Setting Up an Efficient Sewing Area

!±8± Setting Up an Efficient Sewing Area

Are you just learning how to sew? Are you accumulating a pile of sewing-related supplies that you aren't sure how to store? Would you like some useful tips on how to organize all of those items in a really practical way? I'm here to help!

I've been sewing for almost 30 years, professionally for over 20 years. I've come up with an organizational system that works beautifully. When I was hired as the seamstress at a local dry cleaner a few years ago, I set up my area exactly the same way as I have my sewing area at home. This "system" is inexpensive and very efficient.

First I purchased a 2' x 4' banquet table at a local big box store to use as my sewing table. You certainly could use any type of table for your sewing table, as long as you find it comfortable to work at. This banquet table can be adjusted for height, which is a feature I really like.

Next, I purchased a secretary chair - the kind that rolls on casters. This chair can be adjusted for height also. It is really important to me to be able to adjust my chair or table so that I can find the perfect comfort level. If you are going to sit at this table for any length of time, you want to be as comfortable as possible.

The third purchase was a plastic 7-drawer cabinet on wheels from a local discount store. This cabinet has 3 shallow drawers about 3" deep, and 4 deeper drawers about 7" deep. The cabinet comes apart between each drawer so you can set it up in any configuration that suits your needs. I use this cabinet in two parts. I use two shallow and two deep drawers as my main unit; this is the unit that is on the wheels. Then I use the remainder shallow drawer and two deeper drawers as a stationery storage unit.

Additionally, I purchased a desk drawer organizer to use on the top of my main unit. In this organizer, I keep all of the supplies I use most often so they are right at my fingertips. This organizer holds my pincushions (one for needles and one for pins), my tailoring chalk and marking pencils, needle threaders, zipper feet, scissors and clippers, safety pins, tape measure, tailoring ruler and emery board.

In the two shallow drawers I keep the remainder of my small supplies: bobbins, machine needle packages, hand sewing needle packages, and packages of extra pins, etc. I also keep specialty tools such as pinking shears, rotary cutter, point turners, and extra presser feet. The deeper drawers hold supplies such as zippers, elastic, buttons, packages of snaps and fasteners, and patching fabric.

Aside from this storage unit, I keep my thread organized in shallow trays sorted by color and spool size. I lay the spools on their sides so I can see the colors at a glance.

Fabric and interfacing is stored folded in large Rubbermaid bins sealed tightly.

I store my patterns in a plastic under-the-bed type storage box. I find that this type of box is the perfect size for most patterns. I keep them standing up just like they are in the pattern drawers at a fabric shop. This way I can page through them easily. I also keep them grouped by type of garment to make finding a particular pattern more efficient.

I realize you probably do not have near the amount of sewing-related items that I have! Getting and staying organized is the important thing. You don't want to be searching in a big box of stuff to find your tiny little zipper foot! It really makes a difference in your productivity when you have everything you need right at your fingertips.

So, if you are just starting to set up a sewing area, consider some of these suggestions. I hope you find the ideas in this article helpful. Whether you have a whole room dedicated to sewing or just a tiny corner somewhere in your home, organization is the key to success!

Setting Up an Efficient Sewing Area

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Rubbermaid FG345700 Black 200 lbs Capacity Plastic Utility Cart with Lockable Doors, Sliding Drawer and 4-Inch Swivel Casters

!±8±Rubbermaid FG345700 Black 200 lbs Capacity Plastic Utility Cart with Lockable Doors, Sliding Drawer and 4-Inch Swivel Casters

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Quick and Easy Organizing Tips For Your Kid's Room

!±8± Quick and Easy Organizing Tips For Your Kid's Room

Over the course of a year, kids can accumulate so many toys, games, dolls and stuffed animals that it can be overwhelming. Even if you rarely buy things for your own child, there are still birthdays and holidays which usually means your house is bursting at the seams with new toys.

It's hard to know where to put everything, and if you're a sentimental person, it can be hard to let go of older toys to make room for new ones. To help avoid this problem, here are some easy tips to help you keep your kid's room organized, even after birthdays and holidays.

First thing's first. You're going to need storage. Some bedrooms don't have closets, so you may want to buy shelves and bins. Shelves are great for storing things that you don't want them to play with, like diapers, clothes and other baby or kid accessories. You can find all kinds of different colored bins to add to the decor of your child's room that provide fun places to store toys.

Clear bins are great because they allow your child to see which toys are in which bins. Hopefully this will prevent all the toys from being scattered all over the floor in the search for one specific toy. Putting labels on them will help you out when you need to do a quick clean up.

Some kids can get quite a collection of stuffed animals going, but it can be hard to find a place to put them. When I was a kid, my mother sewed some string to the head of each animal and hung them up on my walls with push pins. If your child likes to play with them regularly, you can also purchase big Rubbermaid containers with lids at a very affordable price.

Under-the-bed storage is a great alternative for very small rooms. Toys that aren't played with as often can be stored under here. It's also a great place to store out of season clothes. Having storage under a child's bed can also eliminate the opportunity for them to store garbage or important school documents where you'll never find them.

You can also purchase plastic bins with several containers stacked vertically. Look for the kind with wheels and handles. This will make it easier to move it around when you're cleaning. This will also help your child to learn organizational skills by keeping items separated in each bin. Legos in one bin, puzzles and games in another, and so on.

Another great storage option are cube ottomans. They come in a variety of colors and the lid flips over to become a tray. Not only does this provide another method of storage, but seating options as well. You can also find round ottomans to add some fun style to a room without compromising space.

Take your kids shopping with you and ask them to pick out some fun bins, baskets and other storage accessories. Getting them involved in organizing their own room will hopefully help them to keep it clean which will make your job a lot easier.

Another tip to keep the toys at bay is to get rid of older toys every time some new ones come in. There are plenty of organizations that accept donated toys, and this could give your child a very positive feeling that they've done something for someone else. Any toys that are broken should be thrown away.

One thing that can be hard to deal with is getting rid of toys that have sentimental value. What you have to remember is that every toy creates memories, but they will always be with you in your mind, not in the actual toy. You may want to keep a box stored away for really special toys that were gifts or that have a special story, but don't let it become more than one box.

By keeping every toy and article of clothing your child has ever received, you're passing on these tendencies to your child. It's much easier to avoid developing the pack-rat habit than it is to break it. In the end you'll be glad you did, and you'll have a much cleaner and more organized kids room to show for it!

Quick and Easy Organizing Tips For Your Kid's Room

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