11 Frugal Sewing Ideas

1) Using the slightly puffy drawer liner made by "duck tape" (Walmart-$3-$4) to put under my sewing machine & serger-pins & notions don't fall off the table and it keeps the vibration down (can also be used as a jar opener).

2) Using the plastic carrying cases for matchbox cars (walmart-$5) to store threads.

3) Using metal plumbers washers (Lowes, Home Depot) instead of pattern weights

4) using kabnet wax, a very light-weight wax paper, precut 10"x11"squares (Costco, Sams, BJ's-$4/500 sheets) as a stabilizer for embroidery and other sewing; it tears off easily and can be sprayed with adhesive spray for items that can't be hooped.

5) Using fishing lure (not tackle) boxes (Walmart, less than $5) for storing machine feet and small notions.

6) Using medium-weight vinyl (Walmart-$1.50/yd) cut into strips to wrap thread so it doesn't come off the spool.
7) Putting a small bulletin board on the wall in front of my machine table and putting a needle chart, mm to inches conversion chart on it, along with thumbtacks to hold my scissors so they don't get nicked in a drawer.

8) Buying sheets at goodwill/salvation army and using them to make pillow cases dresses for children (3-4 pillowcases from one full-size sheet)

9) Selling sewing/quilting books you no longer need on half.com (List them at $.25 less than the lowest current price).

9) Buying 100% solid cotton fabric at the $1 table at Walmart to use as backings for quilts.

10) Buying specialty threads at wholesale 5% through the fabricandnotions co-op group at yahoo.com (for example-woolly nylon is $2.90/1000 yds, pearl crown rayon is $2.00/100 yds, both about half of retail price).

11) Signing up for the fabric.com newsletter-they seem to have a % off sale at least once a month; also get free shipping as a member of the American sewing guild.