A few months ago my daughter was in my sewing studio helping me film some videos. As she was looking around the studio, she suggested that I do a blog post about all of the magnets that I use in my sewing space. I’d never really thought about it before, but I do use a lot of magnets!
I have a lot of different kinds of magnets, and they’re all used for different reasons in my sewing studio. Maybe you’ll pick some ideas for your sewing or craft studio!
**Just a quick word of caution though – someone brought this to my attention after I wrote my post about organizing my sewing studio. I don’t have any sewing machines that are computerized. If you do, you may not want to have magnets close to your machine.
I have three of these magnetic bowls for my glass head pins, and one for push pins. You can find these magnetic bowls at auto supply places. They are used by auto mechanics. They attach them underneath the vehicle and place metal parts in them.
Even upside down they hold metal objects really well. They’re perfect for pins. Now if the bowl gets dropped on the floor, some of the pins will still fall out. Most of them will stay in the bowl though.
On the wall next to my machines, I have three sets of these magnet strips. They’re originally supposed to go in the kitchen to hold knives, but they work great for scissors, screw drivers and sewing machine feet. They’re great because I can grab an item at a glance. I don’t have to go rooting around in a drawer to find the right sewing machine foot, or scissors or screw driver. Very handy!
Here’s a picture of my main sewing machine. I have several magnets just on this machine alone. There are five magnets, can you spot them?
Next to the foot, I have three magnets that I use as a seam allowance guide. I like a long seam allowance guide, so just using one of the blue magnets doesn’t work well for me. So, I add a second one, but it doesn’t to stay lined up to the first magnet. So, that’s why I added the third magnet on the right side. I know it might look like overkill to you, but it works for me!
I have another magnet that I use to hold pins after I take them out of the fabric while I’m sewing.
Then, I also have a magnetic bobbin holder permanently attached to my sewing machine table. I have a bobbin winder on the right side of my machine, so this is a handy space to hold some of my bobbins.
So, do you think I have enough magnets in my sewing studio? They’re all really handy to have for different reasons.
Do you use magnets in your sewing or craft studio? How do you use them?
Jann, I have most of those and I also have this magnetic wand, to pick up stray pins or staples that I drop. http://www.johndeeregifts.com/product/telescoping+magnetic+wand.do
Chrystal, that would be a good magnet to have!
I really need to start doing this at least on my ironing board where my kitty likes to knock off “Things” for excitement. Thanks for the tip.
Patty, magnets would be great for holding things on the ironing board.
I love all the ideas. You mentioned if you have a computerized sewing machine you might not want to use magnets. What is the reasoning for this. I have a new Singer Quantum stylus 9960. I too like to use a magnet to line up my Sean am wane. Should I not do this with my new machine?
Thanks Jana! I would read your manual to see if it mentions this. I have heard that you shouldn’t use magnets close to a computerized sewing machine. I don’t know the exactly what happens, but I think the magnets can mess up the computer.