I was at the hardware store recently, and found magnets to help me find and pick up pins that fall, needles that get misplaced, etc. They are about 1/2" round magnets, very strong, on the ends of a handle that starts at 6" long but telescopes like an antenna to over two feet! They cost about $2, so I picked up one to keep by my favorite "sewing" chair in the living room, and one to drop into my tote bag. They are very handy!
Mary, I agree! I've had a couple of these for several years and find them *very* useful. :)
They sell them in Joanns, probably for a whole lot more! I got one when I was recovering from hip surgery, but I agree, they are very useful the rest of the time too, the only problem is they don't pick up the tiny brass safety pins I use for basting :-(
Anne
Funny story about magnets! My dh has one of these things. He & me were putting a composter together in the back yard. One very necessary bolt slipped through a crack in the steps. The magnet on a stick was too big to fit through the crack. I whipped off my med alert bracelet (strong magnet) & it saved the day & the composter. And Yes, I do use it to pick up pins!! Because I have it on all of the time, it is always handy! :-)
Nana
Why does a med alert bracelet need a magnet?
==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts
****** I killfile Google posts - email me if you want to be whitelisted ******
Beyond that a strange thing just occured to me. When I took first aid way back, they told us to look for a med alert tag in any one of it's several forms. Since then we have all taken the course several times, and not a one of us can recall a med alert tag even being mentioned.
NightMist putting a reminder on the fridge that we are all due for a refresher and DD3 is due for her first adult class...
I was wondering the same!
We have another magnet mystery in our house, a couple of days ago DH said to me "where did this magnet come from?", I said "what magnet?", he'd noticed a tiny ~1/8 inch metal cylinder attached to my head phones, I suggested it might not be a magnet, given the head phones would be magnetic, but we tested it and it is indeed a magnet. It is literally a plain, shiny cylinder about the same deep as it is across, but it's a complete mystery as to where it came from.
Anne
I have one of those DH gave me; it even has a little light on the end. I never used it much until I got new carpet that's much plusher than the old carpet. Now it's indispensable. Can't see those pins & needles like I used to. It sure finds them before his foot does.
Sherry
I didn't like the hard bracelet that it came on. So I have it put on a 'custom' one with a strong magnetic clasp.
Nana
Good suggestion, Mary. A few years ago the guild coordinator gave those extension magnets as gifts to the various guild chairmen. I use mine often. Another idea: keep a tiny flashlight in the tote bag, to help you find elusive dropped pins. Pat in Virginia
Magnets are wonderful...I've *loved* them since I was a little kid. In fact I used to play with magnets more than I played with dolls. The invisible 'power' they is just magical.
-Irene
When you get to Christmas shopping, there a cool tool over in the automotive section that's a good find. It's a sort of saucer and could be used by a mechanic keeping up with bits and parts. A serious magnet thingie. Big fun when you're stitching a long seam with heaps of pins. You can go full speed and just sort of toss the pins in the direction of the saucer and it will grab them. Of course, you must keep it away from the innards of a SM with computer stuff. Gift shopping in automotive is cheaper than LQS and always turns up something useful. Polly
Whoa, that's a good idea. Craftsman has a set of stainless steel trays that sounds like what you're talking about. I loved it when I got a magnetic pin tray. You just toss the pins in the general direction of the tray. Or dump the pins out on the table, use what you need, and turn the tray upside down over the spilled pins. They just jump off the table back onto the tray. Cheap entertainment, too. Nearly as much fun as as those plastic kissing dogs.
Sherry
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.