I NEED to get ORGANIZED! Let's call January Organization Month and share ideas on how we get it all together to make our lives easier. I want to reorganize my sewing room. It's small, but it has potential. How do you fold your fabrics? How do your group them? Do you use plastic containers, or leave them open air? What do you do with the small pieces? I am "almost" hopeless! Thanks for your suggestions and sharing! Jan

OK photos of my sewing room! As you see lots and lots of storage boxes! I also love my hooks behind my sewingmachine where I keep my scissors and hoops.

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by hightechgrammy 03 Jan 2012

Thanks for sharing your photos! You do look organized! I like how neat it all looks! and the gray paint is a nice touch too. It looks like you're good at labeling!

Love the idea and have already made a start. Three bags of unwanted clothes went to the charity shop today, another is half full already, this time of kitchen stuff that's not seen the light of day for years. Next week we are setting off to auction with antique furniture from the loft that's been there for almost 30 years! My sewing room is already organised with Ikea shelves housing boxes of fabric according to colour or type e.g. Christmas, nursery etc: The larger pieces are in plastic zip bags. I have kitchen worktop around 2 walls, the sewing machine cabinet for my ordinary machine is on another and the last one is full with photos, notice board and posters.
BUT it now needs painting.
Big job as it's 15' x 13' so I guess that means I get to look again at my stash and plan this years projects.

I'm in the spare BR I took over. Fabric is folded in plastic bins and mostly divided by type of fabric (blouse, pant, denim, fleece, 100% cotton, to be upcycled) and one for pre-made items to be embroidered on. Have a 60-spool June Tailor holder with the plastic cover over them (both bought at Wal-Mart on sale) for when embr. thread is in use. I marked each spool holder 1-60. Have pattern boxes with marked dividers for clothing patterns. Have four ArtBin cubes (bought on sale at JoAnn) stacked by twos to hold different ArtBin holders for embroidery thread, serger thread, sewing thread, and notions. I have a plastic 4-drawer rolling cart bought at Wal-Mart for Serger stuff, cross stitch supplies, glue gun, mini-vac attachment, over-size patterns, etc. I have a pegboard my husband framed for me with my scissors, rulers, embroidery hoops, and other items hung on it (great item to have in your sewing space). The closet has a plastic bin in it with all of my crochet supplies and has batting and stuffing bags, along with coats, Christmas stuff we can't put in the attic, and more. I am getting rid of most of my leftover yarn by making an afghan as that yarn took up so much space. All of my crochet thread is in a rolling underbed holder in the other BR. I just finished organizing my room as much as I could yesterday. I still have a little ways to go. Almost done! Check sales and use % off coupons to get things you can use for organization and storage in your space and you can do it. Amazon and JoAnn are great.

I am really unorganized at the moment. My sewing/embroidery room looks as if 10 tornados went through it. My back just does not want to do al the lifting. So, I am contemplating getting somebody from the housecleaning company to assist me in folding and passing materials to put into boxes. Will then be able to store until my DH FINALLY help me in getting the built-in cupboard that I need. Hope you find your solution soon.***

I now have wardrobes, with shelves built into them,
On each shelf I have three plastic storage containers that I can pull out completely and put on the table so I can look through them.

I sort my fabrics into types: baby clothing; dress makings; Christmas fabrics; Quilt fabrics; Embroidery cotton fabrics; leather & vinyl; on-going projects; repairs; Asian fabrics; embroidery projects; laces and netting; satins and nylons; boys fabrics; embroidery stitch-outs & scraps for test stitching

I stand the fabrics upright in the bins so I can see, at a glance, what I am looking for.
This seems to work for me and when we build my cupboards they will be utilising this system.
I also wouldn't mind hanging space so I can have minimum folds and just hang fabrics, in lengths, over coat-hangers.

