The evergrowing list of items NOT bought in LQS
Krysia Thompson
been bought in quilting shops yet quilters find them real gems!
The list was compiled by the girl, whose name is at the top of
the copied and pasted message below. Contributions come from
Quiltopia mailing list (which is cool!).
Hope this satisfies some copyright rules or something (paranoid?
Who? Me?)
I am sure some of the ideas are old hat to you, but...
Krysia
P.S. The list is not complete, as people were sending in ideas
after the closing date. Some ideas were omitted altogether, but,
see for yourselves - it's an almighty list!
P.P.S. I hope contributions from rctq will double or triple this
list. I would be dead proud to post our list to the girls at
Quiltopia!
*****************************************************************************
Subject: FW: Supplies not found in a Quilt Store
From: "Aline Chan" <alin...@execulink.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 21:58:01 -0500
X-Message-Number: 17
Here is the list that people sent in, of supplies not found in a
quilt
store. I hope I
have not omitted anything.
Aline
- metal washers from the hardware store for weights when cutting
out fabric and paper clips instead of pins
- office supply binder clips (bull dog clamps) for attaching your
quilt layers for basting
- carpenters' clamps to clamp quilt backings to the table when
layering
- rubber finger cots from office supply stores to pull the needle
through when handquilting.
- tacky finger grip stuff from office supply stores.......for
free motion quilting.
- 3M Post-it correction and coverup tape from the office supply
stores to mark rotary cutting rulers since it doesn't leave any
sticky residues. It's also great for marking on patterns since
you can reposition it without risking ripping the pattern.
- At the hardware store, get a package of sticky-backed
sandpaper, found in the paint dept., and use a hole punch to cut
out sandpaper 'dots', to put on rulers to keep them from
slipping.
- sandpaper to hold fabric while marking
- print out templates from EQ, then take them to photocopy shop
and have them laminated. Then cut round each one and put a
piece of masking tape on the back to make them non-slip.
- make applique templates by laying a photocopied page of
templates down onto a piece of plastic laminating sheet. You
can buy a box of laminating pages at Costco/office or supply
stores.
- Hair clips make great binding clips - usually can get them
cheaply at a dollar store
- purchase fiber board from hardware store, for creating design
wall foundation that you can stick pins into. Cover it with
fleece. You can also purchase the foam board for design wall at
the same stores
- brass plated "peep hole" purchased at the hardware store. Use
it to look through while designing watercolor quilts and to
check out blocks on your design wall. It gives you a different
perspective of your design and appears as though you are further
away
- masking tape
- gardening gloves with nubs --use while machine quilting
- "Sharpie" pens
- graph paper
- water soluable glue sticks
- tracing paper
- colored pencils
- square and round drafting templates
- an unused glue gun for ironing,
- discarded x-ray film for template patterns
- freezer paper
- Orvus soap
- Art supply stores for templates with different size circles
(for applique)
- watercolor pencils (for marking quilt tops)
- plastic ceiling grid at Home Depot - for basting layers
together when using a basting gun
- Bicycle clips that quilters use to 'tie up' their quilt while
machine quilting
- an extension cord on a reel ($12 on sale at the hardware store)
for carrying to quilt classes; this can be used at home so you
can put your ironing board where you want rather than where the
wall plug is.
- zippered plastic bags to keep all the parts and pieces clean
and tidy until you are ready to put that quilt top together and
to store fabric and projects
- dermacil paper first aid tape...buy it from a notions company
and it's "sewer's tape" and doesn't tear your pattern when you
remove it. Buy it at the drug store and it cost 1/3 less
- picnic table clamps at the dept store. Most tables are 1 1/2
inches deep and these are just the right size to hold the quilt
while you baste it
- New Leaf plastic dots, sold on a roll in a small box at office
supply stores. They are great for putting on your index finger
and thumb to pull needles through when hand quilting. There
are about 60 on the roll for a couple of bucks.
- a fishing tackle box as a sewing box. The divided
trays are great for thread. Some have a clear covered box on
the top for smaller items and notions. The bottom holds larger
thread, gloves for machine quilting, and packages of needles.
The closure is more secure than sewing boxes. It is very
organized and portable for taking to classes and retreats.
- buy clear first aid tape to put on the back of your rulers.
These are thinner than the sandpaper dots
- plastic boxes with small compartments for storing children's
matchbook cars can be bought at WalMart. Use them to store
thread. These clear plastic boxes are just like the more
expensive thread boxes you can purchase in a quilt shop. They
are two sided with a handle and a hinged lid on each side of the
box. These boxes can hold at least 48 spools of thread with
only one per compartment and more if the spools are long and
thin like the Metler spools. Cost around $4.00 per box and they
are in the toy dept. Thread stays dust free and does not get
tangled plus you can see your thread. Purchase several and
you can sort your thread by type then by color.
