Should I wait or not??
 

OK, here is my problem!! I have tons of "things and stuff" in my sewing room...not just fabric and notions, but a huge cutting table, a table for my sewing machine, a "big board" on my ironing board, lots of storage bins, etc.....I can't stand ALL the stuff anymore.
I could do a couple of things:
1. just forget all the stuff and sew
2. get rid of some of the stuff
3. get rid of some of the large things....like the cutting table and all the storage stuff, big board ironing board
4. be patience and wait 2 years as my daughter will be in college then and I can take 3 bedrooms and spread things out. (Right now I am using 1 1/2 bedrooms!!)

Want would you do.....
The bedroom sizes are typical size, except for one which is rather small.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.....

margoee

I would not get rid of it until I was certain...to expensive to replace! I would forget about stuff and sew!

Don't get rid of any thing now But can you put the Larger things Say under a Bed in one of the other rooms til a later date when you will be able to spread out? PS. 2 yrs seem long when you look Ahead But think back! two years and its passes very fast!

Don't get rid of anything yet! Can you store some of the larger things? I had a problem like that and found out I could multi task some of my big things. I use a built in counter as a cutting table when not in uses just hang my cutting mat on the end of cabnet. Is your sewing table big enough to use for cutting or Ironing? Want to Iron? DH cut me a piece of light weight board 2X3 (fits on counter with room on both ends) I used batting and fabric to make my Ironing board when not in use fits behind door. 2 years latter I still have my cutting table in storage, almost forgot about it! Still have my Ironing board folded and sitting behind door with my 2X3 board hasn't moved sence it was put there. even use board on counter for cloths. I did get rid of storage boxes, DH made be a couple of cabnets with lots of room for my stash the doors have pegboard in the top half for hanging all my rullers, cutters ect. Easy to find and put away. good luck I know it can be frustrating to have no floor space to move in. I still have a large sewing table for my machine and a table that is for sitting at when I do hand work or when the grands come over to sew. but it is also a folding table that I can fold away when not in use. It also fits behine the door! LOL You would be suprised what you can hide behind a door that is never closed! Out of sight out of mind !

I would do #1... just forget all the stuff and sew. It seems like when I get rid of something, I need it 3 weeks later...:eek:

I recommend you find some alternative places to put some of the "stuff" till you can spread it all out when you get more space. There must be some nooks and crannies you can fill. As the others said , replacing .. can get quite costly.

I can't think of a thing you said that you won't need! I'd keep all of it and sew.

Put everything you dont want and put it under your bed and forget it! Sooner or later you will be looking for something you almost got rid of. You will be glad you did! :)

My sewing room is a 9" X 10" bedroom with a closet. I know exactly how you feel. It feels like every square inch of this room is jam packed with stuff. I did finally take some things (tubs of fabric, floor quilting hoop, etc) and put them in the guest bedroom. It opened my room up little bit but I still have an ironing board, cutting table, sewing desk, 3 bookcases full of nicely folded fabrics, a cabinet for machine storage and other things and a 6 drawer Sterilite on wheels. There is nothing that I feel that I can do without at this time. It does seem to get cluttered quickly but I have learned that I have to put things away when I am finished with them and I have to clean up more frequently when I am working on something. I know this set up won't be forever, we plan on moving within the next 5 years. My sewing room is my haven from the rest of the house and occupants. Maybe you just need a break from your room or even quilting for a moment. I took a break at the end of June, just to re-ground myself. I spent the first week of July organizing my room. I did cull out lots of fabric that I knew I would never use and donated it. I re assessed everything that I had and how much I really needed the things that I had. I put myself on a buying freeze until I make a dent in my already overwhelming stash. No more patterns, rulers, anything. I have only sewn 1 quilt since I reorganized and that was because it was a gift for someone special. If I were you, I would just take a step back for a moment and regroup. I wouldn't get rid of anything until you have thought about it long and hard. Then if these items are still making you unhappy, rid yourself of them. It may be a lot of money but your inner self is more important. These things can be replaced down the road if you decide you need them again.

i would keep it. forget get about stuff and sew... :thumbup:

It has never taken me three weeks....more like three days. My motto: never get rid of anything. I promise you I'll end up regretting it every time. Can you store some things under the cutting table? How about putting some of the things in a different room of the house and disguise it? Are there non-quilting items you can get rid of?

Hahaha, and my motto is: thin it, you won't miss 99% of what you get rid of, and what you do you can replace or find something else to do the job.

I live in 900 square feet with a large husband and 3 dogs, I can't afford to keep a lot.

I would do whatever I was in the mood to do. I would definitely not throw anything out but if you're in the mood to tidy up then go for it just put it in boxes or bins labeled. I find that if I'm in the mood to clean (LOL doesn't happen very often) then that's what I'd better do because if I try to sew, then I screw something up.

Suzy

Sew, Sew, Sew Maybe what you do need is to take up your backyard and build a very large room just for your habit. Now you have a place of your own and not take all of your home. Daughter might want to come home for a visit and don't want to have to sleep in your mess of crafts. You do need to keep a guest bedroom and not be so horde. Just my own opinion, whatever you decide its your house lol

Do not get rid of it but store untill your DD moves out. the large ironning board sounds to good to store. I use mine all the time but I cut and sew on th same table. Can you store your cutting table and make due with cutting on your sewing table? Ideally you'd just ignore it and sew but I know I could not do that as I get claustorphobic when there is too much going on.

100% agree! Don't worry about it; just store it somewhere (closet, under beds, garage ?). You'll need it later; I know as I once upon a time got rid of all my sewing stuff and was so sorry about it later!!!!

