Guide bars, or: what's that metal rod and why do I have it?
Many machines that come with a variety of special presser feet and accessories also include a guide bar, sometimes called a quilting guide bar. Use this nifty little gadget to help you measure the distance from your needle when you can't see the lines on the throat plate. 
It's fantastic for quilting parallel lines, but has plenty of other applications. Any time you're stitching pretty far from the edge, and you can't see the seam allowance lines, this bar will guide you! Try it for spacing ribbon trims, adding ruffles, sewing deep hems, twin-needle pintucks, and decorative topstitching.To use, simply slide the bar into the slot on the presser foot ankle, then adjust to your desired distance. Now you can enjoy perfectly spaced stitching with no marking!
Have you ever tried the fiber burn test?It might sound a little crazy, but one of the surest ways to identify a fiber without special equipment is to light a small swatch of it on fire!Safety first: do this in a well-ventilated area, away from anything else flammable.You'll need a scrap of your fabric about 1" by 3", a metal tweezer, a heatproof dish, and a flame source - a lighter works better than a match since it has less odor.Grasp the swatch in the tweezers and bring it toward the flame.Observe. What's the fabric doing? Does it burn? When you take it away from the flame, does it go out, or keep burning?How about the smell? Rayon and cotton smell like burning paper, while wool smells like burnt hair.Study the ash. What color is it? Can you crush it in your fingers? Most natural fibers have a crushable ash, while synthetics make a hard, plastic-y bead.If you're working with a blend, you may get mixed results, but this test is sure to give you some insight beyond just touch.
