New Question -
 

Recently we discussed what gadgets we found the most useful. Great thread. How about this one - what gadget are you sorry you bought? I can't say I have too many of those, but I did by a fabu-motion without stitch regulator when I was having a lot of trouble learning to free motion. What I really needed was practice and this now takes up space in my closet.

I don't buy too many gadgets and can't think of any I regret----------except maybe the rotary blade sharpener. Doesn't work too well.

About a million thimbles. Finally found ONE I can tolerate. Maybe I'll start a collection :D

@ GrannieAnnie: I'm in SW Indiana too! I'm in Mt. Vernon, where are you?

I would have to say that the worst purchase I've made towards sewing/quilting would be the brother cs6000i sewing machine. Had I known that it would only last a couple years, it would never have made it into my cart at WalMart (not that Walmart had anything to do with the machine's cheap construction). I've been educated and since purchased a Janome 6600 and am more than happy with her.

My MegaQuilter w/12' frame. The store I bought it from (an hr away) said that I could come back for free lessons but they were always canceled at the last minute. They finally sent me a DVD (NOT what I wanted, not what I was promised) but by then I was so frustrated with them and the quilter that I haven't touched it in 3 yrs. I may get to it sometime or another but I've never gone back to that store. Now I only shop at a store where I know that they have good service and operate with honesty.

A needle threader, and a rotery cutter blade sharpener. Both baught at Joann's with coupons, neither one works. even took them back and asked how to work them even the girles there couldn't get them to work, no needles threaded and still dull blades.

Blade sharpener. I don't think it sharpens at all!

i agree with the blade sharpener.. its horrible.. a lot seam rippers were a waste of money but you need to try them all before you can find the perfect one..

Rotating cutting mat. It was expensive, and it's still easier to turn the piece I'm trimming than it is to turn the mat.

I bought a "new" Gingher seam ripper, the one with the curved blade...what a joke! The blade is too wide at the top to even come close to getting into a seam...guess I could always just saw the material away....IMHO, it's a huge waste of time and money!

My DH bought me one of those quilting calculators, I never figured out how to use it, so it's in a drawer somewhere, lol!...

There seem to be alot that don't like the rotary sharpener. I bought one with a coupon at Hancock's simply because they had several of the refill sharpeners in a clearance bin for really cheap. I admit the first time I tried to use the sharpener, it didn't seem to work that well, but then I handed it to my son who is 35 and much stronger than me. Trust me, it works, I guess you just might need some more umph behind it.

Quilting Calculator, rotary blade sharpener, Fiskars scissor sharpener, Simplicity Rotary strip cutter (a gift), Pintastic (another gift), and I'm starting to think my 2 1/2 in strip die for my Accuquilt Go. I've had it for months and have never used it even though I have made quilts that required 2 1/2" strips. Got it out of the package the other day, decided it was too much work and put it back and cut the strips with my rotary cutter & ruler.

The Pounce that is used for marking quilts was a waste for me. Either I used too much or too little, and of course the white didn't show on dark colors so I would have had to spend more money...

Simplicity rotary strip cuttter, does not cut accuratley.

Oh, and I know I am in the minority here, but I got an Ott light for Christmas one year and HATED it. I really dislike the light it puts out, and my quilts are used indoors so normal indoor lighting is fine for making them, too.

Gave that one away to a friend who was delighted to have it for miniature painting.

Some quilting books. By the time I go back to them, I have changed my mind or watched the videos from Missouri Star Quilting and decided that it's just easier to watch their videos than to start a new project with my pattern from the book.

[QUOTE=catlinye_maker;4843278]Oh, and I know I am in the minority here, but I got an Ott light for Christmas one year and HATED it. I really dislike the light it puts out, and my quilts are used indoors so normal indoor lighting is fine for making them, too.

QUOTE]

Thank you for posting this! I HATE those darn things. I bought one at JoAnns one time and took it back. My MIL thinks they are wonderful and everytime she is in my sewing room tells me I needs some. If I am at her house doing anything for her she tries to turn one on for me. I can't make her understand they make me sick to my stomach.

