I use clip clothes pins to keep all the strips of like color and size together for a project. Can have several squares, strips, etc., stores in large pizza boxes, with pattern. Scraps for that project go in zip lock bags. Finished blocks, and all the above store nicely in pizza box, marked with labels on the front of the box. Stack nicely for ready view of which project I want to work on that day.

Oh, good grief! Thanks, Gail! The PostIt pad makes way better sense....:LOL

the bolt size is #10-24 (I've gotten them at Home Depot and local hardware store).

The Post It Note idea is terrific! I use them to mark my place on a beading chart, but never thought of using them to keep that 1/4" in place. Thank you so much for a great idea.
BettyGee

I bought a roll of red plastic tape and put a piece at the 1/4" and mark. And with a pen the 1/2" mark. Works great.

Thank you!

8-)

I am using a Lazy Susan a friend gave me for all my pens and pencils that I use in mt sewing room/office. I use metal shelves for my books and the holes down the sides are good for putting pictures, scissors on hooks etc, for easy access. My little window air conditioner is 1/2 way in the window and the top is used a ledges to put all my rotary cutters on--out of the way of little fingers as being easier to find(most of the time.) Old biscuit tins are full of bits and pieces of all sorts. The plastic containers that you buy with potato salad , coleslaw are where scraps of fabric are hidden(color coded for easy access. 20 liter drums with garbage bags are for rubbish and threads. one is by the sewing machine the other is by my desk. I also use non stick backing sheet for ironing applique pieces together. The little pots from powder dye are great for putting buttons and beads in.

katied772 - how does that work? do you mark your pattern and then sew through it?

To add to this idea I cut an 1" or 2" piece of a plastic straw and tape it to the top of the machine angled towards the first place the thread is to be threaded into. So, I place the mug under the end I will thread the thread through and thread accordlingly.

I love repurposing heavy mugs for holding any of my threads. :thumbup:

I'm rather slow when it comes to visualizing. I don't understand the purpose of the straw.

Wondering if moving DH's as a "surprise organizing move"of his "undies" drawer to the basement shower stall would work for him? Sorry, if anyone is offended, I just really do not like anyone messing around in my sewing room/stuff......

How do you set the ink with an iron without losing some of the printing?

:lol: Photos, please! you know how we love pics.!!

I have only read a couple pages of this subject, but wow, it's good....coming back later to take notes. But just thought I would add to things I use that are kinda strange from our household for my quilting.

1. I purchased a toliet bowl brush from a dollar store, and before using it for the purpose it was intended, I used it to reach some theads on the carpet, slightly out of reach. Now I use it full time in my sewing room and under the long arm.
2. I save my empty toliet paper rolls and put my finished binding on them. I attach a ribbon thru the tube and wear it as a necklace when I am machine attaching my bindings to my quilts. It stays really nice and no more tangling.

Since both of these things came from the restroom, hummm, whatever does that say about me and my quilting? lol

I love the toilet paper around the neck idea. And I think these bathroom ideas let us know where you do most of your creative thinking. Good for you, it's obvious you are not a time waster! :lol:

Mulitaskers Rule!

Your straw tip remindedme of the coffee stirrer, which can be taped in front of the needle and if you have a zig zag machne can serve as a fagoting foot.

That is a great idea. No more than I do the faggoting stitch it would work great. Thanks...

After reading many of these posts, I just decided to add my idea. I take a recipe card (3x5) and write the topic on it and the page I have finished reading. Then if I don't get to read all the posts, I know where to pick up. When I go back, I start on the page I left off and then cross it off when I move on. When I have to quit reading, I write down the page number again etc. I have about 3 topics on each side of card. Some of the posts are over 50 pages long so I have not yet come to the end but at least I know what I have read. Hope that is clear. Some days I have the compulsion to sew instead of reading all these wonderful topics. :-) Great thread!

Great Idea! I often flip page by page trying to figure out where I left off. Thanks Sandy! I can spend hours on this board...LOL.

Great idea!

I use a large carpenters square when making drapes to
get an accurate straight edge. I love frezer paper. I do
a lot of doll sewing. I trace the patterns on the dull side,
cut them out, and press on the wrong side of my fabrics.
The seam allowance is eliminated. Use an open toe foot
to sew around the pattern, then cut out your fabric. This
is wonderful for tiny arms and legs. You save yourself
much frustration trying to seam tiny things. Very accurate
too. I use a triple office wall large envelope holder to
store my rulers. It hangs on the wall next to my cutting
table. Brenda (qulitaholic) Wadesville In

I really like your idea. I've had problems keeping the cone in place also. Thanks!

I have them sent to my inbox

:oops: How do you do that?

