When it comes to a craftroom, decoration is inspiration. As for storage, away from dust and direct sunlight obviously but make sure it's all easily visible and readily accessible. Out of sight, out of mind and then you run to the shops to get what you already have. Yes, I've been there, that's how I know.
About 35 years ago I found plans for a sewing center, which my dear husband built for me. It has shelves and cabinets, with a center roll-out cabinet for the machine. Over time it has lived in our bedroom, the dining room, our son's room, and its own room. Our most recent move finds it in an alcove in the loft. I bought two stacks of small drawers for notions, and finally they are labeled (alphabetically!). Thanks for all your great ideas. I look forward to the video showing up each week.
Before I was fortunate enough to get a proper cutting table, I needed to transport cutting supplies from my sewing space to my kitchen table for cutting. I choose a bin with a handle, the style originally meant for carrying around cleaning supplies, and further divided it with smaller bins to hold scissors, pins, and other small things needed for cutting patterns or fabric. This was a great way to keep all these items together when I needed them and easily transport them from my sewing space to my kitchen. Also, for patterns, especially the tried and true I use frequently and don't want to constantly put in and out of the envelope, I use a three ring binder with plastic sleeves that I can put the pattern and pieces into. I also often write notes during and after using the patterns, and this makes it easy to keep these notes with the pattern.
Ooh! I love the file folder idea! I currently have my patterns in magazine files that are marked according to era. But I saw some truly gorgeous green and gold file folders at Kmart the other day, and I can see switching over. Though my current system involves printing patterns or self drafting them, then gluing the front page onto a paper envelope. I think I might give the folders a go. They can still be organised according to sea, and will be much prettier than my current file system. The mass of white envelopes isn’t very pretty.
Ooh! I love the file folder idea! I currently have my patterns in magazine files that are marked according to era. But I saw some truly gorgeous green and gold file folders at Kmart the other day, and I can see switching over. Though my current system involves printing patterns or self drafting them, then gluing the front page onto a paper envelope. I think I might give the folders a go. They can still be organised according to sea, and will be much prettier than my current file system. The mass of white envelopes isn’t very pretty.
EVELYN … a really cool way to store fabrics in plastic crates or even in cabinets is to file fold & store vertically, this way you can finger though easily, remove what you would like easily without having to dig to the bottom of stacked up fabrics, same with patterns. I even do this with clothes drawers. Works really good with kids clothes too … And you can see your stash better, color coordination, project coordinator your fabrics too
@@Evelyn__Wood yes … I’m a nurse who always looking to minimize looking for things & trying to be more organized 🙄🙄🙄 I started doing this when I had 3 little kids always emptying out their dresser drawers looking for something to wear !! clothes everywhere & having to re fold was not something I liked to do or they like to do, solved a good thing for us … love your channel Evelyn
@@jillysd884 oh what a cool idea! I never thought of doing that with fabric or clothes! I gotta try this! But what about sagging? Do you put pieces of cardboard or similar in-between? Because ones drawers or boxes would never be full to the brim! At least mine aren't!😜
@@raeafoley6131 most people use cardboard cut to size. Morgan Donner has a video organising her fabric where she shows how she rolls her fabric onto cardboard. If I had a storage system that included deeper shelves, it would absolutely be my go to. It it’s both highly organised and a great use of space, and it’s also decorative.
I have the weird talent of being able to refold and get all the pattern pieces back into their original envelopes, even when there are many pieces. I do put tape around the mouth of the envelope so it doesn't tear. When I worked at a theater shop I was the designated pattern putter upper.
Evelyn, its been a great series, thank you, When I re organized my happy space, I told myself do not buy anything use what you have in the house , my crystal cabinet was hit first, Butter dish for pins, ice bucket for rotary cutters, large crystal basket for scissors, Vintage canisters for pre cut quilting squares, biscuit tins for zips, loads of jars for buttons, hat boxes for trims, lace ribbon etc. Yes I have plastic tubs with wheels for fabric, they roll in and out under cutting table. Small shelves found at op shops, All snug in a tiny square room. At the end of every sewing day I put away everything, its nice to walk into a space ready to go each time. Thanks again. Oh patterns are in tubs also, this is my next job to sort them.
That is too funny! I was just thinking whether I should use my vintage butter dish for pins! I have different pins and different containers! One in my "every day" sewing bag that used to be a toiletry bag, and another set, which I kept in a bras turtle with lid. I bought it in a charity shop. I think it was once an ashtray! I have been considering converting a lovely cloth covered box for my pins, sectioning it off so I have all my pins in the same location.😊
For those of us lucky enough to have nice big windows in our room, there is a way to reduce the amount of fading. 3M (post it notes) has a film that you can apply to the inside of your windows. It lets the light in, but can seriously reduce the amount of UV light. Some of them also reduce heat gain and loss to help with the temperature in the room. It not only helps to protect your fabric/thread but also your furniture and carpet.
I used that film before in a family room and all my houseplants died. So I didn't put houseplants near any window with that film on. It did a great job at keeping my furniture safe.
I am enjoying this series of sewing space organisation. I quilt and I make bags, so things are a bit different for me in regards to fabric storage, but recently I bought a rolling cart. It has been my most useful item so far. I have all my bits and pieces I need for sewing in the top tray, clips and whatever I'm working on in the second tray and things I don't need so often in the bottom tray. I can wheel it from machine to machine with ease.
One of the best tips I saw for patterns was someone who took uniform size copies of the front of the pattern and then stored those in organized binders based on sections like pants, shirts, etc. Then the patterns themselves were organized in file boxes by similar groupings. But that way whenever she wanted to see if she already owned a pattern she needed she could quickly flip through the binder without having to dig through pattern envelopes over and over again.
Ive discovered that for me, I need to be able to see what Ive got organized. Alot of my bins &/or containers are clear. So I can be in the middle of a project, remember I need something, glance, grab & go.
One thing to keep in mind, it is best to store fabrics in the dark. Even very filtered indirect daylight will fade fabric if it is left lying about for several years. Also the fluorescent bulbs - prior to LED bulbs will fade fabric.
Yes these bulbs do fade fabric. I had a panel that was just on a shelf. When I unfolded it there was a faded stripe across the front of it...tried dyeing the stripe but so far nothing has helped. These new day light bulbs are the same as sunlight for fabric and thread too. Good reminder!
I started studying fashion, and one year in the career left me with a lot of patterns and didn’t know how to store them. I put each in a plastic binder sleeves with a sticker on it with information about it and then into a binder. By the end of the career I have different themed binders and it has worked for me quite well; it keeps them organized and tidy. Greetings from Mexico!
Sigh, first thing on my list is to find a sewing room. We live in an RV so my machine is on a shelf in the bedroom; I have to remove everything to use it and I sit on the bed to sew. My cutting table is kitchen stove with the cover put down. Storage is fabric, etc. stuffed in each drawer, closet and cabinet I can find room in, also a plastic tub stored under the RV. I also have boxes of stuff in storage (10 years now, hopefully the rodents haven't ruined everything). Your advice to store like things together is what I will do and write in a notebook where each type of fabric, etc, is. Thanks for even the little bit of organizing tips I can use right now!