- ELECTRIC TAPE. It's a black plastic with something that
sticks on the back, so you cut a strip and wrap it around my
finger to protect it when quilting.
- wooden molding strips in different widths to use as a guide
for marking quilting lines
- 72" straight metal measurer -- longer than a yardstick. It has
such a wonderful long, sturdy, straight edge
- Pizza boxes (clean) work great for storing UFOs. They stack
nicely and keep blocks flat and neat. Most pizza places will
sell them for 50cents or if you are a regular may even give you
a couple. They are also nice to carry projects to and from
classes.
- plastic containers with lids that are available today in myriad
shapes, colors and sizes
- an expanding file from the office supply to keep cut pieces of
stabilizers and interfacings used for appliqué and fusing.
- full sheets of adhesive backed label paper from the office
supply place. Used on the top of fabrics (instead of freezer
paper on the reverse) for templates for needle turned appliqué.
- sandwich bags to keep the pieces for applique projects sorted
out. Gallon bags are great for project parts -- "PIGS" a friend
calls them -- 'Projects in Grocery Sacks'; also great for
leftover pieces you might want to go back into.
- jumbo plastic bags are great -- you can put your blocks in
them. 12" blocks lay flat in the jumbo bags.
- cut off the tips of plastic gloves and use them to pull your
needle through when hand quilting.
- use 2 different sizes of the free Priority boxes from the Post
Office for storing quilting projects. I do a bit of cutting
and taping first so that the cover opens from the top.
- large frig magnet to keep my needles and pins on when
quilting/sewing.
- For a sewing table, use a computer table from the office supply
store. Put your machine into the cut out where the keyboard tray
drops down, and you have a large surface almost exactly flush
with the machine. It's covered with some sort of laminate and
seems impervious to scratch and the like. You have the option
of putting it together in one straight line, or you can chose a
configuration that lets you put it into a corner. This way, you
can support the quilt on the left-hand wing when machine
quilting, and there's lots of room behind the machine so that
the quilt doesn't bunch up while you quilt. The keyboard tray
can tilt, so you can tilt the machine toward you and you can see
what you are doing. It also saves on back pain and neck
fatigue.
- Someone likes to work while standing, so she had a table built
to fit her standing up. She had saw horses built for the table
to sit on.
This made her table portable and easily taken apart for storage.
She has another table that fits as a shelf between the legs of
the saw horses.
- zip lock bags of all sizes - used to keep templates, cut
pieces, instructions, needed is sorted into bags. Punch three
holes in the bags and put them in a looseleaf notebook to take
to classes. That keeps everything together.
- freezer tape to mark templates, pieces, and blocks for order
placement.
- use the little fishing tackel boxes for indivdual projects and
carry thread needle and a little scissors inside. This has two
shelves and is about two and a half inches high and 3x 7 inches
wide. A smaller tackel box is good for beads too when you
embellish. It is just the right size for the beads, needle,
thread and scissors. It's about one inch high and 3x5 inches and
even has a little loop on top. Take a skirt hanger and clip your
project on it and loop the little tackle box on the hook.
- keep the empty roll and the box from waxed paper and use them
to store blocks on 'in progress' projects - keep block of the
month in and to transport it to the meeting.....keeps the block
nice and wrinkle free after pressing. Use them to keep ribbon
embroidery and ribbon flower supplies in - it's an easy way to
store ribbon by color and with out fold marks or dust -- the
uniform size of the box also makes storage easier and more
compact.
- Another favorite (and free) item - store large amounts of
fabric on the cardboard forms used at the fabric store. The
store is usually happy to get rid of them. They make a great
temporary ironing board when wrapped with a large bath
towel - easy to take to classes or for small projects close to
your sewing machine.
- The long tubes used for drapery fabric are also available at
the fabric store for free and can be cut to size to store wall
hangings and delicate fabrics. Again, no wrinkles. Cover the
tubes with muslin and also make muslin bags to store large wall
hangings.
- plastic tubes Crystal Lite drink mix comes in..........store
different color of buttons in each one
- buy Orvus soap for washing quilts at the farm supply store.
You can get it in big jars that last a long time for a lot
cheaper than the small bottles of quilt soap in the quilt
stores.
- Hangers. After washing/pressing long lengths of fabric
fold them from cut end to cut end to 20" width or so, then
clip the selvage side with a skirt hanger and hang crease-free
in a closet. If you have lots of fairly long pieces of fabric
designated for one project, hang them together on a skirt
or regular hanger as well.
