Hi Everyone! Welcome to 2019! Not only is it a new year, it's also a new month and time for us to kick off another Sewing With CInnamon topic. The holidays are over. The Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and 12 Days sales are over. We've all shopped til we dropped or maybe even received some sewing supplies as gifts. Now it's time to get it all put away, create some new habits, set up some project goals, and increase our productivity!
Organizing For Productivity - is our #1 most requested topic and over the next four weeks, we'll work together to get organized, streamlined, and mentally and physically prepared to sew sew sew. Sounds fun, right? This is one of my biggest challenges, so I'm super excited to learn and grow with you!
We are revisiting the topic that was originally posted in the summer of 2017, but with added content throughout the month. For some of you, this will be a bit of review, but honestly, I have been re-watching these videos, listening to the great advice I'm giving and am thinking... "Ok, Cinnamon - there's some great advice here, time to put all this into action!" (especially, the clean it all up and put it in its proper place when you are finished, part... haha!)
In the videos posted below, I share with you an overview of the month-long topic as well as take you on a tour of my personal sewing space! So grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and come on over for a visit to sewing room :) I'm also excited to show you how I've transitioned my space into a new room in my house in the last follow up video.
Organization Tip - Dress forms are a great way to create beautiful display pieces! We have them available in several sizes. 18-Inch dolls, 14.5- inch dolls, BFC, Inc dolls, and Ellowyne Wilde Dolls. The BFC, Inc size works perfectly to display the 16" A Girl For All Time items too!
Resources:
- My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
- Pegboard Hooks
- Command Strips
- Thread Rack Wooden
- 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
- Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
- Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
- Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
- Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
- Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
- 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
- Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
- Drawer Organizer Insert
Week One task:
- Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions with me and the group! If you have pictures of your own space that you want to share - please do! We'd love to see where you work! If you have questions or need help in specific areas, ask!
- Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post
Next Tuesday - Week 2: Sewing Essentials
26 Comments
My main problem is fabric, because I quilt and do wearable art as well as doll clothes (though doll clothes are my current favorites). I actually got rid of at least half my fabric stash last year – I took it al to my BFF’s barn and we went through everything. it was the smartest thing I could have done. My bins of fabric filled the back of my husband’s pickup four times! I was so overwhelmed by it I’d been paralyzed – unable to sew. I may miss a few things (my friend took a lot, I donated stuff and gave lots away to some young women in town who didn’t have a lot of money, and it was good for absolutely everyone. I’m doing the same things with my patterns (dress patterns) to make room for doll patterns. I have about three of every notion because I could never find anything in the mess, so I have to start getting rid of stuff there.
But of course I still have too much. I just put in a huge pegboard but I want to have my fabric more visual. Love the ideas and hearing about other people’s places!
Fabric, fabric, fabric…oh where, or where did I find thee!!! I like to store my fabric by type, eg: knits, cottons, fancies, bottom weight, etc. As for all those scraps…finding storage for them really isn’t the problem….using them is! Every now and then…usually after I get a couple of laundry baskets full..I dump them all out on my dining room floor. Then I get out my pattern binders. Now I start sorting through for some pieces that will make something up..cut it out and then place it in with the pattern. I have made some great accessories that way. Hats, vests, headbands, etc. The small pieces I cut into pocket linings and place them into a sandwich bag then put them in with the patterns. The knits are fun to colour block if they are the same weight! Again here you can use up some pretty small pieces.
I don’t empty the 2 baskets usually but I can cut it back to maybe 1/2 a basket. I actually rather like the day I do this..it gets my imagination going again!
I store my patterns in binders with expanding page protectors so there is extra room in them to put these small “ready to use” pieces.
Thank for the videos. I have been finding them helpful.
When it comes to fabric I separate prints & plains & then create 3 colour groups for each: cool/warm/neutrals. Larger pieces I fold & stack on shelves (like Cinnamon). Smaller offcuts I just sort (using same strategy) & then stash into 6 smaller clear bins. This works well for paper too if you create art as well as sew! For the extra bits, like buttons, I love upcycling glass jars. I usually spray paint the lids. I also have a stash of wooden bowls to store thread & ribbon. I agree- it’s good to see what you have to work with & be able to find it when you need it! The peg board inside a picture frame is a neat idea. Thanks for the tour:)
I like the Container Store for storage items and ideas. Wait for the sales and they are reasonable. I really like their clear weathertight and locking lid totes for things that go in the attic. No bugs get in. I just ordered the comic boards so I can begin sorting fabric. For me most items go in clear bins or totes so I can see right away what’s in them. Like Donna, I have those little gremlins that move things around at night, too!
I am loving Sewing with Cinnamon. I find it difficult to organise all my clutter. I did try to set up a sewing room when my children left home but recently abandoned the room and moved my sewing machine back into the family room. I felt too isolated and the room was always a disaster. The room is a bedroom again but I still have to work out how to store all my sewing gear. Everything is tucked into cupboards all over the place. i need to do a lot of sorting. You are inspiring me to do something, Cinnamon. I think it is time for some action.