Temporarily losing sewing room - how to organize when scattered throughout?
07-22-2011, 01:46 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire
Posts: 1,177
sigh...
Since gs is almost 8 mos old I'm lending him my sewing room to use as a bedroom. :) They will probably be here another year or so so it is temporary, but now I need to determine where to put stuff.
I have a bench table that I use to cut, piece, plan, and don't feel I can give that up. Then I have my sewing machine and cabinet. I'll probably move the bench into the living room and the sewing machine w/cabinet into the kitchen.
Then there are the fabric bins and supplies. My house was built in 1896 so there is no storage to speak of, so I guess some tossing out / donating will need to happen.
I'm okay with this whole thing so my question is: how do you psychologically deal with your sewing stuff being scattered? How do you keep it together in your head?
Since this will make all rooms not look like anyone thing belongs in them, I def won't be winning any House Beautiful awards!
Since gs is almost 8 mos old I'm lending him my sewing room to use as a bedroom. :) They will probably be here another year or so so it is temporary, but now I need to determine where to put stuff.
I have a bench table that I use to cut, piece, plan, and don't feel I can give that up. Then I have my sewing machine and cabinet. I'll probably move the bench into the living room and the sewing machine w/cabinet into the kitchen.
Then there are the fabric bins and supplies. My house was built in 1896 so there is no storage to speak of, so I guess some tossing out / donating will need to happen.
I'm okay with this whole thing so my question is: how do you psychologically deal with your sewing stuff being scattered? How do you keep it together in your head?
Since this will make all rooms not look like anyone thing belongs in them, I def won't be winning any House Beautiful awards!
07-22-2011, 03:12 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Kansas USA
Posts: 91
I'm in the same situation as you are -- it's been nine months since my bunch moved in while they're building their new house. My sewing machine and one cabinet is in the dining room. My stash is in a closet and in plastic tubs under the bed. My sewing notions are in another closet. I use the dining room table for cutting, and pull the ironing board out of the laundry room when I need it.
The biggest thing I've had to deal with (other than a two year old wanting to "help") is having to get everything out and put it all up when I'm done. It bothered me at first, but I kept telling myself that it's temporary and well worth the inconvenience to be able to provide a home for our kids while they need it.
It did take me a while to get things organized in their new locations. I spent a lot of time trying to remember where I put something. If I had it to do again, I'd make a master list of where everything is (then I'd probably lose the list!). It did help me to keep as many notions--pins, scissors, rulers, rotary cutter--close to the sewing machine as I could. I have too much thread to keep it all in the dining room, and it's a pain to have to get it out of the bedroom closet when I need it.
With some trial and error, you'll get a system in place that works for you. Good luck!
The biggest thing I've had to deal with (other than a two year old wanting to "help") is having to get everything out and put it all up when I'm done. It bothered me at first, but I kept telling myself that it's temporary and well worth the inconvenience to be able to provide a home for our kids while they need it.
It did take me a while to get things organized in their new locations. I spent a lot of time trying to remember where I put something. If I had it to do again, I'd make a master list of where everything is (then I'd probably lose the list!). It did help me to keep as many notions--pins, scissors, rulers, rotary cutter--close to the sewing machine as I could. I have too much thread to keep it all in the dining room, and it's a pain to have to get it out of the bedroom closet when I need it.
With some trial and error, you'll get a system in place that works for you. Good luck!
07-22-2011, 03:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 460
The nicest part of having a sewing room is being able to shut the door and nobody sees the mess! Keeping your sewing areas clean will likely be more annoying then having your things throughout the house. How about storing your bins under your cutting table in the living room. A friend of mine made a skirt for her sewing table. She purchased some inexpensive fabric and used double sided tape to attach the skirt around the table. Nobody sees what is under the table that way, and its an added storage space.
07-22-2011, 03:32 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Victorian Sweatshop
Posts: 863
I always thought it was as much fun to sort and look for things as it was to piece. Looks like you may be having lots of fun.
Consider under the bed bins for fabric, high closet shelves for sharp things and odd corners to stack bins in. Guess how I know all this?
Consider under the bed bins for fabric, high closet shelves for sharp things and odd corners to stack bins in. Guess how I know all this?
07-22-2011, 03:54 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 460
Originally Posted by katesnanna
Make lists of where everything is :- Which room which box bin or whatever. That way you don't need to keep it in your head. All you need is an exercise book but keep it safe.
07-22-2011, 04:01 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 1,627
We also donated my sewing room to our gs & his parents for a year. Had to reorganize everything & find all kinds of stash places for my fabric. It was not convenient in the least but it was a good trade. Got to spend every day with gs & watch him grow into a healthy happy toddler. That was over a year ago. Have my sewing room back & organized but have only seen gs for a couple of hours (last September) since. Never know what's around the corner...
07-22-2011, 04:09 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 767
Originally Posted by Butterfli19
sigh...
Since gs is almost 8 mos old I'm lending him my sewing room to use as a bedroom. :) They will probably be here another year or so so it is temporary, but now I need to determine where to put stuff.
I have a bench table that I use to cut, piece, plan, and don't feel I can give that up. Then I have my sewing machine and cabinet. I'll probably move the bench into the living room and the sewing machine w/cabinet into the kitchen.
Then there are the fabric bins and supplies. My house was built in 1896 so there is no storage to speak of, so I guess some tossing out / donating will need to happen.
I'm okay with this whole thing so my question is: how do you psychologically deal with your sewing stuff being scattered? How do you keep it together in your head?
Since this will make all rooms not look like anyone thing belongs in them, I def won't be winning any House Beautiful awards!
Since gs is almost 8 mos old I'm lending him my sewing room to use as a bedroom. :) They will probably be here another year or so so it is temporary, but now I need to determine where to put stuff.
I have a bench table that I use to cut, piece, plan, and don't feel I can give that up. Then I have my sewing machine and cabinet. I'll probably move the bench into the living room and the sewing machine w/cabinet into the kitchen.
Then there are the fabric bins and supplies. My house was built in 1896 so there is no storage to speak of, so I guess some tossing out / donating will need to happen.
I'm okay with this whole thing so my question is: how do you psychologically deal with your sewing stuff being scattered? How do you keep it together in your head?
Since this will make all rooms not look like anyone thing belongs in them, I def won't be winning any House Beautiful awards!
Also, if you're not already doing so, look into "under the bed" storage containers. Depending on your bed they don't always fit:-(.
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