Dear Friends...My guild is having a show in Nov., and you have already shared ideas for possible classes or demos, many thanks! Now I have another question for you - what have you found in other places in you home to re-purpose for your quilting? Recently one of our members said she had found an old record album holder that she now uses to hold her rulers.
Would you mind sharing your re-purposed items with me? You are the most innovative folks I know....Thanks so much for your help!

This is a bit on the big side of repurposing lol. I bought an old orchard ladder on Craigslist to use in my sewing room to display quilts. It will lean against the wall & the quilts will be hung on the ladder rungs.

These two threads, today, fit with your query. Just in case you haven't seen them!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tpr?p=3107116&t=118453

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tpr?p=3107447&t=118581

We took an old lean-to that was used for wood storage and made my quilting shop out of it -- does that count??? :)

I use the wood skewers that are made to do kabobs for a stilleto.

I have an old microvave cart sitting beside my machine, that has the small ironing board and my iron; I dont have to get up to press things as I am sewing. I took the doors off of it.....on the shelves, I have a couple of plastic bins that are "catch all" for things like applique pattersn, scraps, whatever.

Thanks for including my post as a re-purposing suggestion!

I am currently using an old and worn mattress pad as the filling for a wall hanging. I have also purchased quilted bed-spreads from motels that are updating their decor. These are great because not only are you getting the filling, but the backing as well.

Uses the plastic bags bed sheets,comforters, pillow cases,(the ones with the zippers.) to hold my projects in that I am working on...

I have an old carousel that was used for kitchen utensils, bought it at a garage sale and I use it for all of my scissors, cutters, anything that will stand up and fit in the slots.

Well, I use dry erase markers to practice freehand quilting motifs on an old laminate counter top that separates our kitchen from the family room. When I'm done, Windex makes it all sparkly clean again. Works just like a whiteboard ;-)

The rubber mat for exercise equipment (The kind that has like puzzle piece edges) I put two pieces together on the 6 foot table I use to sew on and put my machines on less vibration and noise.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym...e-Mat/11089966

I snagged a Hallmark card display once. It hold all of my rulers. Nothing is too deep so it doesn't get lost in the steps.

Oh, I'm adopting this one!:)

We still have a Jenny Lind crib in the shed that I want to do something with. I have a junk room that I'm going to turn into a sewing room and I was thinking of rigging one side of the crib between two tables or cabinets and hang fabric from it.

my friend uses door stops under the rear of her machine. she really likes the tilt. says it is more comfortable on her shoulders.

Oh, Oh, you can get the same type thing at Big Lots. It's call puzzle mat flooring for your garage (to stand on while working, etc.) About $8 for 4-5 pieces.

I have three items that I have re-purposed and have helped me with my quilting.
I work for a local architect and keep all the empty rolls from the acid free paper we print on. These rolls are then used for rolling my finished quilt tops on to (the smaller one that are 36" wide. Then I bag them in the acid free plastic the rolls are shipped in and store them until I'm ready to actually quilt and bind them. I have also promised my quild to bring in the extra rolls for others in the quild to use. Sure makes it nice when you get ready to quilt and bind them. If you roll them on nice and tight there will be fewer crease to press out when your ready.
I also took a metal ring I once used to hang my belts on and now use it to keep my bigger rulers and straight edges together on hone hook on the peg board wall unit my DH made for my craft/quilting room.
Also, at the end of my cutting table I've ducked tape a pillowcase - this is where I toss all those little scraps that I won't be able to use. When the pillowcase is about 2/3 full I stitch it closed - fluff it up - and deliver it to our local shelter for the kitties and doggies to enjoy.
And as for pdcakm's friend, those doorstops are backsavers. I use them when I'm on retreat. Being all of 5'2" and short legged - tilting the sewing machine just a bit makes all the difference in the world for me.

I like to use a shoe storage bag that hangs on a door for things like rulers, patterns, ribbon, ect. Keeps them organized and out of the way and I know where to find it. It is also easy to see what is there. Another good thing is pencil boxes. I got a bunch on sale for .25 a peice on clearance and use them to keep my different attatchments for my two different sewing machines so I don't mix them up.

That's even better, like that price, thank you.:)

Oh, Oh, you can get the same type thing at Big Lots. It's call puzzle mat flooring for your garage (to stand on while working, etc.) About $8 for 4-5 pieces.

I use a child size ironing board next to my sewing machine.
Just the right height and is very handy. No more jumping up and down to press those seams.

I see where a lot of you are useing different kinds of slotted racks for storing rulers but my question is, won't they warp if left like that. I always lay mine down flat on a table when I'm not useing them. The building I sew in doesn't always have the same temperature. If I'm not sewing I don't keep the heat or air on unless the temp outsied is to the extreme. Just curious.

I use a similar one that was originally designed for a desk top. Mine has little shelves as well as the stand up slots. Holds just about everything that I may need at the sewing machine .. .and the lazy susan part makes it pretty slick on the access!!

I wouldn't think you should have any worries about your rulers.

The cutting mat is a different story ... keep it flat!

