Not Just For Dishes Anymore !
 

We all have them. Those tools we use in our quilting room, that were never intended to be used for that purpose. Wallpaper seam rollers, painters tape, chop sticks, the list is long and plentiful. Well, I have a new one , to me at least !
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I know everyone loves to talk about what they like to use to keep their hands from slipping when free motion quilting, and I have tried alot of them. Before I came up with this idea I was using the machingers gloves, but they made my hands sweaty, and I had to take them off any time I wanted to change a needle, or rethread, then put them back on again. Plus, I have this OCD thing with hyper sensitive skin, and the gloves really sent me to the brink at times. Once I got my machine frame, I never really thought about it again, no more gloves ! Now that I have gone frame free again, I really had to come up with something else.
These are Scotch-Brite Stay Clean Scrub Sponges. You can get them at almost any grocery or dollar store. There are 2 styles of these, one has a regular sponge on one side and scratchy scrubber on the other. This kind that I use has little rubber nubs on one side and micro fiber on the other.

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When I first got the idea to try these I was thinking that the nubby side would be great for gripping the fabric, but its not ! Those little nubs slide all over the place ! Now the micro fiber side is perfect ! No slip at all ! They fit perfectly to the shape of my hand too and that is a nice comfort plus !



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All I did was sew on some 1 inch elastic to the sides for my hands to slide into and allow me to move my hands without losing the sponge ! I have been in heaven since I made them the other night. No more sweaty hands and slipping my hands in and out of them is super quick and easy ! Plus, they are MUCH more economical to replace when they get icky !

Great idea and a lot cheaper than the gloves. When they get too icky for fabric use, send them to the sink for dish duty.

HA..... What a fantabulous idea !!!!.... Thanks for sharing...

Well aren't u clever. Thanks for that great tip. Ann Peterson cuts a piece of shelf liner and grips it but that feels odd to me. This could work.

I love that idea. I will be trying that. I hate those gloves and this will work much better and cheaper too.

Great idea! Thanks for the tip. :thumbup:

Thank you for sharing. I like it!!!

Great idea!

That is such a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing with us.

You are voted MVQ (most valuable quilter) of the day for this fabulous tip!! :thumbup: :)

Great idea. I just use garden gloves with rubber nubs and they still work for me.
Always good to find something that works for you. We all are different and one thing doesn't work for all of us.

I have those and they are really easy to clean. When I'm done using them after dishes, I squirt some dish soap and really squish it through then rinse thoroughly with water as hot as you can stand it. Then spritz it with bleach. Then I put it on a surface that air can circulate and dry.

Wonderful tip!

Now how neat is that very much I must say.

I have tried quite a few solutions to this problem.....Never found a really good one. This sounds like a great idea! Gotta try!

Now that's really thinking!

That is a great idea!!! thanks for sharing.

What a fantastic idea! Glad you shared it. Loved your pictures!

Fantastic idea!

Wonderful idea! Thanks so much for sharing this tip.

I need to try it. Thanks.

Great idea, and thanks for the pictures to really show what you are doing.

I agree with Jan !!! :)

Great idea!!! Thanks. :)

How clever. Send it to Fons and Porter and they'll probably use it on their show!

I am so glad you all liked that tip ! I always feel so overwhelmed by you all ! I am that person that always blushes when people compliment her LOL so my face is very red after reading all your replies!

You are sew kind to share such an awesome tip!! Thank you!! Great idea!

I've always used machingers until recently when I just didn't think and started quilting. I was about an hour into it when I realised I didn't have to take them off to changed the bobbin. I looked back at what I had just done and fortunately, it was okay but I thought I could see a slight difference in the curvy places so I know I will be trying this out. After all, what's to lose? (And I might just buy some for the dishes too!)

What a brilliant idea. As Jan said MVQ. Thank you for sharing.

What a great idea ! Definitely going to try this & if it doesn't work, well at least you can use them in the kitchen.

What a great idea. Thanks.

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

I agree with Jan. :D

No, they will "clean it up" and market it for about $25/pair. :D

Great post!!!! I'm using it the next time I'm quilting.

Great idea. Will definitely try it!

Thanks for sharing this. I'm just getting started machine quilting and will look for these handy helpers!

Great idea, I have used the rubber squares you use to open jars, it helps.

Send this to Fons and Porter! You might just get a free magazine subscription for this tip!

I recently purchased some of them to use when I shine my Revere Ware pans but I will divert them to the sewing room and give them a try out today because I plan to FMQ on a jacket I am making. Timely tip.