Sunday, August 4, 2013

Weekend WIP

This was a good weekend for sewing.  In addition to finishing the Sail Away quilt (post coming later this week) I got the backing put together for the Bird Houses quilt and basted it.  This one has been sitting around for a while just waiting for the backing to be finished.  In the end, the shade of brown solid on the back isn't quite dark enough, but this is a case where done is better than perfect.


I pin baste my quilt and usually I can shut the pins by hand, although it hurts my finger nails.  In an effort to save my nails I tried something different today.  There's a tool called a Kwik Klip that's designed to close safety pins and save your nails.  I decided to try something similar with a wooden chop stick.

Homemade safety pin closer

Carving a couple of shallow grooves all the way around the end of the chop stick gave the pins a place to catch.  It's a little awkward at first to figure out how to best use the tool and get your rhythm, but once I got the hang of it I'd say it's as fast as closing them by hand.  And best of all, no sore nails! 


I am working through Wednesday, but after that I am looking forward to getting this one quilted.  Linking up to Design Wall (um-- make that Design Floor) Monday at Patchwork Times.

4 comments:

  1. My mom's got one of those kwik klip things and I've always loved it. I'm definitely going to try the chopstick version!

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  2. Leah Day uses those pinmoors. I am thinking about trying those out.

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  3. I knew I had saved thost chop sticks for some reason! See, that I why I can nver toss anything out, I will eventually need it!

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  4. That is EXACTLY what I did too! Couldn't justify spending $10 on something I knew I could make myself for free, haha. I think it is faster than using my fingers too. Great minds think alike ;-)

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