Quilt in a Day Forums

I need inexpensive ways to keep my apartment carpet floor free of pins and scraps while sewing. Any suggestions. Any helps?

I use the yellow headed quilting pins - that way they are easy to see if I have dropped one.

Office furniture store sell, hard plastic for floor protecting rugs, washable, great for chairs on wheels. I have some for upstairs office desk. It has little pics underneath. You can remove them when need be.. Magnets would pick up needles from rugs, but it requires you to get on hands/knees.

A painter's drop cloth under your work area could be gathered up when you are finished sewing.

My DH has a 4-inch round magnet on a long handle so he can pick up small screws, etc in his garage. I haven't tried it, but have been told that works great for picking up pins in sewing rooms, too. I also have one of those plastic mats that LEAH described. And I vacuum after I finish each project before getting out a new one.

Oh my I was just thinking about this...I am moving my sewing area upstairs where there is carpeting in one of the spare bedrooms...I cannot afford the time nor the monies right now to redo the floor...
Thanks for the ideas....Sonya.

Don't throw out old stereo speakers. They contain a magnet (larger the speaker, larger the magnet), and you can make your own magnetic pin finder or pin cushion/holder. Just tear down the speaker and salvage the magnet. Keep them away from computers and computerized sewing machines.

Pins whatever you choose, if you stab yourself with pins, do watch
for infection may require visit to dr..

I stabbed my brain with pin needle, slipping my sewn sweatshirt for
trying on for size. There was a pin hidden in the fabric, stabbed my
brain, the pain felt like a electrical shock. Few days went by developed a really sensitive bump, did backtracking trying to figure out where got the bump.. I needed some penicillin to clear it out..
Same thing again, when I scratched my head with the tip of sewing scissors. Except 2nd time around I knew the cause. Lots of hot baths to bring puss to a point and pop it.. Only stupid me would do things as so, and warn others..

Here is a tip that I used when I had an embroidery business in my home. The room that was my "sewing and embroidery business" had to carpeted for keeping the noise down. Lot's of tiny threads every day.

Keep a designated toilet bush hanging near by. Swipe that over the carpet and it picks up all the little tiny threads. Just pull them off into the trash. It's as easy as that! * As for pins, - I say just be CAREFUL and KEEP TRACK of those pins. You can keep them off the floor, just by being very careful.

Have fun, that's the main thing!!!

Velda

Sure am glad Velda noted a "Designated toilet bush" lol

Even laying an old sheet down would help. Though you run the risk of tripping on it, if your not careful.

Lyn