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In this episode, 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:

1. Magnetic Bowls - Deeper than typical pin dishes, perfect for holding pins, especially heavy-duty long arm pins
2. Magnetic Bars - Used to secure quilt tops when floating them on a long arm machine
3. Telescoping Magnetic Handles - Great for retrieving dropped pins or reaching into tight spaces
4. Scissor Sharpeners - For extending the life of all-purpose scissors (not recommended for high-quality sewing shears)
5. 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

Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.

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