Sew,sew,sew. I know what you mean about waiting for your DD to move out. My GDs moved to CO and I moved my cutting table and lots of boxes and all the stuff stored under the cutting table into the room we used for them when they spent the night ( which was lots). Now I have plenty of walk around room with just my sewing table, big board , small computer desk and corner TV in the room.

Me too... I'm in a 10x10 space, sewing, cutting, and I actually made an ironing table, which I like and has storage underneath. The other 10 x 10 room is set up with my spinning wheels, wool and yarn. I have to move the loom to the basement b/c I'm getting a Sunshine in a table and have to put it someplace. I'm beginning to wonder with two hobbies of extensive stuff if I need to start unloading some of it.

I have a small room as well. I would never consider getting rid of my cutting table, I do fold one of the two sides down now since I put a fold out over the door ironning board by it. I don't keep a large ironnig board up because I don't need a large one as much. I will go to the kitchen island to iron if I need a larger space or I have a piece of thin cabinet board covered with batting and muslin and hung on the wall by wire. I can use it as an extra design wall or take it down and put it on the cutting table and iron on it when I need the larger space. I use under the cutting table for storage as well. I have one wall with a bookcase that I went to Home depot and got more shelves cut and then the pegs to put them in so that I now have more shelves on it and can separate fabrics more. Also on that wall I have the cube bookcases with 9 cubes to each and most have a canvas cube in it that holds different things. I have 4 of them; two on the bottom and two stacked on top. This gives lots of storage. I have my sewing machine desk in the middle of the room to one side and a chair on each side, for each machine. I just recently switched this to my sewing room since it's just a little bigger than the prior room was. I have box of fabric that I haven't had a chance since it was given to me to go thru it; it's in the hall closet. I wouldn't get rid of anything, if need be store in totes in another closet or space. Since I moved my room around and put the fabric, most of it anyways, on the shelves I now see stuff I'd had for yrs and forgot about it in totes. I even found about 10 spools of embroidery thread I bought last yr at the show. I find now I want to sew more since I'm kind of organized but all the way there yet. I like the fabric that now if I need a fabric I can look on the shelf for that color family and its easier to find what I need. I do have all of my Christmas fabric in one of those zippered bags you get with you bed comforter sets and all of my other holiday fabric is in another. They are on top of the shelves since I don't use them as much. You just need to figure out what works for your, some people can sew no matter how much stuff is around them others can not. I can but I like the idea that I can find things easier now. It's still a work in progress and it'll take me along time to get it right because I tend to be a procrastanater (sp?) at times and then I'll get on a roll and just do it.

Sew now...overlook the clutter, work around the stacks, and make do. Enjoy the next 2 years with your daughter. When she leaves in 2 years you can spread your wings...but you will miss her terribly so enjoy the time with her NOW. I have sold off things or given them away only to need them again in a few months. When my older kids left for college....I was heartbroken----still miss them every day. Still have 2 younger children to enjoy,,, so my advice to you is to enjoy every minute that you can NOW. Worry about tomorrow when it happens.

I would wait for your Daughter's room. Two years will fly by. See how many quilts you can make in those two years. Or as like has been said before, just forget it and sew. Maybe stack some things you don't use often to make more room. Whatever you get rid of you will just have to buy again, what a waste of money.

I just reorganized my stach...23 66 quart containers and I'm pooped BUT I felt so good when I was done. Labeled the containers so I know what is where. I suggest start small...don't toss anything till you are done. Dupicated of Tools...store someplace else...Mag...put in livingroom and look at during boring tv shows. When maids clean a hotel room they start in a corner and go around. Good luck. It's so much fun to have things tidied up.

Forget it all and have fun sewing.

Just keep it and sew. My theory is that what you get rid of is much better than a replacement if you need it. Fold some of it down, slide under a bed, store in the garage, anywhere to hide it or get it out of your way, but get rid of it? No Way!

I would not get rid of anything at all. If you do you may regret it later....what I would do is just reorganized and add some wall decor maybe paint...just refresh the whole room. And then SEW!!!!!!!

Here's an idea that i do..

My room is soooo full, not sure how it happened :shock: but theres days when its overwhelming... I was gifted a huge mat that was waaay to big for them.. I had no space either but it was FREE !!! I ended up putting it on the formal dining table and it fit !!!! SO when i need it, its there and when its not in use I cover it with a table cloth... and it becomes the dining room again..

I wouldn't get rid of anything, in a week or two you will wish you had it.

DON'T GET RID OF ANYTHING!! Just as sure as you do, you will regret it. Take it from me. Try several of the above suggestions, they are all good. I am also in one room and it does seem overwhelming sometimes. Then I think how lucky I am to have these things. Just take several deep breaths and go enjoy your sewing. I wish I had the prospect of more room in two years. It will pass quickly.

just forget about all the stuff and sew!

Keep it and spread out when the DD is gone, or see if she will leave earlier (lol), thats what i told my kids, they thought that i was nuts.

Hi everyone....thanks so much for all your suggestions!!! I have decided to basically just wait.....I will sew around the mess and just enjoy myself (:

I have found my sewing room feels like it is a disaster when I am cutting projects, have printed off patterns, acquire new fabric that must be introduced into the stash... If you can use one thing for two purposes, that will surely help. Storage bins?? Are they labeled? How many of them have you even opened in the last 6 months? So I am voting to sew and keep sewing. You most likey will empty a bin or two and see a few things along the way that you can PIF or toss.