My quilting frame, a light that "hugs" your neck, cams for a machine that didn't fit, fabric for scraps (I don't piece!)... Jury's still out on the quilting machine that I got with the frame.... I'm sure there's more.
My husband is my best "gadget" :)

I bought a gadget to cut circles and what a mess it makes! It certainly doesn't cut circles!
Another bad purchase was a little iron from Joann's that didn't get hot enough. Fortunately is was cheap because I got so frustrated with it, I tossed it!

Fons and Porter rulers. Waste of money as there are much easier rulers to use.
Bobbin winder that makes a mess.
Specialty rulers like the xblock which I have never used since I lost interest before I got around to use them.
June Taylor shape cutter ruler, just not worth it and its just as easy to use a regular ruler and no folding the fabric to fit the ruler.
I love may rotary cutting mat and use it alot and if you twist the rotary cutter blade sharpener back and forth alot with a little pressure they do work.

For me it was a hexagon ruler that i could never figure out how to use. The rotary cutter blade sharpener was truly the worst.

So true. Expensive mistake!

Great thread...no pun intended...lol
For me it's the Simplicity Rotary Cutter and Bias Tape Machine. I am just totally unimpressed with both of them! I can't get the rotary cutter cranked down tight enough so the fabric doesn't slip and slide going thru. Results are strips that are most definitely NOT straight, unuseable and wasting the fabric! I like the bias tape maker slightly better and hopefully with some practice I can get it to work correctly. BIG WASTE OF MONEY on my part!!

This thread could be so helpful to everyone especially if we list the problems we are having with the items. I am especially happy to read about the rotary blade sharpener as I was considering purchasing one. I kept hesitating because I wasn't hearing any big rave reviews on them. Now I know why! So thank you to those who posted about them.

I just get so mad at myself for buying whatever the newest thing is to make quilting easier to be more perfect. I don't need easy because I love quilting. And I have finally learned that perfect isn't where I should be headed. I can never be that. I am finally beginning to say to myself, "Wait a bit and think about it." It certainly has helped. Now to use all the "STUFF" I didn't really need.

So many rulers, used once or not at all. Bobbin winder works well but just don't need it with my Phaff.

Rotary Sharpener
 

sew glad you put that on here I seen one last night as a matter of fact they were 2 of them.I actually thought of buying one but I am second guessing my self.You you send me a pm to let me know which one you have.

I actually thought of buy one of those Blade Sharpener,I am glad you posted about one.I seen 2 actually last night.Could you pm and let me know which brand or which one you have I still might order the other one,after I find out which one you have thank you.

good thread.....at joanns with a coupon purchased a thread holder for cones (serger) ...... would be fine if it stayed on a shelf forever but when you lift it it off balances and opens and everything is all over the floor...have to tape it with painters tape or feel like i am on a gag show......quess it could be repurposed as a planter

ARRRGHHH - marking pens!!! I must have a dozen - disappearing ink ones (great except that you can't mark ahead of time - the ink disappears!!!), soapstone (doesn't work), soap slivers (are you KIDDING????), pouncing (forget THAT - BIG mess), pencil style - they work for a little while, then you sharpen them and the points keep breaking off..

My mom gave me one of those chalk marker sets with the different colored chalk sticks that you slide into a holder. Those are pretty good but they do tend to break easily as well.

A ruffling foot that keeps jamming the fabric in the feed dogs.

Pounce because it is messy to use and marks rub off before I am finished quilting the section, and the little pink iron because it doesn't get hot enough and the cord is in an awkward place. Don't like the tiny clover iron because it seems awkward for me to use. I probably have some rulers that I don't use, but, they made me happy for a while when I got them, always on sale or with a coupon.

Needle Threader, never got it to work. Thank goodness I bought it with a coupon. Same goes for the Gingher Seam Ripper, an again bought with a coupon. I just have bad luck using coupon's on worthless items. Oh well!!!!!

Yep, I agree. The blade sharpener was a waste of money.

I have a cheapy hand held sharpener that you turn by hand. It works once you figure it out. Twist it back and forth with pressure then turn the blade over and do it again. It does work but be careful you could cut yourself handling the blade.

Blade sharpner. Isn't it funny hoe we all need these gadgets, use them once and there they sit, never to be used again?

I still can't believe there are people out there who buy a sewing machine at WALMART and expect it to last like the GOOD Brother sewing machine that can be bought (at an expensive price, yes, but they will last!!!) at your local Sewing Shop. Please remember...there are cheap brands of just about everything. You get what you pay for.