quiltmonkey Posted July 23, 2007 Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 You know when you break your thread in the middle of quilting and the first thing you say is "Oh, JOY!" (or something similar to those words...--insert your choice of expletive here-- ). So, as you know, you can't leave this broken thread in the quilt or it will unravel... A fellow quilter showed me this a couple of years ago. She uses this "tool" to pull quilting threads out (not clip, just pull) until it's long enough to knot and bury so you can start quilting again. It has a pointy hook on each end that easily reaches under the thread without breaking it. (I bought mine from ebay about a year ago and just tried it this weekend). It's one of these and it works great!! They are dental picks. I bought these in a pack of 4 for really cheap (under $10 for all four). Does anyone else use this? Or do you have other odd (non traditional) quilting tools you use to make life easier? Just thought I'd share...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted July 23, 2007 Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 they look like dental tools...is that what they are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted July 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 Yes! They are dental picks. Some are really pointy and some have duller hooks (not so sharp) so you don't damage the fabric. It's a variety pack of 4 with different types of hooks and points. Very cool, me thinks! Mary Beth, if you decide to get some, be sure to mark them with pink nail polish and put them in your "secret hiding spot in the ceiling" so DH can't ever find (e.g. borrow) them. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patch Posted July 23, 2007 Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 Hmmm. neato. I use a pair o' tweezers. Works great! Except when the threads are pulled tight to the fabric, and then I say a few choice words, LOL! These look like they'd work on anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted July 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Oh guess what??? Here's another thing the dental pick does...Yesterday, I used one that has the real sharp pointy thing to pick out a tiny piece of thread that was tightly wrapped in a nice little knot around my bobbin shuttle (the little thingy that the bobbin sits in) and I was able to wriggle in there and get it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Here's non-traditional for you Shana--- I use cookie cutters dipped in Miracle Chalk powder to mark hearts, puppies, pumpkins, etc on a top. Works great for borders with a meander in between. I can't draw a symetrical heart at all, but I can do it with my "tool"!! I shop after-holiday sales and have a nice collection--shamrocks, moon and stars, cats, holly-- whatever you can find. They are easier to find in my shop than a stencil--all stored in a plastic bin! Linda R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellysuequilter Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Wow, cookie cutters as stencils, that is a great idea! I use special medical tweezers, the kind that holds sponges and gauze during surgeries. We have a Swap Meet here and one of the vendors has all kinds of medical/dental goodies. My husband uses the dental picks for his wood turning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iquiltit Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 I use a small dental mirror to help see behind the needle when timing. Works great!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotquilts Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Yep, I use the dental tools for frogging sometimes, a dental mirror when retiming and for fishing out stray threads caught in the quilt sandwich but found after the quilting is done, the tiniest tiny crochet hook made!:mad: Christine Olson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renae Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 I used Glad Press'n Seal on top of my quilt when I want to audition a pattern.........it sticks and peels right off......doesn't move. If I want a motif I will trace it on the press'n seal and press it in place and stitch over it.......you can peel it off but I am very careful to pick it out by the stitching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Shana, You can use the smaller share hook dental tool to pick out those threads that some how sneak in between the top and the batting like huge red ones under white. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsigler Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 I use Uncle Bill's tweezers to pull out thread bits after I break them with mr. ripper. http://www.medfordtools.com/unclebill/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltjunkie Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Geez Shana, All these years I've been using my dental pick to get the plaque off my teeth, who knew I was using it all wrong!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 a cookie cutter... that sounds like a Dawn Cavanaugh trick...good thinking...I love cookie cutters...now I have a reason to buy them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieBrewer Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Shop your local thrift store for cookie cutters. They usually have plenty because no one wants the mess of rolling out cookies anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Thanks Shana! And my mother-in-law uses those things all the time. She does flower arrangements, and I sat and watched her use them "how many times?...and never thought I could use them for quilting...." dumb dumb dumb me. What we ladies learn here is amazing..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellysuequilter Posted July 26, 2007 Report Share Posted July 26, 2007 Ooooo, I like the press 'n seal idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsbishwit Posted July 27, 2007 Report Share Posted July 27, 2007 I like to use the "Wilton" brand cookie cutters for applique shapes. You can by them at Michaels and they come in almost any shape. My all time favorite is the large gingerbread boy cutter that I trace and fuse onto gingerbread house quilts. Really cute & easy. Joann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.