How to organize sewing space - out of control fabric, UFO's
#41
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
When I reorganized my sewing room, I took stacks of fabric out to the kitchen, laid them out on the table and sorted by color and size. After folding them nicely, I set them aside and went back to sewing room for another stack of fabric. Continued doing this until all fabric was out of the sewing room. Then when I took it back to the sewing room - I placed the smaller pieces of fabric on my 2 book cases and the larger (backing fabric) I stacked - again by color, in the closet which my husband made shelves for. Now when I pull fabric, I put what I don't need back in it's place in the right color, so it stays pretty well organized.
#43
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 104
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I love the rule of 3-actually if you just start and tell yourself you are only going to do a certain length of time or so many fabrics you will find yourself doing more. The best tool I have found (& I have purchased lots of organizational items)--is to use one of those large rulers that are 8.5" by 24"; fold your fabric in half lengthwise and wrap snugly around the ruler, when finished, remove ruler & fold in half. It's amazing how much less room the fabric takes up and as you fold your fabrics, you can start organizing them by color, theme, project, etc.. A narrower ruler works well for 1 yard and less. I made myself get rid of a lot of fabrics that I had sitting around for 10 years or more--out of style and I'd lost interest in them. I put my folded fabrics on a shelving system that is 11" deep and I placed the shelves only 10" apart so I don't have giant stacks. I love to look at my fabrics and discovered I am less likely to purchase un-needed fabric now-I can shop my stash! Hope this helps-I'm almost finished with setting up my new quilting space since moving and I will post pics then.
#44
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 104
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I love the rule of 3-actually if you just start and tell yourself you are only going to do a certain length of time or so many fabrics you will find yourself doing more. The best tool I have found (& I have purchased lots of organizational items)--is to use one of those large rulers that are 8.5" by 24"; fold your fabric in half lengthwise and wrap snugly around the ruler, when finished, remove ruler & fold in half. It's amazing how much less room the fabric takes up and as you fold your fabrics, you can start organizing them by color, theme, project, etc.. A narrower ruler works well for 1 yard and less. I made myself get rid of a lot of fabrics that I had sitting around for 10 years or more--out of style and I'd lost interest in them. I put my folded fabrics on a shelving system that is 11" deep and I placed the shelves only 10" apart so I don't have giant stacks. I love to look at my fabrics and discovered I am less likely to purchase un-needed fabric now-I can shop my stash! Hope this helps-I'm almost finished with setting up my new quilting space since moving and I will post pics then.
#45
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 183
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by cindyjean
When over whelmed, I have a rule of "3".. Just take care of 3 items each day. Often times when I do this more than 3 things get taken care of amd if not, then at least 3 things are put away..
#46
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Pamela Artman
I have become very organized over the years and having my sewing room organized has brought me so much pleasure! I'm working on a friend's sewing room now and I've been told I should hire myself out to organize sewing rooms. Boy, I would LOVE that as a career! Set aside time every day to work on organizing and do a little at a time. But stick to it! Here's how I keep organized. I started buying plastic project cases (ArtBin flat boxes with handles) one at a time, every week with a JoAnn's coupon or a few when they'd have 50% off plastic storage. These stack nicely and I use them for all my UFOs. I have 18 of these and believe me, they are all full! I can grab one and take it with me when I travel or sew with friends. Next, I bought clear plastic drawers that stack for all my fabric scraps that are cut into different size strips and squares. I have three sets of three drawers, so nine drawers of scraps. Cutting my scraps took a long time, but I kept a basket on my cutting table and cut a few every day. Next, I stole a wire shelf from my bathroom that holds baskets and all those odds and ends go in the baskets. I have a basket of zippers, men's ties for a future quilt, orphan blocks leftover from other projects, etc. Also, I bought a canvas hanging shelf that hangs in the closet from the rod that also holds misc. items. I use lots of zip lock bags for small or loose things. I have a small plastic drawer set on my sewing machine cabinet that holds pens and pencils, tape measures, my bobbin box, post-it notes, pins, snips, etc. - small things that I use all the time. I use a lot of plastic baskets on every surface for things that I use there, like one on my cutting table for my rotary cutters, one for small scraps as I cut, one on my sewing machine cabinet for small squares or triangles that I use as leaders and enders (which makes another quilt as I sew on other projects.) I have three tall bookcases, one for quilt books, two for fabric. I have all my patterns that I've pulled from magazines over the years, inspiration pictures, etc. in page protectors and put in large 3-ring binders, filed by type (baby quilts, stars, curved, log cabin, 9-patch, 4-patch, etc.) My fabric is sorted by style first, (homespuns, 30's, civil war, florals, borders, baby, flannel, batiks, xmas, etc.) and the rest by color. All are folded to the same size, stacked on shelves. I have a separate small shelf that hangs on the wall for my fat quarters. I keep batting, ironing board, my travel case for my sewing machine, hoops, etc. in a closet. And I keep a tv tray next to my sewing machine cabinet to hold my radio and stuff for my current project. The most important thing for me is having a place for everything, using plastic baskets, boxes and drawers so I can see everything and I know exactly where to find things. Good luck!
Being vey organized, Do you know the instructions for folding fabric so that it all measures the same. For stacking purposes.
#47
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 76
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
We must be sisters.. My sewing/computer room is only 18 x 25, and I have a little Siamese/Mix (1 yr old) I have boxes piled upon boxes, that she loves to climb upon..(yes, they fall down) I have too many other interests, so I can't get to my sewing machine whenever I want.. I need to clean my living room also, (& "Florida room") When I see material, or knitting yarn that I like, I purchase it... but at my age, it's hard to keep track..(I'm a widow since 1992) so there is no one to complain..I have very little company (wonder why??) and I need more than 24 hrs in a day.. We must be related... I only hope I can live long enough to make more little gowns, and blouses for myself, quilts for family & friends... etc.. I'm not a hoarder.. I'm a collector.. why? I give away 98% of what I knit or crochet, ditto with my sewing... Pray for me, I need it. Diana..
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DonnaC
Mission: Organization
40
02-25-2014 04:06 AM