Doreen

I use a door viewer to preview fabrics.

tjradj

Wow, this thread has been inspiring.
As a retired nurse, I use hemostats for everything from pulling up a bobbin thread, to holding the needle while inserting it, to pulling a needle through, to pushing out corners or reaching inside to grab a corner to pull it out on tiny things like doll clothes.
For organization, I have a bunch of the scrapbooker's organizer cubes - about 14" WxHxDeep. They come in all kinds of configurations and snap together. The one with 4 drawers fits FQ's perfectly.
White rice for filling pin cushions.
Pill bottles for used pins/needles.
Dull sewing machine needles to hang up pictures - they leave a teeny tiny hole in the drywall and stick out better than a lot of nails - they hold a decent weight for their size.
Computer armoire - now that the computer is a laptop, the armoire is my stash/patterns/scrap/everything else that I can hide behind a door storage.
My stapler - to add a tag with a number or letter to identify blocks - also to tag the upper right corner so I get them all in the right direction before sewing.
And the best one is a steel slotted spoon - to reach and scratch that spot on your back where you can't reach!

virtualbernie

I use the fingers of latex exam gloves to help pull needles through when I hand quilt and to line up fabric pieces. I also use a laundry sorting cart that has a small ironing surface beside my sewing machine, the attached laundry bags I use to hold my larger rulers and other miscellaneous items that are too large to fit in drawers but need to be kept close at hand.

QuiltE

Looks like you've found a nice way to "use" them in a different way ... and ENJOY them!!!

Momyar

WOWOWOW!!! What a great topic. Here's my list of things that aren't quilting related that I use

a glass frog (used to hold fresh flowers in vases) to hold scissors, seam rippers, etc
Hemostats (it's been mentioned but well worth mentioning again)
Covered tv tray for my close to and small ironing board
Decorative relish dish to hold anything in front of my sewing machine.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I have written a few down and will put them to good use.

kso

Tuna fish cans or cat food cans make great pattern weights.

A laundry detergent box can have the side cut at an angle to make storage boxes for patterns and magazines.

needles3thread

I am using discarded bedside tables from hospital rooms for my cutting table bases. We painted them
& bought a nice large top. works great.....with the drawer & shelves underneath.

Ripped on Scotch

I get the test strip container from a diabetic friend. They are the perfect size to hold bobbins and then I can put them in diffferent containers for different colours. It holds about 4 so normally its enough for a project.

I have the magnetic bowl from the car place for pins.

Those clips for when your riding a bicycle for your pants, they were alot cheaper at the bike place then the actual Quilt ones.

a peg board wall. it holds all my rulers on hooks so I can get them easily.

Thats all I can think of that I have right now.

nhweaver

Cook book holder mounted on the wall over my sewing machine to hold the instructions for the quilt I am making, a cheap computer desk (free) mounted on bed risers as a cutting table.

CanoePam

I use a number of the items already mentioned, but I also use items from the fishing section. My notions box is a fishing lure one, half the price of a very similar one in the sewing store. I also use fishing lure organizers to store all my sewing needles in their original packages (and I have lots!). I also use a tool bag from the hardware store to carry my Featherweight sewing machine. It fits the bottom of the machine perfectly and has lots of little compartments to store "stuff".

Pam