Monday, 29 June 2009

Making Do

I'm always on the look out for new ways of marking fabric. I've tried the "that last bit of the soap" route which was fine until I started using the tail end of some Wright's Coal Tar soap and the smell was overpowering. (I love the soap, but the smell was just a little bit too much.) I've tried tailor's chalk - nope - marked the fabric and it doesn't wash off very well. I bought a chalk marker from the LQS which I love using, especially for Baptist Fans. Then Tonya and Bonnie talked about the Hera marker and I thought I'd give it a go. Doesn't mark the fabric. It just leaves an indent. As you know, The Young One is going back to the UK on Saturday for 2 weeks so I've been doing a search for shops in Canterbury which would sell this little tool. I then had a brain wave! The Young One used to have Play-Doh when she was little. Each pack contained a cutting tool which is basically the same design.
It works!
Can you see the diagonal line in the blue square?
That's saved some pennies!
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9 comments:

Twisted Quilts said...

I love finding new uses for things. I have something similar and it is also great for "pressing" seams after you sew but before you get to the iron.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

great idea!

Amanda said...

I have an ivory ruler (I know, very un-PC, but it belonged to my grandfather) which works really well too,

The Devil Dog said...

That is very creative, and really, really neat.

Marie

Rosalyn Manesse said...

That plastic thingy is perfect. I use teacher's blackboard chalk, and that rubs off.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

I've got all sorts of things in my sewing box that used to be used for something unrelated. Like 1/2 a wooden clothes peg with the spring removed is now a wood iron for pressing seams when you are paper piecing. And a crochet hook for helping to close the safety pins when basting a quilt...it's amazing what one comes up with when there is a need.

Lily Mulholland said...

Good idea Clare. I reckon I could find one around here too. I totally baulked when I saw the price on a Hera - $29!!!! You've got to be joking - it's a simple piece of plastic!

jovaliquilts said...

You're brilliant! I have a kitchen tool that's something like that. I'll have to give it a go -- thanks for the great idea.

Unknown said...

Great example of recycling - now you can spend that money on something else :o)