The shelves in the left cabinet hold a bin containing trim, a box of lace, and a box of patterns. The boxes are the type that hold reams of paper (nice and sturdy!) covered with self-adhesive paper to make them prettier.
This size box works well for patterns.
(Though I keep frequently used patterns clipped to a hanger in the closet so that I don't have to iron the pattern pieces flat every time I want to use them.)
The upper shelves hold my sewing tote along with boxes of ribbon, trim, notions, etc.
The shelves in the right cabinet hold my fabric stash (which is currently quite small!). I always pre-wash my cottons before adding them to the stash so that I can pull them out and use them whenever the mood strikes. Every piece of fabric has a label pinned to it so that I can tell at a glance how many yards I have without having to unfold the fabric.
A set of Antonius sliding baskets hold my scrap stash (which is currently quite large!). Pieces of fabric smaller than one yard are rolled up and rubber banded. This keeps the scraps tidy and allows me to easily find what I'm looking for.
I need to get creative and find ways to use all those scraps! :)
The cabinets look great and the red cloth and candelholders really make the look!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a lovely scrap stash and material stash!
I can never get patterns to go back into their envelopes. I have a lot of my used ones folded into the biggest possible snaplock bags. But a recent pattern I have used has refused to fold even that small! I suppose it will have to be refolded!
Thanks! The red candleholders and candles were free. :) I got them when the meeting organization staff at work cleaned out the closet where they store holiday party decorations and such.
DeleteI think patterns grow in size when you unfold them... like a sponge expanding when you put it in water. ;)
This looks great! I am busy with sewing myself as well. I am not as good with it as you, probably, but I'm coming along! You have a great way or organizing your fabrics and other tools. Looking great!
ReplyDeletex Dawn
www.wickedlypleasant.wordpress.com
Thanks! Good for you! :) I'm by no means a sewing expert... just someone who has spent a lot of time practicing.
DeleteSo well organised! Scraps are always good for buttons and ribbons, so maybe that?
ReplyDeleteGood idea! I think I even have some "blanks" in my button box that I could cover with fabric.
DeleteSo tidy & organized! I use big clear-plastic bins for most of my fabric, with post-it style labels on the side (bec. the contents tend to change over time). I have some shelving units w/drawers, but those get hopelessly messy.
ReplyDeleteDrawers seem to shuffle their own contents when no one is around. ;) And whatever you're looking for always seems to be on the bottom. There were deeper baskets/drawers available for the wire frame unit, but I got shallow ones so I wouldn't end up with many layers of fabric scraps to dig through.
DeleteYou're REALLY organised. All my sewing stuff is just in one big box marked "sewing" in scrawled marker!
ReplyDeleteFor using up the scraps, I suggest fabric roses, chokers (use some nice fabric for the centre instead of ribbon, trim with lace, etc.), wrist cuffs/fabric bracelets, fingerless gloves, and other such accessories.
Yeah... I can't help it. If neatness were a medical condition, I would be terminal.
DeleteAh! That reminds me that I had bookmarked some tutorials on making fabric flowers. :) I need to look those up again!
Love it!! I'm in the process of restyling my "sitting" room, perhaps I can incorporate some of this. I hope you don't mind if I steal some of your great ideas! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't mind at all. In fact, sharing ideas is one of my main goals here. What can I say... I like being helpful. :D
DeleteI think that no matter how hard I try, my sewing room will never be that organized, Bane! Even though I'll be starting from scratch, I'm pretty sure after unpacking a few boxes I'll just start tossing it all haphazardly into baskets or on the floor or something. Maybe the trick is to visit Ikea BEFORE I start. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of rolling up the scraps so they're easy to see. I think you'd be more likely to use them up when they're neatly organized like that rather than jumbled together in a pile.
Baskets are good. Or you could always consider the floor to be a large horizontal storage space. :)
DeleteRolling the scraps has worked really well. Having them piled up loose makes them seem like leftovers to be thrown out. Rolled up, they seem like useful fabric.
OMG, that is so well organised. My sewing place looks like an atomic bomb hit it. Stuff everywhere (and I mean everywhere). I am glad I never found anything edible between the fabrics that I just forgot some day, haha!
ReplyDeleteBut I need chaos, I need it to get my brain working. I guess the way I create clothing is totally different from yours :-)
For me, chaos is an assault on my senses that causes overload and shutdown. I think it's interesting how varied people's responses to the same situation can be. Some people love sushi; some people think eating raw eel is disgusting. One person's heaven can be another person's hell. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. :) Good thing, too, or the world would be reeeeally boring. ;)
DeleteThat is so neat!! I feel a bit like a guilty hoarder when I see your photos. I'll have to declutter.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are probably a bit misleading because those bottom cabinets are cavernous. They make my little fabric stash look truly tiny. :)
DeleteI really needed to see this post - as I'm currently arranging to move some more of my craft stuff from Dad's to here and organisation is not my strong point! Your tips are always so helpful, you should see the way my sock drawer has improved since I started reading your blog =P
ReplyDeleteAlso I have to say you are a genius - I'd never think to keep pattern pieces hung up so that they didn't need to be ironed!
Ha ha! Goth It Yourself... improving the world one sock drawer at a time! :D
DeleteWell, thanks. I didn't have a place to store patterns flat horizontally, and it occurred to me that I could get the same result if I hung them vertically.
I love it so much!
ReplyDeleteThe red candleholders and candles give that wonderful gothic touch :) And everything looks well organized and clean. I always love your DIY
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D
DeleteNICE! I love to see a such an organized space! It makes DIY projects so much easier when you have everything in its place.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Very true... I get really frustrated if I have to spend more than 10 seconds looking for something. :P
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