Why can I never find one? Must reorganize. Help!!
 

I go with the less is more theory...at least that's what I'm claiming! I keep a pen; pencil; scissors (among other things) on my cutting/ironing table; I keep the same grouping next to my machine; the same grouping again on another flat surface in that room. Some times things get moved from one spot to the other but the room is only 8x10 - how far away are they really? At least for me!

As for my sewing notions like scissors, seam ripper, pencils, fabric markers,etc. I keep in a white lazy susan desk organizer I bought at Michael's with a 40% off coupon. It has little drawers & compartments for easy sorting. I keep it right next to my sewing machine & everything is right at my finger tips. Love it. My thread I keep in the larger plastic craft boxes for beads, etc. I coordinated the colors in the same one, so it's easier to get the one I want, & not rummage through all of them.

Right now, I only have one of everything. So it definitely helps me keep track of it! If I lose anything, I'm in trouble!!

As for thread, I still haven't started using anything different for piecing vs sewing, so I just organized it all above the machine on a rack, and by color. (There are a few thicker 'utility' type threads that I use for certain hand sewing projects, but they're easy to spot right off the bat!)

I use this for pens, pencils, scissors and it will hold regular size rulers.

http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_prod...ategoryCode=KW

Thread: I have in plastic totes.

I use an old TV remote holder that has compartments. Scissors and rotary cutters go in the back. Small (6") rulers and markers go in one side, the other side has two compartments and hold things like pencils, markers, anything that fits.

I have a small crock on my desk for pencils. I don't like to use pens around my fabric.
I have a thread rack on the wall for my machine embroidery thread.
A small bowl in my sewing table drawer that I put most used thread for piecing, white, tan, gray.
Organization saves time searching for stuff when I can be sewing. :0)

I have a silverware caddy that I picked up at Target that I keep on my cutting table. It's one of those plastic containers that has 3 vertical holders for spoons, forks and knives on one side, and one holder opposite that to hold napkins, with a plastic carry handle. I stand my rotary cutter, small rulers, pencil, marking pens, scissors, etc. in it. I can even tuck some kleenex, my cell phone and other items in it. When I cut fabric I can just move the whole thing to another location.

For scissors at my sewing machine I use a small hook attached with a Command strip. I placed it on the right side of the machine, near the wheel. I use it to hang thread snips, not shears. Because I am so used to it being there, I can hang my snips right back up after using them without even looking. No more lost scissors!

For embroidery thread I use those clear plastic boxes with pins to hold the spools. I have my colors grouped. For piecing thread, which I often buy on the larger spools, I keep a plastic shoe box labeled "piecing thread." I have only a few spools like this as I tend to use mostly ecru, tan and white, not a lot of colors like for my embroidery.

Hope this helps.

I have an array of jars and baskets around my room. No matter where I am what I need is probably in the closest basket or jar.

I use plastic drawer organizers and pencil holders. I always put things in the same place so when I need it I know just where to go. Works great for me.

I am trying to go with the less is more and have two sets of pen, pencil ruler, scissors which I keep in two tins

I use drawers because of dust here and label front of drawers and cover with packing tape so it stays on and a look and I can tell what is in each drawer and tote.

I use 2 small flower pots. I've thought of also putting some coffee beans in the pots (hole in bottom plugged of course) but I have so much in them they seem to stand on their own.:)

Thanks, everyone for sharing. Guess I'll start by thinning out my selection, then try some of these ideas. I especially like the idea of something portable so I don't have pencils and markers strewn all over the sewing room. Connie

I have a couple pair of scissors and seam rippers and keep one of each at the sewing machine. Most of the other day to day things, I store in this tote that I got from Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. I sew with some friends and take classes, and this has been the greatest thing. I don't have to think about what I need to take...it's all in my tote.


http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/...t-tote-857789/

I have a couple of those plastic drawers on wheels then little plastic trays and baskets

Used an old coffee can and made a tool bucket. Has fabric cover with pockets on outside and scissors and larger items go inside. Works great for me. My thread is on a rack with dowels.

I use school pencil boxes. The blue one holds bobbins - the bobbins are in little containers that are labeled - sewing, quilting, bottom line, embroidery. The red one holds the USB sticks for embroidery and the dongle for the software. Another holds all the various marking pens and pencils. My embroidery thread is in OESD boxes. Sewing thread is on various thread holders that hang on the wall, sewing thread on one, quilting on another, specialty thread on another.

Almost all of my threads and bobbins are in tackle boxes. Safety pins and straight pins are in decorative tins with a magnet attached to them. Each sewing machine cabinet has its own scissors and rotary cutters and rippers in the top drawers. Pencils are in cigar boxes. I have 2 sets of plastic drawers on wheels with all the other doo-dads and what-nots. But with all the organization I still lose scissors and rotary's a hundred times per project. Been thinking about making a Velcro vest so I can attach things to myself. One for the sewing room and another for the kitchen. I seem to lose spoons and spatula's too.

I use a 10 drawer tower rolling cart that has 10 plastic drawers - so while I was organizing my sewing room every time I would find a pair of sissors, thread, marking tools, needles, small rulers or templates, etc. I just put it in the labeled drawers. When I finished everything was in place and organized! It was great! Now when I go on a retreat or take a class, all I have to do is open the sissor drawer or thread drawer or needle drawer, etc. and pick out what I need. The secret is to put it all back in the drawers when you get back! :) I got mine at Sam's club but I've also seen them at the office supply and I think either Michaels and/or Hobby Lobby and JoAnns. Didn't realize til I was finished how many duplicates I had!!! Good luck!