I don't know if the link below will work, but if it doesn't, just go to www.youtube.com and do a search for Embroidery thread storage rack, you will find a video on RubadubBub page, which is the storage rack hubby made for my threads. It's absolutely brilliant! Each of the containers are numbered and all my threads are catalogued in Embird

Sorry - missed adding this link to my first post; a really neat idea for using up odd scraps of fabric and then they are ready for storage. Scroll down to the free printable.

It would be nice to have organization. A theme would be nice too....well it has a theme MESSY....ggg one day maybe. I'd like to get in & do it but not with hubby around watching on.

I hang small trash bags on each tabel with tape. and i go through them befor i enpty them just in case somthing fell in them. I am going to make my self a smaller ironing borad and put the big borad in the londry area.

After reading all the great idea, I now know what I need: more wall space!! With the shelves all over the place, the window & 2 doors, I don't have enough wall space!! Any ideas??

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by castelyn 03 Jan 2012

Gerry when I had my sewing room redone, last year. I took down the shelves and replaced it with built in cupboards, so that it has doors on it, so no dust gets onto my sewing things.
Also have much for packing place.
Still do have a few shelves, but they are for books and the one shelf has tins on them. This was a collection from my late Mom and then also got some from my Aunt when she scaled-down and moved to a smaller place.
I also have 2 doors and a window in my room, so had to make the best of it.

Hugs Yvonne

I also have a few of the small drawer cabinets, like you would see in a garage for nails and screws, that I keep notions, needles, beads and the small stuff in. Just label each drawer. And I had my husband put 'extenders' (pieces of long narrow wood) sticking out of the end of one of my shelf units that I drilled holes in each side (perpendicular) and put ribbon spools on dowels across (from hole to hole). Each dowel holds about 7 spools and I have them from floor to ceiling on the end of that shelf. Also, I wash peanut butter jars and store some notions in those, putting them on one of the shelves. And, I use those little hook like hanger things that stick into a wall. I hang hoops, knitting looms, bobbin holders, etc on these hooks.

January Organization Month? I LOVE IT!! We're all scattered after all our holiday projects, and it is too cold to work outside here in the mountains of the U.S. That's perfect. I have been obsessing about the state of my sewing room this past week (well, longer, but this week it has been driving me NUTS) so I'm all over that. Actually 'stole' some of my husband's clear plastic containers out of the garage today, and gave them a shower. I plan to start sorting fabric, tomorrow. While I use the plastic milk crates stacked sideways for fabric, I have run out of room. I buy those little wood thread holders and mount them on the wall, but a friend of mine uses golf tees and those thin boards with holes that you use to hang tools with. It is a BRILLIANT idea and much cheaper than the bigger holders. I hang some fabrics on the hanger, and will use the clear plastic containers I stole (well, he helped me get them down so I should probably use another word - but he would not have given them to me if he didn't have a tendency to give me the shirt off his back). I spotted him online, about an hour ago, looking for replacement containers (poor guy).

I talk too much, sorry. I mostly posted to applaud the idea and to share the golf tees and pegboard storage method. I would think dowels or the single metal pegboard mounts would also work.

Shutting up, now. But I'm putting the January Organization Month on my calendar. BRILLIANT!!

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by hightechgrammy 03 Jan 2012

I love your enthusiasm! I seem to go along just fine, my organization seems fine then BAM - chaos in my sewing room! I have tooooo much stuff and I must cull and sort. It might do me good to take it all out of there, vacuum and clean and bring it all back in fresh with new ideas....

I have lost my camera card and it had some pics of jobs I have done on it. I had to completely reorganise on Saturday to try and find it. I am now all organised but I have still not found my card, I think it must have found itself in the litter basket and been thrown out.

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by fannyfurkin 02 Jan 2012

I keep my fabric in boxes, folded and different box for different types of fabric.

