I think it's great how we're all different. I love my Side Winder and haven't wound a bobbin on my machine since I got it. Mine was a requested gift. I have a couple of specialty rulers I've never used, and several types of quilting thimbles I tried probably once each. I have found many helpful suggestions here. (And I use most of my Harbor Freight Tools.)

Did you try soaking your blue pen in glycerin? That helps sometimes.

I agree the Martinelli zip bind system was on of the biggest wastes that I purchased

I love all of my gadgets even if some of them must feel like neglected red-headed stepchildren.

I'm a natural tightwad and don't spend much on gadgets. I've bought only 2 or 3 rulers (my original 6x24 plus 12" and 5" squares), and a couple of books. One, highly recommended by other quilters, is to calculate how much and the cost of fabric; I never use it and probably never will, so I consider that a bust. Other quilting aids, including magazines, have been given to me as gifts. I have bought a number of thimbles, trying to find one that I like for handquilting. I finally decided what works best for me is the thumb cut out of a old leather glove. Anything else I've bought--mat, rotary cutter, pins--just come under the same category as fabric: necessary purchases that I use and use up.

also holding pins between your teeth. My dental hygienist asked me if I sewed and I said yes and she said "I can tell by the grooves in your front teeth.

Ok I've read all the post before me. My add a quarter is truly my friend. Love it! But the add a quarter wheel , put a pencil in the hole draw around temp-let is junk. On classes , well I could write a book. Some of the most famous quilter are so bad and I wouldn't waste another minute in their presence. I can't even look at them on TV. You hear nothing but who is backing them and vocal ads for their stuff. An ad for the sewing machine company and give nothing back. One long commercial. Never will I sit under another full of baloney teacher. Save your money and refuse to buy their books.

I have a GO that I've only used a few times so far but I am IN LOVE with it!

Most of the tools I have bought, I use often but one of my expensive mistakes is the Sashiko machine. It doesn't have a good stitch and the machine company I bought it from knows nothing about them. On top of that I have two Bernina machines that has about the same type of stitch. Live and learn, I guess!

I bought one and I sent it back and bought something else with store credit.I could not keep the fabric in it to cut what a waste.Have talked to others who sent theirs back. Good luck with yours.