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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: Sparky
Date: 04-10-2006, 12:01 PM (1 of 12)
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I'm embarrassed to even post this, but it's working so well for me that I thought someone else might like it. And since today seems to be the day for simple little tips.... If I was designing a sewing room it sure wouldn't have carpet! (No, that's not my tip.) But I'm lucky to have a sewing room at all; I took over son's bedroom when he moved out. When I finish a seam and clip the threads I TRY to drop them in the trash and not on the floor, but they're so small and light, and the trash fills up so fast, and next thing I know I have little bits of thread all over the floor. They wind around the brush on the vacuum, and have to be picked out - it's a pain. So recently we had to go to a funeral and DH dug a couple of his nice sport coats out of the back of the closet. He wears them very rarely. They were wrinkled and when I tried to give the black one a bit of a pressing I noticed (good thing I looked!) that it had been attacked by moths. There were dozens of holes. That jacket, which was really nice wool, was well and truely ruined.  I didn't know what to do with it, so I tossed it over the back of my sewing chair.And the next time I sewed, I discovered that that wool jacket makes a great thread magnet! I don't even aim for the trash basket, I just drop the snipped threads on the jacket and they hang there until I'm ready to scrape them all off with my fingers and throw them away. Like I said, a silly little tip, but I found it handy. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 04-10-2006, 12:05 PM (2 of 12)
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Hey great tip!! I know what you mean about the little threads getting everywhere. I have my sewing machine set up in my dining area at one end of my table and being the neat freak I am, I have to vaccuum everytime I get done sewing for the day b/c I cannot stand the floor messy! I try to aim for the garbage can too that I set by the table but let's face it, more ends up on the floor than the garbage~
Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436 
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From: MaryW
Date: 04-10-2006, 12:07 PM (3 of 12)
Thanks Sparky, that gives me an idea. The tip would be to hang a length of wool, either from an old coat or blanket near your machines. That would be your thread magnet. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: stephi
Date: 04-10-2006, 12:41 PM (4 of 12)
YOu make me feel messy!! I have all wood floors and I hate them, except the fact is I throw all the clippings on the floor and then scoop them up when I am done. I know its horrible that I do that but I sew at my dinner table and its a tight space so I just drop them behind me on the floor  None the less it is a very good Idea, and if I get a carpeted sewing area one day I will use it! Stephi 
Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361 
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From: sweetpea1
Date: 04-10-2006, 12:47 PM (5 of 12)
| I've got 2 tips for this same problem. 1) tape a plastic grocery bag to the edge of your table at the spot you usually drop your snips. It takes a little getting used to, but soon you will be dropping those snips right into the bag instead of the floor. As me how I know this! 2) for those snips that just don't make it into the bag I use a lint brush and swipe the carpet. Usually I pick up any large wads of fabric or thread and then swipe with the lint brush. This gets up all the little snips and prevents me from having to get out my vacuum each time I sew or from getting those threads wound up on the vacuum roller. |
User: sweetpea1
Member since: 10-10-2005 Total posts: 56 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 04-10-2006, 01:43 PM (6 of 12)
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Stephi--I sew at my dinner table as well.. I think the little baggie attached to the table may help me as well. My dream is to have a non-carpeted sewing room ALL to myself so I will feel comfortable leaving stuff out when I get done for the day but I also want a room with my desk, computer, all the files and of course, the baby grand piano. I may get the office room but I think the baby grand may be wishful thinking! Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 04-11-2006, 07:19 AM (7 of 12)
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I use a pin cushion with a thread catcher attached in my sewing room. Here is a pic of one that I made for my niece. Pin Cushion & Thread Catcher (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=76401684&size=m&context=set-348651) I made mine from a pattern that I bought here in Ottawa. But here are a couple that are a little different but have the same idea http://www.janome.com/project_show.php Another one (http://kezza.customer.netspace.net.au/project.html) While I was looking for the thread catcher links, I found this link for a thread snatcher....I think this is also a cool idea http://www.appleblossomquilts.com/pattern/threadSnatcher/index.jsp TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: MaryW
Date: 04-11-2006, 09:15 AM (8 of 12)
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Excellent ideas ladies. Yesterday I sent out this tip. When installing pockets, stitch a small pleat in the bag piece. This is so the pocket will expand when you put something heavy in it rather than dragging down the garment. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: paroper
Date: 04-11-2006, 12:27 PM (9 of 12)
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When I went to high school, our teacher just painted tin cans and parked them in the areas where we would hand sew or sew at the machines. That is where we threw everything. When I was sewing professionally I used icing containers, made little gathered coverers (put some lace on a hemmed edge of some fabric that matched my drapes, and put an elastic casing top and bottom, then I added a little padding between the fabric and the container.) These looked rather cute, matched my sewing room, and kept everything very neat. That was something that I needed with customers dropping in and out all the time. Over the last couple of years I've been very bad and haven't been using these as much, but they are very convient and they do really save on the vaccum cleaner!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 04-11-2006, 03:51 PM (10 of 12)
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I just use old tin boxes -- or the floor. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MissTaraTara
Date: 04-11-2006, 03:53 PM (11 of 12)
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I use a pin cushion with a thread catcher attached in my sewing room. Here is a pic of one that I made for my niece. Pin Cushion & Thread Catcher (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=76401684&size=m&context=set-348651) I very much like this idea. Your choice of fabrics is great. I may have to make one for myself. I don't know when I'll get it done; I've been promising to make myself a sewing machine and an overlock cover for years. 
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User: MissTaraTara
Member since: 01-24-2006 Total posts: 227 |
From: Magot
Date: 04-12-2006, 01:40 AM (12 of 12)
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I hope the moths wreee LONG dead Sparky! Strange isn't it how ever much you clean up, little threads walk all over the house by themselves.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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