I love to hunt around to see how other quilters utilize everyday household items in their sewing room. Some of them seem crazy, but when you try it, it actually works! I’ve also come up with some unusual uses on my own. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention! I’m sharing some of the ones I use the most here.
Tip #1
There is a lot of information about ergonomics while sewing to reduce back and neck strain. My sewing table does not allow my machine to be sunk in, so one of the tips I have employed is using door stops to elevate the back of my sewing machine to tip it forward. These door stops can be found at any hardware store.
I chose 1 1/2″ high ( at the highest point) door stops since I thought any higher would make the machine unstable. Simply slide them under your machine in the back to tilt it forward. Make sure everything is stable by trying to move the machine after inserting the stops. If the machine seems like it’s slipping, pull out the stops a bit so it is not tilted as much.
Notice it’s not a severe tilt, but it is enough to eliminate my need to bend too far forward to see how my fabric is feeding under the presser foot.
Tip #2
Use a mason/canning jar to hold a large spool of thread if your machine does not have a spindle for the large spools. Use the cover that comes with the canning jar to help keep the spool from jumping out of the jar while you’re stitching.
If your jar cover does not have a hole in it like mine, carefully punch a hole to feed the thread through. Be sure to smooth down any sharp edges with a metal file so those edges do not cut your thread. If you do not have a cover, you can fashion one from a piece of cardboard.
The cardboard “top” can be taped on two sides to hold it down while you’re stitching.
Tip #3
Use an extra long ball chain to make a necklace for your scissors!
Think of the convenience! You will never be searching for your scissors again when you are hand stitching or even as you are sitting at your machine. This type of chain can be found at your local craft store. There are a variety of lengths so you can find one that fits you perfectly.
Tip #4
Hold a piece of bright colored paper behind your sewing machine needle to help you to thread it if your machine does not have an automatic needle threader.
Notice in the above photo how you can barely make out the eye of the needle. And this is with the machine on and lights shining in the area! Now look what happens when you have a piece of colored paper behind the needle.
Now you can see the eye and easily thread the needle! I used a post-it note in a neon color. I keep the piece of paper in a drawer by my machine to use over and over.
Tip #5
Apply blue painter’s tape or washi tape to mark the line on your ruler if you are cutting a lot of strips of the same measurement. This will save you a bit of time and help with accuracy.
When you are done, simply peel away the tape. It leaves no residue on your ruler!
So those are my tips for this week. Tune in next week for some more fun tips and hacks! Comment below on some of the things you use in the sewing room that may not be conventional. You will be entered into a drawing for a my pattern Seaside Cottage!
The drawing entry will be over the next two weeks since it’s holiday time. You can enter this week or next. I will draw for the winner on Monday, January 6th in the new year! **We have a winner! Congrats, Lynne!**
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
I use a recipe book holder to hold my pattern upright as I work on it. A clothes pin holds it to the page I am on at the moment. I love your tips and your patterns!
Good idea!
I screwed a vintage towel bar to the side of my cutting table {Hoosier table with metal top} on it I have S hooks to hang my scissors and rotary cutters, small bucket with misc small tools or thread, and a few large clips.
That sounds like a cool idea!
Love your tips and ideas. I’m definitely going to try the door stop tip. Will eventually try the mason jar idea too. I love your posts and your Addie kat! ❤️
Thanks! Glad my tips come in handy!
Thank you for the great tips. Going to give them a try.
The threading idea looks useful as well as the chain for scissors. Why didn’t I think of that sooner? Thanks for sharing.
I use pink rubber erasers to tilt my machine up in back. You can get different heights by sliding the erasers further ahead or leave towards the back.
That works too!
Use some of them but new ones are great. Thanks bunches. Enjoy
Love it. All written down. Now to get going and get what I need. Thanks
I sharpen a bamboo skewer and glue a bead on the unsharpened end and use it as a stilleto
Good idea!
You always have tips that make complete sense. Thanks for sharing.
I use a piece of rubberized shelf liner under my cutting mat to prevent it slipping when I cut my fabric.
Good idea…. I might steal that!
Thank you for the wonderful tips and tricks. I’ll be trying the door stops for sure. My sewing corner consists of all types of items that have a multi-purpose use. Here’s just a few: A skirt hanger holds the blocks I have sewn, a pant hanger holds the fabric I’m using at the time, and vegetable (spinach) containers make great storage for some of my scraps of fabric. There are also binder clips holding all sizes of scrap squares ready to use at a moment’s notice. I also use a page holding clip to stand my pattern pages up for easy reference as I work. I use plastic wrap on the underside of one of my rulers to prevent it from slipping while cutting fabric. There are always creative ways to save space and money while using what you have at hand.
Wow! You have lots of great uses for everyday items. Definitely saves money and space!
I bought a lot of long narrow baskets from the dollar store and put them in my drawers next to my sewing machine to keep my thread in by color, makes it easier to find the color you need. I have all my embroidery threads on one side and cotton and variegated & metallics on the other side
Thanks for the tips, will try them soon. Does anybody have a tip to keep the sewing machine foot peddle from sliding? I need help in that area.
Hi Karen. I actually use this notion from Martelli Enterprises:
https://www.martellinotions.com/no-slip-pad-for-machine-foot-pedal.html