My sisters and I put our thread cones in a coffee cup.Works great.

excellent. i have had a shirt pattern forever that i love. it is in such bad shape-now i can save it. great idea

For ShirlinAZ: Very ingenius! Love it!

This would be perfect when using those multi-size patterns or when altering a pattern into one of the other sizes as well. Then you could trace the altered pattern onto fusible and still be able to make the original in one of the other sizes provided. I need to do this to all of the guys western shirt patterns! Thanks! Great tip!!

I have heard the same thing.

Best idea i ever had while sewing was to sell all my fabric and find another hobby.....obviously it was a bad day...lol

I've used a cup for my thread cones at my sewing machine for a long time and it does work great. This morning while practicing on my long arm I used up a spool of thread and needed to switch to a cone but the cup will not fit on the side of my long arm. The empty spool was styrofoam so I trimmed away the upper edge of the foam spool and stuck it up inside my thread cone. It fit tight as a glove and now I can place the thread cone directly on the thread pin of my long arm, it will also fit on my domestic machine. To reuse I can just stick a pencil down through the top of the thread cone to pop the styrofoam spool out and then place it in another cone...coffee mug no longer needed!

I use 2 rubber door stops to tilt my machine up towards me to lessen the neck strain of bending over to see where I'm sewing

I use the real small ponytail holders on my bobbins to hold the thread ends in place when not in use.

I like this! :thumbup: Everyone has such creative ideas. Well what else would I expect from a group of quilters? :)

I use pedicure toe separators for my bobbins. Just pop them in and twist until the end of the thread is in the back. No stringy mess!

Id anyone is still reading this long-long post---I have an old
microwave cart on wheels. ironing board on top. shelves under. good place for spray cans,air cans, etc. pull it to the machine when needed. first shelf holds plastic set of
small drawers for small things.

Watch out for that magnetic strip if you put it on a programmable machine. I had one wipe out everything in the program. Not a good thing.So be careful. Ok??

When things are continually going wrong, WALK AWAY!!! You need to regroup, destress, chill out, and then you can come at it again a bit later! :thumbup:

What a GREAT idea!!! I never would have thought of that. With Degenerative Disc disease, I get a lot of pain. My eyes aren't great either. Thanks a bunch!!!!

The thing I think I can offer is ....PATIENCE! I wasnt much for pacing myself, but have learned I get much better results when I do. I will also rip out stitching time and time again to ensure I get it just right. My thoughts are ....if im going to spend the time and hard earned money...I want it to look right. Also Enjoy yourself. If you are not enjoying what your working on...put it away for another time. IT'S REALLY OK!!! :):)

I have copied patterns on Poster board.

AWW don't give up, better days ahead

Great idea Jan! Money saver as well!
Blessings,
MaryAnna

I don't have a light box for tracing patterns etc., but I do have a plexiglass extension table on legs that came with my machine. I flip my ott-lite on it's back and slide it under the extension table, works perfectly.
My second tip is about rotary cutting multiple strips from a single piece of fabric. For example, if I need six strips 2" wide, I first cut a 12" strip with my square ruler, then I slide it over to the 10" mark, cut again, slide it to 8", cut again and so on until I have all 6 strips. It's alot faster and more accurate. If I'm working with a strip width that's not so easy to mentally calculate, such as 1 3/4 inches, I use a calculator to determine the maximum width I can use for the first cut, in the case of a 12 inch ruler it would 10.5 inches. Then I use the calulator to subtract 1 3/4 inches for the second cut and move the ruler to the 8 3/4 inch mark. I continue to use the calculator for each cut because I don't trust myself to figure it correctly in my pea brain!
Probably sounds complicated, but it really saves time when cutting lots of strips.

I need another one as the latch broke on mine at quilt retreat a few weeks ago. Had had it for over 20 years and several dofferent uses but it truly was perfect for marking tools, etc.

I have traced mine unto clear plastic (buy a cheap clear plastic table cloth cover), then I've got it forever! You can buy the clear plastic at any fabric store, or buy the table cloth cover at WM. The other advantage is that you can see through it.
Blessings

Yes! They make great ties for almost anything.

I keep one of those rug samples under my sewing machine. It keeps the noice down and helps with vibrations and I also stick the pins in it as I pull them out.

another tip i heard and it works is to heat the fabric with the iron first (just run the iron over as in pressing) and then use spray starch .. no more white flakes on the quilt. the fabric absorbs the starch right away.

Great idea!
Blessings,
MaryAnna

I have thread catchers but never seem to get the thread into them. Wondering how you get yours into them. I seem to miss all the time. Ha

I buy the bright colored pencil erasers from the Dollar Tree. I snip off the part of the erasers that fits over the Pencil. I use the part that is left (kinda-sorta pyramid shaped) when pinning layers together. Stick your long pins through the layers and into the flat part of the eraser. Keeps me from sticking myself with the pins as I work. I am on blood thinners and one stick from a pin results in blood on my fabric.

I found a nice large pill box for keeping bobbins in and it snaps shut. I found this at CVS Pharmecy. I has eight departments and each dpartment holds 5 bobbins. i love it.

Love this one!!!

I save my empty up-right tissue boxes and use them next to my machine for threads, clippings and stuff. When they are full, I toss them out. Spring is near so i may start putting them out for the birds to use as nesting.

When trying to match difficult seams I use glue stick on both of the seams and finger press them together. Works like a charm, they stay put so I can pin them on each side of the seam.

I use a nut pick as a stiletto, it is cheaper (you can get them at the $ store) and they are not sharp.

I use a coffee cup to hold my glue upside down so I always glue at the top & ready to use.

I also cut the 2" squares, as well as 5" charm sized squares and 2 1/2" jelly-roll sized strips and keep them in labled boxes.

LOVE this idea!

Love this idea!

I shorten my old sturdy ironing board to use as a table when I'm sitting down or working on small projects. I have used the end of the ironing board as a pin cushion too (can't have enough pin cushions lying around!) Also, I've recently recycled an old TV cart with wheels for a mobile storage unit. I use a large clear bin for scraps so I can pull out little pieces in a jiffy when making small items or embellishing things. I use the end of my lint brush for a stylist. One of my favorite hints learned from my sewing machine dealer is using a curved nail scissors for seam ripping & cutting threads for embroidery.

[quote=MaryAnna]I think I need to see a picture of this to "get" it!! :)

Love this idea - thanks!

I love this idea! Thanks.

clever idea to use up both the extra scraps and glass bulbs I have laying around!