I will admit to being a thread slob. I used to use a regular vacuum and have to clean the roller all the time. Then I switched to the wet vac and it worked like a charm. (I'm a slob about fabric, patterns etc as well)

Ok I'm a neat sewer. It is hard for me to imagine all these threads around. I have a bedroom converted to my sewing & it is neat. When I'm done with a project I clean up & during sewing. That is just me!

The sad part for me was when I took my husband to the doctor and he removed his shoes for a foot check and he had threads of different colors on his white socks. That is from when I bring projects out of my sewing room to work on in another room....those little buggers stick to everything. I get so messy too in no time at all. I clean up after each project also, but it is never ending. Oh well...the joys of being a quilter. I am so happy I can shut my door and not think about it. Not inline with my previous personality but very freeing.

Get a $20 fancy thread catcher for each station you use in your sewing room to catch all that OR tape a paper bag to each station and just drop or sweep those threads and bits into it. It's not hard. AND clean up after each project is completed before starting a new one.

I use a bucket you get at wally in the paint dept and I line it with a small kitchen trash bag. When im cutting or sewing, all threads and itty bitty pieces to be thrown out, goes into that bucket. When it gets full, which takes quite some time, then I just wrap up the small trash bag and out it goes. My set up is now in a U-shape as I cant stand for long time due to good ole arthur in knees. I have a desk with my pc and printer and shelves over that to hold all my info, quilting books office supplys etc. Then on the the smaller end I have a table with my cutting mat sewing machine and a shelf to hold boxes and small baskets full of things like threads sewing supplys, rulers etc. this table is set up on wooden pieces of board so that my ironing board set in the lowest position will slide partially under that table. the rest of the ironing board sticks out like an arm. Off the end of the ironing board is part of a folding table which I use for my cut fabric layouts. On the other side of the ironing board is an old filing cabinet which I use to store all my fabrics for now. I have an office chair on rollers to slide where I need to be. So any threads or bits of fabrics may drop just in that small area. It is easy then to just pick up anything on the floor and throw it in the bucket to be pitched them. About 2x per week I vacuum that area which is not a large area so its easy to keep it clean. I first take the hose of my vacuum cleaner and suck up any threads on the floor before I actually vacuum the floor using the beater bar on my vac. This saves time and wear n tear on my machine. I envy those who have a nice large organized quilting room and have a place to stash and store everything. Only in my dreams I guess.lol

I keep a 9" (about) square of fleece to the left of machine and place all cut threads and fabric snips on it. These stay put until whipped off . The larger pieces of fabric doesn't always hit the trash can of course but No threads on vacuum roller or chair.

We live in an alcove studio apartment in NYC, so you can imagine what the place looks like when I'm actively working on something. Last weekend, I cleaned out the alcove, 6' x 8' and set it up to start quilting a twin sized bed quilt. Right now I have the bulk of the quilt on top of the dog crate, which is butted right up against my sewing table (which is also a grooming table for my other hobby... I'll have to take a picture tonight. Before I cleaned out the alcove last weekend, I got the, 'i need you to clean up you quilting stuff' request. But I generally try and tidy up each night, or after each session because if I don't my workspace is unusable. Plus, we have 2 old indoor only cats that are rather neurotic and I worry about them getting into stuff while I'm at work.

Actually, I always keep my threads and pins picked up. I have 2 kitties that like to be in the sewing room with me and I don't want them to swallow them. Fabric, scissors and rulers, on the other hand, aren't always so neat.

I'm messy for the duration of each step in the process of making a quilt, real messy but I always clean up in between stages such as if I'm adding embroidery to a quilt top or before quilting. It's an old but useful habit because it's associated with learning and creativity from uni days - uncluttered desk, uncluttered head. It works for me especially so at the beginning of a project. I guess it works along the same principles as fenghui

Guess that's why I like having my sewing space in the basement, where no one else ever has to go! I have 3 quilt tops on the floor right now, two sandwiched on the couch waiting to be quilted, one on the planning board nearly finished, (waiting for one additional fabric for the edges before being pieced together), and one flimsy folded on the bench waiting for a backing. I like to work on more than one project at a time, and be able to leave all my stuff around to easily grab it!! I also love getting done, and cleaning it all up afterwards, and I do keep my scraps and fabrics organized, usually by color and size. Love the mess!!

I think everyone has the same problems. evernoticed the wheels on the shopping carts at JF or wallmart?

