I hope you enjoyed my quilting tips last week that involved using unusual items in the sewing room. This week, I have some more of those to share to get you ready for quilting and sewing in the new year!
Tip #1
If you press seams open like me, use a cuticle stick to open the seam, without stretching it, so you can just drop the iron down for pressing.
This way, you are not moving the iron over the seam (ironing) which can stretch out the seam and distort your piece. Here’s a mini video tutorial I did on this subject:
Tip #2
Dispose of needles in an old pill bottle. You can mark the bottle “used needles” and dispose of it when it’s full.
You can also use the pill bottle for storing bobbins. Consider winding 4 or 5 bobbins with the thread you are using to piece a quilt and storing them in this bottle. When one runs out, you have a new one waiting!
Tip #3
Label pins with numbers using painter’s or wahsi tape. Use these to label rows as you are piecing a quilt. This is especially important if it’s a quilt where the design depends on the blocks and rows needing to be assembled in a specific order.
Placing the “1” pin in this block says it’s the first block in the first row. Keep the pin in this block after the row is assembled so you are reminded that it’s row #1 and needs to be stitched to row #2 and so on.
Tip #4
Use a scrap of batting to sweep threads off your sewing room floor. Works just as good as a Swiffer sweeper and you won’t get threads wrapped up in your vacuum cleaner head damaging your vacuum.
I actually just pushed around the scrap of batting with the end of a yard stick!
Tip #5
A belt hanger works really good to keep rulers organized if you have a small work space. You can hang it up in a closet when you are not sewing so they are out of the way.
Slip binder rings through the hole at the top of the ruler and then hang the ruler from the belt hanger. You can find these binder rings at any office supply store.
So there you have it! Some more fun ways to use unusual items in your sewing room. Comment below on things you use in your sewing room and you will be entered in the ongoing drawing for my pattern Seaside Cottage!
The drawing will be on Monday, January 6th. Good luck! **We have a winner! Congrats, Lynne!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
I use pill bottles for both broken/bad needles and pins and also bobbins!! Also used the little plastic containers mini M & Ms came in for bobbins. Actually found a couple of those of those last week!! Bonus!
I couldn’t live without a stiletto. The best kind that will not hurt your sewing machine if it gets a little too close is a porcupine quill. There is a sharp point end for little pieces and a wider blunted end for bulkier seams.
Thx for the tips!
Your tips are very helpful. I will use the batting tip on my floor. Thanks for give away!!!!
I use the binder rings and binder clips to hold my zippers. Works great!
Oh my goodness…thanks so much for Tips 3 and 5! Happy New Year!!
I use a large, clean liquid coffee creamer container with the label removed to hold water for my iron. The water container that came with my iron is small. By using the coffee creamer container, I don’t have to keep running upstairs to the sink.
Love the tape on straight pins tip, thanks!
Love these tips ,thanks you for sharing !
I was given a memory foam rug to stand on when working at my cutting table. It’s near the door and catches a lot of thread and bits that would probably track into the rest of the house so double win.
Good idea!
Love the idea to hold filled bobbins in a pill bottle–now they won’t roll around in the drawer.
I have a nice walk in closet in my room so I hammered a small head nail into the wall and hung my rulers on it. It’s a very small room and it’s also my guest room. It needs to stay tidy and uncluttered. I’m always looking for ideas for storage that will work in this room.
Great tips. Thanks.
I’m going to try those ideas.
Thanks for all the great tips, and THANK YOU so much for the Seaside Cottage pattern! This will keep me busy the rest of the winter.
These are greats tips I will have to implement some in my sewing room.
I have been using an old 35 mm film canister to hold my pins. I use the ones with flowers in top. It works great and especially when having to transport to classes or retreats. Another tip I got from a class for transporting blocks is to roll them up on an empty paper towel roll. It keeps them organized and they don’t get creases in them.
The paper towel roll idea for rolling blocks to transport to class or elsewhere is a great idea. That way they don’t get creases in them.