by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

About 30 years ago, I bought a "grab bag" of sewing notions from a store that was going out of business. There was one thing in there that puzzled me, and so I just tossed it in my sewing basket. Well, it is still sitting there and I haven't the foggiest idea what it is. It is all silver and shiny. The reflection is my camera. Anyway, does anyone know what this is for? It is about 1.5" (3.75 cm) long.

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by marjialexa Moderator 01 Aug 2012

And now we know, thank you Capoodle!!!

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by capoodle 01 Aug 2012

It's an industrial sewing machine attachment/folder guide. They make these kinds of guides for each part of the garment assembly like belt loops, bra underwire support, shirt yokes, lining tape, double zipper stitching, etc.

3 comments
marjialexa by marjialexa 01 Aug 2012

I knew a Cutie would know!!! Thank you so much, this was beginning to drive me a little nuts, especially when I saw the back. Thank you thank you!! Hugs, Marji

capoodle by capoodle 02 Aug 2012

Your welcome. Got to love those high school home economics/Healthy Living field trips. lol

justonlyme by justonlyme 03 Aug 2012

Seriously?? I'll have to give it a shot then, and see if it works. Thank you!

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by juanitadenney 01 Aug 2012

Just a guess but looks like it can be mounted to something and is some sort of a bias binding gadget. I'm anxious to read what others think it might be.

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by dollygk 01 Aug 2012

Was this a first tool in making bias binding? That's the impression I get.

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by blueeyedblonde 31 Jul 2012

Never seen one and have no idea what it is!

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by justsew 31 Jul 2012

I wonder if it could be a guide for wide edgeing for like a mans cardigan.. it looks like somthing I used to have on my machine when i did this sort of thing . many years ago.
Hugs Pam.

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by lflanders 31 Jul 2012

I am older than dirt and have been sewing since I was 13 or 14. Beats the heck out of me! I have seen a few things in my Mama's and my Granny's things and never figured out where they went or what they did either. I trashed them yrs ago. All of the answers are very inventive though!!!

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by aussiequilter 31 Jul 2012

No idea ,what it might be , but sure has us guessing

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by airyfairy 31 Jul 2012

Now I have seen the underside it is too perfectly bent to have been just something that got squashed. Having said that I have absolutely no idea but I have really enjoyed all your answers. Sarah.

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by brendaleas 31 Jul 2012

it's a bracelet that run over by a mac truck, and flatten.:)

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by shirley124 30 Jul 2012

Reading these posts was a great start to my day. Thanks. Sorry I cannot give any further suggestions. Shirley

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by noah 30 Jul 2012

No clue but i enjoyed the laugh hugs:):)

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Me too!!

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by marjialexa Moderator 30 Jul 2012

Um, if the shop was closing, maybe this is just a bent piece of something they were taking apart that got into the bag? Like a piece of a cabinet or something? I'd really rather it were an obscure sewing thingy, though, and somebody will come up with a true use for it. Just not me, I guess. Hugs, Marji

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Anything is possible!

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by bevintex 30 Jul 2012

It looks like it might be a picture hanger if you turned it sideways and added a couple nails or screws. Maybe it wasn't for sewing at all?

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

That is absolutely possible. I'm as puzzled as you all.

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by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Here is a picture of the other side of the mystery object. It has all rounded ends, and the sides are bent over so there is about 1/4" between top and bottom. It came in a package, all by itself, with no label on it. It is all chrome, so any other colors are just reflections from my camera (or fingerprints).
I'm loving your answers. What a great way to start the day!!

2 comments
rescuer by rescuer 30 Jul 2012

Are the two end pieces tack welded together?
I love the answers! This has been a fun post to read.

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Nope. Just bent to touch.
I've enjoyed the answers too. Lots of fun for a Monday!!

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by drro 30 Jul 2012

I think that whatever it went with, that item probably never worked again afterwards, because this piece went "missing!" Well...not really missing, but not coupled to the thing to which it should be ;>) This is quite a good guessing game! If this was a "guess what I am game," You win!! Hugs and God bless, and thanks for giving my brain a real run today!

