Walmart has the Martelli roundabout mat for $48. It is only the mat so don't think it is the turntable set up. I can't believe how many on Facebook have posted what a great deal it is not reading it is only the mat as the ad says in the first place.

Hi Peckish. I looked up the Strip Stick and it reminds me of the sleeve ham i have. I thought about using it for ironing strips. I'll have to play with it to see if it works. It's bigger than the Strip Stick so it might not work.

Hi Watson. I watched a video on the Spider Ruler. I'm going to make a OBW quilt and it reminds me of that but a 45 degree instead of 60 degree ruler. In the video she fussy cut each triangle instead of stacking the fabric to match the design. She also showed some that she didn't fussy cut to match, which was interesting too. I'm learning so much on this thread! It's great!

Hi Onebyone. I saw the same thing on Amazon but once I read the description is said mat only. I always try to remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Just looked this stick up....umm....years ago, I bought a pressing ham set that had a regular pressing ham in it and another one that was about the size of orange for roundness and about 12 inches long. I never used the regular pressing ham and sold it at a yard sale. However, I do like the other smaller one which is considerable bigger than the pressing sticks. I use it when I really want seams to lay flat and open....works really well

umm...just did a search....and what I loved for those flat seams seem to be called a sausage roll ham or a seam ham or something like that.. Who knew!

Hi oksewglad. Good idea. I am so organized at work but at home I'm kind of a slacker. Lol. I have a couple of those hanging shoe organizers in my sewing rooms small walk-in closet. I bought the clear shoe boxes (with snap on lids) which generally work well but some still need labels. I also have a various assortment of tins that need labels. Thanks for the kick in the butt. Lol

Hi sewingpup. Great to know!

I have three rotating cutting mats - a 14" Fiskars, a 14" off-brand, and an 8" Fiskars. I hate the 14" Fiskars - the top and bottom are separate and it falls apart while I'm using it. The top is also getting warped, though I don't know why, since I keep it flat and away from heat. I bought the off-brand one from Amazon after reading that the top and the base didn't come apart. That one works great, and so does the small Fiskars.

I used to have that June Tailor ruler for cutting strips. I didn't like it at all; I can cut much more accurate strips with my 6 1/2"x24" ruler and a hand weight to hold it down.

The LED light strip you can stick on your sewing machine for more light. Both strips I got, ended up going from really bright, cool blue light to dull, dingy and yellow. Thought the first one was a fluke but nope, second one did the same thing so I yanked it off my machine and now I have a goose-neck lamp and a selfie ring (both LED and super bright) that actually lights my space up now.

The mini-iron. I did use it a lot when I was making a hexagon quilt, but I rarely use it now unless I'm really struggling with my seams or I don't feel like heating up my iron. It used to be the first thing I turned on when I got into my quilting corner.

Last thing are the heat erasing pens. I got every color I could because I really liked them in the beginning but I started having so many problems with them that I moved to the Sewline Mechanical Pencils. I'll still have to use the pens to mark my quilting patterns when I FMQ, but they're definitely not my go-to's anymore.

I have the June Tailor shape cut and quarter cut slotted rulers. That's what I was referring too. Somehow, I feel like I still manage to move the slots lol

For those looking for a comfy seat enhancer, Bonnie Hunter has a coupon on her blog for a Sew Pad right now. Quite expensive, but is the same material used in wheelchair seats with an air mesh cover. I have not used one, so have no personal experience, but thought somebody may want to check it out. www.sewpad.com Bonnie's blog has a code for free shipping. Her website is https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2020...ng-wishes.html.

Not exactly a notion, but the reason I have not tried the Sew Pad is that I have a Heavenly Sewing chair that is the bee's knees. If you have back or hip pain, I cannot recommend it highly enough. All task style chairs are not made the same.

I have the Tucker Trimmer as well as the Wing Clipper. One for HST's and one for FG. Both work well as you are making larger and trimming down, so end up with perfect units. I will admit that I rarely use them anymore.

I did not like the June Taylor strip cutter at all. Those slots seemed to wobble all over the place. Now I have the Creative Grids Stripology ruler (I have the 1st one that came out, there are now 2 other models). I LOVE it for strip cutting - so much so that I use it all of the time and never used my Accuquilt so sold the Accuquilt. It just took up too much space.

Rotating mats: LOVE the Martelli. It has ball bearings so has a nice, smooth turn every time and is built to be sturdy. The green square one, the Olfa, was awful! It didn't rotate, I had to push it so hard that anything on it shifted, so kind of defeated the purpose. I got the 3 piece set, but don't ever use the ironing side. The original is 17" and they now have a Mini that is 10" which would probably work for me as I make mostly smaller units. It's a lot less expensive; if I were shopping for one I'd get the mini base and cutting mat and not get the ironing portion.

No Frixion pens for me, I've heard too many horror stories. the manufacturer says they are not designed for fabric. they have 2 inks, a thermal one that disappears with heat and a gel that stays behind. I do not want to risk having that gel stain or leave a ghost mark.