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

But then, what do you do with all the boxes? How do you organize the different boxes, Alice? Can you find things easily?

by mooie24 02 Jan 2012

i found the best way was to set aside a day, get all my fabric out, and put it into sections, for example satins, polycotton, lycra,velvet ect.. so i could work out how many boxes i needed, i puchased clear stackable with lids boxes, i also stick notes on the sides of the boxes saying whats inside, now i need to do this again for my wool, as this is all in undustrial storage bags at the moment and i have not picked up my knitting needles in 4 years ...

by fannyfurkin 02 Jan 2012

I have only four boxes. one is full of plain fabric for testing my embroidery designs,one of quilting fabric, one with fabric for dressmaking and one with completed test stitches of my designs, these ones get sent to one of the local islands with my husband (he runs a clinic there) the receptionist at the clinic passes them to ladies in a quilting club who make them into quilts for charity. This works for me because I do way more embroidery than sewing, if I was sewing like I used to I would need a more elaborate system.

by fannyfurkin 02 Jan 2012

I was kind of hoping one of you might have been able to tell me what I did with my camera card. lol.

by castelyn 03 Jan 2012

Is it not still in the Camera Alice????

oh you cuties are tooo funny lol.. And make me feel so much better.. As I have so much mess lol..
stashes everywhere too lol
big hugs from London
Maria xx

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Maybe we should have a contest to see how long it takes each of us to put together a standard list of ten things we have to find and put in a basket. We could time ourselves and enter the times!

by mooie24 02 Jan 2012

I play that game with the kids lol they love it xx

Interesting reading here. Today I bought 2 huge plastic boxes to store extra stuff, in taking the boxes out of the car one got damaged.**9(() so I am not happy. Tomorrow I will start loading the undamaged one and maybe then there will be less little boxes of essentials for sewing. I have to create some space as a friend wants to come and look at my emb machine. Have fun sorting your stuff out

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

maybe I need more plastic....... :-)

My problem is too many hobbies in one room. I have knitting machines, sewing machines, tons of yarn, Spinning fibers, weaving, fabric, cardmaking cricut stuff and more over the years. I need a bigger room-ooh a large studio. My embroidery is separate due to no more room in the inn so to speak.

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by bumblebee 02 Jan 2012

I use closet dividers, crates, bins, bookcases, plastic bins and organize as best I can.

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Yeah, I have too many hobbies, and only one room to keep them all in too! But... I'm not ready to give up on any of my hobbies yet. Maybe I could get rid of some of the extra junk from some of them though.....

My artist cousin who collects a ton of things just stood in the doorway to my sewing room & kept saying, "I've never seen so much fabric!" He didn't know anything...I have several more plastic boxes in the gargage I wouldn't dare show him! I sure wish I could get it all where I could SEE it & be able to find it! There is a really neat way to fold your fabric I found online. I take my 6"x24"(I think that's the size) rotary cutter ruler; lay it at the top of the cut of fabric; start folding the fabric over it, pulling it tight as you go; when it's all folded on there, slip the ruler out; then fold the fabric in thirds & you can stand it on it's side all lined up in a box so you can see every thing you have in there. BUT I can't always fit the plastic boxes on my shelves!

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

That's neat!

One on of the best things I have done is purchase inexpensive silverware type organization trays for the sewing drawers. I put like items, (marking chalk/pens/powders, etc.) in one unit and snippers, embroidery scissors, etc. in another. Makes finding things much easier.

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

hmmmmmm..... my drawers could use more organization too.....

by castelyn 03 Jan 2012

In my top draw, next to my machines, I have a cutlery organiser(plastic) in it. So that I can put little items into and find them when I need them.
Also have a peg board on the wall, with all my scissors,hoops,etc
Hugs Yvonne

I hear you girl I am in the midst of organizing my room that I just acquired since my son moved into his house at the beginning of December. I sure could use ideas also. Thanks for your input. Cindy B

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Wow, Cindy, a whole rooom!!!

"The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Often Go Awry"...LOL!!! That's me :)

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

But, dear lady, we aren't men! or mice!

by askmcv 02 Jan 2012

Darn...does that mean I have to organize? LOL

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

I do believe we are the stronger of the sexes, don't you?

