Organization and storage

[ANNE E.]

Lets have some photo's of your sewing rooms please.
Anne

[wendy w.]

Snort, you can't see my room for the chaos :lol:

[wendy w.]

Here is what I do. I have a space in the master bedroom for my sewing, so I have to be creative with where I store and how I store it.

Thread
Thanks to my cat that likes to slurp up my thread and needed surgery. I got a different idea on how to store my thread. There is a lot and it makes it easy to find what I want on the fly.
Elfa shelving in shallow drawers with liners (so the thread doesn't poke out and tempt kitty) I have a drawer for different thread types and sort by color. It's quick and easy.

Fabric
Bookshelves - Metric wire shelving (similar to those used in restaurants) Heavy duty and can hold a lot safely.
Clear storage containers - same size so they stack well
Inside is sorted by type or color. I have a red and a light red container.
Outside is a label I made with my printer on paper very clearly saying red and pasted a large red paint chip to the label. Sounds redundant, but I have found under the shadow of my curtain (talk about that later) it can hide the color inside.

Projects
Color storage container - same size so they stack well
Label with painters tape, so I can swap out easily when project is complete
Color storage bins separate them from supplies very easily

Small supplies or notions
lots of Shallow Drawers under my sewing table
Utility dividers in the drawers so I can separate marking pens from permanent pens etc.
Drawer for all my scissors and cutters

I keep fabric that I dive into most often close by me in the bedroom on the metal bookshelf. I keep fabric that I rarely use in the tv room on another bookshelf. Both bookshelves have a hanging fabric shower curtain to hide all the stuff so it doesn't look so cluttered. It also keeps the light from the fabric too. I have a curtain on my elf a shelving to keep light off my threads.

Reality check. Once a year, I go through the fabric that will pile up (the just bought but haven't put away pile) and put it away. While doing that if I come across anything I haven't used and am not likely to, I put it in a pile for Linus group. The same for extra blocks, thread or tools. That way I keep on check without going overboard and the extras go to a great cause. Even older UFO's that never got quilted have been donated.

I always clean up my workstation before starting a new project. Just makes me happy to mess it up with the creative process.

I personally would recommend you do a quick sort into your containers and have a toss over the shoulder pile for the stuff you are ready to part with. When you are done with your quick sort, then fold nicely and label. Then turn around and happily put that into a box for another home.

Have fun.
Clara

[Pam D.]

I know that Margo folds here fabric a special way round a piece of board? so that they are all a uniform size.

I came across the following blog via Facebook today where the fabrics are folded round a cutting ruler for the uniform size and am very taken by the 'after' shot of the folded fabrics on a bookshelf. http://www.polishthestars.com/2010/0...ng-fabric.html

At present I have each project in a small plastic crate and 2 large plastic crates with my main stash in. Unfortunately the contents get turned over and over and end up a mess.

I am surprised that so many quilters, even some of the top professionals keep their fabric on shelves/baskets/rack open to the light and often dust. Clara is only the second person I have come across who positively uses a curtain to protect her fabric, Lorchen is the first. I am now seriously looking to buy a bookcase especially for my fabrics so that I can see them clearing without getting them all turned over.

On a lighter note, I know that I need to get rid of some of my old unloved fabric, but experience tells me that usually within a few months of getting rid of something, not always fabric, I shall want it again.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Pam D.]

Pam,

There is a couple of reasons for the curtain. Dust and Light are important, but the appealing to the hubby and not making the bedroom look like a creative tornado zone is very critical. Fabric shower curtains work best, because they hang like curtains and the hooks work like a champ.

Gotta keep the hubby happy, so he will let you continue to buy the fabric. Moohahaha.

Clara

[Pam D.]

Good news! I've started and thined out a large amount. Two more tubs to sift through then on to the next phase,sorting. I'm on my way to an organized room.

[Pam D.]

Good news! I've started and thined out a large amount. Two more tubs to sift through then on to the next phase,sorting. I'm on my way to an organized room.

Way to go. Thinning your stash is scary, but then feels very good and focused once you get your rhythm. Well done.

[ANNE E.]

When "trying" to keep your sewing room tidy someone said "Don't put it down put it away" of course I always do......NOT..
Anne

[Margo C.]

I know that Margo folds here fabric a special way round a piece of board? so that they are all a uniform size.

Yes, Pam, I also fold mine around rotary rulers, because they just happen to make the fabric the right size to fit in my storage cabinet, but if you need your stack to be a different size, any stiff cardboard, cut to the right dimension would work with this technique!

I just fold my fabric from the bolt (it measures about 21" wide) around the 24" long ruler, slide the ruler out, then fold it in half to make it fit my cabinet.

[Margo C.]

I have some nylon shoe storage shelves that I got from Ikea. They wrap around the pole of the closet with velro at the top. I fold (some) of my fabric like Margo, and they fit fit into these little vinyl shelves. Then I just close the closet door. Neat. No light. They also have larger ones I use for flannel, UFO's, some battings, extension cords for retreats etc. Some other fabrics are just in an open shelf.

That's part of my room. Gotta get the rest organized.