mgshaw

Boy do I agree with you on that!!!! Dont like to have to use it but what would I do without it!!! :lol: :lol:

zyxquilts

I think my least favorite was a gift from my Secret Pal - one of those 'rulers' with the slits in them for cutting strips. It may be June Taylor, not sure. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get the hang of it. Other than my rotary cutters, I think my favorite is my 8.5" wide Omnigrip (yes GRIP, not grid :wink: ) ruler. I use it all the time :D
And speaking of seam rippers, I just got a "scalpel" seam ripper & it works like a charm!

ScubaK

I can't seem to find any markers that I like. Be it chalk, air erase or water erase...
If I could find something like a Sharpie, but not permanent!
I bought, years ago, a plexi-glass template set called Pandoras' Box...have never used it.
I bought an Altos quick cut and use it all the time...
I have the Fiskars roatry cutters...45 and 65mm and that is my primary because I tried the Olfa Ergonomic cutter (what a joke, for me), I hated it!
The basic rulers I love, the basic rotary cutters I love and I love my scissors...
K

3incollege

Like everyone else we have issues with our rulers. I don't like the green rulers it is so hard to see the lines.
I love this new foot for my machine called the curve master it is really neat, it make sewing curves pin free.
I do like the yo-yo makers also.

zyxquilts

I forgot one! Flat flower head pins! I love them! :D

2wheelwoman

Thanks for sharing. I totally agree that everyone will have their own way of doing things, and their own preferences, but hearing about someone else's preferences and experiences is a great way to learn about available options.

When I was just starting to quilt a couple years ago, I thought I needed one of everything on the quilting notions aisle (though the $$$ prevented that!). It's nice to have a place to learn, for instance, that the frosted rulers would be better and that I didn't need to spend the money on binding clips (I also think that pinning is easier).

I'm going to try the sticky sandpaper dots. I've been using the film-ish stuff (I think it's called Omni-grip) but I get a lot of sliding still. I must use too much muscle too.

I had to laugh about June Taylor. I bought one of the cutting mats with the slits in it to make one-inch, two-inch, etc., strips. Seemed like a good idea - BUT, it's not stiff enough, and I ended up with a bunch of wobbly strips. Seemed like a bad design and I was muttering "stick to dancing!"

And if ANYBODY knows of a good marking pen/tool/method/etc, please share. I too have been disappointed with everything. I bought the "Pounce" at a quilt show, since the demo looked so slick, but all I got was a chalky mess when I tried it at home. Other pens and pencils have been no better. Anybody got a method they love?

shellyp

I read a tip on here somewhere about putting some hot glue on the ruler (let it cool first). I done it to my long ruler and it works great. Finally, a use for that hot glue gun I used once before I started quilting! :lol:

2wheelwoman

Oh my gosh. there was a whole page of posts which I didn't see. duh :oops:

I've heard about using a soap sliver, but never tried it. I'm going to give it a go. Does it brush off, or do you need to wash the quilt after?

I was just thinking about getting a rotary blade sharpener. Not now.

The bamboo stilletos work great. I got mine from a placemat my SIL was throwing away. It was made of strips of bamboo laced together, and I just cut the bamboo off, and cut them in half. If I happen to break one, no sweat.

zyx - sure glad I wasn't your secret pal that year!! hehehe But, yep, it's probably the June Taylor.

As for seam rippers, the scalpel one is awesome. And, when the blade dulls, you just buy the set of replacement blades (not that any of YOU would wear out a seam ripper, but I have).

I have one of those little metal hemming rulers, never even thought of using it to double check widths. I'm going to dig it out.

Maride

The good to me is ...

1. The sixth finger-It is a little metal in the fom of a Y that helps me hold the fabric closer to the presser foot.

2. The piece if wood that I use to push corners inside out.

3. The handle for my rulers.

4. My bobbin winder. What was I doing before that?

The bad:

1. The plastic thingy that DH got me to keep the quilt rolled while machine quilting.

2. A little magnetic thing that helps you follow the 1/4 inch area to the right of the foot- Thanks God I onlt paid $2.00 for it. To me is useless.

3. A notebook DS got me that has on one side a cutting mat 8 x 8 and on the other side ironing space, also 8 x 8. When I iron I burn the cutting area. I guess I am used to my 46 inches cutting mat.


More to come when I can think about it.

Maria

Boston1954

Many years ago I bought some of those plastic templates for drawing lines on the fabric when you are getting ready to hand quilt. I have about 4 of them. Never used one. Of course, I only started seriously hand quilting about 4 years ago. AND who knows, the price is probably higher now. I guess I could call it a bargain, IF I ever use them. :D