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Quick gift: Fabric covered clothespins for the sewing room

I try to make a handmade gift for my co-workers each year, and I’m happy to say that I just delivered them yesterday so now I can tell you about it!

These fabric covered clothespins were an easy gift to make, and they can be used in the sewing room, too.  Since I work in a quilt shop, my co-workers will (hopefully) appreciate that little detail.

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

 

I printed out a little graphic on cardstock titled “7 Ways to Use Clothespins in the Sewing Room” and clipped the clothespins to it.  You can download the pdf file here:  Clothespin Uses  You may have to shrink it to fit your paper.

Since the clothespins are a little heavy, I had to add them to a piece of sturdy watercolor paper (it was all I had). This gave me a place to add a little note so it worked out great.

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

Here’s what I included in my list:

  • Keep rulers and their instructions together.
  • Hold English paper piecing parts together.
  • Binding clips.
  • Bookmark or placeholder.
  • Keep quilt block pieces together and organized.
  • Keep interfacings and stabilizers organized.
  • Hold thick pieces of material together.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

They’re perfect for keeping your specialty rulers and instructions together.  I’m always trying to find one or the other.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

If you’re an English paper piecer, you’ll love using it to hold your pieces together as you stitch.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

Use them to hold your binding in place, rather than pins or clips.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

They also come in handy when you have thick or heavy materials to sew together.  Pins are never sturdy enough for that job. (no picture)

If you can’t find a bookmark, a clothespin will hold your place for you.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

 

Keep your quilt block pieces organized and in one place with a clothespin (or two).

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

Corral all of those pieces of interfacings and stabilizers into one place along with their instructions.

7 Uses for Clothespins in the Sewing Room by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter

 

I found these clothespins at Michael’s and they’re the perfect size.  Not too big and not too small.  They come in a package of 30 for less than $4.00.  The fabric tape was also from Michael’s and they come in a package of 3 coordinating prints.

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

 

The only other thing you’ll need is scissors or a rotary cutter to cut them to size.  I cut them into 1 3/4″ segments.  They were a little too wide so I trimmed 1/8″ off of one long side.  That’s the hardest part, but if you have the right tools it won’t take long.

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

 

Once they’re the right size, all you need to do is peel back the paper and apply to the top and bottom of the clothespin.

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

Fabric Covered Clothespin Tutorial @ The Crafty Quilter

 

They’re just so cute, you’ll want to make lots of them!  You could use them in the office, the school room and at home for all kinds of things.  If you think of any other clever uses, please share them in the comment section.  Enjoy!

Julie

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33 Comments

  1. Such a cute idea, I can see a trip to Michael’s in the very near future. It is never too early to think of Christmas gifts for next year.

  2. I just LOVE these charming clothes pins! And I usually like the decluttered minimalist look, but not with these. I want thousands of these! Thank you!

  3. If you screwed one side of the clothes pin to a Coat rack with hooks you could clip mittens beside the owner’s coat. It would look cute as well!

  4. These clothes pegs are so pretty all dressed up in ribbon! And so handy too! This is such a great idea… I love the suggestion of using them for binding. Thanks so much for sharing, Julie! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  5. Thanks Julie. What a wonderful idea to make for each of my small group members. Have a Merry Christmas and a Crafty New Year.

  6. Julie thank you I have a pack of small pegs that have been on the verge of going in the bin, they have now been saved what a wonderful idea.x

  7. Julie you are amazing – what great ideas, thanks! I love your website!
    Happy Holidays to you and your family.

  8. Julie, you are always so clever and so thoughtful. These clothespins are priceless! What a terrific idea. I’m still using your applique techniques, but wish I lived closer so I could take more classes from you. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.

  9. Hi Julie,

    Thanks for the cute last-minute crafty gift. I have some clothespins, just need to get the fabric tape.

    I know you are either looking forward to, or already, enjoying that little doll’s first Christmas. It will be such a magical for the whole family. Even though she’s too young to really know what it is, the lights will entrance her, I’m sure. I remember when my youngest daughter was about 3, we went to a nearby “Candy Cane Lane.” It wasn’t her first time, but she didn’t remember the others. A lot of people drove through, but we parked a little bit away, and were walking towards the street. She took off running, calling back, “I see Christmas!!!” The joy in her voice almost made me cry. That 3 year old got married last Friday, and is getting ready to apply to Medical School. Enjoy Every.Single.Minute that you can with her. She’ll be getting married, and going off to school before you know it. Give her a kiss and a hug from a different grandma for me.

    xo Linda

  10. Cute!! You could attach a small magnet and give them to a teacher. I can think of seven ways to use them in my classroom!! Merry Christmas

  11. LOVE THEM!!!!! They are just too cute! So guess where I have to go over the holidays, yep, to Michaels. And you know, these would make such a neat gift to a quilter for her birthday etc. Guess it will be too late by the time I get them for a Christmas gift, next year though. Well thanks for the tut on these, very clever of you. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and Happy New Year too. Looking forward to see what you have in mind for us next year with your wonderful creativity. Thanks…..Claudia

  12. What a great idea!! They are so adorable! I think I’ll have to make some!! Thank you Julie for sharing all these wonderful ideas!!
    Merry Christmas to you & your family!! ❤️❤️

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