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Weird Tools we use



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 13th 06, 01:27 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
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Default Weird Tools we use

Okay add yours here
"Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't become lost I
have started a new one


Dee in Oz

Ads
  #2  
Old March 13th 06, 02:15 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
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Default Weird Tools we use

Ok, I have a couple:

I use the rubberized shelf lining to keep my foot pedal from shifting
I use those AOL 1500 hours for free CDs that are everywhere for making
curves, circles, clam shell lines for quilting
I use rubber fingers that folks use to count pages on my thumbs and pointer
fingers for moving my fabric when I quilt
I use the jigunda paper clamps for holding my fabric on a table when I am
pin basting
I use a magnetic extending wand from the tool aisle of Sears to pick up the
pins I "occasionally" drop while sewing.
I use my forceps from my college bio labs for removing the odd piece of
thread and fuzz when necessary.
Oh, and I use the teeny, tiny screwdrivers that I have saved from all my
computer construction activities for getting into the teeny, tiny spaces to
remove lint and fuzz as well.

--
Alice in NJ, Royal Cybrarian
http://www.ourcyberfamily.us/
"Just about the time a woman thinks her work is done, she becomes a
grandmother." Edward H. Dreschnack



"Dee in Oz" wrote in message
oups.com...
: Okay add yours here
: "Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't become lost I
: have started a new one
:
:
: Dee in Oz
:


  #3  
Old March 13th 06, 02:38 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
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Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

reposted

Well I would like to know what weird and wonderful tools
people use.

All my sewing kits have a pair of pliers in them. I can't
specifically remember what for, but I believe you should
never be without a pair of pliers!

And I have a set of those clamps that carpenters use to hold
boards together for cutting - great for holding quilts to
benches for pinning (they open wider than the bulldog paper
clips I use on my tables).

I have three metal builders' rules. I often use them to
mark a grid. My grid quilting tends to be whatever depth
the ruler is LOL (about 2.7cm I think?)

I use 1/2", 1" and 3" paint brushes for cleaning just about
everything, but especially the SM and overlocker. The
little brushes that come with the machine are useless!
Someone else said that too. The really small kids paint
brushes that come with cheap water color paint sets are good
for cleaning bobbin cases.

Nearly forgot - new makeup brushes are good for cleaning SMs
too.

I went to the hardware store and bought some really short
screwdrivers with normal size heads and "fat" handles - much
easier to use in tight spaces than the tiny fiddly ones that
come in the SM tool box. You can get a good grip on the
handle. And a set of jewellers tools (el cheapos are fine)
to
fix your glasses when they come apart!

Not a "tool" as such - but I have two metal letter racks to
hold my rulers. The stands that look like old fashioned
toast racks. (Come to think of it - toast racks would
probably work too!) I know you can buy wood stands with
grooves cut in them but I have found they tend to wear the
marks off the rulers. The letter racks (you need two for
the long rulers) are cheap from any good office supply shop
and they don't rub on the marks.

--
Cats ^;;^ ^;;^ ^;;^
( U ) ( U ) ( U )
Enness Boofhead Donut

http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau

"Dee in Oz" wrote in message
oups.com...
: Okay add yours here
: "Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't
become lost I
: have started a new one
:
:
: Dee in Oz
:


  #4  
Old March 13th 06, 03:11 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

I had the softer half of stick-on velcro under my SM foot to
halt the "migration, but this is a much better idea, esp
with carpet. Velcro and carpet do not mix well long term!

Just rummaging through my "tool box" (aka sewing box - which
is really a big old square biscuit tin LOL) I found my
favourite stitch cutting scissors from my embroidery days.
They are the scissors doctors use for snipping surgical
sutures (long handle, good grips, one blade with a hook on
the end). They were a gift from an old boyfriend who went
on to become a doctor. Maybe I should have married him when
I had the chance LOL I would have had a lifetime
supply of scalpels and clamps (more handy tools to have) and
stitch cutters, although it is easy to buy them now. It was
almost impossible to come by them way back when!

