My messy sewing room
#81
So sorry for the loss of your beloved cat. I don't really have a huge bedroom that my sewing is in but it is doable for me. I just took everything that was in the tubs out to my dining room so I could move around and I just started in folding the fabric that is on my shelves. I started out trying to organize by color, etc. but it got too overwhelming for me so I just concentrated on the folding. I have a 3 bedroom house and no children at home so the room was a blessing for me. I just wanted to become more organized - I didn't intend on starting in that room but it sort of just happened. So yes, sewing rooms can get complicated!! Thank you for sharing.
I like the idea of using up your fabric in order to organize it but you have to be able to find it first! I moved 4 years ago and still don't have my sewing room set up. I used to work in a sewing machine store so ... I have 2 big tables that unfold, etc and way too many machines. One of these tables is currently in the living room and it is not attractive or being used there. Not to mention scores of the BIG plastic bins (toddler sized) with projects seperated and in the large 2 gallon or bigger ziploc bags. Then there are numerous bins of "assorted miscellaneous". I also do machine embroidery, and machine knitting which has it's own tables and big cones of yarn!! ... I was incredibly lucky and was able to find a big set of used kitchen cabinets that are curently sitting in my garage waiting for inspiration. I don't have the room to spread everything out in order to go thru it. Someday I will have a great sewing area - but when is that day going to be? I did use peg board and that helps alot - rules, zippers, rotary cutters, quilt stencils and small items that I was afraid would get lost in the shuffle.
To make things even better I had a cat that lived in the sewing room 24/7 as a behaviour mod program. He was in there on the advice of the vet but still managed to develop more bladder/kidney stones while on the diet. He is no longer with me and I miss him dreadfully. Still have to get the ground in long fur off my sewing chairs, etc.
the subject of sewing rooms can get complicatred!!
To make things even better I had a cat that lived in the sewing room 24/7 as a behaviour mod program. He was in there on the advice of the vet but still managed to develop more bladder/kidney stones while on the diet. He is no longer with me and I miss him dreadfully. Still have to get the ground in long fur off my sewing chairs, etc.
the subject of sewing rooms can get complicatred!!
#84
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 1,964
if only my sewing/quilting area wasn't so visible to the rest of my house! I'd love to be able to 'let my hair down' a little bit!! But like the other ladies say, if you just spend a few minutes a day on one part or another, it'll clean up in no time! I lined my area with Billy Bookcases from Ikea and spent endless hours wrapping fabrics on comic boards. My daughter (an art major) helped me organize by putting all the fabrics in "color range" and the shelves look like a beautiful rainbow of hundreds of colors now! I do try to keep it as neat as possible. You never know when she's going to pop in!!
#85
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Jeffersonville, In
Posts: 2,621
#86
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: NY
Posts: 2,497
Good for you for trying to motivate yourself! My sewing studio is also the computer room that I share with the whole family. There's a lot in my little room; 2 corner computer desks, a retired kitchen table that always has a larger cutting mat on it, my sewing desk (a retired computer desk), and a 2 tiered shelving unit. My fabric stash is technically in the next room (there's a wide doorway). It's an enclosed 6' cupboard with doors.
I think you'd gain a lot of space in your shelving units if you fold your fabric to a vertical height that fits the space of each shelf and stack them vertically. Similar to how they are stacked at the LCS. I read about a lot of women using comic book boards to wrap their material around and thought oh, I've got those. Kind of like smaller versions of what the fabric stores use. However, I realized that I don't need those to take up space that could be filled with material instead.
If you decide to do this, keep in mind, it will take time. It's well worth it though. It took me nearly one full day. You have more fabric than I do. It looks so nice though when completed if all of your like colors are together. Very easy to find what you're looking for when searching for a particular color.
I have all of my fat quarters or 2 1/2" strips on the top shelf, specially folded fabric on the next, larger quantities on the third shelf (folded as if they were still on a bolt - only without the cardboard), and flannels on the bottom.
Good luck with your organization mission. Let me know, if you remember, how it looks when complete.
I think you'd gain a lot of space in your shelving units if you fold your fabric to a vertical height that fits the space of each shelf and stack them vertically. Similar to how they are stacked at the LCS. I read about a lot of women using comic book boards to wrap their material around and thought oh, I've got those. Kind of like smaller versions of what the fabric stores use. However, I realized that I don't need those to take up space that could be filled with material instead.
If you decide to do this, keep in mind, it will take time. It's well worth it though. It took me nearly one full day. You have more fabric than I do. It looks so nice though when completed if all of your like colors are together. Very easy to find what you're looking for when searching for a particular color.
I have all of my fat quarters or 2 1/2" strips on the top shelf, specially folded fabric on the next, larger quantities on the third shelf (folded as if they were still on a bolt - only without the cardboard), and flannels on the bottom.
Good luck with your organization mission. Let me know, if you remember, how it looks when complete.
#89
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Delphi in
Posts: 5
I have the same problem. I try to keep all downstairs but sometimes it even creeps into the living room. I did learn to punish myself. If I bring fabric in I cannot sew until it is folded and stored. It's does not keep the in progress messes cleaned up. I use my 5x24" ruler. Wrap my fabric around it width wise. Then slide it off , fold the fabric in half. This makes neat rows of fabric n I can tell. What I have. I use the 3x18 " for smaller pieces. Narrow way. I then know there is less than a yd there
by doing ur fabric this way it also will stand up in a drawer
by doing ur fabric this way it also will stand up in a drawer
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