Household items turned quilting notions?

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10-14-2010, 08:41 PM

#221

seasaw2mch

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Virginia

Posts: 1,260

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpeters1200

These are great ideas. I'm still fairly young, but my knees are shot. I often have to con the boys into picking pins up off the floor for me because mommy can't reach them. This would fix that...and save me a ton in skittles and M&M's!

Hey Lowe's has a telescoping magnetic tool that the boys use when they drop stuff in tight places. It is a great tool for dropped things as it has a fairly strong magnet. You can pick up things as heavy as scissors too.

10-14-2010, 08:51 PM

#222

GaSonicLady01

Member

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: Lawton, OK

Posts: 22

I use a febreeze lint roller sheet and tape it to my sewing table with blue painters tape. When I have to rip something out I use my tweezers to pick out the thread and put them on the lint sheet. it not only grabs the threads but it smells good every time I tap my tweezers on it... :thumbup:

10-14-2010, 08:53 PM

#223

JeanieG

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Camarillo, CA

Posts: 4,601

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarySews

How about sand paper to trace pieces, especially small ones -- keeps the fabric from shifting. does anyone actually cut individual pieces anymore? I use a rotary cutter for just about everthng -- but in the old days ... I used a lot of sandpaper for templates.

Mary

I'm doing the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt with others here on this Board. Many of us are doing templates. The blocks are 6 1/2", so are pretty small (at least for me). Have not made templates since I first started quilting in the last 70's!

10-14-2010, 09:02 PM

#224

fishnlady

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Posts: 416

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prissnboot

I use cornstarch to make my own spray starch, instead of buying, a HUGE savings.

Could you please share with us how you do this? Saving money = more money to spend at Houston Quilt Festival!!! I'm also almost out of spray starch....

Thanks!

check out http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-34781-1.htm
for homemade starch

10-14-2010, 09:02 PM

#225

JeanieG

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Camarillo, CA

Posts: 4,601

Quote:

Originally Posted by seasaw2mch

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpeters1200

Harbor Freight has one that compresses to about 6". It is really cheap!

10-14-2010, 09:13 PM

#226

jitkaau

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Australia

Posts: 4,116

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktbb

The paper you mentioned is parchment paper and it can be used for anything for which you need an ironingsheet. Because it's non-stick, it's especially good for any fusible applications, - applique as you mentioned is one.

lots of folks use a spoon, especially a grapefruit spoon as the tool to help put in quilting safety pins...holds the fabric down as you push the pin thru - the serrations on the graprfruit spoon can help keep the pointed end of the pin from moving around when you try to close it.

I use an old spark plug for the safety pin lever - inbuilt with its own groove.

10-14-2010, 09:17 PM

#227

jitkaau

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Australia

Posts: 4,116

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandasgramma

I use bamboo skewers as a "stilleto". I cut one in half and taped the cut end. Works great and is CHEAP!

I use freezer paper for appliqueing

I have a wire "tray" thing that our flatware came in to hold my rulers.

I bought old plastic flatware trays at thrift stores to hold my individual pieces.

I haven't got it finished yet, but I was able to find a 6 foot roller shade at a thrift store for $10.00. I bought some flannel and will glue the flannel to it. VOILA - a designer wall!!!!

I use two thing for my rules. One is a thing for cutting sliced bread that I got for a birthday present but never used and the other is the stand up tray holder that my kitchen cutting boards came in.

10-14-2010, 09:22 PM

#228

imak

Member

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Western Mass.

Posts: 55

Quote:

Originally Posted by FabricHappy

Wow, I love all the tips being shared here. Here's my "2cents" to add(haha): 1.a pencil box to store my rotary cutter in 2.Gerber plastic tubs to store pins,beads,embellishments,etc in. 3.bamboo skewer poke corners out. 4.antique school desk for my sewing machine. 5.terrycloth ponytail holders on my bobbins. 6.shoe boxes & gift shirt boxes for storing fabric scraps & strips. 7.flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth from dollar store for quilt layouts. 8.empty Hershey's cocoa powder container/coffeemug/coffee can for pens,pencils,markers,etc..9.large empty cereal boxes, trimmed, to hold quilt magazines. 10.Love to use heart-shaped candy boxes from Valentine's Day for heart templates.............Well, there you have it...some of my uses of nonquilting items, put to use for my quilting habit:)...:)

I also have been loving this thread! Don't know if it will help anyone but I use a large soda bottle to fill my iron--no spills. On a thread the other day it was mentioned that some were waiting for DH to make larger board ironing surface---like ME. I have been turning my board around and using it (backwards), get a larger surface and can still use small end to hold iron--or use table next to it. I also have a rectangular board that turns and my large cutting mat fits on it, by putting it on the ironing board it is just the right height to cut and I can cut all around it without moving my material.
Have fun and take care Imak

10-14-2010, 09:23 PM

#229

quilterfly

Junior Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Posts: 266

Dryer sheets are also good for cleaning your iron when you get fusible glue on it. Just run your warm iron over a new sheet several times & Wa!La! a clean sole plate!