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In this episode, I explore unconventional and budget-friendly quilting tools that can be found at your local hardware store. As part of Season 5's focus on building a creative business, this episode offers practical tips for quilters looking to save money while enhancing their craft.
Hardware Store Quilting Tools:
Tools Section:
- Magnetic Bowls - Deeper than typical pin dishes, perfect for holding pins, especially heavy-duty long arm pins
- Magnetic Bars - Used to secure quilt tops when floating them on a long arm machine
- Telescoping Magnetic Handles - Great for retrieving dropped pins or reaching into tight spaces
- Scissor Sharpeners - For extending the life of all-purpose scissors (not recommended for high-quality sewing shears)
- Small Inspection Mirrors - Helpful for checking the bobbin area or viewing the back of a quilt without flipping it
Paint Department:
6. Painter's Tape - Susan's "all-time winner" for marking boundaries, creating guides, securing loose seams, and making cutting jigs
7. Rubber Mallet - Perfect for flattening bulky seams that won't fit under machine feet, also useful for snaps and grommets
Measuring Section:
8. Yardstick - Longer than typical quilting rulers, useful for holding side clamp straps at the long arm machine
Storage & Organization:
9. S-Hooks - Great for hanging rulers on pegboards or temporarily displaying quilts
10. Wire Shelving with Wheels - Space-saving storage that can be rolled when needed
11. Snap-Together Storage Bins - Perfect for organizing small supplies like seam rippers and marking tools
12. Mesh Drawer Organizers - Good for visible storage of color-organized scraps
13. Closet Organization Hardware - For storing batting rolls using closet rails and PVC pipe
Lighting:
14. LED Stick-On Lights - For additional task lighting under machines - Tip: Use a floor lamp with adjustable neck for "quilting by shadow" on dark or busy prints
Building Materials:
15. Plexiglass Sheets - For auditioning quilting designs
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
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