Why can I never find one? Must reorganize. Help!!
03-12-2013, 12:24 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NE Texas
Posts: 128
Why can I never find one? Must reorganize. Help!!
Seems like I can never have the pen or pencil at hand when I need it, but after digging through my drawers, baskets, and bags, and pencil holders, I came up with 87 pens and pencils in my sewing room. There's something wrong with this scenario. How do you organize the little things in your sewing room? I have trouble with thread, also. I have six super satchels (with thread holders) full of machine embroidery thread, but my piecing and quilting and heirloom sewing threads tend to get mixed up, and then I have to try to remember what each one is for. Can you help me? Seems like all these things multiply at night? Thanks, Connie
03-12-2013, 02:30 PM
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,570
I go with the less is more theory...at least that's what I'm claiming! I keep a pen; pencil; scissors (among other things) on my cutting/ironing table; I keep the same grouping next to my machine; the same grouping again on another flat surface in that room. Some times things get moved from one spot to the other but the room is only 8x10 - how far away are they really? At least for me!
03-12-2013, 02:59 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,056
As for my sewing notions like scissors, seam ripper, pencils, fabric markers,etc. I keep in a white lazy susan desk organizer I bought at Michael's with a 40% off coupon. It has little drawers & compartments for easy sorting. I keep it right next to my sewing machine & everything is right at my finger tips. Love it. My thread I keep in the larger plastic craft boxes for beads, etc. I coordinated the colors in the same one, so it's easier to get the one I want, & not rummage through all of them.
03-12-2013, 03:34 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Litchfield Park, AZ
Posts: 401
Right now, I only have one of everything. So it definitely helps me keep track of it! If I lose anything, I'm in trouble!!
As for thread, I still haven't started using anything different for piecing vs sewing, so I just organized it all above the machine on a rack, and by color. (There are a few thicker 'utility' type threads that I use for certain hand sewing projects, but they're easy to spot right off the bat!)
As for thread, I still haven't started using anything different for piecing vs sewing, so I just organized it all above the machine on a rack, and by color. (There are a few thicker 'utility' type threads that I use for certain hand sewing projects, but they're easy to spot right off the bat!)
03-12-2013, 05:14 PM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SE TN
Posts: 1,061
I use this for pens, pencils, scissors and it will hold regular size rulers.
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_prod...ategoryCode=KW
Thread: I have in plastic totes.
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_prod...ategoryCode=KW
Thread: I have in plastic totes.
03-13-2013, 04:52 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I use an old TV remote holder that has compartments. Scissors and rotary cutters go in the back. Small (6") rulers and markers go in one side, the other side has two compartments and hold things like pencils, markers, anything that fits.
03-13-2013, 04:57 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,250
I have a small crock on my desk for pencils. I don't like to use pens around my fabric.
I have a thread rack on the wall for my machine embroidery thread.
A small bowl in my sewing table drawer that I put most used thread for piecing, white, tan, gray.
Organization saves time searching for stuff when I can be sewing. :0)
I have a thread rack on the wall for my machine embroidery thread.
A small bowl in my sewing table drawer that I put most used thread for piecing, white, tan, gray.
Organization saves time searching for stuff when I can be sewing. :0)
03-13-2013, 05:22 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sunny AZ
Posts: 570
I have a silverware caddy that I picked up at Target that I keep on my cutting table. It's one of those plastic containers that has 3 vertical holders for spoons, forks and knives on one side, and one holder opposite that to hold napkins, with a plastic carry handle. I stand my rotary cutter, small rulers, pencil, marking pens, scissors, etc. in it. I can even tuck some kleenex, my cell phone and other items in it. When I cut fabric I can just move the whole thing to another location.
For scissors at my sewing machine I use a small hook attached with a Command strip. I placed it on the right side of the machine, near the wheel. I use it to hang thread snips, not shears. Because I am so used to it being there, I can hang my snips right back up after using them without even looking. No more lost scissors!
For embroidery thread I use those clear plastic boxes with pins to hold the spools. I have my colors grouped. For piecing thread, which I often buy on the larger spools, I keep a plastic shoe box labeled "piecing thread." I have only a few spools like this as I tend to use mostly ecru, tan and white, not a lot of colors like for my embroidery.
Hope this helps.
For scissors at my sewing machine I use a small hook attached with a Command strip. I placed it on the right side of the machine, near the wheel. I use it to hang thread snips, not shears. Because I am so used to it being there, I can hang my snips right back up after using them without even looking. No more lost scissors!
For embroidery thread I use those clear plastic boxes with pins to hold the spools. I have my colors grouped. For piecing thread, which I often buy on the larger spools, I keep a plastic shoe box labeled "piecing thread." I have only a few spools like this as I tend to use mostly ecru, tan and white, not a lot of colors like for my embroidery.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Gabrielle's Mimi; 03-13-2013 at 05:28 AM.
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