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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Thrifty Thursday...Chopsticks For Crafting

Hi everyone! Welcome to another Thrifty Thursday. Today's tip is about chopsticks...not to eat with them, but to craft with them. This post is short and sweet, but it's a great sewing tip.

Some restaurants will have chopsticks available for you to eat with...you just need to ask!! These are too cute in their own little package.



They come connected...2 sticks that taper down at the end.


Just break them apart and now you have 2...one for you and one for a sewing friend.


Thrifty tip for today...I use chopsticks to push out the corners of a sewing project.


The tapered point on the end of the chopstick is not too pointy that it will poke through the fabric, but it's perfect to give you a nice corner point when you are turning things inside out.


Give chopsticks a try. I can't seem to figure out how to eat with them, but I can definitely craft with them.

I'm sure there are more ideas to use chopsticks. If you have any thoughts, share them in the comments.

I was also thinking painting projects...making little dots with the tips.

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~

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26 comments:

  1. I have used the same chop stick for corners for years...now its nice and smooth and rounded! Have a great day!!

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  2. If using fast finish triangles on the back of a small quilt to hang it, sometimes a chop stick is the perfect size to insert and then the little quilt is ready to hang on a small nail.

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  3. I prefer to keep my fingers and thumb out of the way of fast moving needles so I use my bamboo chopstick as a stiletto to guide small or narrow items when sewing or serging. I painted the top end with my favorite nail polish colors so the kids would not take it for play.

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  4. It's so funny, my dad taught me how to use chopsticks and I've never had a problem with them! I LOVE eating with them. But I do have a few sitting next to my sewing machine!

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  5. Good idea! thanks for sharing it once more time.

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  6. I use them for helping me turn fabric tubes along with pushing out the corners.

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  7. I did the same thing with my mom. We both have one now. When we recently found some more we used it in covers for Ipad and Tablet etc. as a edge where the Ipad/Tablet would stand on your desk.

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  8. I've long hair and I use one to put my hair up, a pencil works well to but doesn't look as nice. We also use them to light candles when the long lighter is M.I.A., When planting seeds in the garden they're great for marking the rows, weave the stick through the empty seed packet and stick at the start of the row. It also can poke the hole for a larger seed, a draw the little trench for your smaller seeds.

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    Replies
    1. These are great garden ideas! Thanks for sharing, especially since I need to think about planting my garden soon!

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  9. When I teach felties workshops and make cupcakes in felt or any other item for that matter, I usually give a chopstick to my students telling them "here is you very high tech stuffing tool!".
    I do use them in a more traditional way as well: It is the last step in framing a japanese embroidery frame, and make sure the tension is perfect. I would not be without chopstick in my sewing kit.

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  10. I'm just hearing about Google Reader and am depending on you to tell us what to do and how to do it. Please!

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    Replies
    1. I just heard that Google Reader is being phased out, so don't fall in love with it! Lots of unhappy people who rely on it!

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    2. Check out feedly.com. They have been working on a reader with the same engine, and it imports all of your current Reader settings. I haven't played with it for more than few minutes yet, so I can't say how customizable it is or anything, but it's free and it works, at least :)

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  11. Ah, a fellow chopstick sewer--it is one of my favorite "notions."

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  12. used the same one for the last 26 years when I turn things inside out or stuff small areas. It doesn't leave the stuffing lumpy as you can control the stuffing better.

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  13. Great idea here. I think I will have to get some to help me with my new bear sewing. however if you see the first couple I do not think these will even get them pushed out enough. http://openbeauty.blogspot.com/2013/03/learning-to-sew-bears-can-turn-into.html

    Feel free to laugh as hard as you need to we sure where and still are. SMILES

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  14. I also use one for turning and stuffing but one of my uses is in the kitchen when I'm baking. I use them for leveling off measuring cups for flour, sugar and other dry ingredients. I keep on in each of my dry goods containers.

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  15. I have used a chopstick for years for pushing out the corners of sewing projects, it works great. I also use it when I iron seams open - it helps get the fabric started so I don't burn my fingers.

    Another use would be when you are using your hot glue gun and want to press something into place - much better to use a chopstick than your fingers.

    I love Kim's idea of using it in the kitchen for leveling off measuring cups - I will definitely do that from now on.

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  16. I have a plastic pair that I use as drink stirrers for mixing drinks at the bar when having a party. But I will keep them in mind for the sewing room too.

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  17. Fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing!!

    Danielle
    SewMuchCrafting.com

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  18. I love the chopstick tool...I keep them in my sewing room. You are so right, no more holes in the corners! I particularly like it to stuff batting in corners too. Great Thrifty Thursday Tip Karen.

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  19. I also use them for mixing my lemonade, and for pushing corners of items I have sewn. My brother was once taught how to eat with them from an oriental man at a restaurant as a child, to this day he can still eat with them, lol.

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  20. Sweet idea! I would love to be able to use chopsticks properly for eating with!! I use large knitting needles for my corners - but if I'm sewing in the kitchen chopsticks are closer at hand!

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  21. What a great tip! Simple but great. We always use chopsticks when we have Chinese. I don't use them properly but I get by :) . I will be adding some chopsticks to my sewing bits :)

    Thanks

    Kate :)

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  22. I had a bag of fiber fill that came with a chop stick for stuffing things. It made me laugh!

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  23. I also use them for stirring noodles when cooking.. have them in the kitchen and in the sewing room

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!