Those are excellent tips, especially the one about needles. I once stepped on a needle that had fallen onto the scatter rug beside my bed (my sewing machine was also in my bedroom) when I was getting into bed. I had to call my DH to pull it out as I did a really good job on it. I wish my sewing area had something other than carpeting, however, the entire apt. is carpeted, so that won't work. I will sometimes empty my magnetic pin cushion and run it around on the rug to pick up some of the wayward pins and needles.