than recommended.

The Purple Thang. Didn't cost much, but I never use it...there are other things around the house that do the same thing. A bobbin holder that looks like a multi-armed octopus. The bobbin rings are better.

The 'sit upon comfort cushion' http://www.sewforless.com/item/The_G..._Cushion/10062
I got rid of that the same month I bought it. And the double suction cup ruler handle - doesn't work - waste of money.

The 'sit upon comfort cushion' was a gift form family and I rarely used it. Kept falling off it so took some air out. Now it is almost flat and still doesn't work! Going to take it to goodwill, still have the box.

When I first started quilting, I bought the binding tool from Missouri Star. Because of it's size, it's too big for many projects. The method I use now requires no gadgets!

The quilt calculator, but decided it was a waste of money in time to return it. Also the fmq halos. They just got in the way but I kept them and tried them several times. After moving them to 3 new homes I finally threw them away and haven't missed them at all.

I've been giving away unwanted fabric that I know I won't use to a small quilting group. I give some large scraps to a person who loves to make string quilts. I do a lot of charity work, i.e, baby quilts, drawstring bags, pillowcases for childrens hospital. It barely makes a dent in my stash but at least someone is able to use it instead of it sitting on a shelf. There are so many charities who would love to have fabric donated to them.

The Omni Edge rulers, bought two, all my strips come out wonky if I cut from with the folded edge. Wish I had that money back!

The Side Winder (bobbin winder) total waste of money for me, also bought
the quilt calculator, but I got lucky and only spent $12 for it after coupons,
and sale etc.

LOTS of darn ugly fabrics, that I now ask myself why in the heck did I even
LOOK at it to begin with.

The June Taylor plastic cutting mat. I used one for years, then DH bought me a self healing mat. The June Taylor protects your table, but not good for cutting. The cutter slides on it so accuracy is lacking. I am sold on the self healing, and they sell them as "artist supplies" on Amazon, so they are much less expensive. IMHO.

I bought the babylock Jane and Majestic frame to set it up. You are right about it being too small. I am thinking of buying the Block Rocket, too. Wanted a HQ sweet 16 sit down because I have back issues but that is not in my budget.

Don't know what it is called but the ruler that has the cutting blade on it. I can never get my strips to be the same width.

A box/kit, whatever its called, of neutral quilting threads. I've never used them for quilting because I quilt with COLOR!! Have used some for piecing and gifted some too.

You can download the quiltcalc app for free. I use it all the time.

The quilt calculator is #1. It has been stuffed in a drawer for years. #2 would be the fabric I 'had' to have & have not used. That will have to go in a donation bin someday.

that suction cup handle for rulers--would not "stick', some ugly fabric. and way too many patterns!

the original Alto Cut in used condition.....the attached ruler is slightly scewed or crooked, and I can't get it straightened up. So it's collecting dust under my short-arm quilter.

The Gingher seam ripper. It is very uncomfortable to hold when using it....it seems to want to twist in your hand. The end with the blade actually feels good to hold and use if the blade was at the other end. Bought it on sale....would rather have the money back.

Rotary blade sharpeners. I've bought 2 different kinds and neither work! They make the blade more dull.My DH is a genius and can't get then to work either.
I have EQ6 and upgraded 7 and purchased Block Base. All the Block Base blocks are in EQ 7. Good grief!

I have finally come to the realization that I cannot go into fabric stores unless I am seriously looking to buy something or I end up with fabric, a pattern or whatever may have caught my attention at the time. I love to browse the stores to get ideas but then also feel an obligation to buy since stores can't stay in business with mostly browsers. That even applies at stores that offer coupons; although, they have so many other things besides quilting supplies if I can just keep my focus out of the quilting section. LOL - so that is what works for me.

So funny! I do this as well!

I bought the Alto Quilt 2 before the Go die cut was available. I only got perfect cuts with the first cut without measuring the whole piece again. I use it to rough cut fabric pieces to use in the Go so it's not a total lose. It's a quality made item, that's the only good thing I found about it.

I waste so much money trying to save money.

I see so many do this and it doesn't make sense! Buy the best for you that will work and last or don't buy it at all.

Same here. I have so much there isn't much I need right now.

Oh I love my purple thang lol, I have two of them. I know you can use other things but I do use these instead. I think the useless things I bought and I can't remember them now? are all gone lol.

What does everyone think of the Gingher rotary cutter? I have been drooling over one for years, but they cost so much more than my little blue Dritz (45mm) and my yellow Olfa (60mm). I know I can purchase one using a JoAnn Fabric coupon...but are they worth the additional dollars? And, are their rotary blades worth the additional dollars?
Thanks!