Thanks for the tip. I'm going to a sewing retreat and this would be perfect for my work table.

I went to to Amazon.com and typed in sewing caddy. Whew! There are lots of styles. You may want to list by lowest as there are duplicates with different prices. There's one listed that's been used as a garden caddy/bucket ....now I have a lot of tools...but not that many. :0)

The sewing machine pad that I got is a "16-by-32 inch Sewing Center"
http://www.amazon.com/Household-Esse...sr=1-1-catcorr

The only problem with that idea for me is then I would have to make a bunch of them or remember to take it with me when I change machines. I usually have 4 machines set up at a time and then sometimes I switch them out for another bunch of machines. I like to exercise my herd from time to time.

This reminds me of our ancestors solution like this. It was called a Chatelaine...they attached things they needed often to a chain and wore it on their waistbands...or pinned to their bodice.

I made an organizer that goes under my machine and hangs over the edge of the sewing table. The larger pocket on it tends to catch small things like my ripper and thread clipper when I drop them. I have a magnet on a string that I use to pick up the many, many pins I drop. Getting too old and fat to bend over so much!

I used to wear my snippers around my neck, but stopped when I accidentally flipped them up and they hit my glasses. Thank heavens because it would have stuck in my eye. Please be very careful with sharp items around your neck.