Container Tip?
#151
I used an idea that someone posted here. I cut up an old round "pool styrofoam noodle" into 8 or 9" sections and I wrap my binding around it using straight pins pushed in at intervals to keep everything attached. It keeps everything in good shape as I machine bind my quilts.
#153
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 30
I use eye glass holders to store my rotary cutters, pick them up @ goodwill. Use tbe foam swimming noodles for binding, cut in 8" lengths w/ serrated knife, easy to roll a lot of bindung on& can stick pins in it. Make row markers w/ safety pins & alphabet beads row a, b, c, etc. To mark rows when putting quilt tog.
Hmmmmm. What if one used those noodles to wrap fabric strips around (2, 21/2, 3, etc) to store till one is ready to use? That sounds like a great idea for me to try for storing the strips I have been cutting from my scrap yardage lately till I have enough for a scrap quilt. Have some foam that is used to wrap/insulate pipes that I might try with first!
#154
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 30
I had a friend drill a small hole in the plastic end of my stitch ripper, and fastened it with a ring to the plastic 'bungy' cord that I got from the casino. I wear it around my neck when I'm sewing, and I use the ripper a LOT! Saves patting down the whole table when it's covered with all my sewing!
#155
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 76
My dad eats TONS of peanut butter and i have become the "queen" of peanut butter jar storage too, lol. I retired in October due to health issues, so setting up my "sewing room" had to be done "on the cheap". I had old office furniture in our smallest bedroom and decided to turn it into my sewing room. As the furniture was 25 years old and falling apart we threw it all out and started from scratch. Two years ago my husband bought me a used sewing table on craigslist for Christmas...$60... so that was moved into the room. I had the rocker my DH purchased for me when i was pregnant...same color wood as the sewing table, so that was moved into the room. On the rocker is an afghan i crocheted for my husband when we were dating. My husband then found a small corner desk, hutch and lateral file (in the same color) at Office Depot for $200 total after coupons and worklife rewards. My mother's day gift was a matching set of 4 cubbies. One cubbie holds two ikea square baskets that were in the basement, now filled with my fat quarters. Another cubbie holds a heavy cardboard box filled with my charms and a basket filled with all of my 1930's repro fabric. The third cubbie holds a "batter bowl" that we received (filled with pancake mix and syrup) as a Christmas gift. The fourth cubbie is temporarily holding a small box from ikea where i am placing my scrappy dresden pieces and a 3 ring binder that holds all of my patterns. As i make each pattern i take a picture of my project and slip it into the page protector on top of the instructions. These two items will be moved to the closet once i purge through all of the "junk" still inside the closet. I will then use the last cubbie to hold more fabric. On my desk a perfume tin is filled with envelopes. A small wooden box that my parents gave my son when he was young (souvenir from somewhere) is filled with return address labels. A small purple bucket (bought two at $.25 each at thrift store) holds the small napkins that come in "to go" coffee packets. A pitcher that i decoupaged with wall paper holds my pens and pencils and paper scissors. Above my desk an old picture frame has been turned into a pinboard covered with material that matches my border and valances. An old Brighton heart shaped tin holds the pins. It is held to the picture frame by a magnet. On the next wall is an old brass trunk filled with zip lock bags of denim scraps, one pair of jeans per bag. For years i never threw away ANY jeans without cutting out the good parts. The trunk is ready to explode, lol. On my sewing table, a round tin holds completed hexies for my "someday" hexie charm quilt. Next to that is an old jar that held candy from WDW, filled with buttons. A tall cookie tin (looks like a pringles can) covered with pretty paper holds my paper hexies. Three stackable boxes (they were fruit patterned and filled with fruit/cookies/candy, received by my husband after surgery) have been painted with pink Krylon and the lids covered with the same pretty paper. A plastic jar that once held nuts is filled with rickrack. Above the sewing table is a free picture frame with a free sewing scene i printed online. The mat is the same pretty paper. Two peanut butter jars hold quilting basting pins and pony tail elastics to wrap around thread to prevent unravelling. A gift bag holds miscellaneous mail/magazine inserts to cut up into hexies. A galvanized bucket that held a get well gift for my husband now holds scraps to be sorted. A six sectioned tote that my DH got through work (promotional item) has been painted with the same krylon paint (pink) to match the boxes. It holds all of my small sewing notions. A shot glass holds the pins that i remove as a sew. I keep a second shot glass on my cutting table for pinning pieces. When i run out of pins i swap it out with the shot glass next to my sewing machine. For Christmas my parents/aunt bought me an Ikea Norden table to use as my cutting table. It has 6 drawers (3 on each side) that hold my rotary cutters, etc. Next to that table is my rocker, the back to a window for great hand sewing light). The top drawer in the table on that side holds my coaster, a small carboard box of hand sewing tools and another purple bucket (when it isn't on my cutting table for tossing threads). Next to the rocker is an old kitchen cart (5 drawer kind). It holds all of my larger sewing notions. I just love repurposed storage!!!!!!!!!! Inside the closet are a few more "repurposed" items...a set of plastic drawers that hold all of my other craft supplies and my newest repurpose...the plastic tub that pillow pack Cascade and pillow pack Tide Booster packs come in (big size from Costco/Sam's). I have painted the orange top (they are removable) with pink krylon. The first one holds my 2.5" squares. When i empty the Cascade tub the lid will also be painted with krylon and it will hold my 2.5" strips. I found a wonderful label site online and print them out on sticky paper, so all of my items are designated with matching cute labels! I have discovered that paint and sticky paper are great for giving your room a "well-coordinated" look, despite just about everything in it being repurposed!
#156
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,325
I had just read through the wonderful thread Those Wonderful Empty Tissue Boxes . It gave so many of us wonderful ideas, with others coming up with their uses. It had me wishing there was more threads like this that would help all of us.
I always have these empty large tin coffee cans, because me and my husband go through a lot of coffee. I use some of the plastic ones with the built in handles to fill with water for my dogs to have extra water outside, because they have their water bowls inside.
Anyone have good sewing/quilting/crafting/etc. uses for these cans, and what other tips of things we can all use that we have around the house??
I look forward to all of your ideas/tips. Pictures are also nice.
I always have these empty large tin coffee cans, because me and my husband go through a lot of coffee. I use some of the plastic ones with the built in handles to fill with water for my dogs to have extra water outside, because they have their water bowls inside.
Anyone have good sewing/quilting/crafting/etc. uses for these cans, and what other tips of things we can all use that we have around the house??
I look forward to all of your ideas/tips. Pictures are also nice.
#157
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,537
I love coffee mugs! Have two mugs on my sewing table w/stuff in them...tiny post notes, pens, marking pencils, 1*6 rulers, redesing tools (aka seam ripper), tweezers...all those things that like to take field trips around the house unescorted!
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