We quilters really are a creative bunch. Yes, there are a plethora of tools and such in quilt shops but we quilters have found ways to recycle or upcycle items in our homes to use in our sewing rooms. Whether it’s a household item or an item used in another craft, we can find a use for it in quilting! Since it’s about summer, I’m going to take this week and next to show you some of the fun I’ve had doing this. Enjoy!
Tip#1
We all have a lot of these in the house:
Instead of sending them to the recycling tub, save some of them for the sewing room! Here’s a use for the smaller tube that if left from toilet paper. First up you can use it to tame cords, like on your iron:
This can also work for your sewing machine cords and desk top lamp cords. Great for transport to a retreat.
The next use I found for is is to wind prepared binding.
Wrap it around the cardboard tube and then secure it with a pin. That way as you are at the machine stitching it to your quilt, especially a large quilt, the binding won’t be trailing all over the floor or getting tangled.
I use the longer paper towel tube for storing my roll of fusible web.
If you buy your fusible products off the bolt at the quilt shop, this is a great way to store them so they do not get damaged from being folded and stuffed in a drawer.
Tip #2
Don’t throw these away either!
If you don’t have a trash bin close to your sewing machine, either at home or at a sewing retreat, one of these empty tissue boxes fits the bill! Really convenient to collect small fabric scraps and threads. Then you can dump it all into a trash bin when you’re done.
Tip #3
Next up, save those empty prescription bottles. I use mine to store bobbins. You can actually have one bottle per stack of bobbins in a particular color. They can also be used to collect used sewing machine needles for safe disposal (right photo, below).
Tip #4
Do you want to use a large cone of thread but don’t have an adaptor for your machine? Use a a large canning jar! I found this one at an antique shop that had a cover with an opening that keeps the thread cone from coming out (be sure to cover any sharp edges that could snap the thread).
If you can’t find one with a cover, you can make your own from a piece of cardboard by tracing the top of the jar on a piece of cardboard, cutting it out and then cutting a smaller circle for the thread to come out.
Tip #5
Having trouble threading your machine needle or hand sewing needle and you do not have a needle threader? Consider using a piece of neon paper, like a post-it note to make the needle eye more visible.
First, a hand sewing needle (which I use a lot for hand appliqué):
Notice how the eye is more visible with the neon paper behind it.
Now here’s how it makes a sewing machine needle’s eye more visible:
So that’s it for this week. Share some of your fun upcycling or recycling that you use in your sewing room. You will be entered in a drawing for my newest pattern, Star Spangled.
The drawing will be on Monday, June 30 so you will have a chance to enter on this week’s and next week’s posts.
Happy Quilting (and recycling)!
Deanne
Really good tips, Thanks!
You’re welcome!
Wow! Loved these ideas. Will forward this email to several other gals!
Thanks!
Great ideas. I had to laugh out loud and said why didn’t I think of that when reading your recycled tips. Thank you for sharing!
Right? Some of them seem so simple.
Lots of great ideas today!! thanks for sharing
You’re welcome
Love all the tips! My favorite is saving used dryer sheets to use as foundation for string quilts. Helps control the chaos ☺️
That sounds interesting. I assume you use unscented ones for that.
Thanks for the tips! Will try some.
You’re welcome!
I like to wrap trims around old wooden bobbins from textile mills. I also use old thread spools for smaller pieces.
Good idea!
I use my silverware rack from my old dishwasher to store my rotary cutters, marking pencils and scissors. It is narrow so it fits nicely on my cutting table.
Thanks for your tips!
Nice re-use of an item.
My portable tabletop wastebasket is a coffee can. The fact that it is a real can tells you how old it is. Thanks for the good ideas.
Great idea for disposing of sewing trash.
Thank you for the tips.. love the TP rolls for corralling electrical cords!
I use the plastic “jars” with screw-on lids from Talenti gelato for my sewing clips..one for each size…mini, med, large. They stack nicely saving table space. I use them for bobbins, and other small things.
Good idea. Those are definitely portable too for sewing retreats.
Great tips, thanks. I use empty washed pet treats plastic jars for trash containers around sewing , pressing, and cutting areas. Fabric and threads can be used to fill home made pillowforms.
Another great option for collecting sewing trash.😁
Thanks for the tips . I use empty grape tomatoe containers for trash and use a picnic holder. Which is usually used to hold silverware and napkins on my ironing board/cutting table to hold my rotary cutters, scissors, marking tools, etc. I use a spray bottle from a gardening center for water and another one for a mixture of water and starch. To transport or store your rotary cutter you can use an old eyeglass or a plastic pencil case with a snap.
All great recycling ideas!
I do a lot of string piecing (mindless sewing) and use odd shapes there but since it is June and my tomato plants are growing like crazy I do take selvedges and +/- 1 inch strips and tie my tomato vines up.
Great use for those selvedges. I might have to do that myself since I grow tomatoes too.
Great ideas. I live the threading needle trick. I will definitely use that.
You’re welcome!
I save all my little fabric scraps and bag them up and give them to teachers for art projects. I also save most of my tp rolls and paper towel rolls along with calendars for them as well. Egg cartons too.
Great idea for the fabric scraps!