jgriinke

Years ago I bought one of those containers that you can store homemade bread in. It also had a plastic thing in it that you used to slice the bread with, so that the slices were even. I had my DH put that up on a wall and that is where I store my rulers.
Painters tape is another thing I use,

joym

I got a 4 foot piece of chain from Home Depot and a hanging plant hook..put the plant hook in the ceiling, hung the chain, and put my quilts (or lg. pieces of fabric) on wooden pant hangers (Ikea) and hung them in the loops of the chain.

bamamama

I use a dental pic for pulling out stitches. Cut a single stitch with a seam ripper then pull the stitches with the dental pic. When I'm on the long arm and have to remove some stitches it works beautifully.

lillybeck

I use freezer paper for printing on my fabric, empty containers from my test strips to hold filled bobbins.cardboard for homemade templates and a block of 4 by 4 that my husband cut at an angle to put the foot peddle of my machine against. This gives me a different position for my foot and leg and it really helps my back.

grannie cheechee

I use an air compressor to clean the lint out of my machines.

nonnaof5

I used prewound bobbins and when my machine tells me its time to change bobbins there is still quite a bit left, so I put it in an empty floss container, you can pull the thread out and cut it on the little blade, works great for on the go projects or on an airplane

Carol W

I need to look for that.

purrfectquilts

Hmm, non-sewing items? I opened a couple drawers by my sewing machine and I see foil, sticky back sand paper, fat pipe cleaners, small paint brushes, emery boards, beeswax, lint rollers, hair clips, double stick tape, freezer paper, parchment paper, wax paper, painters tape, plastic medical tape, magnetic parts dish, butter knife, screw driver with groove filed in, orangewood manicure stick, sharpened piece of dowel, fat and skinny soda straws, broken crochet hook (stilleto), glue sticks, permanent and washable, washable school glue, junk mail (plain on one side) tweezers (sharp pointed, bent with ridges), cookie cutters, plastic lids for templates, Qtips, grabber with magnetic end, rubber pieces to keep foot pedal in place, OSB board and plywood sheets (for chair mats), T square, protractor, compass, clothes drying rack, plastic bags, 3 sizes, small needle nose pliers, tin can for pencils, coffee cup holder, and rubber maid turnable with cutting mat glued on top, binder clips, oven liner sheets........I could keep going, but then these ARE all sewing items for me. LOL

I love all the items that people come up with and the innovative ways to use them.

charlotte625

I use those little pony tail holder to put around my treaded bobbins to keep them from unwinding...baby food jars for all small items stored upside down in a drawer.( then I can see whats in them with out taking them out. I have a belt hanger I hang my rulers on.school glue for holding hems. Tackle boxes for take along sewing.Tops of plastic containers to make small patterns( like hexagons)

GlitzyMe

My large cutting board is on the cutting table but all the others (from 24x36" down) are hung on the back of the sewingroom door. Glue rubber bubble shelf liner to the inside of wood trouser hangers and they hold tightly. Hang on an over-the-door gizmo.
I also have two revolving kitchen utensil holders where I hand all my scissors and shears.