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Builder or handyman tools as quilting tools

I helped Mom baste a quilt Sunday and got a real surprise. I had given her the Rubbermaid Tough Stuff tools and tool bag so she would have tools when she needed them without having to hunt through her DH's tools. Well this tool bag has been converted to quilting use. She carries everything needed to baste a quilt on her old fashioned 4 board quilt frame from the 6 inch nails that join the 4 frame corners to the pliers that help remove the push pins to remove the quilt after basting. Everything fits into the bag except the frame boards and a handy yardstick. This got me to thinking about how many builder/handyman tools we quilters might be using.

Here is the list of real tools we used just to baste the quilt:

Nylon Mason's cord to hang the quilt frame from the ceiling eye bolts Retractable Tape Measure to measure the quilt top to decide on frame sizing

4 six inch nails to hold the frame together at the corners, and connect the frame to the hanging cord loops 4 clamps to hold the frame square at the corners 2 Hammers to tap the push pins into the wooden frame to hold the backing and batting on the frame Large flat head screw driver to quickly pry up any push pins that bent or broke during the tapping process Yardstick to help smooth the center of the quilt top over the other layers Pliers to remove the push pins after basting the quilt Tool Bag to hold all the above plus the push pins and a few other things like basting gun and tacks

To add to this list I have been thinking about getting a Carpenter's Square to help mark large whole cloth blocks for applique backgrounds and large print novelty fabrics quickly and easily for cutting.

Are there any other real tools useful for quilting? Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra
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Good thread!

Since I often baste on the floor, I use knee pads from the home and building store.

I have a storage unit of many tiny drawers intended for nuts and bolts. I use it for buttons and such.

PAT > I helped Mom baste a quilt Sunday and got a real surprise. I had

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

I've been thinking about buying my sewing room one of those long (4 ft or more) metal rulers from the builder or handyman tool store. I hesitate though because I don't know if the humidity here might cause it to blacken and smudge my quilting. That could turn this sweet little old lady into a violent basket case in just a blink. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Well, Polly, look at it like this: if any black that occurs is smudge-able, then it is wipe-clean-able! Not a problem >gg< . In message , Polly Esther writes

Reply to
Patti

If you can find one made of stainless steel or aluminum it should be fine. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

I never would have thought of knee pads for quilting. The nut & bolt storage unit would be good for all the sewing machine feet as well as bobbin and thread spool storage too. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Reply to
Taria

I like the foam "kneelers" that they sell at garden centres at this time of year. I think you are supposed to kneel on them in the garden... I find they are good for kneeling on when you are basting or squaring up a quilt on the floor. And they only cost about a pound!

-- Jo in Scotland

Reply to
Jo in Scotland

I have one of those: it lives in the drawer with the iron and ironing pad that I keep in the sewing room...

As for tools that you wouldn't normally find in a traditional sewing kit

- well I have a few! Not all are for quilting.

Tinsnips: for cutting boning and heavy duty zips Side bent cutters: for snipping the teeth of heavy duty zips for shortening... Hammer: great for banging studs into jeans, grommets into things, and flattening thick seams and corners! Needle nosed pliers: great for pulling recalcitrant threads out of sewing and sewing machines! Metal spring-loaded tape measures: perfect for measuring windows for curtains! Spirit level: well, I'm sure when I make a wall hanging (eventually!) I'll need it! meanwhile, DH has a beady eye on it... Paint brush: MUCH better for cleaning sewing machines than those silly brushes they give you with the machine...

I'm sure there are more, if I could only think of them! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

I have a similar one of these, Pat, and I use it for buttons, spare bobbins, pigma pens and any other little-bitties that would get lost somewhere else.

Reply to
Sandy Foster

Debra wrote: I carry a small steel measuring tape in my purse. It comes in handy for a lot of stuff, both quilt-y and otherwise.

I have a small, spring-loaded needle-nosed pliers that I use by hand-quilting. I have thumb joint problems and I often use the pliers to pull the needle through after loading it with several stitches.

Plastic boxes with dividers for multiple sections are much less expensive in hardware stores (tool box section or tackle box section) than in fabric stores. I also have a large plastic tool box for holding larger sewing tools, and I have a rolling tool box for taking to retreats, etc. I can put my small tools, fabric, patterns, etc. in the box, put my sewing machine on top (fastened with bungee cords, of course) and I'm ready to roll.

Julia in MN

Reply to
Julia in MN

Spring clamp for when I need a third (or fourth) hand.

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(thesite is just to show a picture, and is not where I have bought themsince I liberate them from the garage) Before you buy them, try them out to be sure you can physically open them as far as you need. Some of them provide great exercise, but at a time when exercise is NOT the point. ;o)

Bert Colville, WA

Reply to
bertklimas

Tackle boxes for sewing machine feet and other small tools...

Cappy

Reply to
Cappy

I put the miscellaneous things needed for a quilt in progress into a large, beautiful flower pot that sits on the floor near my favorite chair in the living room. Since I do everything by hand -- hate sewing machines! -- I do lap-quilting in the living room while watching evening TV. The flower pot is somewhat out of the way but very handy!

Reply to
Mary

Hate sewing machines? Mary! I wish you could come play at my house. I have some that are just such sweethearts, I'll bet I could sway your thoughts in no time. Polly

"Mary" wrote>I put the miscellaneous things needed for a quilt in progress into a

Reply to
Polly Esther

I second that test them out before buying idea. My mom's clamps are so hard to open I had to use both hands to open each one. Hers were sold in pairs in bubble packs, so she never had a chance to test them before purchase. I was thinking of getting her an easier to open set. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

How about getting her something more like this.

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In case the like doesn't work. It is a mini bar clamp. I have a few that are very similar in my hobby tool box. They have all different sizes of them. I use the really small ones for crafts and for fixing some of the kids' toys. They are great for holding things together while glue dries. They don't always come prepackaged so she should be able to try them out before hand and with the different sizes she could select the size that would work best for her.

NAYY, just thought I'd throw out another option for you.

Reply to
Charlotte Hippen

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