I use my empty "kleenex" boxes with the plastic on top. I keep one on my cutting table and one near my sewing machine. I put loose cut threads and/or fabric pieces inside. The plastic part on the box is great because if it gets tipped over nothing spills out.

I made my cat a bed and the poly fill gets flat after time and have to restuff it and instead of using poly fill I use all those plastic bags that I get from the store and use it as stuffing. I put a zipper in the side of the pillow and I change the bags every few months.

My husband gave me a new fish & tackle box for my thread and notions for our first Christmas. So thoughtful, don't you think?? We've been married for 25 years now.

My girlfriend found a standing towel rack with straight "arms" coming out of a pole. She uses it for holding strips next to her machine as she sews. I want one of those!!

I am using an old dresser with my cutting table on top from Joann's. I use it as a cutting table and the drawers have my supplies in them as well as material. It has worked out well for me. I also use it as an ironing board on one side using the old pads from my mattress covers it fits nicely on one side for that. I also have 2 sewing machine tables together one with my new machine in it and the other is in the back for adding room to quilt when I am done sewing the blocks together. I do not have a lot of room so I have to improvise a lot. There are a lot of things a person can use to enhance their sewing rooms and work areas. It all depends on $ for me as I am retired and have a budget to work from. So save save save is my motto..

The first piece of furniture that my husband and I bought after we were married was a beautiful oak dining table we found at a yard sale. It has a leaf that folds up inside the table. This is the table that my children grew up at. It has so many memories. All the homework done at the table all the crafts and all the holiday dinners. Well this is now my cutting table. The leaf is out and my husband got me a piece of plexiglass to put over it to protect it. I bought one of those 36x70 cutting mats and it covers it perfectly. I have wooden bed risers under the feet to raise it to cutting height. My husband wanted to have a custom cutting table with cabinets below made for me, but I said NO. I am really attached to this table.

I thought I was the only one that used the bamboo skewers for a stilleto. They work great sharp on one end and the other end blunt is good for pushing out corners in things.

Brilliant Idea!
I took my sliders off and gave them away..Drat! i did fit in the space one of those wooden shelf cabinets..slid it in and works good.

Our dog ate Beneful at one time, and it comes in these small plastic containers. They are great for storing anything small! I have several filled with small scrapbooking supplies, but just pulled out another empty one that I'm going to use to store the cams for my ancient sewing machine. I'm constantly knocking them on the floor.

I love all the suggestions here. In a few weeks, I'm moving my craft room upstairs, totally reorganizing it and making this room a formal guest room. I'm looking forward to using some of the suggestions - especially the one about the design wall on sliding closet doors! Which makes me think of another thing I'm repurposing - the flannel back table pad for my dining table is currently being used as a design wall...ok, design table :) I need to figure out how to mount it without ruining it, since I still need to use it under table clothes.

What a great idea
Also check out these in color

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Step2-Play...ndingMethod=rr

I use the plastic salad containers to hold my projects. They stack well and you can see what is in them.

My neighbor saved a dress pattern cabinet that was used in the local Walmart store and gave it to me. Since I mostly quilt now I use it to store all my crochet, cross stitching, and knitting needles and patterns. It also works to hold all the different stablizers. It does have wheels on it so if I need to use it in my quilting it easily moves from garage to quilting room.

I use an adjustable height drafting table (higher than a normal table) with a magnifying lamp that is perfect for cutting fabric, laying out fabrics I'm working with + instructions, and using the magnifying lamp to thread needles or help un-sew mistakes without straining my eyes.
To store various sewing supplies in my closet, I use one of those 4-shelved clothing 'hangers' that are typically used for folded sweaters & tops.
I acquired blank x-ray film from a quilter who handed out sheets to use for making templates at a class sometime back.

I have several re purposed items in my sewing room. In fact the only new thing is my sewing machine.
I used a small child's crib for my cutting table.We added extension boards to make it the right height. It is the perfect height for me and I can store the rulers in between the rails.
I also made a nice big pressing table using an old cupboard. Both things could use a paint job but I just say they are shabby chic. I use an oak kitchen table for my sewing table.
We installed a kitchen cupboard for fabric storage.I removed the doors form that.My mother in laws book shelves became fabric storage too.
It is a hodge podge but it works for me.judy j
http://hardincountykeepsakes.blogspot.com/

I am so glad you posted this one. I have saved for Many, Many, Many years a bedspread from my first marriage. I loved that colourful spread and couldn't bear to throw it away. However, I didn't want to use it during my second marriage! Almost threw it away a couple of times. Now, a widow for almost 10 years, and packing to sell and move, I am TAKING it with me and will make it into a reversible quilt!

[quote=laynak]I use an adjustable height drafting table (higher than a normal table) with a magnifying lamp that is perfect for cutting fabric, laying out fabrics I'm working with + instructions, and using the magnifying lamp to thread needles or help un-sew mistakes without straining my eyes. [quote=laynak]

I also use my drafting board as a cutting table, but I also took 2 large older towels, tacked them together, added some elastic at each end to hold them on the table & use it as an ironing board. So much easier when ironing large (Yards) pieces of fabric.
Jennie

Great idea!
I use a three tier stackable Tupperware container with sealing lid that I got at a yard sale for $ .25. (Don’t know what it was made for.) Top holes straight pins, second/middle container holes safety/quilting pins and the bottom holds assorted small quilting tools and rulers. I use empty pill containers to discard bent straight pins. I use a large pretty button to thread my quilting thread thru to mark where I left off quilting so I can resume my work very quickly and easily when I next pick it up. I use empty distilled gallon water bottles to cut out my pattern templates. I use a magnet to run across my carpet under my work area to pick up stray pins and needles before my Bella finds them. I use a rubber mesh placemat under my sewing machine so that it stays put securely.