From the office supply store: I bought a pkg of the nubbed nubber finger thingees. Great to scrap off loose threads when you have to rip out stitches and have the tiny thread ends to get rip off. Could use masking tape to do this, but I found the tape pulls the fab too much.

I design quilts on my EQ5. I print out a pic of the quilt, put it in a page protector and then auditioin quilting designs using a dry erase marker.

I didn't find this item in my house, but it works! I purchased a set of bed raisers, plastic boxes that raise you bed for underbed storage. These are now under my super quilter table and no more back ache! Got them from Mary Maxim and they came in 3 sizes. 3", 5" and 6". 3 and 5 can be used together for 8".

While cleaning out a closet yesterday I found one of those basins that they give you in the hospital. I use these in cabinets to organize shampoo,deodorant, etc. and thought why not use one to keep my fat quarters together. Sure enough it works and I can just pull on the basin and not send the fabric flying. I like the idea so much I may have to find another way to keep the shampoo, etc. in order; so I'm robbing one closet to organize my quilting. Hey it seems like the right thing to do.

You don't mean the one they give you to "sit on" do you?
:lol:

No, the one they give you to wash up while you are confined to the bed. Can't think of anything to do with the ones you "sit on" and even if I could I don't think I'd want to. That is one item, while it serves a purpose, that I really really don't like.

Just saw a set of these at the thrift store this morning. The price was $6.95.

When I joined there was a question and I answered yes. I am computer dumb so I don't know how to go back to it.

What great ideas everyone has! Some of them I have been doing, some I certainly will start doing, some I will try out ASAP.

I have 2 that I have not seen posted. I purchased a small (8 1/2" x 11") magnetic dry erase board and some heavy duty magnets to put on it since the magnetic surface was not strong enough for what I wanted it to do. I use these magnets to hold small scissors, threaded needles, pins and thimble in a small metal candy box, stitch ripper, magnetic needle nest, 6" metal ruler, etc. I can take this with me when I know I will have a lengthy wait time in the car or elsewhere so I can continue my hand quilting away from home. I can't stand to sit and do nothing. Have even taken it when visiting with friends who understand that I can talk and quilt at the same time.

The second thing I purchased was a tilt-top, height-adjustable computer stand (top is approximately 14" x 19") that rolls and has small ledges on each long side to keep the computer from sliding off. I put a larger magnetic dry erase board on this tilted top and positioned it at its lowest level to hold the same quilting supplies I just mentioned when I sit at my Z-type quilting frame. The frame is 10' long and approximately 3' deep. That way the small rolling tilted table can be rolled along the length with me, keeping everything close at hand. When I have to stop quilting, the table rolls under the quilt top that is on the frame to be out of sight and out of the way so that the narrow space between the frame and the desk can be used. I need a much bigger sewing space since all my supplies are scattered all over the house. I cut in the garage, sew in the kitchen, quilt in the living room. My material is stored in bins on shelves in the living room, in bins in the laundry room and storeroom, and batting rolls are in the closets. I have laughing told my children I'm going to build myself a new house that has only 1 room other than the bathroom so that all my quilt supplies will be in the same room on wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling shelving. The kitchen can hug the walls and be out of the way of my quilting!!

My mind has to be slipping because I have actually begun trying to graph out such a house. I'm convinced I do not need a sofa and other living room furniture. Comfortable rolling chairs at the quilting frame and the sewing table would suffice for visitors if I build in window seating. Now if I could just decide how to keep the clutter under control I might try just that. Can you tell my mind wanders freely when I'm sitting in the car waiting to pick my grandchild up from school? This hobby I started in order to relax and have fun in my last years has become an obsession. But I LOVE it!!!! This board is my therapy and gives me much encouragement. I still consider myself to be a newby. Wish I knew how to take pictures and post to this site but that technology may be beyond me. I'll have to talk to my 8-year old granddaughter. She would come closer to being able to do that than I would.

OOPS! There I go--being way to 'chatty' again. Sorry!

LOL I have been trying to convince DH that we don't need the living room, and since my super quilter is housed there I might just as well move out the rest of the sewing room....

great topic!

Those are the ones I leave IN the hospital room.

:roll: :roll:

Well I did move my sewing center into the living room. We have a long living room and my husband has half and I have the other half. Since it just the 2 of us it works wonderful. I am always in the same room with him and enjoy it very much. Its just not big enough to house all my fabric and cutting table but can't have everything. Need to get up once in awhile

I use a white candle and run my thread over it. It keeps the thread from knotting up when I am hand sewing.

Agree, in fact I don't even like knowing they are in the room. But the wash basins make neat little bins on my shelf and I can just pull them out and check on which fat quarters I need or want to use.