Needlepoint Lifehacking

There is a very nerdy site out there called Lifehacker. The idea behind it is that you can do simple things (or have them done) that will make your stuff so much more useful for you.

I love it because I’m a nerd in a family of nerds. I also like it because it appeals to my essentially frugal nature. But it occurs to me that there are some wonderful lifehacks that can make our lives as stitchers so easy.

Today I’ll share some of these with you.

My all-time favorite is turning a paperback book into a comb-bound one. It’s so frustrating when books with stitch diagrams won’t lay flat. Go to your copy center. Have them slice off the binding of The Needlepoint Book and put it on a comb-binding. It’s only a couple of bucks and makes a HUGE difference in the way you’ll use this book. If the binding is white use a pen or label-make to label the comb.

To label a coil-bound book, write the title on a strip of paper. Put tape on both sides to protect it. Punch a hole in it, and use some thread to tie it to the coil.

Enlarge the opening on wooden stands by increasing the length of the screws. Take your existing screws to the hardware store, get new ones the same size that are 2-3″ long. Buy several. Replace the existing screws and keep the extras in a small plastic bag taped to the side of the stand.

Add magnets for needle storage to any stand by buying magnetic tape (sold at office stores). cut off a strip and places it on the stand. Put them on both sides of the head, on the tray, and anywhere else you can think of.

Repair “broken” heads on metal stands. Often these appear broken because either the screws or the holes are stripped. The screws are screws for metal, machine screws. Take the screws to the hardware store and ask for replacements for them. By having the existing screws you will get the correct size.

Repairing a stripped hole on a stand can be a bit harder when you use a tool & die kit. This is something many handymen have. It allows you to unstrip the hole so the screw is useful again. Before trying that though, go with a bit of steel wool in the hole. often that provides enough friction for the screw to hold. You will need to replace this from time to time.

Add felt pads to the base plate of your stand. This helps it sit flat and not scratch your floors. Get them at hardware or home improvement stores. You can also double them if needed.

By the way if your are a shopowner and reading this, why not offer or do some of these things for your customers? They may not have thought of them and will love you forever for helping them.

Do you have some great lifehacks to make your needlepoint life easier? Share them in the comments.