Originally Posted by judylg (Post 5985950)

While at a quilt show a few years ago, there was a booth set up. The fellow was showing how to make the seams, as in a windmill block where all of the seams meet up at the centre, resulting lots of bulk, less bulky. He was selling a hammer, that he used to whack the centre of the block. I could not see spending money on one, when I went home I did some looking through the hammers around here, found one. Now, when I have a bulky seam, I give a whack to the centre bulk, iron it and it is flatter. The tool with a case was over 20.00 at the time, not sure if they are still out there, have not been to a quilt show lately. I should mention I do this on my carpet floor in the basement, if I have a good number to do, I go get my cutting board, but always do it on the floor. It does help with bulk.

Originally Posted by DEPP (Post 5985380)

I bought the True Sharp electric rotary blade sharpener. If that is the one you purchased, let me know. I have not been successful in sharpening them. Sometimes I get a blade sharp but it has a place or two that do not cut.

Originally Posted by jeanharville (Post 5985648)

I don't use my binding tool either. Last week I bought a green Dritz needle threader where you drop the needle in the hole, push a button and the needle comes out threaded but mine will not thread a needle. I should have bought a Clover, but our Hancocks doesn't carry it. The Fons and Porter easy thread needle eyes didn't work too well for my hand quilting as the head was too large to pull through the fabric without plyers and left a hole. And I've bought many of the same useless gadgets many of you have. I would love to find a rotary blade
sharpener that really worked. I've enjoyed reading everyone of your comments as they are very helpful. Thanks to the OP for starting the thread.

Originally Posted by MarLeClair (Post 5978373)

I'm taking a class at a local quilt shop. Bought the pattern which was $24 and our instructor spent the first day telling us about all the mistakes that were in the pattern. I'm glad I'm taking the class, otherwise I would never have know about the mistakes and probably never finished the project. Since she has worked out all the kinks, it should go together pretty well. I won't mention the pattern designer but she has been contacted (2 weeks ago) and never responded.

Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn (Post 5976909)

I also got the Simplicity Strip cutter as a gift used it once and sold it to a friend only after letting her try it and telling herwhat a worthless expensive gadgetit is. She insisted she could make it work. It sits on her shelf now!

I also got the June Tailor Pintastic Pin Dispenser as a gift. Didn't even take it out of the box; promptly returned it to Hancock Fabrics with friends blessing. http://www.amazon.com/June-Tailor-Pi.../dp/B004W8WFNG

Originally Posted by franc36 (Post 5978562)

That is what I once used; but I got fancy and now use a much thicker roll and a silk satin ribbon. A wonderful, inexpensive way to keep binding straight! I learned this from someone here.

Originally Posted by paprpcr (Post 5982791)

I have to say that I bought one of the fabric covered pressing sticks and if you are talking about what I bought it is one of the best purchases I've ever made. As a matter of fact on Pinterest you can see how to make them for yourself. I am in the process of making about 30 of them to give as gifts at a quilting retreat I am part of. I can hardly wait to give them away because I know the participants will be so thrilled to have them after they see how they are used and how beautifully a seam can be pressed open or to one side!

Originally Posted by jeanharville (Post 5993563)

Thanks to all of you who tried to help me with the green dritz needle threader. I tried it again after reading your replies, but I just can't get it to work. I can thread several needles in the time it takes me to fiddle with it. The thread does come out through the hole, but the eye is not threaded. I'm sure the needle needs to be turned exactly right, but there in no way to tell which way to turn it. The instructions just say to drop the needle in the hole eye facing down. anyway just one more gadget I can't get to work.