Quilt Pins & Needles

 Arthritis in the hands? Leave the quilter's safety pins open!  I have a wide-mouth container in which I leave the open pins. When layering I "pour" the pins on the table, pick up and use for pin basting. When finished quilting, unpin and put them back in the container "open". Helps save a little on the hands by removing two tedious steps.

When discarding old needles or pins, place them in an empty film container, or empty pill bottle until ready to throw in the trash.  

When in a pinch to find a seam ripper or cutter to take out seams, use the eye end of a sturdy needle....it is flat and won't prick you or pull fibers in your fabric when removing seam threads.

I am lucky enough to have one of the new self threading sewing machines.  However it is hard to grab the thread loop when it is in the needle.  I use my stiletto to pull the loop through the needle.  I have also used a dentist hook tool for the same thing.  My dental hygienist (who is also a quilter) gave me some of her old tools.  It doesn't hurt to ask yours.Hope this helps.  Keep quilting

Kathi

One thing I find helpful is having a magnet next to my sewing mech. when sewing you pull your pin and place it on the magnet safe and secure

Discarding used needles can be very hazardous; some trash services refuse to collect if they know they are in your trash. 

Take an old prescription bottle, remove the label, place a hole in the lid and slide the old needles in.  The needles will not come back out.  The container can be placed with the new needles (as a reminder) until it is full and can be safely discarded.

For each new project, start out with a brand new needle. Using a new needle will be straight and clean, whereas a needle you have used for other projects may be bent. It is also a good idea to use a new needle to ensure you are using the correct size. If you old needles doesn't have the size on it, you can't be sure it will be the correct size for you new project.

Keep a wide array of fastening on hand so you have choices when you go to use a pen. Sometimes you will need the garden variety pin, whereas other times you will need thinner, finer pins, especially when pinning two items together. Sometimes you will find something as simple of a paper clip, which can come in quite useful at times. Don't forget to include safety pins, as often time they are necessary or provide just the right fix.

It sounds simple, but the idea is important. When using your sewing machine, always ensure you have the correct needle. Using a needle that is too large for delicate fabric can ruin the material. Similarly, using a needle that is too little on thick, tough material will cause the needle to break and may result in damaging the interior. If the needle is too large for the fabric, the holes will be large and the seams will be weak.