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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 |
#2
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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
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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 :: : : |
#4
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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 : |
#5
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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
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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 |
#7
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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 |
#8
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Weird Tools we use
I picked up one of those magnets-on-a-handle, *really* strong, from Home
Depot for tracking down the odd bit of dropped needle/pin/what have you; the guys swipe it for missing computer screws as well. Works wonderfully, and also when used like a broom pulls baby toys from under the futon nicely too. g --pig On 3/13/06 02:50, in article EnaRf.857283$xm3.346939@attbi_s21, "René" wrote: 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. -- Megan Zurawicz South Holland, Illinois |
#9
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Weird Tools we use
We always used the toy rake for this.
-- Wendy http://griffinsflight.com/Quilting/quilt1.htm un-STUFF email address to reply "Listpig" wrote in message ... snippage Works wonderfully, and also when used like a broom pulls baby toys from under the futon nicely too. g --pig |
#10
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Weird Tools we use
What do you do if the toy rake is also under
the futon? PAT, procrastinating in Virginia frood wrote: We always used the toy rake for this. |
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