I always enjoy your video's, your so perky and happy. My winter will be used to recreate and organize my sewing room. First time I'm so excited to see winter arrive. Have watched your 3 part redo for the transformation, and am happy to say we were thinking alike on the process. For storing my fabric, I will cut down foam poster board to fit 1" less height and 3"s less of shelf depth, and fold fabric to the height, then wrap around the foam board. Storing the fabric upright, like books at the library. This way I don't need to keep picking up lots of weight (fabric) to get to the fabric of choice. I store by color, such as a rainbow, and seperate shelves for cotton, flannel, silks, denim, knits, or designer collections. So much easier when shopping my stock. And of course stored behind doors, blocking sunlight. On shelving without doors, I cover front with "fabric drape" to protect from sun. Happy creating one stitch at a time.
I've a firm cardboard template that I use to fold fabric when I bring it home to ensure all folded pieces are exactly the same width and depth.. My shelves couldn't be tidier. Thank you for your channel!
you have awesome ideas love, suggestion that could be of use to you, make fabrics in your totes easy to access, get boards to store vertically inside totes, save yourself the digging, hauling out & placing back. As always , lovely video
Those bamboo drawers from Kmart are absolutely on my list! I hope there’s not a single Aussie sleeping on the amazing potential of Kmart for both storage and decoration! As for me, I have two sewing spaces- one out in the lounge room with my cutting table and sewing desk (for machine sewing), and my bedroom. I’m disabled and mostly bedbound, so I like to do a lot of my sewing by hand in bed. So I need solutions for both kinds of spaces. I just bought a new sewing desk- two sets of Alex drawers and a floating tabletop from IKEA. I now have a sewing desk big enough to hold everything I need, and with a lot more storage than most traditional office desks. I’m also a fan of the fabric box in cube/bookcase type of storage- you can get some lovely pattered boxes to look decorative, they hold a lot, and they hide a lot of mess!. Any extra fabric that I’m less likely to use soon then goes into the large under bed style plastic bins, and they go under my cutting table (down the side I don’t need to get my wheelchair into). I love thread and ribbon organisers as wall hangings. They’re so colourful and decorative, but incredibly good use of storage and space. I also prefer magazine files for my patterns, most of which are in A4 envelopes (as I print or self draft all of my patterns). I glue the front sheet onto the front of the envelope. I divvy my patterns up by era, and then I can mark that era (18th C, Regency, mid Victorian, late Victorian, etc) on the front of each magazine file. Keeps them all organised and separate, and I can pop them on top of a shelf or desk without needing something to hold them in place. And they look nice and neat. I also LOVE my råskog trolley! I need storage that I can reach from my bed. It can be placed next to my bed so I can reach, and it can be pushed out of the way and tucked away when not in use (which isn’t often). It’s also something easily moved from my bedroom out to my other sewing space when necessary. I also love my bed desk, which I’m able to use for watching tv, sewing, eating, you name it. A spoonie’s best friend, truly. Another moveable storage thing is my housewife! Every woman needs a housewife, right? It’s my 18th century style roll up sewing kit. Mine is quite large so it can hold everything I need for hand sewing, including a few spools of thread, my awl, my ergonomic (and therefore massive) seam ripper, scissors, etc. I made mine from leftover fabric and I embroidered a nice scrap of silk in an 18th century style for the outer. It’s both pretty and useful, and it’s so wonderful when those two things combine. Being disabled, smart storage is imperative for me. I can’t have things out of reach (or at least, if they are they need to be gotten by others and that needs to be taken into account). I also can’t have things messily on the floor- I need space for my wheelchair. But, I have hobbies that take up a lot of storage and can get quite messy - sewing, embroidery and journaling, and the latter includes all the washi tape and stickers, pens etc. I have numerous hoarding/collecting addictions- sewing supplies, embroidery supplies, and pretty stationary. That’s a lot of stuff to organise and store, and in ways that work for my specific needs. I think I’ve done pretty well with that, organisation is a hobby of mine too. I spent a lot of time planning things out and researching different storage solutions, so I hope some of what I’ve written here can be helpful for others too.
That 'housewife' ( or I'd call it accessory bag) sounds like a good idea from how you describe it. Portable and gives a fixed position to all the bits and pieces one needs but does not want it to be lying around waiting to fall on the ground or disappear under other things . Thanks :)
Its got me thinking too! What are your initial ideas? I'm a bit of a flower girl but dont want to do any simplistic daisies. But anything more realistic is a bit daunting. I suppose I could always Mod podge on some fabric?
@@kaytiej8311 ooh! The mod podge fabric sounds so cool! Will also probably give the plastic shell a little reinforcement. Mine is vintage so my first thought was figuring out which spray paint (rustoleum is pretty much the only good one available here) adheres well to plastic. Then maybe using lace or buttons as a stencil to apply a contrasting coat. A practical thing would be for me to paint a tape measure on there for sure! Or maybe chalkboard paint to write myself notes??!?
@@lisettegarcia love your ideas. So many to choose from! The chalkboard idea sounds fantastic; very practical! Mine is a modern, plastic cover so gesso and acrylics should work, with a generous varnish to finish. However, the whole fabric thing is making me consider either a pretty patchwork or even old doileys or tablecloths.
My 1915 hand-crank Singer 99K sits on one of those Ikea drawer sets - the metal red ones with 6 drawers and rollers. I swapped out the wheels for ones that move in 360. Machine sits on top. First drawer holds all of the presser feet and automatic zig-zagger. There's also a cutting board that I use to cover the top of the partially open top drawer and have it as a table extension when sewing. Second drawer holds all the pattern making necessities. And the rest of the drawers hold trim and tape and cord and embroidery floss. My sewing room is also our small living room so I need to be able to tuck the machine away when I'm not using it. One of our side tables is my Granny's Bertha Washington sewing cupboard - it holds the buttons and the rest of the sundries. On top is a small desk ironing board. The clapper, tailors ham and bias tape binders live underneath the ironing board. My worktable is a piece of wood that I balance over the arms of a very square vintage 70's recliner. It's where I do all the fussy stuff that's part of the process. When I'm working I have everything in a triangle shape (similar to a kitchen layout) and almost everything is within arms reach. Ironing board is to my right. Sewing machine is in front of me. Table is directly to my left. Depending on what I'm working on I can just roll back and forth without getting up. I'm still working on fabric storage. Right now I store the fabric sorted into large brown paper grocery bags, sorted by content. But we're in a small apartment, so there's only so much I can horde. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
Hi Evelyn, I roll my fabric, like when I pack clothes in a suitcase, it reduces creases and then it goes into the draw or box vertically. Love your content! Hi from England. xx
I like using the large spinach plastic containers for my scraps. They stack nicely and I can see through them. I also have a 4 drawer filing cabinet that I store my patterns in. I store my patterns in manilla envelopes.
My patterns I take the pattern out of the envelope and put in 5x7 brown envelope with company number and size those are filed in numerical order in a wire drawer the envelope with pic and information I store in page protectors which are stored in a binder this helps to locate the pattern fast but also you can look thru your binder to find what you would like to make and the pic is on front but you can turn the page to see the information this has been so helpful I see a dress I want to make jot down the number go to the drawer and boom find it that fast but is key to keep filing numerically or it won't be helpful the second for me was seeing someone fold fabric in a 12x12 square this fits fantastically on the open shelves and I do by colors blue here green there doesn't matter the type of fabric as I go to the blue shelf and see what I have.
I’ve been doing much the same thing for years now, & I love it! If I’m headed to the fabric store, I take them with me. Because who hasn’t gone for fabric for 1 pattern & found something perfect for another? This way, I have all the information I need right there.
