puck116

I also use a magnet on my machine. The thin ones from an advertisement for your frig. I have a computerized newer bernina 440 and I emailed them to ask if this was going to interfere with the electronics and they said " NO " it would not.

puck116

I bought a precut piece of glass at the hardware store. Bound the edges with duct tape. I put this over a block or section of my quilt and use dry erase markers to try out a quilt pattern. I suppose you could use a piece of heavy plastic.
Okay so I didn't bind it until after trying it out first.

aggie

Use the large AM & PM pill storage boxes purchased at Dollar Tree. Scrub off the days of the week and use it for my "feet" and label them. Nice because you can just throw it around and not have to search for the right foot.

CarolLady

Very neat idea!!

kellen46

What good idea have you had that would benefit others? How about passing them on just in time for weekend quilting? :-D

Sashing-Sarah709[/quote]

Here is a way to make your own really sturdy pattern paper. Take two sheets of the inexpensive white tissue paper, the kind you get at the dollar tree and a white plastic trash bag. cut open the trash sack to get one layer sheet. sandwich tissue, plastic,tissue and iron with a hot iron. Be careful to trim bag to tissue size or the iron will melt the plastic and you will have to do a clean up. The resulting tissue is very strong, it can be cut or torn but is not fragile. It is translucent and you can easily trace through it. It is great for transferring multi size patterns as you can trace off the size you need and save the original. Also if you want you can use an existing tissue pattern as one of the layers and thus make it stronger for extended use.
Other uses of this idea that I have come up with is to have the top layer be fabric. When I was book binding having the glue leak through was a real problem. Book cloth is expensive and rather boring. By doing this I can have any kind of book cloth I want. I think if you were covering boxes this would be handy too. Also if you are crafting with fragile or making items that need a sturdier paper this is a great solution. Once I sandwiched the tissue with maps to make lampshades. The are still going strong. I also have sandwiched that shiny iridescent tissue with white tissue to make a sturdy paper to cover journals. Works great. I haven't tried it but I am thinking to use two lightweight fabrics with the plastic and seeing if I can make a moisture resistant fabric for lunch bags and such. Easier to sew than oilcloth and cheaper than vinyl coated cloth.

puck116

Let me see: small paint brush to clean bobbin and needle throat area, rubber shelf liner under my machine and foot pedal to keep from "walking" away, scrap fleece to clean up threads on floor and cutting mat, any containers that are suitable for storing. I have clear containers for; 6 1/2" sqs, 2 1/2" sqs, 2 1/2" strips, 4 patch blocks and probably others. These are now ready to use in a quilt anytime. I usually donate a quilt each summer for auction to the theater my son performs at and these precuts are what I go to for a fast quilt.
Skinny batik strips from trimming I use to fill clear glass ornaments. Batik is two sided and they look so pretty inside the balls. Gave these as gifts to quilty friends and family. Short appetizer sticks as stilletos. I know there's more, just can't think of them.

puck116

I use these to keep my bobbins in. The large one holds 3/4 bobbins in each day and I can see through it. I try to keep same colors together.

echobluff

If you go to Quiltville.com, you'll see all kinds of quilts made from "leaders and enders". Bonnie K Hunter is AWESOME!!!

Kim Bohannon

Great Idea! I have to try this!

KIM

suzm

I have one of those round magnetic pin holders - it fits into a RubberMaid contanier. I think it's a #1 round contanier, great for dropping pins in while sewing. Learned this from Louise Cutter, a wonderful sewing lady.