do you use anything "unusual" around the house in your quilting?
#1
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My one quilt group is meeting in a couple of weeks and the topic of the meeting is "shortcuts"! I haven't been able to do much sewing the last couple of months due to BOTH my parents either in the hospital or in a nursing home. Right now Mom is in a nursing home for rehabilitation and Dad is in another nursing home due to Alzheimers. so enough about why I haven't been sewing! I thought instead of showing a shortcut it would be kinda fun to see some things you can use around the house for quilting/sewing that you might not think could be used. Any one have something they use? Thanks!
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
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I use a small plastic paintbrush to clean down inside my machine. Works better than the brush it came with.
I have two rails with from Ikea that are supposed to be for hanging kitchen implements mounted above my cutting table - top row is for scissors and rotary cutters, bottom row is for small rulers.
I have two rails with from Ikea that are supposed to be for hanging kitchen implements mounted above my cutting table - top row is for scissors and rotary cutters, bottom row is for small rulers.
#5
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I use a long pipe cleaner to remove any dust or fluff from my machine. Much more pliable than a brush and can get right down into the machine. My mechanic has said on several occasions that my machines are the cleanest he's ever seen. He has told me I need only have them serviced every 2 years instead of every 12 months.
#6
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Used manilla folders to make templates
Red "Easter" celo wrap (for baskets) as a viewer for color value (for all colors other than reds & browns)
A blue wine glass as a color value viewer (to view reds and browns)
A large carpenters T square for cutting long lengths of fabric - mine has a "guard" on the cutting edge too!
Red "Easter" celo wrap (for baskets) as a viewer for color value (for all colors other than reds & browns)
A blue wine glass as a color value viewer (to view reds and browns)
A large carpenters T square for cutting long lengths of fabric - mine has a "guard" on the cutting edge too!
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Here not there
Posts: 1,449
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Not a shortcut but I use an old prescription bottle to put my bent/broken pins and needles in. When it is full just screw the lid on tight and toss. No need to worry a that someone will get hurt on them. When I toss the rotary cutter blades I seal them in mailing tape for safety as well.
D
D
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
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I keep a roll of blue painter's tape handy. I wrap it around my hand a few times, sticky side out, and stick it in a convenient spot on my sewing machine cabinet. All my thread ends get touched to this thread catcher. When it gets full, I throw it out and make another circle of painter's tape to replace it.
I use a large carpenter's T (purchased from a big box hardware store) to square my quilts after they are one.
I use a large carpenter's T (purchased from a big box hardware store) to square my quilts after they are one.
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,798
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Not a shortcut but I use an old prescription bottle to put my bent/broken pins and needles in. When it is full just screw the lid on tight and toss. No need to worry a that someone will get hurt on them. When I toss the rotary cutter blades I seal them in mailing tape for safety as well.
D
D
Bonus ... it doubles as a "weight " when one is needed.
Here's some more ideas from an earlier thread .........
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t152963.html
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