What is your most unusal quilting tool? You favorite quilting tool?

[Marilynsgrammy]

I use one of those sticky lint rollers to pick up loose threads or clean off my cutting mat....

My favorite is my ruler with the slits in it so I can cut 2 1/2 inch strips without picking up a regular ruler.... I love it.

[kadie]

Thanks! Have been using clothes pegs on open packets of anything for as long as I can remember.

[Sammygirl]

My most unusal tool and a Mustache Trimmer. It just zips those seams apart in a jiffy and never cuts your fabric.

[Geneva2]

My most unusual tool is a Mirometer. It is a tool found in a machine shop where they make tools and parts that have to be exact measurments. I can set it and then mark any number of patches the exact same size. My DH gave it to me when he saw be struggling to mark 2 and 7/8 in. blocks for HST.
I also use a brick. A heavy concrete brick left over when our patio was built. I wrapped it with heavy bubble paper and I use it to keep my quilt from sliding off the table as I quilt. I can bunch up the quilt so it won't pull on the machine then lay on the brick and that quilt isn't going anywhere.
I use a plastic honey bottle with the small hole and cover in the lid to put my borken needles in and I use an empty tissue box for thread tails. I use the plastic bags with a zipper that sheets and other bed linens come in to store projects and all their pieces. Besides each machine I have a plastic trays that some frozen dinners come in. The try holds everything I need when I use that machine. I use a lot of office supplies for purposes other than what they were intended. Every thing you need to sew doesn't necessarly come from a Fabric store and as you can see, I'm a recycler.
Geneva

[mic-pa]

I use pipe cleaners to get the lint and dust out of the machine when cleaning it. the lint clings to small fibers on the pipe cleaner and works great. Marge

[sewbug]

Geneva2,
Do you mean a vernier caliper? Mirometer is one brand of those. Do you measure each HST with these or draw marks before cutting? Just curious because DH has a lot of precision tools I could be using! I like you idea of the brick.

[gmaann]

I've read so many GREAT ideas here! I love them. And I love hearing of ways to use things that we might normally throw away.

[Geneva2]

Sewbug,
Yes I do mean calipers. Sorry about that. Yes,I measure, mark and then cut. I set the tool to the size I want the block then measure and mark and cut a length of fabric to make a strip the right width, then measure,mark and cut as many blocks as I need. If I have to cut blocks 2 and 1/2 inch. sq. I would just use a ruler; that's easy but measuring 7/8 inch and keeping it exact for 10 blocks is tedious, at least with my eye sight. The caliper just makes it easier, faster and more accurate for me. I only have to set the caliper once. Sometimes when I enlarge or decrease a pattern with EQ6, as I did with the Christmas bow tablerunner, I come out with some pretty odd measurements but with the caliper it is easy to measure and mark them. Go ahead and use your DH's tools. He won't mind?. LOL My DH gave me the one I have or I wouldn't have know about such a tool. Yes, the brick is great for keeping my quilt where i want it to be.
Geneva

[Geneva2]

Sammygirl,
My DH has an electric mustache trimmer. Is that what you mean? If I wait until he goes to work to use it, he would never know would he? That is a great idea. He used to use the mustache sissors. They have rouonded tips and when he got a new pr. I would take the old pr. to cut threads in seams without harming the fabric. I never thought of using the electric ones.
Geneva

[QuiltinKay]

One of my favorite tools is a hemostat. I have all sizes and usethem for many things. I have some that I got my husband to grind the clamps smooth so when I jsut want to hold something briefly it won't clamp one me. They are great I have one larger size on that is long and is great for reaching inside things to turn them. Kay