Hi Evelyn. So glad you mentioned wrapping zips and such with rubber bands, it reminded me to suggest using some of your thrifted ric rack to tie around small bundles of fabric or the like. That would be so cute 🙂
I use acid free foam board in rectangles & wrap my fabric in bolts. They are vertical in baskets fabric side up. So much easier to find now! I keep similar fabrics next to each other by type; linen, cottons, heavier, & knits.
I choose to sort my fabric by color regardless of weight which make coordinates easier to do for “core wardrobe” planning. (For those that are not familiar with “core wardrobe” it starts with 3-4 basics pieces that all work with each other, like: pants, blouse/ top, skirt and jacket.) But regardless of how you choose to organize fabric, my favorite tip is to pin or staple a small tag to a corner or viewable section with the fabric width and yardage information readable. This saves lots of time pulling out pieces that may not be of suitable length for the project you have in mind. It is usually easy to find small plastic containers with movable dividers for needles, buttons, bobbins, etc. in tool, or sporting goods areas of department stores. And finally, when planning a cutting area, if you tend toward downloadable PDF patterns, remember that many online resellers are now offering “projector files” that would require the ability to mount a projector to the ceiling above the cutting area. This saves printing reams of paper (unless you require numerous alterations).
To store my fabric I refinished a 5 drawer French dresser in cameo white satin paint. I filled 4 drawers with fabric the 5th has patterns in the drawer. I love it! I leave the drawers open 6 inches or so . I love to look at the pretty patterns and fabrics each time I enter the room.
I have long hair use cloth hair elastics they also get used to hold like items together. My mother's sewing ham needed refurbishing anyway so I used a lovely floral print. Now it is much nicer to look and has become part of the décor. As with all your videos, this was great. I will be reviewing all three in the series, several times as I continue to go through the reorganization of my sewing space.
I live in nursing home,and use empty tape tubes to hold my lace and ribbons. Prescription bottles for med and small buttons and colour separate as well. I have 2 plastic carts with 4 drawers each to hold everything including fabric then label on each drawer. Thank You so much for all your videos.❤
I’ve not yet been blessed with a dedicated sewing space. I’ve always had to store away my sewing machine and supplies, and bring them out for a project. As such, ive always had to keep my supplies to a minimum. For almost 30 years, I’ve kept my tools and notions in a large fishing tackle box. The trays fold out and in on hinges, and the spaces can be subdivided with supplied dividers that can be placed wherever needed. This minimal system has worked very well for me… until recently. I’ve recently started sewing more and have collected additional tools and notions, which I’m currently storing in an assortment of mish-mash boxes… which doesn’t really work. I’ll be buying a new house soon and am very much looking forward to a dedicated sewing space. All these tips will come in very handy! Thank you Evelyn and followers!
As I was listening to this video, I pulled out all my zippers and decided to organize by color ONLY. I don't have enough of them to sort in any other way--length, different shades of colors, whatever. And all these zippers were given to me by a church food bank because they had no use for them!. I buy zippers only when I need them; it's one of the few notions that I don't need a lot of. I PINNED my zippers onto large SAFETY PiNS. Rust-free of course. Now I can immediately pull out a color I need and decide if I could use it. I also plan to slide all the safety pins onto a wire coat hanger. For now this will work spendidly; I can pull it all out without losing my oeganization! This is somethat I just though up right now!!!!
If you like wool, or other natural fabrics, keep those in really well closed spaces. I had my wool stored and when I went to find some, I found rags. The wool moth found them, and their larvae ate holes all over the place. Those also eat little holes in fabric like linnen or cotton, be it that they prefere wool, or fur. I now keep my naturals in plastic containers with a tight lid.
A surprising but helpful way to get patterns back in their packets is to iron the tissue paper! Simply turn your iron to low and as you fold them, iron down the creases nice and flat. It works really well, and means that the pieces will slide in to their packets easily and neatly every time.
Love this Video but here's a tip- store vintage sewing patterns in comic book sleeve cover instead of ziploc bags, the ziploc bags can deteriorate the old paper while comic book sleeves preserve the patterns. i learned this from Stephanie Canada here on youtube as well. but i love all your youtube content :)
Evelyn you are so beautiful dressed, love your new hairstyle, you remind me of my beautiful Granny Imogene, so beautifully dressed, nice jewelry, hair nails, make up & dainty, beautiful manners … and a beautiful sewing skills …
Okay. I'm guilty as charged. I have many fabrics, notions, patterns, and more. My number one issue has been keeping things stored and located in a space where I can quickly/easily find what I need for each project. Thanks a lot for your ideas!
I got some second hand fabric and they came on those big rolls I found that usually if you fold the fabric in half and roll it you can fit more than one fabric on the roll. It’s nothing ground braking but for me it helped since I’m pretty limited in space. Btw I love those bamboo drawers those are so cute!
I launder my fabric, measure it and take a small swatch and pin it on a slip of paper with yardage and width on it. I keep the swatches in a number of small plastic bags that are numbered the same as the large plastic tubs where fabric is placed. I have typed sheets which describe each piece and in which tub they’re stored and then can easily refer to the swatches to choose my next project.
I store patterns in a way dictated by my use of them. I put the tissues into Manila envelopes and stash those in boxes out of the way. I keep the instructions in the pattern envelope, and, when I make something from that pattern, I staple a scrap of the fabric to the envelope. Also, I always trace from the tissues onto dressmaking paper, and those are put into larger envelopes and stored out of the way. I stash the pattern envelopes in magazine files, covered in a pretty paper.
Used glass coffee jars for sewing notions as they are see through. Helps when trying to find items I need. Kind of recycling too. Also, op shops for glass items from dressing table sets or glass jelly moulds. Oh I need to watch the other videos in this series. Thanks for the tips Evelyn and other subscribers 💕
My sewing room used to be my husband’s home office, he’s a graphic designer and kept all of his work stored on cd’s and dvd’s, he had a custom shelves unit built to store them and guess what? It’s the perfect size to store my serger and Coverstitch threads cones!
My favorite storage solution so far has been my table itself! I built it from 2 small ikea-like bookshelves placed back to back and put a 36"x36" butcher block on top. It's also the thing I put in that makes me happy when I look at it because I was able to put a stripe of rainbow across the diagonal with some fabric dye from a tie dye kit! It's beautiful and functional! I also store all of my notions in a set of plastic drawers that I divided up with bins. There's 10 short drawers and 5 tall drawers on the other. It's worked out AMAZINGLY so far. I also have a set of 10 skinny drawers that hold all of my WIP projects. Still working on fabric storage, would love some input if anyone has any!
All my patterns have been put into paper lunch bags by brand names in numerical order - baby, toddler, girls, boys, adult M, F, stretch knit. I taped the packets in numerucL order on sheets i DRing binders. I look through folders or drawers. Zips i put into shirt boxes. Bias binding and overlocker threads in desk drawers. Buttons, needles in a 24 drawer metal tool box drawer. Scissors, etc on a peg board.
Love this series Evelyn. Thank you so much. Its got me all inspired for some changes for the better. Kmart sell tiny wooden drawers ($6) in the crafting section. I bought 3, painted the outsides white, then covered each drawer front with pretty fabric to match the colour buttons to be stored in each one (you have to plan which you have the most and least of to fit the different size drawers), then stuck them all in a tower. Vertical storage is excellent in limited space; even on top of a vintage chest of drawers that hold my fabric.
All of my various rulers hang on screws on the wall. They're out of the way and easy to see and grab. And my scissors are either on a magnetic kitchen knife bar next to my cutting table or on hooks next to each machine
I have a friend who has a fabulous way to store all of her patterns. She's Amazing. I will ask Robin if I can show off her system. The pattern issue will never be a problem again in her way. I //////love YOUr mini series for organizing. AMAZING!!!!