2 comments
drro by drro 30 Jul 2012

*s, hugs and blessings for all thinkers and responders here:>)

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

I didn't imagine I would have so many creative and fun answers. What fun!

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by carolvm 30 Jul 2012

Hi, it looks like a belt keeper to me. Maybe it holds the extra piece of a belt that sticks out beyond the buckle. I guess it's sewn on thru the 2 holes on either side.Did you get a matching belt buckle too ? It's a nice dressy,shiny piece too. Good luck finding another use for it. I hate to throw shiny,pretty things away. Haha, Carol

2 comments
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

THAT is the only thing that I can think of. There was a belt in the bag, but it in its own separate baggie. I think you might have solved this!!

carolvm by carolvm 30 Jul 2012

Hi, too bad you did not get the matching buckle with the belt as expensive as belts are nowadays. Maybe you can find a shiny buckle somewhere. The set would be really nice.Old findings are much nicer than those made today too. How fun,Carol

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by highlandermom 30 Jul 2012

LOL, this I sure haven't a clue but all the wonderful imaginations of the cuties are up there tops.

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Oh, I have to agree there!!

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by lenamae 30 Jul 2012

I think it is a thing-a ma-gig that you use to make the whatya-me callet work the doo-hicky.on the wahat ever.
LOL
Lenamae

2 comments
drro by drro 30 Jul 2012

YOu are too funny!!

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

That was my thinking, but thought I should get a professional opinion. :)

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by pennyhal 30 Jul 2012

It does look like a guide of sorts to me too. The bottom wings flip out so that they can be screwed down leaving the the top part as a rectangle that something, maybe a belt, can be pulled through. Perhaps a part to a commercial machine?

2 comments
rescuer by rescuer 30 Jul 2012

It does look like a brace of some sort. It is bent like that for access to the holes for the screws by design. I think I have seen one before but my memory isn't what it used to be...so I am told.

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

With all of the answers, I'm starting to decide that maybe it is a belt loop of sorts. Maybe futuristic at the time?? :)

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by mjdg 30 Jul 2012

It looks sort of like a thread guide of some sort that used to be on a machine.

MJDG

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by sewmary15 30 Jul 2012

I have never seen anything quite like this but if it was at my house I would use the little holes to screw it under my computer desk to hold all the cables I have dangling down everywhere.

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Well, now there is an idea!!

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by jrob Moderator 30 Jul 2012

Wow I haven't a clue. I know HOW you can use it though. Lay it on your ironing board and put some pins in the holes to make it stationary and pull a 2" wide strip of fabric through it as you iron it down and Voila, you have will have a binding strip.;)

6 comments
pennifold by pennifold 30 Jul 2012

I saw this idea on a website on Saturday whereby a woman placed 2 pins on her ironing board - folded her piece of binding down with a 1/4 fold and then just pulled the fabric through and she had a perfectly shaped piece of bias! Love Chris

pennifold by pennifold 30 Jul 2012

P.S. I wish I'd thought of that earlier and I could have saved myself some money by buying the Bias Binding machine!!!!!!!!!!

loosie by loosie 30 Jul 2012

Great idea!

jrob by jrob 30 Jul 2012

Chris, I knew the tip, but bought one anyway. The description you are giving tends to burn your fingers pulling the fabric under the iron.;)

snowbird42 by snowbird42 30 Jul 2012

meganne i have not heard this expression for years my mum used to alwas say this when asked a question''''lol'''lol...soozie

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

If it weren't so thick, that might actually work. But there is about 1/4" of space between the top and bottom. That would be a nice idea if it worked though!

