I use a toilet brush (new and clean, of course from the dollar store) to pick up strings from the floor where I sew. The long handle permits me to sit in my chair to "sweep" the floor.

I have one of these for each machine and tool boxes for other projects. Tackle boxes are also better than sewing boxes to hold the small stuff. I use a metal make - up suitcase which has multiple shelves, for my hand embroidery.

I love this idea! I have to go and find my old one for this purpose. Thanks for the idea.

Not my own idea but one that I have found very helpful while binding. I use a plastic shoe box sized storage bin and cut out a rectangle from the center. Tape around the edges (I used painters tape)to keep fabric safe and fold fabric down into it. This keeps binding from twisting when sewing it on.

Also can run them through (between) the discs to clean out lint or piece of thread you didn't know you lost in there.
Marysewfun

A good way to preview your laid out blocks is to look at them through the wrong end of binoculars, or the eye of your camera.

I have used the big fat rubber bands and put them around the extension to your sewing machine (sometimes it is an accessory box), and in the alternative put it around the arm of the machine for like 1/2 or 5/8 - of course that won't work on the arm of the machine if you are doing the 1/4 inch - but it works for other sizes and is easily moveable - and cheap!
Marysewfun

:P :P

Hi,

Hope your having a great weekend if they are not spoken for I would love them. Will gladly pay for shipping. Making quilty for my grankids 4 of them and my God niece is having a baby. I don't have much stach as my husband got rid of all my personal belongings including my machine so I'm working on rebuilding my stach

Pam Balster
(address edited out by moderator, this is a very public forum, Please use the PM function to share personal information)

When you have to "rip" a seam, wrap a piece of scotch tape around your hand or a few fingers - sticky side out - and dot it down along the ripped out seam to pull up about 90-95% of those pesky thread tails.
Marysewfun

The magnetic pin dish. I keep it set to the right of the machine, and when I'm pulling pins as I sew, all I have to do is drop them anywhere above the pin dish and the magnetism catches them. No need to stick them in anything-- just drop!

Love your tips - truly saving on time and dollars.

Oh - I like this idea. Thank you.
Marysewfun

I use the empty CD or DVD containers (the large ones with the spindle) to put balls of tape,binding,lace etc onto. The lid keeps everything clean and stackable. Sometimes I cut a hole in the lid - on the side or top- to thread the 'string' through.

I taped the lid to my seam ripper (upside down) onto the front of my sewing machine. This way my seam ripper is always handy (since I'm always using it!) You just have to be sure to put it back.lol

Wow - a lot less expensive than what they are selling online! This is fun!!!
Marysewfun. :lol:

I bought the ring for my rulers but hated it because I had to ake off the ones in front to get to the one that I wanted. So I found the binder clips, I put them thru the hole in the ruler and put it on the ring. Now all I half to do is open the binder ring.

Also Harbor Freight is a wonderful source not only for blades but I have bought clips, and plan to buy a table that
will be perfect for a ironing table. They also have the gloves with the rubber fingers, and everything is much cheaper than items with quilt in the name.

Be aware that you should not use anything magnetic around computerized machines. But it sure works great on the non computer machines!!!!

I was experimenting with glue stick and applique....making a total mess as I normally do needle turn. Anyway, I found if I ironed a big piece of freezer paper onto my ironing board I could change the paper as it got sticky instead of ruining my ironing board cover.
Also, I try to sew together 2 small squares between sewing -- they eventually turn into 4- or 9-patches, etc.
Thanks for all of the great tips.

That is good as long as your machine does not have a computer embroidery program...the magnet could be a problem with that.

[quote=galvestonangel]Also Harbor Freight is a wonderful source not only for blades but I have bought clips, and plan to buy a table that will be perfect for a ironing table. quote]

Hmmm - is it rectangle or how is it shaped? Thanks.
Marysewfun

I hang a lanyard around my neck and hang a small pair of scissors on the clip while sewing.

Use an empty paper towel roll for binding. After ironing the binding in half, wrap it around the roll and put it on your lap. No more tangled mess.