Very good info. I have my bobbins stored in heart shaped Valentine's candy boxes with moose on them that my dad gave me about 50 years ago. They're not real big, but they do the job and make me smile whenever I see them. I have my patterns in a plastic container, but I need dividers in them. I think that would be helpful. Thanks for this nice series.
I have all of my cut fabric in fabric covered boxes I got from Ikea. I store by color and I cut a little swatch of each fabric in that bin and make a little swatch ring that I safety pin to the front of the bin/box. That was I can see was what I have without having to open any of the boxes.
My husband has built me some lovely drawers and I file my fabric so when you open a drawer you can see the fabrics or patterns at a glance! Fabric bins are great for notions ,zippers, elastic , etc. ,they are light portable and plastic free 🤓👍
I love this and it is very timely as we recently moved so I have just last week set up my own little room. I agree with putting up things that you love, I have done this and so love my new space!
Tell me, what's your best storage ideas? ✂️ If you want to immerse yourself in the world of sewing and lean how to make garments really well, join me at www.vintagesewingschool.com/
I store fabric by wrapping it around 8” x 10” pieces of corrugated cardboard, then putting them on shelves “vertically” like books. To hold each to its cardboard, I use lengths of tape - twill tape or, for economy, selvedges.
I was hoping for options that didn’t use plastic bags. I use Manila envelopes with the pattern picture on the front. Yes, they are big, but much more environmentally friendly.
you can get acid free envelopes in lots of sizes … I’ve used a lot for storing negatives 🎞 & photos … really like. I’m getting ready to do 10+ years of 35mm photos in these … can wait to be all done … a journey for sure …
I keep my cotton and synthetic fabric on the kind of pants-hangers that have four or five rods each of which can swing out separately. Each hanger has one color or kind of cloth. I can see all of them when I'm in my closet, so if I don't have Those Pants I Want maybe I'll realize I have The Material To Make Them. Particularly delicate seeming material is on one hanger inside a garment bag.
Just dropped by to see another amazing video....and to say Your hair is so lovely!!!!! Like this style on you..........actually every style looks wonderful! Stay encouraged! :)
I keep two large three ring binders in which I keep photo copies (front and back) showing the size chart and fabric requirements of each pattern I own. I also have three four-drawer office filing cabinets in which I store them, in alpha/numeric order (numbered patterns first and named patterns in a separate area last). When I’m ready to get a project going I “shop” the notebook for the right pattern and because it is a photocopy the number or name is readily accessible. I can then go to the correct drawer (labeled with the contents) and pull the correct pattern. I also have a notebook with magazine and catalog clippings (with the description and cost - this helps me to know if I would be spending more $ or less for the item by sewing it which helps me to decide if it is worthwhile to do). Sometimes it is worth sewing even if it will cost more than buying if I am looking for a specific color or if I want a different little detail. I’ve used this system for years and it works fabulously for me. Happy sewing!
You can press all your tissue pattern pieces together. Fold, press, and fold many times until they are small enough to fit back into the envelope. This will not work on patterns printed out; because the iron will melt and smear the ink.
When I re-folded my fabric to fit the depth of my storage cabinet, it was a game changer. I can see everything at s glance. What is the brand of the zippered bags you use?
I know what I use: Dollar Tree knock-offs or Ziplock or other main brands. There are also 21/2 gallon sizes that I used in teaching. Just be careful! The cheaper ones may not be very sturdy, and there are large boxes of the high-quality bags that will save your life and, even better, when they are on sale, you'll save money!! Right now, I dedicated a drawer to store these baggies: snack, quart,gallon. It's always great to have them around for sudden organization problems!
Hi Evelyn- hi from Canada. Could you please let me know where you purchased the wooden drawers for your notions you are storing on your shelves? Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I have hundreds of buttons, and store them in flat containers used for beads. Importantly, I use only those containers with fixed partitions. I have never found a way to glue down the movable ones, and small things slip under them, making a mess.
Right now I only have space for a small cabinet to store my sewing things. My current struggle is finding a good way to store my "sometimes supplies" like ribbons and denim patches. I dont need them every time I sew so I don't want to clutter up my primary sewing box, but also don't have a good space to separate out or cohesively store the Sometimes Supplies.
I have a chest of drawers that fits all my patterns and notions (for now), but my fabrics are stored in cotton bags, sorted by colour. I've been thinking about different solutions but with limited space I can't really add any more furniture. 😩
May I ask where you purchased those little wooden drawers with the holes you mention during the haberdashery section? They're exactly what I'm looking for!
Hello, Evelyn, I've got a question about VSS, I've recently enrolled and posted a question on adjusting thread tension lesson, since you haven't answered still, and you haven't answered some other people's questions of about several months old, I wanted to check if the project is still going?
The link to the first video in this series is not correct, it looks like it might be missing a few letters at the end. I found the first video & will watch it now. :) Thanks for the journey! :)
Plastic bins, if they seal properly, will protect fabric better from cloth moth or other critters than your lovely bamboo bins. More of an issue with silks and wools.
Bobbins are in two bobbin boxes. Threads are in two small shallow drawers. The reels with cardboard centres are stored vertically graded by colour. The large reels in the other drawer on their sides. Each drawer has various boxes to separate colours.
Gosh, I wish we could add photos in the comments. How lovely it would be to see everyone’s ideas!
When it comes to a craftroom, decoration is inspiration.
As for storage, away from dust and direct sunlight obviously but make sure it's all easily visible and readily accessible.
Out of sight, out of mind and then you run to the shops to get what you already have.
Yes, I've been there, that's how I know.
About 35 years ago I found plans for a sewing center, which my dear husband built for me. It has shelves and cabinets, with a center roll-out cabinet for the machine. Over time it has lived in our bedroom, the dining room, our son's room, and its own room. Our most recent move finds it in an alcove in the loft. I bought two stacks of small drawers for notions, and finally they are labeled (alphabetically!).
Thanks for all your great ideas. I look forward to the video showing up each week.
Thanks for watching Theresa! Wow, what sounds like the ultimate storage! I think I need these plans 😃
i would love to see a photo!
Before I was fortunate enough to get a proper cutting table, I needed to transport cutting supplies from my sewing space to my kitchen table for cutting. I choose a bin with a handle, the style originally meant for carrying around cleaning supplies, and further divided it with smaller bins to hold scissors, pins, and other small things needed for cutting patterns or fabric. This was a great way to keep all these items together when I needed them and easily transport them from my sewing space to my kitchen.
Also, for patterns, especially the tried and true I use frequently and don't want to constantly put in and out of the envelope, I use a three ring binder with plastic sleeves that I can put the pattern and pieces into. I also often write notes during and after using the patterns, and this makes it easy to keep these notes with the pattern.
I love the transportable sewing kit, what a great idea!! I bet it made getting stated swing easier by removing that barrier 😃 Thanks for sharing
Ooh! I love the file folder idea! I currently have my patterns in magazine files that are marked according to era. But I saw some truly gorgeous green and gold file folders at Kmart the other day, and I can see switching over. Though my current system involves printing patterns or self drafting them, then gluing the front page onto a paper envelope.
I think I might give the folders a go. They can still be organised according to sea, and will be much prettier than my current file system. The mass of white envelopes isn’t very pretty.