Seems to me almost everyones answer is some type of container that keeps the small tools from getting buried by the fabric. I keep an assortment of former food containers to put my small tools in, just containing them seems to make them easier to find. Had a extra lanyard that I attached to a pair of scissors, strangely enough it helps me find them, the loops are always sticking out of what ever pile their in.

mine is a mess and if I cleaned it up and organize I wouldn't be able to find a thing HA

For some of my organization efforts, I like to re-purpose some items that would usually go to a landfill. Small jars with screw on lids are great for small items. If you will save moisture packets to add to the jars, anything you put in the won't rust. I use larger jars for things like buttons. This allows me to sort to size and you can see what is in the jars. For containers to hold things like small rulers, scissors, machine cleaning brush, etc., I use cans. Save cans that you think would hold your items so you can see them. Cover the cans with fabric scraps, old cards, etc. I like to use wallpaper scraps. It's heavy and lasts. Short cans like the ones that tuna or chicken comes in are great for sorting little items. They can also be used to make cute pin cushions. Small margarine containers work for this too. For my machine feet, I use an organizer I found in the hardware department of Walmart. It's filled with little removable boxes. My sewing box is actually a tool box also from Walmart. For my machine embroidery thread, I found a thead box at Joann's that was on sale and I had a coupon that brought the price down more. There was a thread on this site last year that showed how to made a thread organizer use peg board and dowels. Maybe someone can remember it and provide the link.

Organized...Whos organized..Welcome to my world...LOL...

My sewing machines sit on desks and directly beneath both machines are drawers that I can pull open. I used old box lids to divide up the drawers and they hold scissors, rippers, measuring tape, etc. Works awesome for me.

After many years with this quilting bug - and my children gone (just me in the house) my sewing room is now located in two rooms. On each table I have a pretty pot of pencils, pens, markers, etc. I have scissors everywhere - but one needs to stay on the actual sewing table ( easier if you just have one machine like I do) and one on the ironing board. One on both of the cutting tables, two in the kitchen .... you get the idea. Two seam rippers. Three cutting boards - plus a couple of little ones... I have a skinny little chest of drawers that hold thread not currently in use - and spools beyond number in pots and on tables and.... Yeah - out of control. But when the phone rings, I have to get up. Look at the good side - you're moving!

I buy the plastic pencil holders from the container store. I have a drawer that is dedicated to just scissors. When it is empty I go around my studio and round them all up.

There is a peg board on the wall to hold rulers, stencils, scissors, rotary cutter, measuring tape, even a plastic bag for scraps gets held there by a small black clip. Pens are in a small vase by the computer. Not far since it's all the same room. A shelf over the sewing table has boxes with thread, rolls of freezer paper, bags of cut fabric, and two plastic project boxes for the most recent WIP's.

Great ideas....thanks to all....

At the Lancaster quilt show last week this one lady had what appeared to be a big pretty 'brooch". In reality it was a 2 piece magnetic type "brooch". You put one side on the inside of your blouse and the other on top of it on the outside of your blouse. Magnetic so it ends up holding your small pair of scissors. Therefore never looking for your scissors as you sat at your machine again. Just something to help with one thing we are always looking for.

I have two of the Pampered Chef caddies. One on my sewing table and one on my cutting table. They hold everything including rotary cutters. My applique thread is all on a mounted thread rack and for piecing I use large thread cones and a cone holder.

I have nails in the wall behind the drapies so my 4 year old doesn't see them.......he loves to cut stuff up!

When I decided to turn my downstairs into a sewing domain, I too bought enough of the the main tools to put at each work station. Plus I wear a pair of small scissors around my neck,

The best organiser for me is one that made for myself due to lack of shelf space. It has a magnetic pin holder that sits on the edge of the table glued to a heavily weighted sand bag. Attached to this is a seriously empty ice-cream container that I covered with a series of pockets all round the sides to put those pesky runaways in and this hangs down beside me. Custom size pockets hold all that I need and the scissors pocket is always protected and held open by using the container lid inside the pocket lining. The container itself is my rubbish bin. I have one each for piecing and quilting. Larger gadgets are stored on pinboard beside my block wall which is a large table with legs removed jammed between my sewing machine cabinet and the wall. Maybe some day soon (not) I will be tidy enough to post a photo but right now it's a fight to even get in the door!

I use a cup cake pan with plastic glasses set in, one glass holds pens/pencils/one screwdriver & brush/ 1 holds clips and so on. I keep it in a drawer and can now always find what I want. I also purchased the foot long magnet strip from Harbor Freight, 2 screws hold it to the wall and I can find my scissors & other magnetic items

I used to be the same way but finally came up with a plan! Went to goodwill and found several of those little crocks you get cheese spread in at Christmas time and placed one next to my sewing machine, one on my cutting table and at each working area. Each one has a seam ripper, scissors, snips, tweezers and a stiletto or what you need at each station.

Then on to the thread I bought some small sticky dots and each thread for each use has a color dot representing what that type of thread is used for. That part of the sewing suite is easier to work with now. Good Luck :thumbup:

I have a magnetic strip which was made to hold knives, mounted right by my sewing machine and I keep my scissors, stiletto, seam ripper, etc. there. On my cutting table, which is two cabinets with a large board under for bin storage,and a cutting and ironing surface on top, I have hooks to hold my most used ruler, my rotary cutter, my other pair of scissors, my Klutz glove and a lint roller. Seems to be working for me. I also have a large mug with pens, etc. in it next to my steam generator.

I keep all the items that I use most right next to my sewing machine

I know where my little snips are when I sew now, since I purchased a clip on to my shirt with a pull out string. It is attached to my shirt at the neckline and I should never lose it now. got it thru JHittles wholesale, really reasonable too. I bought some other things on there too. Some new blades for my rotary cutter for one thing. I am lacking in brain power tonight to remember what else, but was everything I needed.