One of the plastic containers had the perfect lid. I fold the fabric long to the width of the lid and then roll the fabric around and got a consistent flat fold. The rolling drawer plastic bins are great for storage and the over the door holders for shoes, jewelry, purses, sweaters are very useful. Some you can hang in a closet and then roll in a cart underneath. There is no wrong way to organize and use what you have even if it is a china cupboard, wardrobe, computer desk. Before I got the clear bins I took a picture of what was inside and that helped. Before that I took a snip of fabric and put it in a photo album with how much fabric I had brought. There are endless possibilities and have fun organizing.

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by liviabalsana 02 Jan 2012

It is lovely!

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Wow, I checked this one out - it's really neat!
http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2...

by capoodle 03 Jan 2012

Your link didn't work so I went back to my link and found it. She has amazing storage ideas.

by bowlds 03 Jan 2012

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/
See if that link works...that is a cool blog, I just spent a half hour there and didn't even touch it. Bookmark!

My whole house needs organized! No way can I get it done this month but I am shooting for having the useless stuff gone by the end of the year!

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by read180 02 Jan 2012

you only have 365 days to complete your task. You get one extra day because its leap Year

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

My Grandson will get to have his second real birthday party. He was born on leap day 8 years ago!

hopeless 9-) wish I would be consequent...lots of hints on this blog

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

That is a great blog - lots of ideas! I could get lost there....

Plastic containers you ask???
I'm "pretty" organized, usually. I figure if you can't find it, there's no reason to save it.

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by leenova54 02 Jan 2012

That looks great to me! Wish I had room to do that.

by bowlds 02 Jan 2012

My husband took out the rod and made me some shelves. If I ever move from this house, I will REALLY miss my sewing room.

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

That's what I need! I have these sad sack looking hanging pouches that are way overloaded. What I really need are some rigid shelves! Something tells me though, he'll just say to get rid of some stuff, rather than add shelves..... He's probably right, but I have the hardest time getting rid of fabric!

Here's how I keep my thread.

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by mad14kt 02 Jan 2012

Thanks Bowlds, there you go showing off again...you know I could use one of those, ROFL...FIESTA ;D *2U

by bowlds 02 Jan 2012

Do you not LOVE this??!! I was so tickled when my husband made that for me.

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Oh My Goodness!!!! How many does it hold??? It's beautiful!

by bowlds 02 Jan 2012

286

Here's how I keep my thread:

I fold my large pieces of fabric and then keep them on shelves in a closed cupboard in my sewing room.(it is large, from the floor to the ceiling, with 2 wide deep draws, above are shelves for packing) The small pieces I place in the 1 large deep draw in plastic bags, I colour code these. So that they are available when doing small, or applique projects. In the other large draw, I keep all my felt, fleece and netting fabric.
My embroidery threads, I have 2 narrow cupboards with doors with loads of shelves. I then also colour code these. Under my work desk where my machines are ,I have Plastic 3 draws on wheels , I keep all my bobbin threads and bobbins, which are in plastic see through containers.
Then another Plastic 3 draw on wheels to my right under the desk I have all my other stabilizers in plastic bags.
In another cupboard on the wall,I keep plastic contains(see through) for my craft things, so that I can see what is inside them. eg elastic,zips,cord,buttons,velcro, ....

Also have a rod under this cupboard where I keep all my rolls of ribbon.Under that I have a plastic holder with compartments for all my different needles and feet for my sewing machines. This is all handy on my right when I am sewing.
On the very high shelves I keep my batting folded,and plastic bags of stuffing.
I keep my large rolls of stabiliser standing up ,between my computer and the cupboard, so that it is easy to just roll off and cut as I need it.
Another cupboard holds all my stationery, (paper,boxes,plastic holders,plastic bags.......
to put my projects into.)