Ooh! I love the file folder idea! I currently have my patterns in magazine files that are marked according to era. But I saw some truly gorgeous green and gold file folders at Kmart the other day, and I can see switching over. Though my current system involves printing patterns or self drafting them, then gluing the front page onto a paper envelope.
I think I might give the folders a go. They can still be organised according to sea, and will be much prettier than my current file system. The mass of white envelopes isn’t very pretty.
This is cool; thank you!
EVELYN … a really cool way to store fabrics in plastic crates or even in cabinets is to file fold & store vertically, this way you can finger though easily, remove what you would like easily without having to dig to the bottom of stacked up fabrics, same with patterns. I even do this with clothes drawers. Works really good with kids clothes too … And you can see your stash better, color coordination, project coordinator your fabrics too
I love this idea! Like a filling system for your fabric! 😀
@@Evelyn__Wood yes … I’m a nurse who always looking to minimize looking for things & trying to be more organized 🙄🙄🙄 I started doing this when I had 3 little kids always emptying out their dresser drawers looking for something to wear !! clothes everywhere & having to re fold was not something I liked to do or they like to do, solved a good thing for us …
love your channel Evelyn
@@jillysd884 oh what a cool idea! I never thought of doing that with fabric or clothes! I gotta try this! But what about sagging? Do you put pieces of cardboard or similar in-between? Because ones drawers or boxes would never be full to the brim! At least mine aren't!😜
@@raeafoley6131 most people use cardboard cut to size. Morgan Donner has a video organising her fabric where she shows how she rolls her fabric onto cardboard. If I had a storage system that included deeper shelves, it would absolutely be my go to. It it’s both highly organised and a great use of space, and it’s also decorative.
I store my fabric rolled on itself vertically in tubs too. Easy to sort and no creases.
Absolutely loving your new hairdo!! Beautiful. 😊💕👍🏽
I have the weird talent of being able to refold and get all the pattern pieces back into their original envelopes, even when there are many pieces. I do put tape around the mouth of the envelope so it doesn't tear.
When I worked at a theater shop I was the designated pattern putter upper.
Evelyn, its been a great series, thank you, When I re organized my happy space, I told myself do not buy anything use what you have in the house , my crystal cabinet was hit first, Butter dish for pins, ice bucket for rotary cutters, large crystal basket for scissors, Vintage canisters for pre cut quilting squares, biscuit tins for zips, loads of jars for buttons, hat boxes for trims, lace ribbon etc. Yes I have plastic tubs with wheels for fabric, they roll in and out under cutting table. Small shelves found at op shops, All snug in a tiny square room. At the end of every sewing day I put away everything, its nice to walk into a space ready to go each time. Thanks again. Oh patterns are in tubs also, this is my next job to sort them.
I LOVE your inspiration to use nothing new! It is amazing what we can find our own homes to re use!
That is too funny! I was just thinking whether I should use my vintage butter dish for pins! I have different pins and different containers! One in my "every day" sewing bag that used to be a toiletry bag, and another set, which I kept in a bras turtle with lid. I bought it in a charity shop. I think it was once an ashtray! I have been considering converting a lovely cloth covered box for my pins, sectioning it off so I have all my pins in the same location.😊
I love this idea! Using pretty things to elevate the look of your tools. It sounds so beautiful
For those of us lucky enough to have nice big windows in our room, there is a way to reduce the amount of fading. 3M (post it notes) has a film that you can apply to the inside of your windows. It lets the light in, but can seriously reduce the amount of UV light. Some of them also reduce heat gain and loss to help with the temperature in the room.
It not only helps to protect your fabric/thread but also your furniture and carpet.
😲 Really! Thanks your the suggestion, I will be looking into this for future use, what a great idea!
I used that film before in a family room and all my houseplants died. So I didn't put houseplants near any window with that film on. It did a great job at keeping my furniture safe.
@@debbiemiksch7276 my husband asked if I needed tinted window- I didn't think I needed it, but I've been so happy with it!
I am enjoying this series of sewing space organisation. I quilt and I make bags, so things are a bit different for me in regards to fabric storage, but recently I bought a rolling cart. It has been my most useful item so far. I have all my bits and pieces I need for sewing in the top tray, clips and whatever I'm working on in the second tray and things I don't need so often in the bottom tray. I can wheel it from machine to machine with ease.
Great idea!
One of the best tips I saw for patterns was someone who took uniform size copies of the front of the pattern and then stored those in organized binders based on sections like pants, shirts, etc. Then the patterns themselves were organized in file boxes by similar groupings. But that way whenever she wanted to see if she already owned a pattern she needed she could quickly flip through the binder without having to dig through pattern envelopes over and over again.
Ive discovered that for me, I need to be able to see what Ive got organized. Alot of my bins &/or containers are clear. So I can be in the middle of a project, remember I need something, glance, grab & go.
Hello! I save vintage looking cookie boxes for my notions. They also serve as a lovely decorations, but they also make me a bit hungry :D
And very traditional for storing haberdashery! (And you get biscuits, so win win!)
One thing to keep in mind, it is best to store fabrics in the dark. Even very filtered indirect daylight will fade fabric if it is left lying about for several years. Also the fluorescent bulbs - prior to LED bulbs will fade fabric.
Yes these bulbs do fade fabric. I had a panel that was just on a shelf. When I unfolded it there was a faded stripe across the front of it...tried dyeing the stripe but so far nothing has helped. These new day light bulbs are the same as sunlight for fabric and thread too. Good reminder!
I started studying fashion, and one year in the career left me with a lot of patterns and didn’t know how to store them. I put each in a plastic binder sleeves with a sticker on it with information about it and then into a binder. By the end of the career I have different themed binders and it has worked for me quite well; it keeps them organized and tidy.
Greetings from Mexico!
Sigh, first thing on my list is to find a sewing room. We live in an RV so my machine is on a shelf in the bedroom; I have to remove everything to use it and I sit on the bed to sew. My cutting table is kitchen stove with the cover put down. Storage is fabric, etc. stuffed in each drawer, closet and cabinet I can find room in, also a plastic tub stored under the RV. I also have boxes of stuff in storage (10 years now, hopefully the rodents haven't ruined everything). Your advice to store like things together is what I will do and write in a notebook where each type of fabric, etc, is. Thanks for even the little bit of organizing tips I can use right now!
I always enjoy your video's, your so perky and happy. My winter will be used to recreate and organize my sewing room. First time I'm so excited to see winter arrive. Have watched your 3 part redo for the transformation, and am happy to say we were thinking alike on the process. For storing my fabric, I will cut down foam poster board to fit 1" less height and 3"s less of shelf depth, and fold fabric to the height, then wrap around the foam board. Storing the fabric upright, like books at the library. This way I don't need to keep picking up lots of weight (fabric) to get to the fabric of choice. I store by color, such as a rainbow, and seperate shelves for cotton, flannel, silks, denim, knits, or designer collections. So much easier when shopping my stock. And of course stored behind doors, blocking sunlight. On shelving without doors, I cover front with "fabric drape" to protect from sun. Happy creating one stitch at a time.
What a wonderful winter it is going to be!! I'm so excited for your new space!
I've a firm cardboard template that I use to fold fabric when I bring it home to ensure all folded pieces are exactly the same width and depth.. My shelves couldn't be tidier. Thank you for your channel!
Feeling inspired and motivated. It's so true that sharing ideas with like-minded sewists is fun and gratifying. Love all your videos.
