Heidi-Idy's Happenings 'n Stuff

Today’s Hint — 8/23/09

Transporting your appliqué project

Use one of those foam swimming noodles to roll your appliqué projects on. The noodles are around six feet long, and you can find them everywhere in the summer.

You can cut a noodle to the length you need, then pin your project to it. Roll it up, then pin the loose edge to secure it. This works great for transporting a project to and from class. It keeps your appliqué together and helps keep it wrinkle free.

 Today’s Hint — 4-5-09

Fabric Storage

This tip comes from Laurie Clinton of Virginia Beach; I recently found the NEW Febreze closet renewables (http://febrezerenewables.com/products.html) and love storing my fabric in them.  There are lidded boxes and they have bins in 3 sizes that have a flap to cover the contents.  On the front of each storage bin there is a window so you can label the contents.  The boxes are stackable.  These units are made of a breathable fabric with a place to put the Febreze insert that keeps your stash smelling fresh and it blocks the sunlight from discoloring your stash.  The large bin 18.25X14.5X 12.75 is home to some of my backing fabric – I love that I don’t have to shrunch the fabric to fit into it.  The closet looks so much better with this organization and it smells good, too.  They also make an under the bed blanket storage unit that would be excellent in storing finished quilts when not on display.

Today’s Hint — 1-14-09

Reducing Glass

This tip comes from Jackie O’Brien of Virginia Beach; “For an inexpensive reducing glass, buy a door peephole from your local hardware store. You can look through it and view your quilt design from a close distance and it allows you to see the entire quilt. It’s very helpful in layout designing; you can see “obvious” blocks and move them around to a better position. It’s also very portable.

Door viewer/peephole

Today’s Hint — 12-29-08

How to Care for your Rotary Cutting Mat

In order to clean and condition your rotary mat, you can actually give it a bath! Put your mat in the bath tub and use 1/4 cup white vinegar to a gallon of tepid (NOT HOT) water, and a couple of drops of a mild   soap. Using a mushroom brush or other mild bristle brush, create a lather and gently clean and condition your mat. Rinse the mat and let it air dry or try with a Turkish towel. The mats love moisture; it helps keep them supple. Be sure to store them flat and out of direct sunlight.

Batting Scraps

Sandra Fraenkel of Chesapeake, Virginia submitted this tip; “I use my small leftover cotton batting scraps on my “swiffer” to clean my hardwood floors.  Works great and then just throw it away.”

Today’s Hint — 11-25-08

New “Unsewing Tool”

Eyebrow tool comes 3 to a package Eyebrow tool

Eyebrow tool

Eyebrow tool in use

Today’s Hint — 11-15-08

The Sewing Assistant (Though there are some who call it the “Sewing Sistah”)!

In order to keep that thread tangle (thread vomit, bird’s nest) from the beginning of your stitching use a small, 2 layer scrap when you begin and end stitching. This also saves time and thread because you don’t have to keep snipping and then pulling more thread each time you start & stop. 

Sewing Assistant at beginning

Sewing Assistant at End

After you finish your chain, clip Sewing Assistant to use again

Tips for Heidi-Idy? Use the form below. If we publish your original hint on our blog you’ll earn a  $10.00 Gift Certificate from What’s Your Stitch ‘n Stuff!

You can cut a noodle to the length you need, then pin your project to it. Roll it up, then pin the loose edge to secure it. This works great for transporting a project to and from class. It keeps your appliqué together and helps keep it wrinkle free.