Hope this will give you some ideas,
good luck

Hugs Yvonne

Hope this will help

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by castelyn 02 Jan 2012

Forget to add, just cleaned out my sewing room after the fire that I had.
Did it all in 2 days and painted.
Thank goodness I had my domestic worker helping me clean the day of the fire.

xxxxxxx

I made this to fit the space behind my door. I love this thing.

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

This looks sooooo neat!

by anne55 03 Jan 2012

You have space behind your door! I have another door behind my door... Lucky you.

by bowlds 03 Jan 2012

WHAT?!

I think I need to empty out the closets and cupboards and start fresh!

Organize!!! I wish!! I have tidied my fabric cupboard, folded everything in color groups and when I next open the cupboard its all mussed up again. I am sure I have a gremlin in there!! Ha, ha!!

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by read180 02 Jan 2012

Yes I am sure the gremlin says. " it was not me"

by beatie58 02 Jan 2012

Those gremlins get around same happens to me..hehehe

Fabric Folding.
I shop at a fabric store that folds their fabric like this when you buy it. This only works for smaller cuts I'm guessing.
Fold the fabric in half, parallel to the finished edge. Fold in half again the same way. Now you have a narrow stip, fold in half, in half etc until it's the legnth you like.

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by bowlds 02 Jan 2012

I meant:
Now you have a long, narrow strip. Now fold in half the other way to make the strip shorter and then in half again until your strip is the legnth that works for you.

Jan, it is sure something - most of us really need to do - I am wishing you luck. We will need to see - before and after or at least after?

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Do I dare post a before picture? I don't think anyone would "respect" me if you saw what a wreck my room is now!

by askmcv 02 Jan 2012

If you will, I will! I'm sure I have the worst one :(
It seems my sewing room always looks like a tornado went through it!

by anangel 02 Jan 2012

Whenever (if EVER), I get mine organized, I will post a picture! LOL Definitely need to get organized, I do!!
Angel

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Yeah, but will you post a BEFORE picture? Mine looks like 6 tornados! And... I have all these Boyds Cats (and some Bears) I have collected over the years I still like in there for extra fun, err clutter! My room makes me so happy I purr - that is when it is organized, but sometime this year I lost that!

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

it is organized, but sometime this year I lost that! I might have been when I brought in all the Christmas wrapping...

I have to agree with you I need a month or more to get organized. Do you separate your thread by color or by brand?

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

I have all my Floriani on racks on the wall, and all my Metro in plastic boxes by Color. We live in such a dry climate, I worry about my thread drying out on the wall., but it sure is pretty that way! How do you do it?

by sboo 02 Jan 2012

I have mine stored in plastic containers by brand and color the climate is dry in Ut also

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

I didn't realize you are in UT. Are you close to Shirlene? I'm just over in the mountains in the middle of northern Colorado.

by sboo 02 Jan 2012

about 45 min away from Shirlene

Fold?

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by spendlove 02 Jan 2012

That could be just what my stash has been waiting for!

by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

he he he you made me laugh, Sue!

How about segregating the small bits and making some bias binding and covers - the site below has some printables if you scroll down and will help you get started; you're bound to get more ideas as you go along. You could also follow a theme in the room - vintage, shabby chic, etc. Usually find that giving myself a deadline helps - otherwise it seems to be neverending.

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by lindalee757 02 Jan 2012

????

Just finished the reorganisation. My materials are allfolded and in transparent boxes with lids, Arranged by colour or pattern. They are on shelves within (just) reach.Small pieces are in plastic bags in the boxes. My sewing room is not too small.but I have a lot of stuff. I just managed to talk my husband out of his second chest of drawers and it took me less than an hour to fill it up wit crafty materials. But my room looks good1

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

How about a picture????

Sure Jan...I tried this two weeks ago and ask me how closer I am to my goal...YUCK :) However; I will CHEER you on! I was looking at some thread racks to make because I need to see what sewing threads I have so I won't get stuck on a project...FIESTA ;D *2U

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by hightechgrammy 02 Jan 2012

Now that the holidays are officially over, it will be easier to get started!