Things I'm glad I bought, and wish I had known about sooner

[Gloria H.]

Maybe everyone knew about this but it was new to me. I love quilt pattern softcover books but they were such a pain to use when they wouldn't stay flat. Then I found out that Office Max will cut off the binding and spiral bind the books for $2.65. Almost as good as the 1/4 inch foot. Well maybe not that good but up there.

[Lilo B.]

I love this idea :shock: I will definitely keep this in mind with some of the softcover books I use over and over. Thanks for the tip.

[Lilo B.]

Two things --

1.) A peephole -- for looking at quilts on a design wall. It gives an interesting distance perspective. I would recommend a wide angle peephole. They run about $5 at a hardware store.

2.) Mary Ellen's Best Press Starch Alternative -- this stuff rocks! I love it on clothing and quilting fabric!

Chelley

[Lilo B.]

What is a trolly needle? Sounds like something I need, although I would probably be the one to poke my eye. lol

[Lilo B.]

Judy, that's the tool! I wear it on the middle or ring finger of my right hand, so I still have use of my index finger for picking up piece, pins, etc.

Although actually this past week I tried to pay extra attention to which tools I used most, and I found myself more often grabbing an orangewood (manicure/cuticle) stick for a stilletto -- the flat side of the "pushing" end hlods the fabrics well and slides along the bed of the machine right up between the "toes" of my presser foot. It isn't as handy as the trolley needle, but it work a littl better for me.

[Linda V.]

I have a big board, and I decided that the space underneath it was wasted when it was on the ironing board (not to mention my cats kept knocking it over when they jumped on it). I found a storage bookcase from IKEA that was the perfect size, and the perfect height, and now I have more storage...something we all look for, right?!! I just keep it pulled out from the wall a couple of inches so that when I press long lengths of fabric or a quilt, it can go over the back side freely.
Linda in NJ

[Linda V.]

I love my June Tailor Shape cut with the 1/2" slots. I use it for virtually all my cutting. I am on my second one, as I wore the first one out.

I made myself one of those large ironing board surfaces to fit over the existing board. I just hate to iron on a regular ironing board now!

Diane in OH

[Linda V.]

ALSO, years ago my dad made me a cutting table with adjustable legs. I am fairly tall, so I can make it tall enough to cut comfortably for hours if need be!

Diane in OH

[Linda V.]

I have another favorite now! The Clover Quick Yo Yo Maker. Clover has a heart shaped, flower shaped and square shaped yo yo too! I can make up a dozen yo yos in no time.

[Joanne M.]

I have a bit of arthritis in my hands - it makes picking up regular scissors (the ones with the loops) to clip threads difficult. I can't imagine being without my "tweezer scissors" - those are the ones that you just squeeze to clip threads when I'm sewing. They're lightweight and so sharp. They're too small for cutting bigger things, but sitting next to all of my machines, they're fabulous for me. I even got a local store to start carrying them after I discussed them. They've sold a bunches of them. I've bought many of these and have them everywhere!

[Joanne M.]

Sewbug.......regarding a previous comment you made. I thought my mother was the only one who put the laundry in the fridge and then used a "pop" bottle to sprinkle water while ironing!!! I had no idea that was a common practice "way back when"!!! :roll:

Some things I can't do without: my soft-touch Fiskars, my Olfa ergonomic cutter, my Koala sewing cabinet, my Clover needle threader, I have so many quilting gadgets I love I can't name them all.

I also cross stitch my labels. I really like the added artistry look.

Patricia in AL

[Lynn K.]

Golly! You made me remember clothes in the fridge, and the soda pop bottle with the holes in the cap! Now that does take me back! ???? Mayb e further than I really want to go. LOL

[Jules M.]

I'm 44 y/o and I remember my mom's bag of clothes in the frig and the coke bottle w/ a special rubber stopper cap w/ holes for sprinkling them.

I always wished we had full coke bottles. :wink:

Joyce

[Beth A.]

On a whim, and thinking myself very extravagant, I got one of these a few months ago. What a difference. My piecing now is DEAD ON!!

I would heartily recommend you spring for one of these.

Mine is from Pfaff, but I know most of the major machine companies have them out now.

BethMI

[Ruth C.]

Does anyone know if the Bernina #57 foot (the 1/4 inch with a fence) works with the Bernina Artista (180) machines? The Bernina website says the foot can be used with machines that have a MAXIMUM 5 mm (and the Artista does 9 mm), but I don't understand why it wouldn't work...