- rubber door stoppers to tilt your sewing machine table by
putting them under the back of your machine. Tilting really
does help ease the strain between your shoulder blades.
- flat wooden pants hanger to hold cutting mats. It keeps them
flat and easy to find as well.
- book cover plastic rolls that come in bright colors you can see
thru to make template sized cutouts to put on rulers, plastic
templates, etc.
- Polaroid Digital camera is very handy for taking pictures of
quilts in progress and when finished.
- Contact paper to cover boxes for projects and scraps, different
patterns for different projects.
- plastic carrier designed for carrying napkins and silverware,
one side has 4 compartments, the other side is open, it is only
5" x 8" and about 4" tall. Very handy for taking scissors, pins,
cutters from room to room.
- 2" wide masking/drafting tape for taping down
the backs of quilts when basting on a table.
- irons, seldom bought in quilt shops.
- several wall mounted cases, that one would usually put nails
and screws in. They have many drawers and come in handy for all
sorts of small things.
- deli paper. It makes a wonderful stabilizer for machine
applique, or you can trace patterns on it & use it for
foundation paper piecing. You can run
it through your printer
- a piece of plywood nailed to the back of your room door. To
hang tools there - rulers, cutters, stencils. You can have a
document wallet nailed to your plywood board, and when kept
flipped open, can keep value finder, the angler and various
flat things in there - the wallet is kept "open" with big paper
clips.
Also - a transparent document wallet, which has templates in.
- shoe boxes... put scraps in shoe boxes, by colour...
- empty prescription pill bottle to hold thread for a take along
project. Use a hot needle and poked several holes around the top
of the plastic bottle. Fill several bobbins with the colors you
are sing for the applique you are currently working on. Place
the bobbins in the pill bottle and thread each through one
of the holes in the top. Place the lid on the bottle and
secure the dangling threads with a rubber band. When you need a
certain color of thread just pull down on that thread color
without taking the thread out from under the rubber band and cut
off what you want. This keeps the thread handy and untangled.
You can also just put one spool of thread in a pill bottle if you
are working with one color or if you are quilting. These
bottles come in several sizes and can be purchased from your
local pharmacy for very little if you don't have a supply on
hand.
- Pill bottles for dull, broken needles and bent pins, anything
sharp. Put them in a pill bottle to throw it away, then it
won't puncture something it shouldn't....
- store rotary cutter in an old eye glass case.
- buy those new disposable food containers (Glad, etc.) in
various sizes. Out sewing machine feet in one; sewing machine
cleaning items in another; needles in another; etc. Use
Rubbermaid and other storage containers in various sizes for
storing your fat quarters, projects in progress, etc.
- For patterns, etc. that you print off the internet - put them
in a three-ring binders with pocket dividers/page protectors.
- rubber tubs you get in the hospital, along with the water
pitcher, etc. -- use them to store patterns
- disposable rubber gloves for machine quilting
- tweezers for removing paper piecing paper (from the back of a
project)
- organize the odds and ends of patterns, templates, booklets,
small stencils and such in a drawer file cabinet using manilla
folders.
- clear plastic shoe bag w/ 20 shoe slots-great for storage.
- traveling roll up jewelry case w/ clear pockets. The pockets
are a perfect size for keeping applique thread - In the zipper
top, you can keep needles, thimble, tape & marking pens.
- Make a sewing table by using a door. If you purchase 2
dressers to lay the door on, you can put a large cutting mat on
top and have a 36 by 80 cutting area.
- storage carts from the office supply store - they are on wheels
with six drawers to store works in progess and thread.
- rubberized shelf liner...use it to keep thread from rolling
around in your cart. Use it under your foot pedal to keep it
from slipping.
- a pumice stone - keep one handy while working on flannel. One
swipe with a pumice stone and all the "pills" are gone! This
also works great on sweaters
- use the empty plastic 35mm film containers for pins. The clear
containers are better. You can see what's inside. The black
ones are a guessing game.
- put all of the patterns that you print from the net into manila
file folders from office supply store and then put them into
pattern file boxes from the fabric store.
- Reynolds freezer paper is a staple in quilting. Use it to
print quotes right on Tone-on-Tone muslin.
- buy the plastic pages that have pockets to store slides at
camera supply stores. Then put embroidery thread into each
pocket. Their plastic will not ruin your thread as will cheap
plastic. The pages have holes to store them in ring binders.
No searching for the color thread or the brand as
it is in the proper pocket and you can see it.
- round toothpicks. Use them to help turn the edges when
appliquéing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, now it's your turn!
