Organising taking things to class
 

I love my space as I know where things are but going to class is becoming a problem. I used to have a big round basket which I could through everything in ie thread scissors tape fabric screw drivers etc. but mover class so I need to take less in a smaller container. I have a mat ruler and cutter bag. Anything else in this would bend the board.

I use the tote called my favorite bag pattern, also I have the large travel olfa mat with ironing surface and it is pretty sturdy shouldn't bend just a suggestion for a travel mat

I made a fabric cover for a 3-drawer plastic storage unit. It is the desktop size that holds 8.5x11 papers. I fastened a button and a strap in front of the drawers to keep them from flying open (design flaw until I hit the brakes driving!!). It also has a strap across the back so it slides over the telescoping handle on my machine bag. It's what I store stuff in at home so I never have to pack and unpack from class, sew-ins, etc. I just button up the drawer strap and go! I will try to post a picture soon.

organising taking things to class
 

I have a tote designed for sewing machines, its on wheels with an extend handel. it has 4 outside pockets for flat things. I put my machine and power cords in first, everything else fits in around it. including small iron, an small ironing mat, small cutting mat, rulers. rotery cutters, needles, scisors, pins, needles, thread, extra feet, tool kit, fabric, ect., even a couple of water bottles. I do not take my 24 inch ruler I have an old one that broke and I had it cut down to 18 inches I hate making multipul trips from parking lot to class! It took me a few trys to figure how to get everything needed into that one bag but I can do it. My purse, my tote, and sometimes a shopping bag for fabric.

I dont want to carry anything to class so I have a couple of plastic totes that fit in my rolling carryon suitcase and only the rulers that fit. For my last retreat I had four items, one suitcase held tools and projects, one clothes, one roll around table and my featherweight in a case. Neat and tidy and all rolled. I made two quick trips and was ready to set up.

I also have a shoulder bag that holds a large cutting mat and the 24 inch rulers but only a long retreat calls for that one.

Hello! Hey googled the words free cutting mat bag and came up with lots of free patterns.. also I had made a bag out of decor fabric to carry bed risers for tables to be raised up to ease your back while cutting and also put extension cords in this heavy weight bag.
http://pursepatterns.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=405
hope this helps
Quiltinmama

Is it just me or can some of you other quilters come up with your own design and make a bag instead of paying for a pattern? I remember making reusable shopping bags out of some nylon parachute type fabric I got at a good price for Christmas presents back in the 80's. I made my own pattern and decorated them with a fabric spray paint. My friends and family still use them. I hope I am not stepping on some sellers of patterns here, but I know there have to be some creative people here who can figure out what they want and make it. Take care.

I found the largest rectangle tote from from Thirty One, called [h=3]Thirty-One Large Utility Tote 11.75"H x 21.5"W x 10"D[/h]is perfect! My 24" ruler lays flat and my cutting pressing board plus everything else I can think of to put in it. The large plastic block bins will fit in them too. I love these totes. Amazon has them. They are quality made and will hold a lot of weight.

This is what I use: Rolling tool box

I love it. Somehow or another I have duplicates of almost everything. :shock:
....so one stays in the box all the time.


I can never seem to do things smaller.

I have a rolling file box that folds flat when not in use. I toss everything in that and put my machine in its bag on top and strap the handles together, just to be safe. Nothing has to be carried since the file box is on wheels. I keep saying I'll work on an organizer to put my stuff neatly in the box but the problem is that I quilt! lol Seriously, everything waits till I catch up on the quilting but I never catch up because the quilt I'm working on always gives me ideas that I "have" to try. It's a Catch-22 of a disease and I have a terminal case!