Pass On The Best Idea You've Had While Quilting
02-26-2011, 07:44 AM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MA and FL
Posts: 413
I also use a magnet on my machine. The thin ones from an advertisement for your frig. I have a computerized newer bernina 440 and I emailed them to ask if this was going to interfere with the electronics and they said " NO " it would not.
02-26-2011, 07:53 AM
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MA and FL
Posts: 413
I bought a precut piece of glass at the hardware store. Bound the edges with duct tape. I put this over a block or section of my quilt and use dry erase markers to try out a quilt pattern. I suppose you could use a piece of heavy plastic.
Okay so I didn't bind it until after trying it out first.
Okay so I didn't bind it until after trying it out first.
glass with pattern tryout
[ATTACH=CONFIG]149081[/ATTACH]
mini quilt that pattern was used on
[ATTACH=CONFIG]149082[/ATTACH]
02-26-2011, 08:07 AM
#84
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 601
Originally Posted by mcdaniel023
I velcro a small pincushion to the side of my machine. Pins are within reach and I can return them to the cushion as I sew. I was constantly knocking mine off and I didn't want one on my wrist.
02-26-2011, 08:09 AM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 811
What good idea have you had that would benefit others? How about passing them on just in time for weekend quilting? :-D
Sashing-Sarah709[/quote]
Here is a way to make your own really sturdy pattern paper. Take two sheets of the inexpensive white tissue paper, the kind you get at the dollar tree and a white plastic trash bag. cut open the trash sack to get one layer sheet. sandwich tissue, plastic,tissue and iron with a hot iron. Be careful to trim bag to tissue size or the iron will melt the plastic and you will have to do a clean up. The resulting tissue is very strong, it can be cut or torn but is not fragile. It is translucent and you can easily trace through it. It is great for transferring multi size patterns as you can trace off the size you need and save the original. Also if you want you can use an existing tissue pattern as one of the layers and thus make it stronger for extended use.
Other uses of this idea that I have come up with is to have the top layer be fabric. When I was book binding having the glue leak through was a real problem. Book cloth is expensive and rather boring. By doing this I can have any kind of book cloth I want. I think if you were covering boxes this would be handy too. Also if you are crafting with fragile or making items that need a sturdier paper this is a great solution. Once I sandwiched the tissue with maps to make lampshades. The are still going strong. I also have sandwiched that shiny iridescent tissue with white tissue to make a sturdy paper to cover journals. Works great. I haven't tried it but I am thinking to use two lightweight fabrics with the plastic and seeing if I can make a moisture resistant fabric for lunch bags and such. Easier to sew than oilcloth and cheaper than vinyl coated cloth.
Sashing-Sarah709[/quote]
Here is a way to make your own really sturdy pattern paper. Take two sheets of the inexpensive white tissue paper, the kind you get at the dollar tree and a white plastic trash bag. cut open the trash sack to get one layer sheet. sandwich tissue, plastic,tissue and iron with a hot iron. Be careful to trim bag to tissue size or the iron will melt the plastic and you will have to do a clean up. The resulting tissue is very strong, it can be cut or torn but is not fragile. It is translucent and you can easily trace through it. It is great for transferring multi size patterns as you can trace off the size you need and save the original. Also if you want you can use an existing tissue pattern as one of the layers and thus make it stronger for extended use.
Other uses of this idea that I have come up with is to have the top layer be fabric. When I was book binding having the glue leak through was a real problem. Book cloth is expensive and rather boring. By doing this I can have any kind of book cloth I want. I think if you were covering boxes this would be handy too. Also if you are crafting with fragile or making items that need a sturdier paper this is a great solution. Once I sandwiched the tissue with maps to make lampshades. The are still going strong. I also have sandwiched that shiny iridescent tissue with white tissue to make a sturdy paper to cover journals. Works great. I haven't tried it but I am thinking to use two lightweight fabrics with the plastic and seeing if I can make a moisture resistant fabric for lunch bags and such. Easier to sew than oilcloth and cheaper than vinyl coated cloth.
02-26-2011, 08:21 AM
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MA and FL
Posts: 413
Let me see: small paint brush to clean bobbin and needle throat area, rubber shelf liner under my machine and foot pedal to keep from "walking" away, scrap fleece to clean up threads on floor and cutting mat, any containers that are suitable for storing. I have clear containers for; 6 1/2" sqs, 2 1/2" sqs, 2 1/2" strips, 4 patch blocks and probably others. These are now ready to use in a quilt anytime. I usually donate a quilt each summer for auction to the theater my son performs at and these precuts are what I go to for a fast quilt.
Skinny batik strips from trimming I use to fill clear glass ornaments. Batik is two sided and they look so pretty inside the balls. Gave these as gifts to quilty friends and family. Short appetizer sticks as stilletos. I know there's more, just can't think of them.
Skinny batik strips from trimming I use to fill clear glass ornaments. Batik is two sided and they look so pretty inside the balls. Gave these as gifts to quilty friends and family. Short appetizer sticks as stilletos. I know there's more, just can't think of them.
02-26-2011, 08:23 AM
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MA and FL
Posts: 413
Originally Posted by aggie
Use the large AM & PM pill storage boxes purchased at Dollar Tree. Scrub off the days of the week and use it for my "feet" and label them. Nice because you can just throw it around and not have to search for the right foot.
02-26-2011, 08:26 AM
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Worland, WY
Posts: 303
Originally Posted by Baloonatic
Originally Posted by Aurora
I washed an empty juice jug and cut off the top, then inserted it into my thread catcher. I just remove the jug to empty my threads at the end of the day. No more picking loose threads out of the bottomand off the sides of the thread catcher.
Also, I use a tool box for quilt guild and UFO days. Here are photos of my best idea for transporting my quilting gear.
Also, I use a tool box for quilt guild and UFO days. Here are photos of my best idea for transporting my quilting gear.
I've used thread bunnies for 30 years, but if I can get a plan together I SO want to use the idea of "beginners and enders" and get two quilts sewn at the same time!
I tuck a small piece of foam in the top loop of my cone holder to keep the thread from raveling, especially monofilament. It is just enough to control the thread, but not add to the tension.
Last spring I found my 3' silk wreath on my front porch was being decimated by birds looking for nesting material. Sew I draped narrow strips of fabric scraps (14" or so) on the wreath and the birds helped themselves. I now save the narrowest little strips separate from larger scraps and will be putting them out on the porch again this spring!
The larger fabric scraps and leftover batting pieces are saved and chopped up for stuffing pillows for pet beds which my guild donates to the local animal shelter. We made 185 pet beds last year on our annual sew-a-thon ...that's a lot of scraps!
02-26-2011, 08:31 AM
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 877
Originally Posted by Jan in VA
I use a full 1" x 1.5" Post-it-Note pad flush up against the presser foot, held down with a fat rubber band or a strip of tape, to keep my 1/4" seams exact. I can sew two strips together in about 10 seconds using this! All my seams are straight, equal, and easy.
Jan in VA
Jan in VA
KIM
02-26-2011, 08:32 AM
#90
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cedar Creek, TX
Posts: 171
I have one of those round magnetic pin holders - it fits into a RubberMaid contanier. I think it's a #1 round contanier, great for dropping pins in while sewing. Learned this from Louise Cutter, a wonderful sewing lady.
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