KyKaren1949

I get wooden chop sticks from my favorite Asian restaurant and sharpen them in the pencil sharpener. They're great to use as stillettos or not sharpened to turn things inside out. Plus, I have a bunch, so if one breaks or I lose it, it's easily replaced.
I also use tweezers same way as above.

tjradj

I'd be lost without my hemostats. I use them for holding the machine needle and pushing it up into the setting before tightening the screw, I use it for pulling up threads, I use it for holding the last little bit of fabric as it goes under the pressor foot, I use them for holding a pattern book open when I'm following directions for cutting, and I've even used them for a thread guide *through the handles) before I got the right guide to go with my thread stand for cones of thread. I also use them to hold a little piece of batting for cleaning out the bobbin area - it picks up the lint really well.

JoanneS

Empty wine box with dividers to store rolled up fusibles, freezer paper - anyting that can be rolled up on empty towel tubes. Also good for storing wrapping paper.

gramquilter2

I use chop sticks for a stiletto. Masking tape to follow a straight line when quilting. Rubber door stops to tip my machine slightly forward for sewing. My computer for quilting patterns/ideas.

rocklady

I love this idea of using the wooden dryer rack for strips. Now I won't have to bend over. I had them laying out on the floor. I'm working on a scrappy batik pineapple and a floral log cabin. (ongoing for more than a year) I have trouble with scrappy. I want to organize too much. Now I can see them better. Thanks

T.

What great ideas you all have. Here are a few that I use: an orange stick used to push your cuticle (don't know why they call it the orange stick, it's just wood, not even orange) as a stilleto; an old eyeshadow brush that I don't like anymore for cleaning the bobbin case or small places; and a sponge that is covered with microfiber material to clean the mat. I also use a wire basket for utensils at picnics to hold my scissors, pencils etc. and a wire letter sorter to hold my rulers. Most of these can be found at the Dollar store.

d.swindle

I use freezer paper,with a 1/4 in trimmed off and ironed back on the piece to be apliqued,use a small amount of sprayed water to moisen the edges and press your margin then peel off your FP and start appliquing.
I have also hijacked a lot of my husbands tools,he had a telescoping magnet,if works great to pick up pins or anything you can't reach.
d.swindle

ndgirl

I taped a measuring tape to the front edge of my cutting table - great time saver. And I use a long handled tongs which I never used for barbecuing to pick up things on the floor that I can't reach. I have a magnet taped to one side of it so I can nab pins and needles from the floor easily also. I also have a Craftsman took cabinet next to my machine and use one drawer for thread, one for needles, pins, buttons, misc. stuff, one for embroidery stabilizer, etc. I can lock it and I put a folded bath towel on top so I can press quilt blocks, etc. on it while I'm sewing.

Love2sew

You Rock! Thank you for sharing the tutorial with us.

Toddy

The little rubber tips for knitting needels. The are just perfect to cover the points of you embroidery scissors. Such as the stork scissors.