Scissor Minders and Small Notions: Do You Really Need Them?
By Quilt in a Day - Helping Quilters Since 1978 | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Tips & Care
A practical verdict on scissor minders and other small sewing notions: which ones earn their place in your sewing room and which ones just add clutter.
Quick answer
You do not need every small sewing notion, but a scissor minder earns its place if you constantly lose your scissors under fabric or on the floor. It is a cheap way to keep cutting tools attached to your work surface, and it doubles as a needle holder. Skip it only if you already have a dedicated scissors spot you never misplace.
What a scissor minder actually does
A scissor minder is a small magnetic pad that holds your scissors and needles in place. The Lori Holt TYPE/ography Scissor Minder uses dependable magnets that attach securely to your design board, and it can also double as a refrigerator magnet. At roughly 2.75 by 3.15 inches, it is small enough to sit on a hoop or board without getting in the way. That means your scissors stay exactly where you last put them instead of sliding under a quilt sandwich or disappearing into a fabric pile.
The real question: do you need one?
If you already keep your scissors on a lanyard, in a cup, or in a fixed drawer, a minder adds little. But if you regularly stop mid-project to hunt for snippers, the minder solves a specific problem: it gives your cutting tools a home right on the surface where you are working. The magnet also holds needles, which is useful when you are hand sewing or doing applique and need to park a needle between stitches. It is not a storage system for your whole sewing room, and it will not organize your thread or rulers.
How to judge any small sewing notion
Before buying any small notion, ask three questions: Does it solve a problem you actually have? Does it have a clear place in your workflow? Can you use it for more than one task? A scissor minder passes the first two if you lose scissors often, and it passes the third because it holds needles too. A novelty tape measure that only measures one thing, by contrast, may not earn its drawer space. The same logic applies to fabric: a small cut of a versatile print can be worth more than a large cut of a specialty print you rarely use.
Where small notions fit in sewing tool organization
Small notions work best when they live at the point of use, not in a distant bin. Keep a minder on your design board or next to your machine so scissors and needles are always within reach. For fabric organization, separate projects by collection or color so you can pull what you need without digging. The Figo Intervals small dots in gold is a good example of a fabric that works as a background or accent, so it is worth keeping visible rather than buried. The Blank Quilting Little Seedlings Farm cow hide in white is a novelty print that makes more sense stored with other farm or animal prints so you remember it when a project calls for it.
Verdicts on common claims
- Claim: Every quilter needs a scissor minder.: Not true. If you already have a reliable spot for your scissors, a minder is optional. It solves a specific problem: losing scissors while you work. Verdict: Useful for some, not essential for all.
- Claim: Small notions are just clutter.: Some are, but a notion that holds both needles and scissors and attaches to your board or hoop earns its keep by keeping tools at hand. Verdict: Judge each notion by whether it solves a real problem.
- Claim: You need special storage for every notion.: No. Point-of-use storage, like a minder on your design board, often works better than a centralized bin you have to walk to. Verdict: Keep tools where you use them.
Product facts
- Lori Holt - TYPE/ography Scissor Minder: The TYPE/ography Needle & Scissor Minder by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet holds your needles and scissors in place on your hoop. The dependable magnets attach securely to your design board. It can also double as a refrigerator magnet. Size is approximately 2.75" x 3.15". If you hand sew or applique on a hoop, this keeps your needle and scissors attached to the hoop instead of rolling away, and the small size means it will not cover your work.
- FIGO - Intervals by Ghazal Razavi - Woven - Small Dots - Gold: Add a touch of geometric elegance to your next quilting project with Intervals by Ghazal Razavi for Figo Fabrics. This gold woven fabric features a subtle small dots pattern, offering versatile appeal for patchwork, applique, and more. Brand: Figo Fabrics. Designer: Ghazal Razavi, from the Intervals collection. Pattern: Small dots in a rich gold hue, woven construction. Width: Approximately 43/44 inches. Content: Cotton. A versatile small-dot print in cotton is easy to work into many projects, so it is a good candidate for a visible spot in your fabric storage rather than a deep bin.
- BLANK QUILTING - Little Seedlings Farm by Moque Lee Studio - Cow Hide - White: This Little Seedlings Farm fabric from Moque Lee Studio for BLANK QUILTING features a charming cow hide print in white. It is a 100% cotton quilting fabric, 44 inches wide, perfect for your next quilting project. 100% cotton quilting fabric, 44 inches wide. Design: Cow Hide - White from the Little Seedlings Farm collection. Designed by Moque Lee Studio for Blank Quilting. Ideal for quilting, patchwork, and sewing projects. A novelty print like this is easy to forget if it is buried, so store it with similar themed fabrics where you will see it when planning a project.
