Quilting Tips and Tricks

Portable Flannel Wall: Purchase a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth from a dollar store or buy flannel-backed vinyl at a fabric store. Hang the portable flannel wall near the ceiling with grommets and small finishing nails.

Flannel Carriers: Cut out large pieces from a flannel-backed tablecloth and roll it up to store quilt blocks and unroll it when you're ready to work on it.

Pants Hanger: Use a pants hanger to hold your pattern book to keep it from getting lost under fabric. Another great idea: use the hanger to hold a recipe book to keep it from being soiled. Hang the pants hanger from a bulletin board, a nail in the wall or a kitchen cabinet knob.

Breath Mint Box: Make a pin holder with a recycled breath mint box and magnetic sheets. Magnetic sheets can be purchased at a craft store.

Organizing Tools: Store sewing tools in a used silverware basket taken from an old dishwasher. It can hang on a pegboard too. Also, a revolving pencil holder works like magic for tool storage.

Trading Card Holders: Buy trading card dividers for needle storage and place them in a binder. Insert needles into felt or muslin squares that have been cut to the size of the dividers. The holders can also be used to store swatches of your fabric stash.

Prescription Bottles: Store thread spools in an old prescription bottle to prevent the thread from tangling. Burn a hole in the lid with a hot nail for ease in controlling the thread. Bobbins can also be stored this way. Store discarded needles in an old prescription bottle too — this lessens the chance for needles to get lost in the carpet and thus avoid accidents.

Bobbins and Thread: Keep spools of thread and matching bobbins together by storing together on a large golf tee. Secure the bobbin and thread together with a rubber band.