My Real Sewing Space

In my blog two weeks ago, I posted a photo of my sewing space in my new apartment. I laughed when I saw Curlique Creations comment on Facebook about my organized sewing space. You have to remember I was moving with only two pickups worth of space for that trip, so I only moved a little of my sewing stuff. I haven’t been to my “real” home since that weekend so I still don’t have much of my sewing stash at my apartment. My sewing room at home is probably a lot more like the norm.

But here are some things that I’d like to suggest for the sake of organization in your sewing space. If you can, spread out. It’s easier to find the pink fabric if your scraps are color sorted and not in one huge box. I have my fabric stored in clear plastic storage tubs – the 60-quart size. We had shelves built so I can stack the tubs five high. I have a separate tub for black, white, brown, green and blue. Pink and purple, and yellow, orange and red share tubs because I don’t have as much of any of those colors. Because the tubs are clear, I can tell what is in a tub at a glance. I also have an entire tub full of lace, zippers, ribbon and other embellishments. By the way, in case you haven’t guessed, the photo is old, taken at Christmas time a couple of years ago.

The walls in my sewing room at home are covered with hooks and hanging shelves so I can have many of my supplies hanging and in plain sight. I have the things hanging on the wall sorted too. The serger feet and serger supplies hang on the wall by the serger. The embroidery supplies are on the north end of the wall by the sewing machines. All the rulers are on the shelf under the cutting table.

Once things are organized, all that remains is to KEEP things organized. As quilters, our Fabric Inventory frequently tries to take over our space. So I nearly always piece the backs of my quilts. It is a great way to use the last of the fabric that I used in the front of the quilt. When a tub starts to get too full, I usually piece a couple of strip pieced tops. They are a great way to use fabric and they make great utility quilts. My kids love those. They are something I made for them but they are not so labor intensive that the kids feel like they can’t use them. And if you set plain blocks between the strip pieced blocks, it completely changes the look.

I was gone several days last week so I must attack the projects on my desk – it is getting crazy messy and that makes me nuts. We are in the middle of writing patterns and editing and proofing for the Best Fat Quarter Quilts special issue that goes on sale December 25.

And don’t forget to watch Quilters Newsletter TV: The Quilters’ Community. In this week’s episode, I am talking with Handi Quilter ambassador Suzanne Hyland, and I learned some cool things.

Happy quilting!