Does anyone here have trouble creating in a messy sewing room? Mine is a disaster area right now and I'm planning to clean it this weekend but have to make a baby quilt now. I'm finding very little joy in making this quilt due to my surroundings.

My sewing room is a disaster, so I use my dining room table!

Why not move your sewing machine into another room for this project?

i'm the opposite.

i can't create in a room thats too nice.

i see some rooms on here that look like a decorator put it together.

i would be too afraid of making a mess and ruining the nice furniture/etc.

i paint, screen print, dye, etc fabric all the time i can't be worried about ruining my pretty things in the process.

i need to work without inhibitions.

I barely have room to move from my stash shelf to my sewing machine to my cutting table because of all the stuff stored in my sewing room. If someone puts something in there they put it on my sewing table, which I just have to put some simbalance of order to before I can get to work.

I cannot sew in a messy room. I clean up after each project. It may get a little messy during the sewing part---but it is just stuff for that project.

The room I have is quite small but nicely organized.

Every time I start a project it's like the beginning of a monsoon. I totally trash my sewing room. Then when the project is done, I clean it all up and start on the next project. I do my best work amid the chaos but I know that's not true for a lot of people - I think JulieR had a great suggestion/solution - temporarily move into another room if you can.

I like to leave my sewing space all straightened up and ready for the next time... Only takes a few minutes extra..

It makes me nervous when things get too messy. I like things semi-tidy. I like everything put away when I leave the room each day.

I don't like mine messy. I try to put things where they go when I'm done with them and deal with scraps as I go. My space is pretty small and it doesn't take much mess to trash it.

I can't stand a mess...it quickly get like that but it makes me crazy to the point where i start making mistakes and not being careful...when i can't find scissors, am tripping over boxes,etc I just want to get out..happened last night..was re-upholstering a little ottoman and I was ready to scream..had to stop and clean up half way through...

I do not like the chaos of messy either. I take the time to clear the clutter.

I like mine clean and organized. Since I redid my room about 2 mos. ago, everything is put away each night. I have a basket for the project I'm working on at the time. When I start a new one, the room has to be clean and ready to go.

I don't really have a sewing room. I live alone in a tiny 1 bedroom apt; my living dining room table has 2 sewing machines plus other stuff; each chair, except one, has sewing stuff; I have a small "sun room" that is long and narrow and part of it is used for storage. In the sun room I have a small cutting table, book shelves and ironing board, not to mention several totes filles with stuff.

Last night as I was going to bed and thinking that it seemed to be cooler in my bedroom, why couldn't I sew in there ????? There isn't a table that would work. Too that room doesn't have a lot of natural light so it would be difficult, UNLESS, I can find a suitable table to put another sewing machine on......

Years back when I was married and had kids at home, I did have a real sewing room.....doesn't matter, it was still a mess !

Don't fret over messy room, sign of a creative mind and spirit !

I Like mine neat, but it never is that way. I tend to use the layer method, where the most recent project's leftovers are on the top. when I finally get around to cleaning up i feel like an archeologist sifting thru the different strata.

If I could create in a messy sewing room, I would never get anything created. LOL But to each their own, in my opinion.

My sewing room has always been horribly messy, but now that we've redone it, I'm trying to change my ways. Time to aspire to being a neatnik! ;)

I don't like the chaos and it reminds me that I should be spending my time cleaning it up. It definitely saps my creativity!

It doesn't have to be neat as a pin, but I do need to have everything in its general place.

I put things away also...I am by no means a "neat freak" but if things aren't where they are supposed to be I have trouble finding them. My DH has just built me a separate shop (14X24) and it is hard for me to find everything since I am still in the process of moving in...but have most of the things I use all the time there and put up where I know exactly where they are when I need them. The things I did not like about not having my own sewing shop...dragging everything out...then having to put everything up...now only includes getting to a stopping point and straightening up enough to be able to come back the next time and pick up where I left off.

I cannot deal with nor work in clutter- which is why my sewing machine is now in the living room. My sewing room is so messy that I can't even go in there to clean it. My brain shuts down and I get panicky. Have to just back out- don't dare turn my back on it LOL- and walk out closing the door behind me.

