My favorite "non-sewing" sewing notions

[char47micc]

You ladies are ingenious. Thanks for the great tips. I would have never thought of some of them.

http://www.DesignsBySiCK.com/?pointsfor=char47micc

[NanaJ]

I have a roll of paper first aid tape in my sewing stuff. I find that it works better than scotch tape for repairing patterns. It doesn't yellow over time and break down like scotch tape.

[oldhag]

I forgot about my roll of plastic that was left over from one of my DH's construction projects. I use it to make copies of my patterns so I don't have to use the multi-sized ones for just one size. I use it to make templates for applique also.

[mom2_3girls]

I have small buckets that I picked up from WM in the seasonal area one Easter. My sewing area is also my scrapbook area so I use alot of stuff crossover. I use binder clips to keep fabric out of the way, a set of tweezers called tweezerbees that are in the sb area in craft stores, and something called a quick stik to push corners out. These are the only unusual things I can think of in my sewing area.
stacey

[michele921]

I love the little baby wipe containers to hold all my things for on the go sewing, I can pack it with tweezers, needles, small scissors, and a bunch of other little things for quilting group.
I also bought a small drill that came with electric scissors at home depot. they are very small and the scissors work great when I am cutting a lot of mittens out LOL
bought the drill just to get the scissors!!!
I use old film cases filled with sand as material weights rather than pinning to death.
love the idea of the tubing never thought of it and I have a lot of it LOL

[jmweller]

All of these are relly great tips. Here's one from me:

I found a plastic shrimp deveiner at a thrift store that works great for corners, etc. It's curved and fits into odd shaped forms.

Maureen

[Grandma Ria]

Wow there are some great ideas here thank you all for your input, someone should write an artical on them .
Thanks for sharing Ria

[sleepysbabydoll]

I have a roll of butchers paper (waxy on one side) for ironing my pattern pieces onto so they don't tear apart from pinning and re-pinning. You can also iron the pieces without having to worry that you will hit tape strips. I also keep manilla envelopes in different sizes to put my patterns in after I trace out the different sizes and affix the butchers paper. I then cut pattern envelop and tape picture to front and measurements and yardages on the back.
I also have several rolls of the paper that doctors use on exam tables for copying multi-size patterns. My doctor will give me rolls whenever I ask for them. A lot of the time they will get rolls from companies who want them to try their paper and he will give me those.

[sleepysbabydoll]

Oops ... I almost forgot ... I also keep twist ties, like you get on loaves of bread, and i twist 2 together and put thru thread and matching bobbin and twist together. Saves me from having to hunt for the correct bobbin for the thread I want to use. There are probably lots of other things in my sewing room that are strange but so much in there it's hard to think of them all. LOL

[lamkin]

Small pair of forceps that clamp shut to keep hold on stuff arthritic fingers can't hold on to. Helps with ripping out stitches also.

[wissewer]

I might have missed MY favorite item on this list, however my "wonder tool" is one of those rollers with tape to pick up lint. Well, I use it to run over my embroidery projects to pick up the threads. I could go downstairs and shake them off outside, but, this roller works wonderfully well. Also have a pair of tweezers to hold threads so I can cut them right next to the material.

But, most important for us older gals, I have several magnifying glasses from my mom. It makes threading the regular sewing machine so much easier!

[nightwingcreations]

Let's see, I have a pair of needle nose pliers, good if I need a good grip on something, and actually I've used them to hold my needle when replacing it, my the needle tends to get in my fingernails and I can't hold on to it the right way. I use those larger size sheets of craft foam for making purse patterns because I can trace them over and over, and when I'm designing a new shape of purse I can bend them and see what happens and trim as neded. I use a long afghan crochet hook for pushing into long fabric things when turning them, like purse handles. Tweezers of course, multiple uses there, lol. And i have set of those little screw drivers for glasses repair. A flexible/moldable strip with measurements on it for making curves, I think it's a drafting tool.

[clkeck]

I use a carpenter's T square ruler to check grain, big washers for pattern weights, stick on ruler tape (like teachers use), a tension curtain rod to hold spools of ribbon, hair clips to hold extra fabric away from the embroidery arm, and many tins and other containers for holding notions.

[mollykemp]

My mother-in-law bought me a sewing table. It isn't fancy, just an area that drops down for the sewing machine to fit into so I have no where to store my things. I kept loosing all the little pieces for my sewing machine and at a thrift store one day, I found a little wooden bowl in the shape of a pineapple for 45 cents. That is about as far as the non sewing things go for me.

[oldhag]

I use empty diaper wipe containers for thread catchers and scrap holders. I like that you can just pop them in the hole in the lid and if it drops off the table it won't empty out. I also use them to hold my machine accessories for each machine I have and use one to hold my little cleaning kit for oiling and cleaning all of my machines. I even went so far as to cover them in fabric to make them look pretty.

[Sewin Gal]

I love this thread! I use a wooden spoon for pushing fabric to the edges once turned inside out. The spoon part is easy for my hands to hold and the handle of the spoon doesn't poke holes through the fabric. I use my husbands old tackle boxes for sewing notions - the hard plastice boxes. They are great for sorting small parts and for storing accessories. I also have a small plastic container next to my machine for placing my clippings.