K.T. - starannie opakowana
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The Great Charmander
Wax paper for paper piecing
Waterproof ink for printer (can be washed without needing something like Bubble
Jet Set)
Downey Ultra=can replace BJS
painter's tape for grid quilting
CHOCOLATE! (or other sweet/or not of your choice) :-)
athletic tape for a "thimble"
tissue paper for marking quilting patterns on if you don't want to mark the
quilt
colored pencils (like the ones used in school)
mechanical pencils
coloring books (for applique ideas)
um, scotch or liquor of choice? <G> I don't drink, so my drink is Dr Pepper or
KoolAid
KoolAid for dying fabric (has worked on threads. . .2 packs of KoolAid and
enough vinegar (or boiled with water) to make a thick syrupy liquid
That's all I can think of for now!
Bye!
The Great Charmander--student, artist, sometimes quilter, and ruler of the
Pokemon Kingdom with my sister, the Lady Eevee
Mocha
for viewing the quilt to check for colour placement, value, etc. You can
stand just a few feet away from your design wall and see the quilt as if
from across a large room. Things that need moving or rearranging "pop" out
at you, especially useful in watercolour quilts. I also have one of those
neat hardware containers that rolls up into a log shaped affair, it is great
for organizing threads, buttons etc. I have all my embellishing stuff for my
crazy quilt, which includes threads, ribbons, buttons, trinkets, beads etc
in it. I also have used the hot wheels containers for organizing floss etc
for other crafts. I'll put on my thinking cap for more suggestions, I know I
use other stuff but it is 4:30 in the morning and I can't sleep but I'm not
fully awake either. Thanks for posting Krysia.........
--
mocha
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Helen in MN
Helen in MN
Leslie
closet for a sewing room. I place the hooks over the closet rod and
hang quilting stencils on the hooks. I punch holes in pattern packets
and hang them on the hooks. I hang rulers with holes in them on the
hooks (you CAN drill your own holes, but I have never been brave enough
to do it).
Computer mouse pad- place it under your sewing machine pedal to prevent
it from "traveling" across the floor.
Cork bulletin board- hang all your cut-outs, notes, etc. out in plain
view.
Houseplants- to keep your sewing room homey and cheerful. :-)
Spray starch
Dowels- to hang quilts
Curtain (cafe') rods- to hang quilts. (Mount the rod brackets on the
wall- insert rod thru hanging pocket on quilt back.)
Secretary chair on wheels- to use at the sewing machine.
Peg board and assorted hooks- to hang your tools.
Parchment paper- from the baking department. Use for FPP.
A good ol' dog- to happy dance or commiserate with you- as needed- as
your quilt progresses........... :-)
(And a nice thick rug for her to lie on!)
Happy quilting!
Leslie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acquiring a dog may be ,-.~~~.-,
the only opportunity a V)' '(V
human ever has to (_o_)
choose a relative. Golden Retriever
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you love animals~~~~~don't litter!
Spay/Neuter
Krysia Thompson
december/November Quiltopia daily digests in search of the
elusive glue gun for ironing.. maybe someone here has some clues
(i.e. does SOMETHING with the glue gun...)
Krysia
P.S. I can post a question to Quiltopia for the person to come
forward..
K.T. - starannie opakowana
Roberta Zollner
that gets hot and melts the glue, so you'd have to dedicate a glue gun for
your appliqué projects to avoid glue residue.
Roberta in DK (might give this a try!)
"Helen in MN" <hmcevo...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:UFY76.2823$lh.8...@typhoon.mn.mediaone.net...
Chickenlady
have several small tins (the sort that those boiled sweets with icing
ugar - travel sweets?????? come in) - these are used to store sewing
machine feet, bobins etc and all sorts of other odds and ends.
Chicken
Krysia Thompson <krysia_...@fmlc.unn.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:ia706t41v58218fu5...@4ax.com...
Patricia A. Buckmaster
of them but I have copied the list so that I can make use of some great
ideas. Thank you.
Pat B.
"Krysia Thompson" <krysia_...@fmlc.unn.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:ia706t41v58218fu5...@4ax.com...
Mocha
examining room paper from the Dr. It comes in a large roll, probably 18
inches wide and is great for drawing quilt designs on, then attache to
fabric with tape and quilt away, it is easily torn. Works for FPP, and any
number of uses when large cheap paper comes in handy in the qulting room.
Can be used to trace large applique patterns too!
I also made a light table with a large flat sweater type box from Walmart,
it is clear plastic with a blue lid. Put in one of those under the cupboard
flourescent light things also from Walmart for $5 and for less than $10
canadian you have a great lightbox...........
jgi...@nospamtesco.net
<krysia_...@fmlc.unn.ac.uk> wrote:
>I haven't got a clue! I've just spent 1/2 hr going though the
>december/November Quiltopia daily digests in search of the
>elusive glue gun for ironing.. maybe someone here has some clues
>(i.e. does SOMETHING with the glue gun...)