Well, I could say that I'm a very neat quilter/sewer, however, I'd be lying. I think it is part of my genetic makeup, as even when I worked as a secretary, my desk would get messy, then I would stop, take a few minutes and straighten up. My DH has never understood my work habits; even going so far as to "tidy up" my desk when we shared an office and I was in the middle of transcribing an important town meeting. You see I had reports, correspondence, and other asst. paperwork set up in order that the meeting followed; and I was totally upset as he messed with the rhythm of my work. I think your DH has to respect your work ethic, as you respect his, I'm sure you would never attempt to reorganize his tools on his work bench. Yes, I'm a messy quilter, but I make beautiful quilts.

Most ppl would have charged you extra for cleaning the roller!
Because I've always had long hair and she'd like a dog I used to
Watch my dad cut the hair out of the roller so
Now when I do it I always think of him with a
Smile! I have threads now with the hair!!

I put paper bags taped to my cutting table and have two wastebaskets near my sewing machine and ironing board. I have pets and don't want them eating the thread so I am careful to pitch all into the containers. I am messy otherwise !

You all have made me :D. I never thought to check my wheels, but I think I better!! If one goes by the number of threads on me and Miss Maple, the wheels can't be too safe.
My biggest problem is not putting the fabrics from the last quilt away before I pull the ones for the next quilt. I will clean off the cutting area, putting the last fabrics either in a bag or box off to the side. Then I'm too excited to start the next one so I just start pulling the next fabric.
When I have fabrics I know I own but can't find for a quilt, and 4 or 5 bags/boxes stacked up off the side there, I know it's time to stop and clean and put away the fabric. Why? Cuz the one I can't find is probably in one of those bags or boxes. LOL

I would rather be happy than neat!
peace

I drop threads all the time and they end up in the rollers on my chair as well. I dig as many out as I can when it won't roll any more.

I Bought this scrap pack during the latest 50% off everything alt Martelli's, I didn't pay enough attention to the description to realize I had to put it together. It works fairly well as I put it to the left of my machine so when I use my left hand to throw away threads I see it (bright yellow) & throw them there. On my right side is a trash can that gets used when tossing away from my right hand. But I don't really think it was worth even the 50% off and the instructions weren't that easy to follow either.
http://www.martellicatalog.com/mm5/m...egory_Code=NEW
Jeri

Well, Jeri, I had never thought of having a right-side trash can and a left-side trash can. Will have to try that. As far as me, I find it easier to vacuum after the fact than try to remember to toss each little snippit into a container. After reading this awesome "thread":), I can see that we each have our own degree of messiness/neatness. One thing that I have found to help me from dragging thread all over the house is to use one of those sticky rollers on my own clothes before leaving the room.

Oh, funny. I have sticky rollers everywhere, just to try to avoid leaving the house with threads "dripping" from my clothes.

I agree! Clean or used!

One thing I found so helpful with stray threads is a masking tape roller. At times I just throw the threads on the floor around my sewing area. When I'm done sewing, while still sitting in the chair, I use the roller to pick up loose threads around the floor area which is carpet and desk mat. I run the roller around the table tops, and myself, too. This is soooo much easier than thinking about running a vacuum, or sweeping up. I get the giant pack of tape rollers at Costco. Dollar Store might have them, too. I also have a plastic dish (my grandchildrens' old baby food dish) to collect what small scraps I can't use, then throw them in the trash. Whatever scraps I think I can eventually use I throw in a trash container under the table. (I dread empting that in a year or two LOL). Near my machine I have a top to one of the plastic shoe boxes. I lined it with a piece of free motion quilting I did and I keep my cutter, favorite scissors, seam ripper and other tools I need close by. This works for me. Blessings to all. angela

I'm with pennyhal. My stuff is everywhere in two rooms, plus sewing machines in various states of disrepair in some of the other rooms. But DH doesn't seem to mind, and when he gets a tired look on his face from all the mess (I know that look), I go on a cleaning tear (have to call in a GD, but don't mind doing that); and we both are in a good mood 'til the next time.

One of the best things I ever found was this giant lint roller doohicky. I use it before I vacuum, and it keeps the vacuum cleaner from getting tangled up with thread, and keeps the chair wheels clear also.

http://www.amazon.com/Evercare-Clean.../dp/B00CJSPVC8

I used to work in an alterations shop and cleaning the wheels of the seamstresses chairs was one of the jobs for the person who worked the counter. We'd put the chair upside down on the edge of a table and go after them with small scissors, seam rippers and tweezers. It's amazing how many threads never make it in the garbage can even when you aim for it, when working.

I am reading all these comments and laughing in recognition. My chair wheels are begging to be snipped free again.