I agree! 😀
No tape measure around the neck. Pearls are ❤️ beautiful
you have awesome ideas love, suggestion that could be of use to you, make fabrics in your totes easy to access, get boards to store vertically inside totes, save yourself the digging, hauling out & placing back. As always , lovely video
Those bamboo drawers from Kmart are absolutely on my list! I hope there’s not a single Aussie sleeping on the amazing potential of Kmart for both storage and decoration!
As for me, I have two sewing spaces- one out in the lounge room with my cutting table and sewing desk (for machine sewing), and my bedroom. I’m disabled and mostly bedbound, so I like to do a lot of my sewing by hand in bed. So I need solutions for both kinds of spaces.
I just bought a new sewing desk- two sets of Alex drawers and a floating tabletop from IKEA. I now have a sewing desk big enough to hold everything I need, and with a lot more storage than most traditional office desks. I’m also a fan of the fabric box in cube/bookcase type of storage- you can get some lovely pattered boxes to look decorative, they hold a lot, and they hide a lot of mess!. Any extra fabric that I’m less likely to use soon then goes into the large under bed style plastic bins, and they go under my cutting table (down the side I don’t need to get my wheelchair into).
I love thread and ribbon organisers as wall hangings. They’re so colourful and decorative, but incredibly good use of storage and space. I also prefer magazine files for my patterns, most of which are in A4 envelopes (as I print or self draft all of my patterns). I glue the front sheet onto the front of the envelope. I divvy my patterns up by era, and then I can mark that era (18th C, Regency, mid Victorian, late Victorian, etc) on the front of each magazine file. Keeps them all organised and separate, and I can pop them on top of a shelf or desk without needing something to hold them in place. And they look nice and neat.
I also LOVE my råskog trolley! I need storage that I can reach from my bed. It can be placed next to my bed so I can reach, and it can be pushed out of the way and tucked away when not in use (which isn’t often). It’s also something easily moved from my bedroom out to my other sewing space when necessary. I also love my bed desk, which I’m able to use for watching tv, sewing, eating, you name it. A spoonie’s best friend, truly.
Another moveable storage thing is my housewife! Every woman needs a housewife, right? It’s my 18th century style roll up sewing kit. Mine is quite large so it can hold everything I need for hand sewing, including a few spools of thread, my awl, my ergonomic (and therefore massive) seam ripper, scissors, etc. I made mine from leftover fabric and I embroidered a nice scrap of silk in an 18th century style for the outer. It’s both pretty and useful, and it’s so wonderful when those two things combine.
Being disabled, smart storage is imperative for me. I can’t have things out of reach (or at least, if they are they need to be gotten by others and that needs to be taken into account). I also can’t have things messily on the floor- I need space for my wheelchair. But, I have hobbies that take up a lot of storage and can get quite messy - sewing, embroidery and journaling, and the latter includes all the washi tape and stickers, pens etc. I have numerous hoarding/collecting addictions- sewing supplies, embroidery supplies, and pretty stationary.
That’s a lot of stuff to organise and store, and in ways that work for my specific needs. I think I’ve done pretty well with that, organisation is a hobby of mine too. I spent a lot of time planning things out and researching different storage solutions, so I hope some of what I’ve written here can be helpful for others too.
That 'housewife' ( or I'd call it accessory bag) sounds like a good idea from how you describe it. Portable and gives a fixed position to all the bits and pieces one needs but does not want it to be lying around waiting to fall on the ground or disappear under other things . Thanks :)
I never thought of painting my sewing machine cover. Thanks for the idea!
😃 Your welcome!
Its got me thinking too! What are your initial ideas?
I'm a bit of a flower girl but dont want to do any simplistic daisies. But anything more realistic is a bit daunting. I suppose I could always Mod podge on some fabric?
@@kaytiej8311 ooh! The mod podge fabric sounds so cool! Will also probably give the plastic shell a little reinforcement. Mine is vintage so my first thought was figuring out which spray paint (rustoleum is pretty much the only good one available here) adheres well to plastic. Then maybe using lace or buttons as a stencil to apply a contrasting coat. A practical thing would be for me to paint a tape measure on there for sure! Or maybe chalkboard paint to write myself notes??!?
@@lisettegarcia love your ideas. So many to choose from! The chalkboard idea sounds fantastic; very practical!
Mine is a modern, plastic cover so gesso and acrylics should work, with a generous varnish to finish. However, the whole fabric thing is making me consider either a pretty patchwork or even old doileys or tablecloths.
My 1915 hand-crank Singer 99K sits on one of those Ikea drawer sets - the metal red ones with 6 drawers and rollers. I swapped out the wheels for ones that move in 360. Machine sits on top. First drawer holds all of the presser feet and automatic zig-zagger. There's also a cutting board that I use to cover the top of the partially open top drawer and have it as a table extension when sewing. Second drawer holds all the pattern making necessities. And the rest of the drawers hold trim and tape and cord and embroidery floss.
My sewing room is also our small living room so I need to be able to tuck the machine away when I'm not using it. One of our side tables is my Granny's Bertha Washington sewing cupboard - it holds the buttons and the rest of the sundries. On top is a small desk ironing board. The clapper, tailors ham and bias tape binders live underneath the ironing board.
My worktable is a piece of wood that I balance over the arms of a very square vintage 70's recliner. It's where I do all the fussy stuff that's part of the process.
When I'm working I have everything in a triangle shape (similar to a kitchen layout) and almost everything is within arms reach. Ironing board is to my right. Sewing machine is in front of me. Table is directly to my left. Depending on what I'm working on I can just roll back and forth without getting up.
I'm still working on fabric storage. Right now I store the fabric sorted into large brown paper grocery bags, sorted by content. But we're in a small apartment, so there's only so much I can horde.
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
Hi Evelyn, I roll my fabric, like when I pack clothes in a suitcase, it reduces creases and then it goes into the draw or box vertically. Love your content! Hi from England. xx
Laura rolling is a great way to reduce the chance of too many wrinkles! And you get see everything from the top! Brilliant!
I like using the large spinach plastic containers for my scraps. They stack nicely and I can see through them. I also have a 4 drawer filing cabinet that I store my patterns in. I store my patterns in manilla envelopes.
A proper filing cabinet is very tempting for patterns, I'm thinking this might be what I do long term too!
My patterns I take the pattern out of the envelope and put in 5x7 brown envelope with company number and size those are filed in numerical order in a wire drawer the envelope with pic and information I store in page protectors which are stored in a binder this helps to locate the pattern fast but also you can look thru your binder to find what you would like to make and the pic is on front but you can turn the page to see the information this has been so helpful I see a dress I want to make jot down the number go to the drawer and boom find it that fast but is key to keep filing numerically or it won't be helpful the second for me was seeing someone fold fabric in a 12x12 square this fits fantastically on the open shelves and I do by colors blue here green there doesn't matter the type of fabric as I go to the blue shelf and see what I have.
Oh that is a cool idea! Having a binder like a picture book but using it as a reference to locate the actual pattern!😁
I’ve been doing much the same thing for years now, & I love it! If I’m headed to the fabric store, I take them with me. Because who hasn’t gone for fabric for 1 pattern & found something perfect for another? This way, I have all the information I need right there.
Hi Evelyn. So glad you mentioned wrapping zips and such with rubber bands, it reminded me to suggest using some of your thrifted ric rack to tie around small bundles of fabric or the like. That would be so cute 🙂
I’ve found using hair ties to bundle in place of rubber bands works great!
I use acid free foam board in rectangles & wrap my fabric in bolts. They are vertical in baskets fabric side up. So much easier to find now! I keep similar fabrics next to each other by type; linen, cottons, heavier, & knits.