Quilters have been known to ruin their when taking to classes. Sun coming thru car windows can be very hot ... and a mat not laying flat can become warped very fast! :(

A LQS uses antique cribs to stand bolts of fabric in!! Another has an antique wooden cradle for the sale fabrics.



Which reminds me ... At a garage sale last year, I bought a lovely colonial wooden baby change table for my sewing room. The top works perfect for setting in progress projects to the side, along with the assorted fabrics. I found wicker bins/baskets that fit the shelves, and store separate projects in each. Once filled it has lost it's baby look!!!

I like the door stops idea, thanks

More of a dual-purpose: My friend stands up her guest bed frame and uses it as her design board. When she has guests, she pulls it down. Like a Murphy bed, but she ha no cabinet for it. It just stands freely.

I use a tool box with wheels to transport my machine and quilting supplies: it holds rotary cutters, machine manual, several pairs of scissors, needles, pincushion, extra pins, pencils, tape, ziplok bags, etc.

Bonus, it is freestanding and also functions as a small work area beside my chair when closed, a small cutting mat fits on its top for use in marking HST's or making small cuts.

I had several racks that hold folders etc. from the office when we retired. They're great for holding rulers.

Shoe boxes for patterns and fat quarters sorted by color.

Those who have had cataract surgery use those blue zippered cases to carry small accessories to class.

some things tht i re-purpose:

Small Pizza boxes to hold 12" blocks for a project. I used scrapbooking paper on the front of the box to mke them pretty.

Chrome dish drainer rack for my smaller rulers.

a cheap microwave cart, with padding i made for the top, for pressing small things next to my sewing table.

"Command" strips/hangers on the back of my sewing room door to hole my cutting boards.

cardboard fabric bolts from Joanns, (free) cut in half, to hold my fabric, anything over a yard.

6 drawer stackable scrapbooking paper holder, the bottom one is on wheels, i stacked the other on top. to hold threads, bindings,graph papers..etc. got them at Joanns with 50% off coupon.

i use the "NaNavigator" from "crop and style", rolling tote to carry my janome jem sewing machine. Michaels used to carry them, i used 50% off coupon, ended up costing me about $30 bucks. MUCH cheaper than a quilters rolling tote!

I am sure there are other things, i just need to get up and go look around my sewing room!

sneaked out of the husbands garage at one time or another:

a T-Bar
(long aluminum ruler used for straight line cutting of dry wall)
for squaring up longer quilt sides.

I recently started using an old wooden knitting needle to closely guide my fabric under the presser foot. Similar to the wooden cocktail skewer I used to use, but this is smoother and stronger. I know there are tools made specifically for this purpose at the stores, but the knitting needle works great!

I use a couple of ladders and put planks across the steps to make shelves for my stash. I can easily see what I have. My DH made a cutting table out of saw horses and a 3'X6' board. It's the perfect height now - no bending over to cut. And, it gives me lots of room beneath for storage in totes.

I cut a warped mat and glued it to the top of a lazy susan.

There is an over-the-door hanger on the back of my sewingroom door. I hang my cutting mats using men's wooden trouser hangers. Just glue a strip of rubber bubble shelf liner to the inside of the wood.

Also, we laid the sliding doors from the closet flat and covered them with flannel design wall grid. We stapled it on starting at the center of each side folding under the edge of the fabric. Then we hot-glued nylon marine rope all around the perimeter. The door shave enough space between them to leave the items up when moving the doors.

I use pieces of wood under the back legs of my sewing table. The tilt helps the back from hurting so much.

I put bobbis in the little container strips come in with my strips for testing my sugar.

Kids scissors are the best thing to use when making your own templates out of cardboard or such because you do not care if they get damaged.

I like to use little tins that ALTOIDS chewing gum came in, ICE BREAKERS restore mints tins and any other small tins to keep my quilting pins and safety pins in. I have also taken other small tins and made them into needle keepers. I took a "Brighton" bracelet tin that had a "B" on it and lined it with a magnet to hold the needles. I gave it to my daughter because her name begins with "B". I found the tin at a charity sale where they sell all of their tins for usually 25 cents. I love to repurpose.

Thank you

Sandyb

is there a way to flatten a warped mat?

My sweet husband made my cutting table out of two of the base cabinets when he redid our kitchen. He put the cabinets back to back and bought a piece of laminate to put on the top. I have the five drawers and a door on each side of the cabinet to hold buttons or whatever else I have to store. He also put the wall cabinets up to store some of my stash.

I have a very small sewing room that was my daughter's bedroom. She switched rooms but her queen size box springs wouldn't fit upstairs and I didn't want to part with it since she may want it when she moves out later this year. I stood it on end and now it is my very large design wall. Works great. Also, I use those "noodles" for the pool that you can get from the $1 store to put large quilt squares on as I quilt and I also use them to take my ironed fabric to class so that it doesn't get wrinkled again. They are easy to cut to the size you want and the next time you go into a store that has those free umbrella bags grab one, they are perfect for transporting the noodles back and forth or just for protection

Great idea!!! I think that it would bring the
object that is being sewn to a better position to
see it better.