household items used for quilting
07-01-2014, 09:51 PM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7,741
I just bought some the last time I was in a grocery store that carried it. Looking forward to trying this for FMQ.
07-02-2014, 02:39 AM
#72
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,116
I use a letter rack to store my rules and empty blood strip containers for sharps. Biscuit and chocolate tins store heaps as well as empty icecream containers.I have small transparent tube boxes in which I store measuring tapes.
07-02-2014, 04:00 AM
#75
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Westland, Mi., originally Mississippi
Posts: 3,825
The girls down South showed me to use door stops under the back of your machine, adjust as needed, re leaves the strain on your back. You might have to use two depending on how your machine is made.
07-02-2014, 05:02 AM
#76
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,726
Some great ideas here! We all have so much in our homes that we can re-purpose.
Sometimes it just takes a bit of thinking to see the other uses!
Here's some other ideas that I use ..... and I don't think I saw listed ...........
* Pampered Chef plastic scraper ---> hand/finger seam pressing
* brass newspaper holder for the fireplace ---> holds plastic rulers
* vertical letter/mail sorter with pen holders ---> holds rulers, patterns, stilletos, stitch rippers, scissors, etc.
* eye glass case ---> rotary cutter storage
* piggy bank ---> used rotary blades, needles, pins (actually mine is a miniature postal mailbox); doubles as a fabric/paperweight
* antique insulators ---> fabric weights
* baby change table ---> shelving underneath for storage; table on top holds current project extra fabric etc.
* finger cots, disposable gloves, garden gloves ---> FMQing
* small paint brushes ---> cleaning machine
* single packed alcohol swabs ---> cleaning needle from "goo" build up during FMQing
* long pipe cleaners ---> keep matching thread and bobbin together
* cow magnets ---> pin cushions!
* rubber shelf liner ---> under cutting mats to prevent sliding of mat on table; the spongy-ness of it makes for easier cutting IMHO
* parchment paper ---> see thru pressing cloth
* painter's tape ---> marking measurements on stash fabric; band-aids when PPing, and a piece comes off; notes on machine re settings; labeling project storage boxes;
Sometimes it just takes a bit of thinking to see the other uses!
Here's some other ideas that I use ..... and I don't think I saw listed ...........
* Pampered Chef plastic scraper ---> hand/finger seam pressing
* brass newspaper holder for the fireplace ---> holds plastic rulers
* vertical letter/mail sorter with pen holders ---> holds rulers, patterns, stilletos, stitch rippers, scissors, etc.
* eye glass case ---> rotary cutter storage
* piggy bank ---> used rotary blades, needles, pins (actually mine is a miniature postal mailbox); doubles as a fabric/paperweight
* antique insulators ---> fabric weights
* baby change table ---> shelving underneath for storage; table on top holds current project extra fabric etc.
* finger cots, disposable gloves, garden gloves ---> FMQing
* small paint brushes ---> cleaning machine
* single packed alcohol swabs ---> cleaning needle from "goo" build up during FMQing
* long pipe cleaners ---> keep matching thread and bobbin together
* cow magnets ---> pin cushions!
* rubber shelf liner ---> under cutting mats to prevent sliding of mat on table; the spongy-ness of it makes for easier cutting IMHO
* parchment paper ---> see thru pressing cloth
* painter's tape ---> marking measurements on stash fabric; band-aids when PPing, and a piece comes off; notes on machine re settings; labeling project storage boxes;
07-02-2014, 06:17 AM
#77
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I have a metal magnetic dish that I bought at the auto parts store for my pins. It supposed to be for mechanics to put their screws and small tools in. I have wand that I used to use for magnetic bingo chips that I use to find fallen pins.
And those trays that Crisco sticks come in fit Schmetz Needle packs perfectly. I use that rubberized shelf line under my sewing machine and my sewing machine foot control to keep them from moving around.
I could probably come up with lots more.
Good luck!
Colleen
And those trays that Crisco sticks come in fit Schmetz Needle packs perfectly. I use that rubberized shelf line under my sewing machine and my sewing machine foot control to keep them from moving around.
I could probably come up with lots more.
Good luck!
Colleen
I'm thinking the round holes in the mat will let heat dissipate from the foot control, too.
07-02-2014, 06:24 AM
#78
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I like the plastic see thru containers sold for shoe boxes. Surprising how much fabric will fit in one, usually all the fabric for a quilt top. Since they are see thru, it's really easy to see which box holds which project
07-02-2014, 06:26 AM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 1,925
07-02-2014, 06:38 AM
#80
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 1,925
I use the colored flat bread-bag closer things (no idea what they're called) pinned to my blocks to mark which row or column the block goes in when I take the blocks from design wall to sewing machine. I write the column number on with a sharpie and use a different colored tab for each row. Have trained my kids to save them instead of throwing them out and now I have way more than I'll ever need!
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