I have one of the black toolboxes on wheels with the yellow pullout tray . From the home improvement store. Great to take to quilting and have everthing with me.
I also use safety pins when i have lots of blocks for a quilt -pin 10 blocks together. Then when you go to count your blocks you can pick-up 1 saftey pinned stack and know that is ten. Helps a lot if you have 100 blocks in a quilt.
I always make a copy of my pattern so I can write on it -like what color and any other changes I may make in the color placement - without writting on my organial pattern. Then keep the copy with my project until I am finished with my quilt.

Hi guys,
Just a fast note (I still have company) to let you know that 8296 quilters have read this thread and that 180 kind souls have posted some pretty fantastic ideas! Where else on the web do you find so many giving folks? I'm enjoying my inlaws visit but I can't wait to read all your ideas. Thank you for helping each other and for sharing--this is so nice!!

Sashing-Sarah709

This is a great idea!!!!

Great idea!!

I use wooden clothespins (sometimes plastic...both cheap at $$ store), mark numbers and/or letters (A,B,etc) on the end w/magic marker, then clip the clothespin to the strips or blocks to keep them organized.

I had a round glass table top from one of those inexpensive side tables..I use it for applique...I put lines on it with Sharpie...up and down and crossed...this way I do not have to press my fabric..I put my fabric down on the glass, I can tape it to the glass, I get the centre point right away and I also get the diagonal lines...I can pick up the glass and put it on a Rubbermaid container with a light in it for tracing...

I am working on Dear Jane blocks but this is a good idea for any paper piecing...when cutting the units for paper pieced block, I didn't want to lose them...I use a box lid, from the cardboard boxes that hold the printer paper, I put a 12 x 12 cork board in it...sell them at Walmart..4 for 10$ or so...and as I cut out the units, I pin them to the cork...this way I can see how they go together...when I cut out the fabric for the units, I pin it next to the units, and I know exactly what fabric is for what...then as I make them I pin them back and I can see the block coming together...I took another cork and drew with a Sharpie tthe size of the block...in this case the triangle and the square and so I can pin it on to see if it needs to be trimmed...I can block it on the cork..it has turned out to work really well for me...

Thats a great idea, Jan. Thanks ♥

I thought that you had to be very careful with magnets around the computerized machines or is that just a tale. ♥

Hi,

Happy weekend hope everyone is enjoying it. It's snowing here again and the roads where terrible. Staying home and sewing all day tomorrow
Just wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful new tips. While I was at Harbor Freight I bought those long scissors for cutting batting for 2.99


Littlebelle

It is a great idea for an older or non computer machine.
On some of heavy older metal ones it will stick by itself.
but, be careful.
Don't put anything madnetic near a new one with a computer in it!!! The magnetic field can kill it.
Same thing for other computerised stuff like watches and cell phones.
As I understand it, the magnetic field can de-magenetize or de-polarize the temporary memory ?

Boy! I sure wish someone would edit all these wonderful tips and then post them.

I have a large "Maxine" coffee cup that I use for the same thing. I hate cleaning threads out of the vacuum cleaner, and I don't want "Maxine" broken in the kitchen.

It was only true when computers used floppy disks. No more!

Quite a collection of wonderful tips. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

1. I used to use sticky Velcro to keep a needle threader attached to my sewing machine since I could not see the hole in the needle. My new hero is the charming lady I bought my new machine from. I did not know you could buy machines now, that thread themselves! (If it ever breaks, the depression may kill me!) LOL!

2. FMQ is very hard for me, but a wonderful member here, posted a link where they were using a 'walking foot'. I had never seen that either. Now, I can quilt my own quilts.

3. My quilting board family will help with nearly any problem with sewing. You are all amazing. How did I ever sew without you?

I got one of those little "inscect" eye viewers from a museum store. When you look through it at a single quilt block, it multiples the one into many images. When you look at one block through it you will see the image of a whole quilt top.

Another good one I picked up was: keeping band aids next to your sewing machine so when you cut or prick yourself you can bandage it up and be on your way without a hiccup.

I have several rotary cutters, two 45's and two 60's that I use all the time.. I take a Sharpie fine tip pen and put the date right on the blade when I put a new blade in.. That way I know which one is newest, which one to use when I want to cut something like paper or batting, and I can tell how long those blade last me!

I use painters tape to tape the backing fabric to my table and then just add the batting and the quilt top, pin and quilt. Keeps the backing fabric nice and tight while pinning.