I choose to sort my fabric by color regardless of weight which make coordinates easier to do for “core wardrobe” planning. (For those that are not familiar with “core wardrobe” it starts with 3-4 basics pieces that all work with each other, like: pants, blouse/ top, skirt and jacket.) But regardless of how you choose to organize fabric, my favorite tip is to pin or staple a small tag to a corner or viewable section with the fabric width and yardage information readable. This saves lots of time pulling out pieces that may not be of suitable length for the project you have in mind.
It is usually easy to find small plastic containers with movable dividers for needles, buttons, bobbins, etc. in tool, or sporting goods areas of department stores.
And finally, when planning a cutting area, if you tend toward downloadable PDF patterns, remember that many online resellers are now offering “projector files” that would require the ability to mount a projector to the ceiling above the cutting area. This saves printing reams of paper (unless you require numerous alterations).
To store my fabric I refinished a 5 drawer French dresser in cameo white satin paint. I filled 4 drawers with fabric the 5th has patterns in the drawer. I love it! I leave the drawers open 6 inches or so . I love to look at the pretty patterns and fabrics each time I enter the room.
I have long hair use cloth hair elastics they also get used to hold like items together. My mother's sewing ham needed refurbishing anyway so I used a lovely floral print. Now it is much nicer to look and has become part of the décor. As with all your videos, this was great. I will be reviewing all three in the series, several times as I continue to go through the reorganization of my sewing space.
I love your new 'do! Very flattering. Happy holidays to you from the U.S.!
I live in nursing home,and use empty tape tubes to hold my lace and ribbons. Prescription bottles for med and small buttons and colour separate as well. I have 2 plastic carts with 4 drawers each to hold everything including fabric then label on each drawer. Thank You so much for all your videos.❤
My patterns go in a small filing cabinet.❤
I have made cardboard dividers for 1 big drawer for small tools 📏✂
I’ve not yet been blessed with a dedicated sewing space. I’ve always had to store away my sewing machine and supplies, and bring them out for a project. As such, ive always had to keep my supplies to a minimum. For almost 30 years, I’ve kept my tools and notions in a large fishing tackle box. The trays fold out and in on hinges, and the spaces can be subdivided with supplied dividers that can be placed wherever needed. This minimal system has worked very well for me… until recently. I’ve recently started sewing more and have collected additional tools and notions, which I’m currently storing in an assortment of mish-mash boxes… which doesn’t really work. I’ll be buying a new house soon and am very much looking forward to a dedicated sewing space. All these tips will come in very handy! Thank you Evelyn and followers!
I love your new hairstyle, Evelyn!
As I was listening to this video, I pulled out all my zippers and decided to organize by color ONLY. I don't have enough of them to sort in any other way--length, different shades of colors, whatever. And all these zippers were given to me by a church food bank because they had no use for them!. I buy zippers only when I need them; it's one of the few notions that I don't need a lot of. I PINNED my zippers onto large SAFETY PiNS. Rust-free of course. Now I can immediately pull out a color I need and decide if I could use it. I also plan to slide all the safety pins onto a wire coat hanger. For now this will work spendidly; I can pull it all out without losing my oeganization! This is somethat I just though up right now!!!!
I love the old vintage ceramic planters. I use them for everything from holding scrubbies in the kitchen to holding essential oils in my bathroom.
If you like wool, or other natural fabrics, keep those in really well closed spaces. I had my wool stored and when I went to find some, I found rags. The wool moth found them, and their larvae ate holes all over the place. Those also eat little holes in fabric like linnen or cotton, be it that they prefere wool, or fur. I now keep my naturals in plastic containers with a tight lid.
A surprising but helpful way to get patterns back in their packets is to iron the tissue paper! Simply turn your iron to low and as you fold them, iron down the creases nice and flat. It works really well, and means that the pieces will slide in to their packets easily and neatly every time.
I iron my pattern pieces also..it works great
Wow this is the best idea I ever heard of ty
Love this Video but here's a tip- store vintage sewing patterns in comic book sleeve cover instead of ziploc bags, the ziploc bags can deteriorate the old paper while comic book sleeves preserve the patterns. i learned this from Stephanie Canada here on youtube as well. but i love all your youtube content :)
I store matching buttons in pill organizers that I buy for a song at thrift shops. They're clear enough to easily see inside the compartments.
Me, too!
Evelyn you are so beautiful dressed, love your new hairstyle, you remind me of my beautiful Granny Imogene, so beautifully dressed, nice jewelry, hair nails, make up & dainty, beautiful manners … and a beautiful sewing skills …
Okay. I'm guilty as charged. I have many fabrics, notions, patterns, and more. My number one issue has been keeping things stored and located in a space where I can quickly/easily find what I need for each project. Thanks a lot for your ideas!
Storing fabric vertically is like Marie Kondo-ing your fabric. 😀 it’s more exciting to look at, too!
I like to use clear Matchbox cars carrying cases for storing needles, buttons and thread. You can put the thread and bobbin in one compartment.
I keep my threads and bobbins together in a bin with dividers like a matchbox car holder. helps that I dont have so much.
I got some second hand fabric and they came on those big rolls I found that usually if you fold the fabric in half and roll it you can fit more than one fabric on the roll. It’s nothing ground braking but for me it helped since I’m pretty limited in space.
Btw I love those bamboo drawers those are so cute!
I launder my fabric, measure it and take a small swatch and pin it on a slip of paper with yardage and width on it. I keep the swatches in a number of small plastic bags that are numbered the same as the large plastic tubs where fabric is placed. I have typed sheets which describe each piece and in which tub they’re stored and then can easily refer to the swatches to choose my next project.
I store patterns in a way dictated by my use of them. I put the tissues into Manila envelopes and stash those in boxes out of the way. I keep the instructions in the pattern envelope, and, when I make something from that pattern, I staple a scrap of the fabric to the envelope. Also, I always trace from the tissues onto dressmaking paper, and those are put into larger envelopes and stored out of the way. I stash the pattern envelopes in magazine files, covered in a pretty paper.
Zip lock bags for patterns. Great Idea!!!
Such a great video ❤ Thanks Evelyn!
I store my patterns in a gallon zip lock bag. They fit nicely in a cube.
Used glass coffee jars for sewing notions as they are see through. Helps when trying to find items I need. Kind of recycling too. Also, op shops for glass items from dressing table sets or glass jelly moulds. Oh I need to watch the other videos in this series. Thanks for the tips Evelyn and other subscribers 💕
My sewing room used to be my husband’s home office, he’s a graphic designer and kept all of his work stored on cd’s and dvd’s, he had a custom shelves unit built to store them and guess what? It’s the perfect size to store my serger and Coverstitch threads cones!
My favorite storage solution so far has been my table itself! I built it from 2 small ikea-like bookshelves placed back to back and put a 36"x36" butcher block on top. It's also the thing I put in that makes me happy when I look at it because I was able to put a stripe of rainbow across the diagonal with some fabric dye from a tie dye kit! It's beautiful and functional!
I also store all of my notions in a set of plastic drawers that I divided up with bins. There's 10 short drawers and 5 tall drawers on the other. It's worked out AMAZINGLY so far. I also have a set of 10 skinny drawers that hold all of my WIP projects.
Still working on fabric storage, would love some input if anyone has any!
Hi Evelyn, 👋 I love your style.
