Basic Supplies

I make alot of children's quilts. When I am finished with a quilt, I put all of the leftover pieces in a large ziplock bag. So if I need a piece of princess fabric or elmo to embellish a shirt or backpack, etc. I just go to the ziplock bag with the elmo or princess fabric in it and it is a whole lot easier than digging through all my leftovers. I also do that with patterns that I make, keep them in small ziplock bags for easy access. Thank you for your colomn. I love all of the tips. Donna

I have been sewing since childhood, but it just recently occurred to me how to solve the problem of accidently knocking over my box of pins when reaching while sewing. I got a small magnet, (size and shape don't matter) and placed it on the machine. That way I have a place to put just the pins that I need, and the rest of them can be put away in the drawer, out of the way of my hand and/or elbow.

I recently made a crazy quilt and used blank newspaper I purchased from our local newspaper printers.  I just stopped by The News Review and asked for roll ends which I purchased for  for .50 cents a roll.  This paper works perfectly for foundation piecing and when your blocks are safely sewn together, it tears away easier than any paper I have used yet.  No picking paper out of your stitches and no ink to rub off onto your beautiful quilt! 

i read all the tips but still could not get my iron clean so i found my own way how to do it get your iron hot spray the works on it this will not hurt iron then rub with a steel wool pad then wipe iron clean all the brown stuff comes right off very easily

I have found I often forget to turn off my iron when I no longer need it, either because I am just doing something that does not require ironing, or I have left my sewing room.  To resolve this issue, I have hooked my iron to an extension cord with an ON and OFF switch as well as a lamp.  When I need my iron On,  I just flip the switch ON and both the light and iron come on.  The light is my indicator the iron is ON.  When I am finished with my iron, all I have to do is flip the extension cord switch to off and the iron and the light both go off.  

We all enjoy doing the Quilt Shop Hops, and so many shops sell or give you extras for their block.  Buy a box of inexpensive zip lock bags.  Place the block and items from each shop in their own baggie.  No more looking at extra items thinking 'now what the heck was this for?'  When your ready to sew the blocks, everything for that block is together.

It is also a good idea to carry address lables with your info so you don't spend time filling out entry forms and such.  Giving you more time to shop!

I have seen quite a few planning "boards" in different quilting magazines and stores. There are the large hang-on-the-wall type and smaller ones.

I found, with my limited sewing room space, that something placed right behind my sewing machine was a great way to keep the finished block in perfect view. This works great after you have done your initial planning and sketches.

I covered a piece of light weight wood with white flannelette. I have it propped on my sewing table up against the wall. The fabric "sticks" quite nicely to the surface. All I have to do is just look up for a quick peek as to what the next step will be.

Bonnie Gilham (bonnieliz@gmail.com) Cincinnati,OH

I have tried all kinds of pens, pencils to mark on quilts to either sew or to cut out.  The thing that I found that works the best are Crayola Washable Markers, the fine tips work the best.  Just make sure it will wash out.  I haven't seen any that won't wash out of all cotten fabric.

When traveling with your quilting supplies for classes or guilds, why not pack everything in a fish tackle box instead of the expensive quilting totes.  There is more variety in fish tackle boxes, they have mulitiple levels, lots of compartments (usually adjustable for your specific needs).  You can use your savings to go "look" for more fabric!!

Enjoy

My weekly newspaper has a "Reader's Exchange" column in the Saturday morning issue.  I emailed in a request for any quilting supplies and/or fabrics no longer being used.

I hit a couple of Jackpots, Quilting Frame, templates and stencils, table that extends on two ends, loads of fabric (could almost open a small fabric shop) and enough batting (never used) for at least 25 quilts, some in bulk and some in packages.

A couple of the wonderful people that called me with supplies said they will keep my name and number for any other they run across.

The only thing out of my pocket was paying for the gas.