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Favorite Tools

Share your favorite tools used in quiltmaking, and add any tips you have for using them. With all of the new tools being developed, it is hard to keep up. We can learn from each other in this group.

Members: 88
Latest Activity: Apr 29

Discussion Forum

Need help with sewing space design - Paint and Lighting

Started by Susan Simmons Beck. Last reply by Wanda Mar 24. 20 Replies

QUILTERS: I'm turning a room with NO natural light into a sewing space - I need the perfect paint color (a true White?) and a recommendation for some sort of "true color" lighting - this is a…Continue

Newbie

Started by Nancy Anne Ritchotte. Last reply by Deanna Davis Dec 29, 2012. 3 Replies

 IM A newbie and have been asked to make 3 king size quilts! i would like to use jelly rolls probably fence rail or something with a star! I have a now the sizwproblem! I dont know how many jelly…Continue

New to My Quilt Place

Started by BA Wayrick-Walker. Last reply by Cheri Foster Aug 24, 2012. 16 Replies

I just joined MQP a few moments ago & then went to Favorite Tools & was captivated by the previous discussions re: wall color, lighting etc. for a new sewing/quilting space. I live 30 + miles…Continue

Tags: discussion/comments, initial

AQS Show in Grand Rapids, MI

Started by B. Sue Lohr Aug 23, 2012. 0 Replies

WOW!  Bonnie did a fabulous job today at the AQS show in GR, pulling out of her magic bag the practical and unique tools a quilter needs.  Door stops, clothespins, adding machine tape and more!  …Continue

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Comment by Marcia on January 19, 2013 at 10:03am

Update on the Slide lock.  I love it and thought it would be just the thing for me, but it really hurts my left wrist - don't know if I press down too hard. I'm getting ready to cut a new series of blocks so am going to try to change the position of my hand on the top to see if that makes a difference.  If not - I will have one for sale, bummer.  I took this to my quilt group, and they all loved it but one of the gals has rheumatoid and she couldn't use it either.  So this is just a heads- up for those of you with wrist problems.

Karen - I loved you post about all your favorite tools.  I'm going to get the 4x8 ruler today - Joann's has a 50% off sale which ends today.  I may have to get the ruler system you mentioned if I can't use the Slide Lock anymore.  Do you really have to press down hard on the handle?

Comment by Carol Gregg on January 19, 2013 at 12:28am

I just remembered one more (and quite expensive) little gadget that I purchased this summer.  It's an LED light strip that you stick on under the throat area of your sewing machine.  I can SEEEE!  It's distributed by EcoluxLighting, but as I said, it's expensive.  Had to save up my $$$$.

Comment by Karen S Pollard on January 18, 2013 at 11:42pm

Gosh, where to begin.  I have so many favorites. 

1.  I don't think I could make it without my Havel's seam ripper.  It's like a surgical blade and makes my mistakes so much easier to handle.

2.  I love the Purple handle on my Olipfa ruler that I use as a straight edge for cutting.  With the lip on the ruler and the downward pressure from the handle, I don't slip around anymore.

3.  Love the red binding clips someone else mentioned too.

4.  I love the gooseneck IKEA lamp that I bought after seeing Bonnie Hunter use them.  IN fact, I bought TWO! They're only about $10 and you can direct the light wherever you need it.

5.  I couldn't see to sew without my Bendable Bright Light.  I love that I can buy additional brackets and take it with me for retreat and workshop use on my Featherweights.

6.  I love my magnetic pin holder because I have two dogs that "eat" pins!!!  I have to be so careful nothing falls on the floor.

7.  I just recently bought a new love- a Seam Fix seam ripper for individual threads.  What I love about it is the rubber or latex end that allows you to rub back and forth and the cut seams come loose.

8.  Lastly, the 4 X 8 inch little ruler that I use most often to measure in for secondary cuts.  I have larger ones for when I need them, but find I use this one most often.

9.  The luxury item I love is a telescoping magnet with a light on the end.  It helps get pins and items that drop out of reach.  (re: dogs and straight pins!!)

Comment by Elizabeth Norberg on January 18, 2013 at 10:06pm

Rebecca I've been told they do but haven't personaly tried the darker colors. The lead is supposed to be made of the same material as the white. I absolutely love the white one. I find I don't need to use the rubber. I tried it once and it just broke off. Anyway the  white one just rubs off.

Comment by Betsy Cannan on January 18, 2013 at 9:08am

Glad it helped. It is a great tool.  The lighted part is a little sketchy though!

Comment by patbruck on January 18, 2013 at 8:36am

Betsy,I've been debating about getting this slidelock,now after seeing your comment and saying your strips are perfect,I just ordered the 14 inch one.Can't tell you how many times I get the dreaded V even after only 3 or 4 cuts,can't wait to try it out.

Comment by Betsy Cannan on January 18, 2013 at 6:26am
I purchased the longer slidelock and love it! Wish I had gotten the 14" one at the same time. I cut 8 layers of binding at once and every one is perfect. Would skip the lighted business next time.
Comment by Marcia Fowler on January 18, 2013 at 2:17am

Carol, I have used the clips that look just like hair clips for a long time instead of pins...I bought a big package of them and they are great...I too hate getting stuck with pins when hand stitching the binding down...and I use the longer sharp pins for quilting so it's easy to get stuck... These look like an oblong triangle and it's like spring metal...kinda curved... I've seen the new clips...they are nice too~~~

Comment by Carol Gregg on January 18, 2013 at 12:24am

The latest tool that I really love is the Clover clips you use to hold quilt binding in place (in lieu of pins).  My reason?  I don't get stuck with pins!!  And they do a bang up job as well.

Comment by Beth Shamblin on January 2, 2013 at 11:06am
Hi ladies,
Nancy and Marcia, I got a Quiltersslidelock for Christmas. It's patent pending, so i doubt it's at any dealers yet. It isn't actually a ruler, though. You use it in conjunction with your ruler to keeo the fabric frim moving as you cut. They have a short video at their site www.quiltersslidelock.com
It is a wonderful tool, and I'm wishing now that I'd ordered both sizes!
It works exactly as advertised and makes cutting easier and faster. :)
Hope that helps. I first saw an ad for it, I believe, in one if the quilt mags, but i don't think I've seen it for sale anywhere else yet. Yes, my husband could construct something similar but I wanted it asap.
 

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