15 Quilting Tools Hiding in Your Hardware Store

In this episode, host I explore unconventional and budget-friendly quilting tools that can be found at your local hardware store. As part of Season 5’s focus on building a creative business, this episode offers practical tips for quilters looking to save money while enhancing their craft.

Hardware Store Quilting Tools:

Tools Section:

Magnetic Bowls – Deeper than typical pin dishes, perfect for holding pins, especially heavy-duty long arm pins
Magnetic Bars – Used to secure quilt tops when floating them on a long arm machine
Telescoping Magnetic Handles – Great for retrieving dropped pins or reaching into tight spaces
Scissor Sharpeners – For extending the life of all-purpose scissors (not recommended for high-quality sewing shears)
Small Inspection Mirrors – Helpful for checking the bobbin area or viewing the back of a quilt without flipping it

Paint Department:

6. Painter’s Tape – Susan’s “all-time winner” for marking boundaries, creating guides, securing loose seams, and making cutting jigs

7. Rubber Mallet – Perfect for flattening bulky seams that won’t fit under machine feet, also useful for snaps and grommets

Measuring Section:

8. Yardstick – Longer than typical quilting rulers, useful for holding side clamp straps at the long arm machine

Storage & Organization:

9. S-Hooks – Great for hanging rulers on pegboards or temporarily displaying quilts

10. Wire Shelving with Wheels – Space-saving storage that can be rolled when needed

11. Snap-Together Storage Bins – Perfect for organizing small supplies like seam rippers and marking tools

12. Mesh Drawer Organizers – Good for visible storage of color-organized scraps

13. Closet Organization Hardware – For storing batting rolls using closet rails and PVC pipe

Lighting:

14. LED Stick-On Lights – For additional task lighting under machines – Tip: Use a floor lamp with adjustable neck for “quilting by shadow” on dark or busy prints

Building Materials:

15. Plexiglass Sheets – For auditioning quilting designs with dry erase markers – Tip: Create a frame with duct tape around the edge to mark the “drawing side” and prevent marking on quilts