Onebyone

I have all sizes of the Quilter's SlideLock. I don't think of it as a gadget. It is a must have safety item. I use it on top of my regular ruler. I do not take chances using a rotary cutter.

letawellman

I had the same experience with the Martelli binder!! I never use it, kick myself every time I run across it (when I'm either re-organizing, or looking for something else), but I don't want to foist it off on someone else and turn a friend into an enemy. I kind of keep it around to remind me that I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EVERY GADGET OUT THERE!!!!

And BTW, what is a "Clapper"?

mom-6

The only gadgets I'm attracted to are acrylic templates for shapes I use often.
Things like magnetic pin holder, seam rippers, rulers, mats and rotary cutter are essentials, not gadgets.

janecat

What is Big Look? And Clapper---do you mean the gadget where you clap your hands to turn off the lights? If so, do you somehow use this for quilting/sewing? Thanks!

NatalieF

Clapper (I made my own out of a piece of maple 2" wide by 24" long. Had hubby cut it into 3 x 8" pieces and glued them together with Liquid Nail, sanded the edges and voila...cost all of $4 to make) Here's a video that shows how a clapper works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsFy8wgHabQ

rryder

I have the following gadgets that I love and use most of the time:

Martelli Binder--I bind most of my quilts with it
Seam ripper identical to the one that came with my sewing machine- I keep extras around so I can replace when they get dull.--also use them as stilettos
60mm rotary cutter and starch for gluing layers of fabric together (really helps when cutting multiples--can cut through about 8 layers of fabric)
Large cutting mat - 55" x 32"--great for pin basting large quilts not to mention cutting big pieces of fabric
Westalee ruler foot for FMQing with rulers on my domestic machine--love it
16" square ruler and 12" x 24" ruler--great for squaring up a quilt before binding, or for squaring up blocks before joining
The FMQ foot that came with my PQ1500s-- better visibility than any FMQ foot I've used on my other machines


Gadgets that I love having, but don't always use:
Big Shot Pro and sizzix and accuquilt dies--I really like this for when I'm making a quilt that has lots of really small pieces
Add a quarter ruler-- for paper piecing


I'm sure there are others LOL

Rob

janecat

I went back and read through the posts. Now I know what Big Look and a clapper are. :-) Thanks!

MadQuilter

Even with the basic equipment there is "gadgetry" - I recently bought a magnetic pin cushion (with lid for travel) and some lovely long glass-head pins. I love both the pins and the ease of use of the pin holder itself.

I also bought a pair of Kay Buckley scissors. These serrated scissors are fabulous.

After fighting 6 ways to Sunday with every conceivable manner of creating flying geese, I recently purchased the easy angle and companion angle rulers. I now make perfect geese. Why did I wait so long?

quiltingshorttimer

The Big Look is a magnifier that is on an arm and hooked to a platform that slides under your machine. It adjusts in all directions easily. I use mine all the time. It not only helps me see the needle area, but also forces me to set up straight in my chair so my neck/shoulders don't ache when I sew.

I figure that any "gizmo" that helps me continue to quilt comfortably is worth owning. If I buy something that I just don't use, I will pass it along.

yel

i have to say the side winder is the one i thought i would never use but i love it and the second thing i can't do without is the o'lipa rulers love love love them