Welcome back! I’m glad you enjoyed some of the ideas I shared with you last week. Of course I have a lot more to share with you this week. It seems like the ideas are never ending. Which is a good thing! I like challenging myself this way. I think by the comments on last week’s post, you all do too. So, let’s get going with some more fun sewing room uses of everyday items.
Tip #1
I have another fun idea for bobbin storage! This is a funny one that I thought up one day when I was painting my toes. Toe separators!
I ended up buying a few more of these. The bobbins fit into the spaces and then you can stack them up in drawer. You can fill each one of these separators with filled bobbins of the same color so you can easily change bobbins when stitching a large project.
Tip #2
This is another idea for bobbins, but this one is a way to keep a filled bobbin with the spool of thread it matches. A golf tee works for this.
You can pick up a bag of these for little money in the sporting goods section of a store and put them to good use. Better than finding them in your washing machine after someone forgets to empty their pockets.
Looks like both of these ideas are “Addie approved”!
Tip #3
This and the next few tips are ones for my fellow appliquérs, especially those that like to take their sewing with them on the road. You can use these for fabric and wool appliqué. I repurposed a tin container so I can do fabric appliqué while traveling.
This tin holds a variety of the threads for the project I’m working on, a small scissors, needle threader, mini container of Roxanne’s glue and pre-loaded needles on a magnet that was affixed to the inside of the lid.
I also have a small box for my wool appliqué tools for road sewing.
You can find interesting containers of all sorts in the food or miscellaneous storage sections of many big box stores. Walk through sometime and think up new ways to use them.
Tip #4
Do you use the balls of perle cotton like Valdani? If I am using just one color and I want to keep the cat from chasing the ball across the floor, I came up with this idea:
I punched a small hole in the top of the container, big enough to feed the thread through without snagging, and replaced the cover. Now I’m able to pull out the amount of thread I need and the ball of thread stays put!
Tip #5
A few random items that you can re-purpose:
I like to use my wood pressing stick to press seams open as I sew small units. If you do not have one of those, a good substitute is a cuticle stick.
It will press the seam open enough to join this with another unit.
Looking for a something to use as a stylus? How about that orange peeler that’s sitting unused in your kitchen drawer (or if you use yours, buy another!)
Next up… losing your scissors all the time? I know I often lose mine under the table clutter when I’m sewing. My solution? I bought one of these ball chains in the jewelry making section of the craft store to make a scissors lanyard.
I wear this around my neck while stitching.
Tip #6
Finally, looking for a way to have your pattern propped up by your sewing machine? Many different items can be used. I have used both of these items below at different time.
First up, a plastic sign holder easily found at an office supply store.
Pattern pages can be slipped inside so all the instructions are visible at once. Plus, you can flip it around for the other side of the page.
Then there’s the cookbook holder that can double as a pattern holder:
So that’s it for this my ideas. At least until I think of some others! Share your ideas below and be entered into the drawing for my pattern, Star Spangled.
The drawing will be on Monday, June 30th. Good luck! **We have a winner! Congrats, Donna Hanneman!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
Put used pins and needles in an empty bill bottle. Put used rotary cutter blades in a Pringles can.
Oh, I never thought of the Pringles can idea. Good one!
I save my old rotary cutter blades to use on projects when cutting off paper or cardboard.
Good way to reuse those.
I wind my bindings around empty cardboard fabric bolts to store them until I need them. I pin the ends into the cardboard with the name of the project for which they are intended.
That’s a good use for the empty bolt.
Oh my gosh… the toe separators and Golf tees are genius!!! I’m still laughing.. perfect!! Love the orange peeler and ball chain ..super suggestions. I do use a plastic sign / frame for propping instructions, too… works great!
Appreciate your tips!
Thanks!
I use empty margarine containers to hold the hair clips I use to hold my binding to my quilt when I am hand sewing it to the back of the quilt. I also bought inexpensive plastic baskets to organize my sewing notions in a several draws. They are both rectangular and square in shape and were very cheap at Dollar Tree store. I designed my own small hand sewing bag based on a round plastic bobbin holder and fitted with small pockets to hold scissors, needles, a small plastic box of pins, thimble etc. The two plastic bobbin holders are full of bobbins filled with thread in a variety of colors. I found a small pin cushion with a pin back that I attached it to the lid.
All great ideas!
I use a silicon skinny ice cube tray to old my bobbins.
That’s a good way to hold them too. Each with their separate slot.
I use vintage glass frogs with a piece of thick sticky felt for furniture cut to fit bottom. Holds my pens, pencils and paper scissors. Great to keep these items in easy reach!
That’s a great idea and a fun use of an antique item.
You always have such good ideas. I will be using the toe separators and the sign holder!
Thanks!
I keep an extra rotary cutter filled with an old rotary blade to cut all kinds of paper. That way I don’t have to take out my good blade when I want to cut paper projects, etc. I label a used rotary case to store used blades. Love all your fun & useful tricks!
Good idea. I do that too with an old rotary cutter.
I keep my basting safety pins in square jars from artichokes. I use a few because I usually have more than one quilt going at a time, and some are ufo’s. I like the size of those jars because my fingers reach the inside bottom, and the lids are brightly colored, so I find them easily.
That’s a great re-cycling idea!