My worst purchase (so far, at least!) is Roxanne thimble - way too heavy and hurts an arthritic knuckle and both Thimble Lady and Barnett's quilting hoops. I cannot seem to grasp the motion needed, or perhaps am just not willing to put in the practice I need?

I looked at the Bonnie Hunter-endorsed cushion but just can't bring myself to pay that much. I have seen very similar cushions elsewhere for less than half that cost.

The same cushion is sold at other stores online. I found one for $39.99 and it's the same as my friends who bought one from Bonnie's Hunter's online shop.. Look at non quilting sites for this cushion with a different name.

Quilt in a day Flying Geese ruler. Took a class and it was required. But since then I've found better luck and more size options using the 4at a time method.

I don't use my pin cushion anymore - I have one of those classic tomato shaped ones. I greatly prefer a small container with the pins loose inside. I can quickly grab a pinch of them when I need several, and when unpinning as a I sew, I can drop the pins back into the container without even looking at it. This definitely saves me time.

In the slotted ruler category, I bought the Quilt Cut one about a year ago and have been very happy with it. The slots don't move at all on me, and I can cat a batch of accurate strips/rectangles/squares very quickly. I feel like cutting is less stressful/tense with it, and more fun. :) When I was researching my options, I noticed there were some reviews that compared the Quilt Cut one with the Creative Grids one, and reviews noted that the Quilt Cut slots were 1.5" longer, which made it much easier to get a clean cut (width wise) for fabric folded twice. (I did not find any reviews comparing it to the June Taylor one.)

I also have a strip stick that I never use. It is just inefficient. I don't buy specialty rulers - like cooking tools - not interested in a "single tasker". I do love my Deb Tucker square ups and flying geese rulers and use them a lot

Hi maminstl, I'm with you about specialty cooking tools! I just don't use them at all. Especially, for me, cutting type gadgets.

I have used nothing but the Fiskars microtip scissors for years. They stay sharp, cut all the way to the end, have a spring to reopen them, and are easy to grab and use as they don't have any finger holes.They take a little while to get used to, but wouldn't part with mine.

I used it a few times before a quilter friend showed me her method, and I never went back. Luckily, the binding tool wasn’t that expensive.

Pretty much there are only two items I bought and feel was a total rip off . The first was the "glider" sheet for free motion quilting. What a waste. I didn't stick to my machine bed and more times than not, it got stitched to the back of my quilt! It was very expensive. I gave it to a friend who is just now learning free motion quilting but I warned her about its short comings. The second are those useless gloves that are supposed to help you move your quilt when free motion quilting. The minute you need to do anything beside quilt - the gloves are in the way. Not to mention they make my hands very hot. Martelli sells both "rings" and "paddles". Both of those produces are amazing and so glad I made those purchases!

I use the binder tool and also use it as a template to make chisel units.

I have fussy cut ruler things and never use them some other rulers also.

I do love my June Taylor strip cutter. Blades last longer and cuts much more accurate.

Which one? I have the Missouri Star binding tool and absolutely love it. The first couple of times I had to watch the video ... I made 9 mug rugs at one time and after binding those I have it down. It works perfect every time. Love it!

I use the Creative Grids folded corner clipper for binding and love it more than the MSQC one!

If you have a medical supply store nearby, they have lots of different types of cushions

Another yes vote for the Martelli round rotating mat. But I totally wore it out and about that time there was a sale on this square one. NOT.

Bias Bars, don't like them and won't use them.

Martelli Rotary cutters, for some reason they don't cut very well. I've watched the video several times and I just can't get them to work for me.

I also found the binder tool unnecessary. I watched a youtube video on how to do it w/o any special tool and it's easy.
But you can also use it for a template. I can't think of the pattern right now though lol

I have both large and small binder tools, but never use them for binding because I don't do mitered bindings anymore. I decided to keep them and use them for templates, probably for the same pattern that you can't think of right now. I can't think of it either. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Ha!! It's buried in my disaster room somewhere.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

My two least favorite notions: Every thimble I ever bought, finally gave up and let the callouses develop while keeping band-aids nearby just in case I poked myself. The other thing is every rotary blade sharpener that I purchased, also gave up, the cost of replacement blades is money well spent rather than the frustration of sharpeners that don't work.

The binding tool is great for joining the the two ends. I seldom do two fold bindings or bias binding anymore. I use single fold straight seam binding. A quilt historian said it will take a long time for a single fold binding to wear away before the quilt so she quit using double fold bindings.

This is very good info!

I've come ::this:: close to buying a rotary blade sharpener but read the reviews and change my mind. My sister said there is one that you run your blade through, while still attached to the handle, that looks more interesting to me than the other kind. I can't remember what it is called but I know I saw it on Amazon.

Suzie, It seems I can order all the containors you want and I am still not organized.I think it is that I have too much.

About what I bought and do not like is the pounce powder and sponge thing.

I use the Pounce chalk marker a lot. Did you know you have to slam it about 50 times as hard as you can after filling before the initial use? After that all you have to do is swipe it across the stencil.

I agree with this!! The madness never ends, does it?https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png