And I should mention my step stool! It came from the
hardware store, and is a low stool strong enough to stand on
to reach high shelves in the sewing room. The top unlocks
and it stores bits'n'pieces in two trays, and is just the
right height for me to use as a foot rest when I sit and
sew. When I am sitting in my big arm chair at night I have
another leg rest, so the stool sits beside the chair to hold
my cup. With a handle that is set into the top it goes room
to room with me except when my builder is working here.
Then he grabs it 'cos it is just the height he needs to
reach fittings and it is easier to move than his low step
ladder LOL

--
Cats ^;;^ ^;;^ ^;;^
( U ) ( U ) ( U )
Enness Boofhead Donut

http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau

"AliceW" wrote in message
...
: Ok, I have a couple:
:
: I use the rubberized shelf lining to keep my foot pedal
from shifting
: I use those AOL 1500 hours for free CDs that are
everywhere for making
: curves, circles, clam shell lines for quilting
: I use rubber fingers that folks use to count pages on my
thumbs and pointer
: fingers for moving my fabric when I quilt
: I use the jigunda paper clamps for holding my fabric on a
table when I am
: pin basting
: I use a magnetic extending wand from the tool aisle of
Sears to pick up the
: pins I "occasionally" drop while sewing.
: I use my forceps from my college bio labs for removing the
odd piece of
: thread and fuzz when necessary.
: Oh, and I use the teeny, tiny screwdrivers that I have
saved from all my
: computer construction activities for getting into the
teeny, tiny spaces to
: remove lint and fuzz as well.
:
: --
: Alice in NJ, Royal Cybrarian
: http://www.ourcyberfamily.us/
: "Just about the time a woman thinks her work is done, she
becomes a
: grandmother." Edward H. Dreschnack
:
:
:
: "Dee in Oz" wrote in message
:
oups.com...
:: Okay add yours here
:: "Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't
become lost I
:: have started a new one
::
::
:: Dee in Oz
::
:
:


  #5  
Old March 13th 06, 04:32 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

I use hemostats for removing fuzz from deep recesses of the SM and for
helping pull needles through thick layers of fabric.
A disposable scalpel (with retractable blade!) makes a great seam-ripper, as
long as you are VERY careful.
Old Altoids tins are great things to store your pins, safety pins, and
quilting pins in. And those refrigerator magnets that come on your phone
book are great to glue inside the lids of these tins to help keep 'strays'
from hitting the floor.
Pegboard is your friend as are those big media clips. Even the little ones I
use to hold a pattern page, magazine or other article up on the pegboard at
eye level so I can follow along as I cut and sew.
That's all the weird stuff I can think of for now. I'm sure there are other
weird things I use/do...;-)

Debi


  #6  
Old March 13th 06, 05:02 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

The best needle magnet/tray I ever used was bought for me by a friend this
past Christmas. It was a mechanic's nut/bolt bowl tray with a really really
strong magnet in it. I have dropped that whole bowl of magnets and I tell
you that not ONE needle dared to fall out. The magnet is so strong, the
needles stand on end in it and I have to give them a little tug to get them
to release from the tray.....LOL


--
Christina Doucette
Petawawa, ON, Canada
http://community.webshots.com/user/christinark


"Dee in Oz" wrote in message
oups.com...
Okay add yours here
"Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't become lost I
have started a new one


Dee in Oz



  #7  
Old March 13th 06, 05:10 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

Index cards...these are perfect for double-checking the 1/4" seam for
students and self: the lines are exactly 1/4" apart on standard index cards.
Bonus: you can write the settings [for machines with left-right adjustments]
right on the card and keep it with your machine! I keep a stack of these in
my teaching kit box.