>
>Krysia
>
Would it be like finger pressing, only with the help of a hot (non-gluey) gun?
They do get very hot, and maybe when you only need one seam or a corner, etc
pressed they use that?.....
..Mickie Swall..
heat up your metal awl and MELT a hole in it! (I use the flame
on my gas stove to heat up the awl, but a candle flame will work
just as well).
Hugs,
Mickie
"Leslie" <qwil...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:29109-3A...@storefull-261.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
> Shower curtain hooks- the metal kind. I have a spare bedroom with a
> closet for a sewing room. I place the hooks over the closet rod and
> hang quilting stencils on the hooks. I punch holes in pattern packets
> and hang them on the hooks. I hang rulers with holes in them on the
> hooks (you CAN drill your own holes, but I have never been brave enough
> to do it).
>
Linda Campbell
yardsticks from the department store. Sandwich the flannel between the
yardsticks and the lath. Nail to wall.
There is a gap in the middle. But the yardsticks on either end give me a good
"rough measurement" tool for width. The whole contraption is 8 feet wide, and
the flannel (several lengths) is eight feet long.
Can handle just about any quilt I will ever want to make.
Linda and the Gang in SF
Krysia Thompson wrote:
> Under pressure , I am posting the list of items which have not
> been bought in quilting shops yet quilters find them real gems!
>
(snipped for brevity)
Linda Huff
when she and FIL were downsizing. It is about 11 x 14 x 2.5. I just
ripped the picture and backing off. I use it with one of those little under
the cabinet lights because it doesn't get too hot.
And I have two of those aluminum tripod easels (something someone gave to
me) I use one of them with this big fiberboard thing that DD got at the art
supply store to pin her kanson paper to when she draws outside. I use it,
set up on the easel to pin blocks to...kind of like a design wall.
Linda in IL
(oh and I also use that big flip chart paper for various things like drawing
out quilt ideas...someone gave me a couple of new pads of that too)
Mocha <djal...@home.com> wrote in message
news:LF586.41$76.1...@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com...
frood
- you know, where you move a little magnet to show if you are "in" the
office, or not.
I track my current projects' status, and since it is magnetic (this is
why I bought this board), I can put my shoe magnets on it for decoration.
And, for Christmas, DD#2 made me a beautiful magnet in preschool, with
lovely buttons on it. That hangs there, too!
--
Wendy
http://griffinsflight.com/
If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y plus Z, where
X is work, Y is play, Z is keep your mouth shut.
-- Albert Einstein
Leslie
Thanks for the great tip!
Leslie
Mickie wrote...
Leslie, if you have a ruler that needs a hole for hanging, just heat up
your metal awl and MELT a hole in it! (I use the flame on my gas stove
to heat up the awl, but a candle flame will work just as well).
Hugs,
Mickie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary Beth Goodman
qwil...@webtv.net (Leslie) wrote:
>
> Leslie, if you have a ruler that needs a hole for hanging, just heat up
> your metal awl and MELT a hole in it! (I use the flame on my gas stove
> to heat up the awl, but a candle flame will work just as well).
> Hugs,
> Mickie
I did this with my electric drill. Just drill slowly and with a small
piece of wood underneath the ruler so you don't hurt the floor or table
or whatever.
Mary Beth
http://www.quiltr.com
R&M Vaughn
ironed open. Just did a class (sort of kaleiscope) and the teacher
had an iron that was a rod with a very small triangle at the end. It
was good for pressing the seams open, but great for getting interior
points ironed.
Midge
Krysia Thompson
sounds like a cheaper alternative to one of those fancy craft
irons. Could be so?
Krysia
CANDCMOM2
Great idea....I've been looking for about a year now for the old fashioned
metal kind but cannot locate them anywhere. So for now I hang my stencils on
huge safey pins and hang on nails but the show curtain
in hook is much better
Peg
Diana Tarr
love and hugs
Bee xxx / PORT ALFRED
"Linda Huff" <li...@madco.com> wrote in message
news:t62rqns...@corp.supernews.com...
Nbhilyard
>
>Great idea....I've been looking for about a year now for the old fashioned
>metal kind but cannot locate them anywhere.
Metal rings are in the current Vermont Country Store catalog.
www.vermontcountrystore.com
Nann in Lindenhurst, Illinois
*************************************************
"I predict a great future for complexity, what with
one thing always leading to another."
--E. B. White
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