14+ Unconventional Sewing Tools

Did you know you have things lying around your house that can make your sewing life much easier? Save money by trying these sewing hacks instead of wasting your money on fancy products.

1. Pipe cleaners: Bend one pipe cleaner into an oval, attach it to a straight one, and BAM! You've got a handy pipe cleaner brush. You can remove dust from under and around your sewing machine using this simple tool that costs only pennies to make.
    
2. Washi tape: Keep your fingers safe by using washi tape to keep your hemlines or small appliques in place instead of pins. Bonus: It looks pretty!

3. Two pencils: Not all sewing patterns include a seam allowance, but you can easily add one with this technique. Rubber band two pencils together and press down on both while you're tracing the pattern. Tada! You've drawn the seam allowance.

4. Dental floss: Make the perfect gathers in your skirt or dress pattern by keeping dental floss handy in the craft room.

5. Booklight: Attach a cheap book light to the back of your sewing machine using painters tape to provide more light while you're sewing. Booklights are also bendable, so you can shine extra light on a specific area of your project.
    
6. Washers: You probably have some of these lying around from your last home improvement project. Stack a few washers on top of each other, secure them with yarn, and you have simple fabric weights.

7. Suction cup soap holder: Keep your scissors, seam ripper, pencil, glasses, and more in one place by attaching this cheap holder to the side of your sewing machine.

8. Extra-long tweezers: Tweezers can help you thread your machine, help remove loose threads in tight spaces, as well as pull tiny threads after you use your seam ripper.

9. Binder clips: When cutting slippery fabrics, use small binder clips to hold the edges together. This method will prevent the fabric from sliding around while you're cutting, plus it won't leave holes in your delicate fabrics as pins do.
   
   Note: Not recommended for expensive or irreplaceable fabric as it can still damage very delicate pieces. Test first or clip at a spot that won't be visible. 

10. Rubber band: Wrap a thick rubber band around the free arm of your sewing machine and use it to line up your fabric to create a straight seam allowance.

11. Little wooden stick: Use a 6-inch stick with an angled edge as a makeshift iron to press down your seams between stitching sessions. Surprisingly, it works as well as a regular iron!
     
12. Hairspray: Spray the end of your thread with hairspray to make threading a needle easier.

13. Rubber jar opener: If the foot pedal of your sewing machine tends to get away from you, you can make it stay put with a jar opener. Use one made from textured rubber and place it under your foot pedal to keep it from sliding around.

14. Chopsticks: You can use a wooden chopstick with a pointed end for many things when sewing, including guiding fabric under the pressure foot of your machine or gently poking out corners.
    
    Note: It's best to use polished chopsticks for this, not the cheap kind you get from restaurants.

When it comes to cool sewing tools you might not expect, there are even more already in your home. Keep these in mind in case you need them the next time you're working on a new sewing project.

1. Calculator for quick math needs
2. Cotton swabs for lint removal
3. Dryer sheets for cleaning an iron
4. Hair straightener and dryer for ironing without an iron
5. Letter opener for straight lines, pressing, and turning out fabric
6. Magnets to hold pins and needles
7. Magnifying glass for details

8. Mallet for grommets and other unique projects
9. Nuts and bolts for adding weight
10. Old (clean) jars and cans for holding supplies, circle tracing, and pressing
11. Pieces of soap for marking fabric
12. Pill bottle for holding smaller notions
13. Tea towels for pressing
14. Toe separators for bobbins
15. Wooden spoon for turning our sewn fabric

For your convenience, we even have a downloable PDF of the most common household items that can be used as unexpected sewing tools when needed.

Click the button below, download the full and high-res version. Then you can keep it on your computer or print it and keep by your desk for when you need it!