Tools a beginner might not think of

[Stuben]

I no longer use my bobbin boxes; if they ever got spilled out (why that NEVER happens!) it was a mess.  I now have these doughnut-looking thingees that are made from either rubber or soft plastic.  I have red and blue (my older machines use a different sized bobbin than my more recent machines).  These doughnuts hold the bobbins securely, and one can readily see the thread color.  Get one of these and see what you think!

For my rotary cutter, I use a half sheet of masonite on the floor.  It's big and smooth, and gets put into our laundry room when not in use.  I also use it for pinning.

I recently went to a steel yardstick vice a wooden one for measuring and cutting.

Something I could use more of:  BRIGHT LIGHT!

I love new gadgets and have seen the donut ones but my current box is working out good. It's a clear enclosed box with posts that stick up. It has 3 rows. I put the spools on the outer posts and put the matching bobbins on the inner posts. I do a lot of quilting and I usually buy new thread when I start a new project. I've learned my lesson with old thread. Its just not worth the aggravation over trying to save a few dollars.

I was having light problems too and I still have problems with darker colors even with good light. I remedied it by taking out the dining room table and putting a conference room table and the sewing machine under the chandelier. When I need more light I just screw in a few more of the bulbs.

[Rani Zemirah]

The Bobbin Saver looks like an interesting option... I'll have to see if I can find some cheap ones on ebay.  Good little tool, there! 

[Butch]

Yes!  That's it!  "The Bobbin Saver"!  I didn't know it had a name, but that's it exactly.

Thought of a tool that I was so happy to get:  A pair of pinking shears that clip the zig-zag when trimming the seams.  Around curves is where they're most useful.

[Rani Zemirah]

Yes!  That's it!  "The Bobbin Saver"!  I didn't know it had a name, but that's it exactly.

Thought of a tool that I was so happy to get:  A pair of pinking shears that clip the zig-zag when trimming the seams.  Around curves is where they're most useful.

LOL  I just looked up "donut shaped bobbin holder", and that's what popped up. 


My google-fu is strong.   

[gem]

I just saw an *awesome* bobbin storage tip on Pinterest:



Guys (males), you will be forgiven for not recognizing them. Pedicure toe separators! How genius is that? And cheap, to boot!

[Trillium]

Brilliant!!

[Stuben]

Great tip Gem! I can definately see using them. I also really like the tackle box idea by LadyStitch 

[gypsylakat]

Definitely sliced my finger over the weekend since I don't have an awl... HELLOO Amazon

[isabelladangelo]

Ouch!  I sliced my thumb right in half once. 

BTW, if you ever do go through a fingernail, get a small piece of silk (organza or georgette is best), put it over the slice on the fingernail, and use a quick drying strong glue (ie, not Elmers) to hold the silk over the slice.  This will allow you to continue to grow the fingernail without it being "deformed" or having to cut too much of it away too quickly.  The silk will hold the two halves of the nail together almost like fingernail stitches.   

Not exactly a tool but it is something every beginner should know. ;-)

[Ser Niall]

I'm by no means an expert, but the one thing I would suggest is to invest in some nice scissors.  When I first started out, I bought the economy scissor pack at Jo-Anns, and it made projects harder than they needed to be.  It was difficult to cut straight through heavy fabric because the scissors kept getting stuck, cuts weren't as nice, etc.  I invested in a quality pair of scissors and it's a night and day difference.

[Rani Zemirah]

I just saw an *awesome* bobbin storage tip on Pinterest:



Guys (males), you will be forgiven for not recognizing them. Pedicure toe separators! How genius is that? And cheap, to boot!

Oh, that is soooo clever!  I have come up with an idea for a hanging bobbin storage device that I think is going to work, once I find all of the parts for it.  It should last a good long time, as well, and be fun to use, also! 

I ordered one of these...

(Twirl Tie)


... from Ebay, and I am currently shopping around for some of these...



... in 3/16" x 6" size (with nut, of course), and I am going to hang the whole thing above my work surface suspended from the paper drying lines I have there.  The bobbins will fit on the bolt, and can be color coordinated... and the whole thing will twirl so that I can quickly find the color I'm looking for.  It shouldn't take much effort to remove a few bobbins to get to the one I need, and it will be a pretty and colorful accessory for the studio! 

[LadyStitch]

One thing I have come to like are Post it's Full adhesive Notes.   Normally post it notes fall off my patterns, or tubs, or what ever I am useing.  As these are  adhesive the whole back they hold onto what you stick them to ALOT better.  I did a slight re-org for my fabric bins last week.  Using them make life much easier.  They are bright colors so easy to read.  They are easy to change, and don't damage my tubs/boxes.  This came in to play when I realized I had marked my "Yellow/Orange/ brown" box as my "Blacks/ Silvers/ Grays" box.  Before with Duct tape and masking tape it would have been a pain.  Now it was take off, and replace in a minute.  Less headache is the way to go. 

[Ms Trish]

Regarding bobbins...I store mine with the spool of colored thread they go with in a plastic thread storage container (double sided, looks sort of like what you could use for tackle). That way the matching bobbin is with the spool and I don't have to try to compare 6 shades of green to figure out which is the right one. Got it at JoAnn's

[Rowan MacD]

@Gem and Rani-Brilliant!  Sally Beauty has the pedi-toe spreader thingies for a few cents each.
   The hardware store has the Eye-bolts for about $1.70.

@LadyStitch- Do you find those at Office Depot?

[LadyStitch]

@LadyStitch- Do you find those at Office Depot?

Staples or Office Depot both have them .