Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop



When I saw Carol of Just Let Me Quilt was hosting a blog hop on gadgets in the sewing room, I knew I had to join in the fun.  I believe I have just about every gadget, gizmo, and whatchamacallit ever invented for sewing projects.  I have listed just a few of them below.     








These clips hold my binding to my quilt nice and tight.  I'm always hesitant about putting a quilt away with stick pins holding it together.  A big plus to using clips instead of pins is that I can place these all around the border of my quilt and I don't stick myself.







Sometimes I want to embellish a sewing project and poms poms are just the thing.  Have you ever used a pom pom maker?  It can be a little tricky.







My magnetic bowl is just the thing for keeping my pins in check.  It's also a good place for holding different machine feet when I'm doing a project that calls for switching feet often.  








My Oliso iron is one of my favorite sewing tools.  I can't count how many times I knocked over my upright-standing iron.  The Oliso is touch sensitive and lowers when I touch the handle, and pops up off the ironing board surface when I take my hand away.   






As you can see, I have gadgets I have not even used.  I received this felted wool pressing mat for Christmas last year and have not used it yet.  I have only heard good things about it.  Do you use one?





But my favorite tool in the sewing room is not really a gadget.  It's just graph paper.  



All my quilts start out as an idea that I transfer to paper, like this easy sailboat quilt.  The grid squares make it easy for me to design geometric shapes.  For this quilt, each square measured 1".  For sewing purposes, I add 1/2" to each piece for seam allowances.   

 

I drew the dimensions for this quilt on grid paper so you can follow the diagram and make your own.  It is a really fast and easy pattern.  The finished blocks are 10" squares and the finished quilt is approximately 41" x 41".  I added rick rack just for a bit of fun, but it is certainly optional.  

Once you have your pieces cut, fold your pieces in half or draw a line down the middle of  the pieces and sew across the diagonal lines.  Look at the finished block to make sure you are about to sew in the right direction.  Cut away the excess fabric and press the pieces open.



I turned the secondary block in different directions, as shown on the quilt, so if you're using a directional print, like I did, you may want to pay attention to its placement.


My quilt is small, just right for a baby, but you could make this quilt any size you prefer just by adding more blocks.  


I hope you enjoyed your glimpse into my gadget stash and will try making one of these quilts for yourself.  I think it would be extra cute if the sailboats were all different colors. 

Thank you, Carol, for hosting such a fun and interesting hop.  I am always amazed at the variety of projects presented, and I always learn something new.   

But wait!  There is still more to see!  If you haven't already, be sure to visit the other participants in this hop.  They are sure to astound you with their talents.


Until next time, Happy Stitching!


25 comments:

  1. Wonder clips are so handy! Thanks for sharing your sewing room gadgets :)

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  2. Thanks for giving us a peek into your sewing gadgets. Love the quilt. I am so amazed that everyone in the blog has shown something slightly different from the rest. Thanks for sharing,

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  3. What an adorable quilt and the addition of ricrac really is cute. Great gadgets, every single one of them. Pom pom makers look fun, I may have to go there. I love graph paper and think it is super valuable as a tool (or a gadget?).

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  4. Beautiful baby quilt, and great gadgets. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  5. I do use a wool pressing mat and love it, so yes you need to try yours! I do have a pom-pom maker for hats when I knit ones I add a pom-pom to. I really love that sweet quilt! Thanks for sharing it. I make small quilts when I can for Project Linus and that one would be so cute to make.

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  6. Ah good old fashioned graph paper! Your quilt is lovely.

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  7. Oh my gosh, that is just the cutest little sail boat quilt. I love the ric-rac trim on it, too. Graph paper is our friend that's for sure. I love my wool pressing mat. It's been a few years since I made pom-poms. I wonder where that little gadget is in my sewing room???? Cute cup to hold your clips in! I love it.

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  8. Wonderful gadgets! I have used graph paper too, especially when copying a block that I have seen on line... :) That baby quilt is really cute! Thanks for sharing today!

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  9. Oh, your sailboat quilt is super cute! All those happy colors. I love being anywhere where there is a large body of water. I don’t think I knew about a Pom Pom maker. Isn’t that thimble cup just the cutest idea too. And perfect for holding the wonder clips.

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  10. I enjoy sketching out quilt designs on graph paper, too. It's very soothing and enjoyable! I haven't seen pom-pom makers like those! Cute sailboat quilt!

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  11. Your sailboat quilt is just the cutest...love it! The colors are so bright and cheery. I've never drawn out a quilt on graph paper, but you make it look so easy. I remember using those pom pom makers, too. They were so fun to use! My Oliso is definitely a gadget I must have. Thanks for sharing all these gadgets and your quilt, Charlene!

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  12. What an adorable quilt! Wonder clips are a fave of mine too!

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  13. I love your sailboat! And the thimble cup is just perfect!!

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  14. Oh yes graph paper, my favorite. Even though I use EQ a lot sometimes you just need to draw it out by hand.

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  15. Very cute quilt - the colors are so bright and cheery!!

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  16. Thanks for sharing your gadgets! I do have a pressing mat - it's made with alpaca and wool and doesn't smell. I love how the pressed blocks lie so very flat! Your sailboat quilt is cute!

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  17. What a wonderful collection of gadgets. I hold graph paper right up there with my printer for must haves in the quilting room.

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  18. I love my wool pressing mat and wonder clips.

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  19. Excellent ideas. Some I also use and a few new ones to try out, too. Thanks.

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  20. thanks for sharing your gadget stash. I love my wonder clips also. Not only dont I stab myself, but I dont bend a lot of pins. I have used my wool mat. But honestly my kitty loves it more so I put it on the bookshelf by the window and she loves to sit and look outside or watch me sew. I love graph paper. I didnt know what it was until I married my engineer husband who used it for everything.

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  21. I love my OLISO iron too, but I'm sending mine back for the 3rd time!! this time it's not steaming right at all only after I shake it around each time I use it and then if it sits for a while the handle gets super hot! so it's going back (again!) they are good about replacing it though, but a bummer it doesn't last long.

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  22. I may need to add a couple of these to my Christmas list! Thanks for sharing. Your quilt is cute!

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  23. All great gadgets and yes I need to get some of them. Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  24. I love your sailboat quilt, thanks for sharing the pattern and process with us! One of those irons has been on my wish list for a while..... :) xx

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