Nope...me, too! :)

Many thing I have repurpossed have already been stated on here, fishing tackle boxes, skewers for stilletos, a kitchen table. I use a silverware tray beside my sewing machine for seam ripper, scissors, hem gauge, etc. I have an ironing board thats made to hang over a door beside my machine ( we mounted it to the wall). It is just right for me to roll from sewing to pressing. While at an auction, I bought another one with a new cover for $2.00. I needed the cover but not the board, after removing the cover I hung the metal mesh ironing board on shelf hangers & hung pot hooks from the kitchen on it. I hang my rulers, stencils and anything else with holes in the end on these hooks. Its just above my cutting table & works great!! I sooo enjoy this board!! :lol:

Put this as a tag to the wrong message before:

I got these in 'colors' from Sam's Club ... repurposed from kids play area to a fatigue mat in front of my cutting table and ironing board. My friend and I each bought a set and then 'pooled our colors' ... I took the blue and green from each and she took the yellow and orange from each.

I also use a magnet that extends to pick up pins etc. I keep seasoning containers with the little holes in top beside my machine to put bent pins & needles in. If I knock this over the pins inside don't spill!! when full just screw on the lid & throw away. I also have a flexible ruler my son got at an auction. He didn't know what I could use it for but gave it to me anyway. I was so excited!! I had been wanting one to use for marking curves etc on quilts but wouldn't buy it. I have a shelf that rotates ( I think was used for a tv stand, I bought at sale for $1.00) that I use with a mat on top. Lots cheaper than a rotating mat!! I'm sure there's more, but all my brain can remember right now!! I wish a blessed day to all of you!!

Great ideas. My crafting place is going to be a corner of my room so I want to get a L shaped desk so I have one side for sewing the nother for cutting and pressing. picture rail or a vertical plate rack would be nice to hold rulers or fat quarters.

Glad to see someone has done this! I'd suggested it for those with limited space before, but hadn't seen anyone who had done so. Great space saver design wall!! :) Love the grid fabric, I'd never seen it til I went to a new-to-me LQS for my OBW course.

Great new idea for me ... I use the kleenex boxes to congregate grocery plastic bags!

A flower pot to hold pencils, small rulers, scissors, an umbrella stand to hold 24" rulers, unused(unneeded)ashtrays for safety pins.

I took a slack hanger with multiple rods that move out & hook onto a latch and I use it to hang strips of fabric as I'm working on a project. I have another two that the rods don't move & I use them to hold stray fabric strips so if I want to work on a small project like a mug rug or glasses case, I can look there to find some. I use a variety of tins to hold pins, safety pins, bobbins and a heart shaped one to hold extra sewing machine feet(so they're all in one place). I found a rotating rack made of wood that's about 4 feet tall with lots of little cubbies that I am using to hold fat quarters and jelly rolls. I found an old metal large ring, for belts, at a resale shop & use it to hold rulers. I'd rather spend my money on fabric than stuff for the sewing room.

My mat was warped and I just put it out in the sun with the'bulge' side up....it layed right now...

Lay it out in the sun, bulge side up...it wlll flatten it

I use a plastic shoe holder to hold my threads and other quilting accesories.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-114014-1.htm

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-118043-1.htm
my low cost blades

my lights
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-114798-1.htm



my ruler holder
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-117822-1.htm




my sewing machine bag

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-117902-1.htm

I attached my foot pedal of my machine to a cheap car floor mat. No more sliding. I used velco in case I need to go somewhere with my machine

I use empty perscription bottles to hold my bobbins and the extra feet for my sewing machine. This way I can mark the bottles as to what machine they go to.

You can put it out in the hot sun in the summer on a flat surface. Also if it is small, put in in the oven at 140 f. for about s5 min or so it warm thru, then put it on a perfectly flat surface to cool. I ruined mine in the car. Of course if all else fails, put a sheet of plywood in the car (in the sun) put the boeard on top and let it get hot and then cool down overnight. It should be flat. A couple of weights help.

Reminds me, i use a outdoor silverware holder, for my cutters and such!

I bought a 1" THICK yoga mat to stand on while ironing or cutting - really saves the legs and feet.

Soak in a bathtub of warm water.

I put a piece of velcro on the front on my machine and then another piece of velcro on my seam ripper. I put velcro to velcro and I'm never without the most wonderful tool for me.

I use the empty thread spool to wrap my binding on..that way I don't have to keep flipping it out of my way as I sew...works great...

I use my odds and sods of batting, in my swiffer mop. Works great and you can wash and reuse them.

I bought a wooden (smoking) pipe holder - it spins and has many holes that I use to hold all of my scissors. :)

I use a plastic tube with screw on lid that held candy for my crochet needles and a plastic chop stick to poke into my fabric when I want to turn it right side out and my grandkids saved their tin M&M containers to put my buttons in.