I have a cafeteria-size table for my machine, a slightly smaller table for cutting and an ironing board in a U-shape around me when I sew. Despite having bins and boxes and containers of all kinds, I can hardly find room to work. Right now, I have moved a small cutting board to the ironing board which is the only semi-clear surface in the room and keep moving the board to the side so I can press my blocks. There are unfinished blocks, folded ironed fabric waiting to go into the stash cupboard, pattern pieces, extra sheets and scraps of tracing paper, semi-completed blocks, a half-done very difficult travel bag, etc. etc. cluttering all the surfaces! I may go mad. (but I am having fun)

I like the thread in the wheels of the office chair I use at my treadle, it won't roll backwards when I sew. :D

OH I have to clean my chair rollers quite often and clean then re-organize my stuff (almost like weekly !LOL but I am thinking of changing that !LOL). I enjoy sewing, quilting and it shows. Right now I am organizing all the patterns I have printed off the internet into folders so I can see if I truly want to do that .. Then I have to take the ones off the computer and store them on a jump drive or on a disc..
Yep well .. it is what it is ..LOL :=)

Indeed I agree .. My hubs always asks what I am working on next in the "Swear Room" as its referred to (sometimes he catches me swearing in there.. BAD.. I know !LOL ) :=)

Well, I know that I am not a neat "sewist". My basic problem is that I am GREAT at taking stuff out, but truly STINK at putting it back.

I, too, have to remove the threads from my rolling chairs! Used to be OCD about cleanliness in my sewing room, now I need to sew more and worry less about strings, dust bunnies, etc. I do what I can but it's a small space and i usually have more than one project going at at time. I have been reorganizing AGAIN, and found I have matching fabric collections for at least 45 quilts to be made!! I'll probably in my life time get them all done and my family will say, "
What was Mom thinking"? LOL! But i am having fun and happy in that controlled, chaotic space!!! And it's mine. I close the door and walk away and no one goes in there!!! Be happy quilting buddies and sew on…. :D

This is my problem too. If I would just return tools, patterns and fabrics to their proper place I wouldn't have such an overwhelming mess. The fact that I can just walk out and close the doors in my upstairs sewing rooms doesn't encourage neatness either.

My husband stays out of my sewing room except when invited and I stay out of his workshop in the basement. We can live in harmony most of the time.

Do you just throw your threads on the floor, and expect the vacuum cleaner to pick them up? Then the roller bar gets completely full and breaks the belt.

I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me.

My biggest problem is clutter and that is caused by lack of space. I try to organize it every now and again but the room is waaaaaaayyyy too small. I have resorted to putting stuff in piles which drives me crazy because I have to have to move things to get to what I need. What a time waster! When I want to start a project I have to lug all needed sewing stuff, including machine, to my living room. It drives me CRAZY. I DREAM about having a REAL sewing room where everything is organized, neat and clean. I room that I can go to that is MY Sanctuary.........

Of, funny. I really swore a lot with my other machine, never do with my Janome.😀

I never thought about that. I'll have to look at my wheels.

For a project one month our guild made thread catchers to use at our sew-ins. The problem I had was the threads stuck to the inside the catcher. I took one of those large square plastic juice bottles, cut off the top and it fit perfectly inside the thread catcher, all my threads go in there, when I am done for the day, I remove the insert, dump it and no stray threads to clean up. When I leave my knitted pincushion fits inside the insert (my nipping scissors are held by my pincushion, as is Jack). Cleanup is fast and easy. My sewing room is so small and cluttered with fabric, there is no room to throw threads on the floor.

Oh, I wanted to add....my sewing room is a small bedroom, which doubles as a guest room when kids or grandkids visit. So when I fold out my drop leaf on the sewing table, I barely have room to get my big chair between table and bed. I've thought of changing to a sofa bed...but the present bed is an old day bed, which sits high. Which allows me to hide totes under it. Where would I put all this stuff? Lol...it's hard to justify wishing for a bigger house so I could have a giant sewing room. I'd probably just fill it up with fabric and dropped thread! I've really enjoyed all the responses to my thread. Stay warm!

Wen I finished the basement in this house, I set up the sewing studio for messy me! I have stained concrete floors - they look great and clean easily. I have a Dyson with a sweep bar that can be turned on or off; I never turn it on. I have small trash cans from Ikea next to ever machine. They help with the snippets, but I still get threads from the fabrics all over me (I really should make a sewing apron!). I have lots of storage, but my biggest problem is putting away the items from the last project before I start the next one. Like a PP, I end up with a stack of scraps from three or four projects, pushed to the side of the cutting table. When it falls on me, it is time to sort :-)

pam