I lose all motivation to sew when my sewing room gets messy. I am certainly not a great housekeeper, but my sewing room is my domain, and I like to keep it as clean as possible. We moved the sewing room from a small bedroom to a larger bedroom. We redid the floors and I love it. The only problem is there is still a lot more stuff in the old sewing room, a walk in closet full. I am dreading dragging all that in here and trying to find a place for it. I know I have to because we have plans for that room, and need to redo the floor in there too. Oh well, one day at a time.

I use the "pilot" method.....pile it here and pile it there ! Also, when I do start "straightening" I find so much good stuff !

I tend to make mine messy when putting together fabrics for a quilt. However, when it comes to sewing in there, I have to clean it first. I just make it a habit to spend a two or three hour stretch in there cleaning once a week while watching a movie! I do have a second sewing cabinet set upstairs for most of my sewing as well though, so that makes it easier.

You and me would get along Great. When I am done for the day everything gets put in it's place and I run the Shark cordless over the carpet. No way am I going to start in the morning in a mess!! :thumbup:

Mine starts off neat and then while I sew gets little messed up, then as I finish I pick up again. I had a "hoarders" sewing room until two friends helped me organize and now it stays that way.Not perfect. I like things laying around but in their own places now. This was fun reading everyone's responses.

I didn't know my method had a name. Thanks for the chuckle.

Come to think of it, my sewing room resembles the Hoarders homes. Thanks to all of you for your comments. I've enjoyed them so much and realize it's okay to be messy, just not as messy as the room is currently.

I meant to say if I COULDN'T create in a messy sewing room, I would never get anything created. LOL

My sewing room isn't messy ... it is creatively cluttered to inspire me.

Actually, if it were perfectly neat I don't think I could work in that area.

It is a hangover from having been married to a more than a freak of a neatnik. I also finally was able to paint color on walls and to decorate to my taste once I had my own life. My home is what my family and friends call inviting. They are comfortable and don't feel like they are in a museum where no one actually lives.

ali

I a, not a neat freak, but I have to have some order around me.

I really like coming into a nice, neat sewing room it makes me happy to sew. So it's a great motivator for me to put things back where they go after my sewing time . I share your pain!

yes, except mine is the dining room which seems to be the new storage room for everything non quilt related, have to clear a pile just to work, sometimes I want to work on my projects but the thought of having to clean the dining room to do it deters me

Right now mine is a total mess. I decided after piecing 2 crib size quilts that I needed to sweep and straighten up before I put them on on the frame. Well one thing lead to another and I've moved everything in this silly room 10 times trying to make it more effecient. The only thing I've accomplished is making a mess, and throwing out some old magazines. Now it will take all day tomarrow to get things back in order! Thought has even crossed my mind to run to town and get some paint. I've got things to do I don't know why I start big projects like this. But the floor is clean!

my sewing area is in my living room so I clean up after each sewing session. I also did this when I had half a basement for my quilting space so I guess I do need a tidy space to work in.

Just yesterday, July 31, there was a post in PICTURES titled Sewing Room. Take a look. The first pictures show a beautiful clean and organized room. Scroll down a ways and see my room! HA, like day and night. They say a cluttered desk is the sign of a genious!
peace!

Mine is a mess too right now and I told myself I was going to clean it up today. Did I...no? hehe Maybe one day this week. I have a spare bedroom that I made into my computer/sewing room. I have a double wide closet that I put a huge steel shelving unit in and it's packed with fabric :) Gotta love it.

My room is messy, gee, I can't seem to keep it clean. I do my best work when it is messy! However, I can't take it when it gets too messy, then I got to clean it up! Does that even make sense? Anyhow, in my mess today, I walked thru the sewing room and next thing I knew I have another quilt started. 3 now on my design wall waiting to be completed!

quick recommendation... pick one small quick spot to straighten up. quilt a little... then repeat. When you start to get anxious about the mess, look to your clean spot(s).

I am a minimalist/neat freak and easily feel your pain.

I sew in what I call "organized chaos" until it becomes "un-organized", then I'll straighten it up.

I sew in an open area in my basement (finished) but try to keep my things in one area. Right now I'm having trouble moving from one place to the next. Time to take a break and straighten up :D