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by eggyannie 30 Jul 2012

personaly i think its a bit of scrap fixing that got tossed into the bag its bent in such a way to avoid the edges cutting into any one.
it could also be a wagbag for a wingdoodle.
This would fit neatly onto the elbow joint of the wingdoodles right knee. so allowing it to trap air in its left flapdoing and so make a mateing sound that can be heard for at least one inch away.
annie

5 comments
pennifold by pennifold 30 Jul 2012

I'm laughing my head off at this description Annie. Love it! Love Chris

cfidl by cfidl 30 Jul 2012

Me too! Great way to start the day!

marjialexa by marjialexa 30 Jul 2012

That's definitely what it is, Annie, how ever did you know, hee hee hee?

drro by drro 30 Jul 2012

Oh my, these ideas are keeping me laughing!!

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

I am going to have to keep your answer and add it to the tag on the bag. Then I'll know exactly what it is for!! :)

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by pennifold 30 Jul 2012

Sorry I can now see that it is metal, I've just enlarged the picture and realise that it has holes at the back of each end?

I reckon it could it be some sort of thread winder?

Are there more than two holes each end? Can you give us some more information? You've now got me wondering what it is. Love Chris

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

I posted a second picture of the other side. And there is about 1/4" of space between the bottom and the top. I'm coming to the conclusion that it might be a funky belt loop or something akin to that.

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by biddysews 30 Jul 2012

is it a who's it what's it. or is it the bit that just didn't fit back in. ha ha. have you another angle of it.

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

I love your idea :)

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by lbrow 30 Jul 2012

I've looked through my numerous sewing and embroidering technique books and can find nothing that looks similar to this picture./Lillian

2 comments
drro by drro 30 Jul 2012

Maybe it belongs to something that was at the store where you bought the grab bag?

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

Thank you for looking!!
It came in its own little bag with the sewing notions.

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by cece1 30 Jul 2012

Oh, I know! It's one of those thingies to hold the thing-a-ma-bobs together! LOL

1 comment
nannynorfolk by nannynorfolk 30 Jul 2012

lol- lol -lol

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by kitty2011 30 Jul 2012

I can't quite make out the shape from this photo,
but it looks to me that it's flat with the ends curving under on an angle, with little holes.

Is this right? or is the reflection putting me off.

2 comments
kitty2011 by kitty2011 30 Jul 2012

is the white & red bit your camera reflected?

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

it is all chrome. The colors and such are either reflections or my finger prints.

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by meganne 30 Jul 2012

As my Darling Mum would say:
"A wig-wom for a goose's bridle." Sorrry. LOL!!!
Could you photograph it from the other side or from the side? Maybe both?
hugs n roses, Meganne

5 comments
oigelcox by oigelcox 30 Jul 2012

This was always my mums answer if she was making dinner and we came in and asked her whats for dinner mum she whould always say a wig-wom for a gooses bridle and if we protested she would answer "Wait and see" Did your mum have an English background like mine. Hugs Joyce

janetedna by janetedna 30 Jul 2012

My Mum used to say "A wigwam to wind up the sun" and never left England, so your saying might have been adapted from that, maybe? Jan

meganne by meganne 30 Jul 2012

Yep, my Mum was the only one of her family to be born in Aus after they migrated here. With a good old English name of Pritchard, from Harrow on the Hill, we still have many relatives in England who I don't even know.

drro by drro 30 Jul 2012

Oh my Meganne! Your mum was a Pritchard? So was my mother's mother, before she married my Grandfather and became a Bowen:>) Maybe we are distantly related?;>)

justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

I've never heard that expression before. :)

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by edithfarminer 30 Jul 2012

Have you opened it to see what it might do? Curious now

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

It is very rigid. Nothing moves.

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by pennifold 30 Jul 2012

A bit of fun - It went "zip" when it moved and "bop" when it stopped,
And "whirr" when it stood still.
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will."
It looks like some sort of filler, like a paste or glue! Have you opened it up and felt it? Love Chris

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

It is a rigid piece of metal, made to stay that way.
I love your description though!! :)

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by mops Moderator 30 Jul 2012

Beats me - sorry I can't help.

1 comment
justonlyme by justonlyme 30 Jul 2012

me too! :)

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