adamsme wrote:
Hi ME,

It's so nice to know that I was not the only one. Most of the suggested tips seemed so obvious that I don't know why I didn't think of them. And they do work. I'm applying several of them while working on my Baker's Dozen blocks too.

I'd love some of the walnut shells, but only if you allow me to give you something in return. THANKS!

Hi, Nancy. I made the pincushion organizer that you show in your photo after you directed me to the pattern. I threw it in a drawer because it is not heavy enough. I recently bought a bag of crushed walnut shells from Petsmart (it is used as litter in reptile cages). So, I now have a lifetime supply of the stuff. It is very heavy for its size. Remind me and I will bring you some to the next guild meeting.

I laughed when you mentioned how dirty things get while paper piecing. I do the same thing as you when I cook, but for some reason these tidy habits have not spilled over to paper piecing. I make a very big mess, too. Will try harder and use the tips put forth here when I get my possums made up for the next Baker's Dozen exchange!

I'm now keeping an empty Kleenex box at the end of my ironing board in my sewing room and it is working wonderfully for disposing those loose threads that previously would end up on the carpeted floor. Loving that idea! It's much better than lugging my heavy vacuum up and down the stairs. I do not work well with clutter around me--okay, I'm a neat freak!

"let 'er rip" and vacuum the mess up. :shock:

uncledonna wrote:

My advice is to lower your standards!

I made 3 of those organizers. One for me, my mom and my sister. Then I too realized its to light to stay put on my sewing cabinet. I cut a small piece of the rubber matting you use to keep rugs from slipping and it works great. Mom drapes hers over the arm of the couch when hand sewing and that works great too.

Thanks for all of your great ideas for the weighted pincushion organizer. I'm so glad that I mentioned it. I'll certainly be modifying mine to weigh it down more. And, in lieu of a changing my lining, I have just put a large clear plastic cup down in the thread bag to make it easier to dump. Why didn't I think of that before?

Much love to you all!

Michelle, using a ceramic tile is a brilliant idea! Thank you for that.

We made a variation of these at my guild a few years ago.

I changed the pattern so it was just the thread bag hanging down. We attached the thread bag with velcro so it's easy to take off the top pincusion part to empty. The lining of the bag was made from slippery polyester (like lining material) and it is so easy to dump! The trash just slides right out!!

I also used a 6" ceramic tile (cheapest white tiles from Home Depot) for the bottom of the pincushion. We made the top pin cushion like a bag shape, laid the tile inside wrapped in muslin, then stuffed the rest of the bag with tons of poly fluff, then top stitched it closed. The velcro was stitched over the closure to hide it a bit.

The end result was a heavy top pin cushion with a removable slippery thread bag! I love mine!

I never put a tool caddy on any of mine either. The original pattern I used was from a kit I had bought from the Viking dealer many years ago. I have revised and simplified it over time.
Fi

We made a simpler version of this caddy in our spring quilt retreat last year. Our version just had a trash bag attached, no tool caddy. We filled the pin cushion with crushed walnut shells that I believe the ladies picked up at the pet shop. We also sewed that rubber stuff that you put under rugs to keep them from slipping on the bottom of the pin cushion and I've never had mine slip off the table.

Nancy

I've made several of these holders and have used a fine sand, such as they use for sandblasting. It holds well and it can be used as a pincushion as well.
Fi

If you want to add some weight, but not use sand, you can mix the rice (only advisable if you live in a dry climate) with non-magnetic ball bearings from the hardware shop.