--
Kim Graham
http://members.shaw.ca/kigraham
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
THE WORD IN PATCHWORK

"Debi Matlack" wrote in message
ink.net...
I use hemostats for removing fuzz from deep recesses of the SM and for
helping pull needles through thick layers of fabric.
A disposable scalpel (with retractable blade!) makes a great seam-ripper,
as long as you are VERY careful.
Old Altoids tins are great things to store your pins, safety pins, and
quilting pins in. And those refrigerator magnets that come on your phone
book are great to glue inside the lids of these tins to help keep 'strays'
from hitting the floor.
Pegboard is your friend as are those big media clips. Even the little ones
I use to hold a pattern page, magazine or other article up on the pegboard
at eye level so I can follow along as I cut and sew.
That's all the weird stuff I can think of for now. I'm sure there are
other weird things I use/do...;-)

Debi



  #8  
Old March 13th 06, 09:50 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

I use empty pill bottles to put used needles in. I use a permanent marker
and write the size and type of needle. I often use these later for projects
that don't need a brand new needle.

When hand quilting, I thread several needles. I put them in a sharps
holder -- the kind used in surgical procedures. In OR, all the used needles
are put into the case and counted at the end of surgery. The holder has
magnifying strips on the inside of each lid so the needle won't fall out.
It snaps shut. In OR, at the end of surgery, they case has another snap
that closes it so that it can't be re-opened.

I don't close that final snap of course, because then I can still get into
the case for all my pre-threaded needles. I never lose a needle this way,
either.

When doing any type of hand sewing, I drape a medium sized hand towel over
my lap, This catches odd bits of thread and snippets of fabric, and most
importantly, needles. I have 2 adorable little granddaughters who come over
every day, and I have to do all I can to avoid having needles and pins on
the upholstered furniture, and carpet.

René





  #9  
Old March 13th 06, 10:07 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

Sounds good, Christina; but a word of caution: don't keep it near a
computerised sewing machine. The magnetism which is so useful to us, is
not good for the machine.
..
In message , Christina
Doucette writes
The best needle magnet/tray I ever used was bought for me by a friend this
past Christmas. It was a mechanic's nut/bolt bowl tray with a really really
strong magnet in it. I have dropped that whole bowl of magnets and I tell
you that not ONE needle dared to fall out. The magnet is so strong, the
needles stand on end in it and I have to give them a little tug to get them
to release from the tray.....LOL



--
Best Regards
pat on the hill
  #10  
Old March 13th 06, 10:58 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.quilting
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Weird Tools we use

ok to add to the serrated kiddie knife for closing the pins when basting I
can add:
* from Ikea:
the Glis kids storage boxes for bits and pieces with different sections - I
have two , one for cotton thread and one for my special threads
the Glis set of 3 kiddie storage boxes - one for my basting pins (and the
knife - also from Ikea but no longer sold sadly) and one for my packets of
needles, stick on thimbles and other packaged stuff that is sharp and I want
to keep out of sight.

* I have two tins on top of my cupboard... one with rotary cutters and one
with pens I don't want the kids using
* I use the brush from the hair trimmer to clean the sewing machine - I also
have used the pastry brush from the kitchen for that but well the kids kept
on putting that back in the kitchen drawer ugg
* I use a plain Teflon baking sheet for fusing - it's black and was cheap
and is ok for my uses.
* zip loc baggies for all kinds of stuff
* a sliced deli meat box gets used for sorting bits when paper piecing
* I have an old plant pot for putting snippets in for the preschool and one
for the threads and too small for the preschool snippets
* I use a tray (snitched from the kids I must admit...blush )for moving my
mini's around on between the sewing machine, cutting table and ironing
board.
*pizza boxes for large block projects - the RCTQ BOM for instance
* a drawers on wheels unit for keeping 3 more projects in so all I have to
do is pull the drawer and I have all I need in one go.
*my dining room table is my designboard and can take any amount of layers of
projects laid out on it ;-)

oh and if you put your coffee cup *in* the centre of your bobbin holder ring
then it won't fall over as fast when knocked over ;-)

--
Jessamy
In The Netherlands
Take out: so much quilting to reply.
Time to accept, time to grow, time to take things slow
www.geocities.com/jess_ayad
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jes...pson/my_photos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay add yours here
"Cats" has added hers to another thread but so they don't become lost I
have started a new one


Dee in Oz


 




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