All my patterns have been put into paper lunch bags by brand names in numerical order - baby, toddler, girls, boys, adult M, F, stretch knit. I taped the packets in numerucL order on sheets i DRing binders. I look through folders or drawers.
Zips i put into shirt boxes. Bias binding and overlocker threads in desk drawers. Buttons, needles in a 24 drawer metal tool box drawer. Scissors, etc on a peg board.
Love this series Evelyn. Thank you so much. Its got me all inspired for some changes for the better.
Kmart sell tiny wooden drawers ($6) in the crafting section. I bought 3, painted the outsides white, then covered each drawer front with pretty fabric to match the colour buttons to be stored in each one (you have to plan which you have the most and least of to fit the different size drawers), then stuck them all in a tower. Vertical storage is excellent in limited space; even on top of a vintage chest of drawers that hold my fabric.
I have three bins for fabric. Woven garment fabrics. Knits. Quilting cottons.
When I’m putting patterns back in the envelope, I press them with an iron without steam. Also helps with vintage pre-used patterns.
All of my various rulers hang on screws on the wall. They're out of the way and easy to see and grab. And my scissors are either on a magnetic kitchen knife bar next to my cutting table or on hooks next to each machine
I have a friend who has a fabulous way to store all of her patterns. She's Amazing. I will ask Robin if I can show off her system. The pattern issue will never be a problem again in her way.
I //////love YOUr mini series for organizing. AMAZING!!!!
Very good info. I have my bobbins stored in heart shaped Valentine's candy boxes with moose on them that my dad gave me about 50 years ago. They're not real big, but they do the job and make me smile whenever I see them. I have my patterns in a plastic container, but I need dividers in them. I think that would be helpful. Thanks for this nice series.
I have all of my cut fabric in fabric covered boxes I got from Ikea. I store by color and I cut a little swatch of each fabric in that bin and make a little swatch ring that I safety pin to the front of the bin/box. That was I can see was what I have without having to open any of the boxes.
As for decorations...I got a shadow box from Walmart for my collections of embroidery scissors. I love looking at it!
My husband has built me some lovely drawers and I file my fabric so when you open a drawer you can see the fabrics or patterns at a glance! Fabric bins are great for notions ,zippers, elastic , etc. ,they are light portable and plastic free 🤓👍
My grandmother used to have the pins that weren't in use stored in small metal or paper boxes with baby powder.
Vintage steamer trunks are awesome for fabric scraps
I love this and it is very timely as we recently moved so I have just last week set up my own little room. I agree with putting up things that you love, I have done this and so love my new space!
Tell me, what's your best storage ideas?
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I store fabric by wrapping it around 8” x 10” pieces of corrugated cardboard, then putting them on shelves “vertically” like books. To hold each to its cardboard, I use lengths of tape - twill tape or, for economy, selvedges.
I was hoping for options that didn’t use plastic bags. I use Manila envelopes with the pattern picture on the front. Yes, they are big, but much more environmentally friendly.
you can get acid free envelopes in lots of sizes … I’ve used a lot for storing negatives 🎞 & photos … really like. I’m getting ready to do 10+ years of 35mm photos in these … can wait to be all done … a journey for sure …
Sounds like you don't need the tip then :)
I keep my cotton and synthetic fabric on the kind of pants-hangers that have four or five rods each of which can swing out separately. Each hanger has one color or kind of cloth. I can see all of them when I'm in my closet, so if I don't have Those Pants I Want maybe I'll realize I have The Material To Make Them.
Particularly delicate seeming material is on one hanger inside a garment bag.
Just dropped by to see another amazing video....and to say Your hair is so lovely!!!!! Like this style on you..........actually every style looks wonderful! Stay encouraged! :)
I keep two large three ring binders in which I keep photo copies (front and back) showing the size chart and fabric requirements of each pattern I own. I also have three four-drawer office filing cabinets in which I store them, in alpha/numeric order (numbered patterns first and named patterns in a separate area last). When I’m ready to get a project going I “shop” the notebook for the right pattern and because it is a photocopy the number or name is readily accessible. I can then go to the correct drawer (labeled with the contents) and pull the correct pattern. I also have a notebook with magazine and catalog clippings (with the description and cost - this helps me to know if I would be spending more $ or less for the item by sewing it which helps me to decide if it is worthwhile to do). Sometimes it is worth sewing even if it will cost more than buying if I am looking for a specific color or if I want a different little detail. I’ve used this system for years and it works fabulously for me. Happy sewing!
After I used a pattern I iron It so it can fit on the original paper bag
You can press all your tissue pattern pieces together. Fold, press, and fold many times until they are small enough to fit back into the envelope. This will not work on patterns printed out; because the iron will melt and smear the ink.
I use hair ties instead of rubber bands. I like the ones that haven’t been glued closed. I find they last a long time, and don’t damage anything.
Very useful... :-)
When I re-folded my fabric to fit the depth of my storage cabinet, it was a game changer. I can see everything at s glance. What is the brand of the zippered bags you use?
I know what I use: Dollar Tree knock-offs or Ziplock or other main brands. There are also 21/2 gallon sizes that I used in teaching. Just be careful! The cheaper ones may not be very sturdy, and there are large boxes of the high-quality bags that will save your life and, even better, when they are on sale, you'll save money!! Right now, I dedicated a drawer to store these baggies: snack, quart,gallon. It's always great to have them around for sudden organization problems!
Love this series. I need to work on getting better organized. Thanks!
But I can't watch the phase 1 video. Says it's unavailable.
Hi Evelyn- hi from Canada. Could you please let me know where you purchased the wooden drawers for your notions you are storing on your shelves? Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I would like to know too. Someone in the comments mentioned KMart... Hope they were from somewhere else as I think the last US KMart is gone....
I have hundreds of buttons, and store them in flat containers used for beads. Importantly, I use only those containers with fixed partitions. I have never found a way to glue down the movable ones, and small things slip under them, making a mess.
Right now I only have space for a small cabinet to store my sewing things. My current struggle is finding a good way to store my "sometimes supplies" like ribbons and denim patches. I dont need them every time I sew so I don't want to clutter up my primary sewing box, but also don't have a good space to separate out or cohesively store the Sometimes Supplies.
What about an accordion file folder? Would that work? Or ziplock baggies, thumbtacked to the inside of a closet wall?
Ooh! This is an excellent idea! I hadn't thought of an accordion folder. Thanks so much!!
I have a chest of drawers that fits all my patterns and notions (for now), but my fabrics are stored in cotton bags, sorted by colour. I've been thinking about different solutions but with limited space I can't really add any more furniture. 😩
Wondering where you got the clip seal bags with the blue across the top for patterns. I love the size
May I ask where you purchased those little wooden drawers with the holes you mention during the haberdashery section? They're exactly what I'm looking for!
@@Msanynamewilldo thank you!!
Do you have a particular way to store your scissors, rotary cutters, rulers and other tools? Thanks!
Hello, Evelyn, I've got a question about VSS, I've recently enrolled and posted a question on adjusting thread tension lesson, since you haven't answered still, and you haven't answered some other people's questions of about several months old, I wanted to check if the project is still going?
The link to the first video in this series is not correct, it looks like it might be missing a few letters at the end. I found the first video & will watch it now. :) Thanks for the journey! :)
@evelyn I know it's probably from somewhere that won't ship to the US but where did you get those small wooded drawers for your haberdashery?
I use a file box to hold my patterns.
I put my zippers in a binder on cardboard
Also, louvre cupboards will let in dust - ask me how i know😊. So a sheet of paper taped to the inside would help.
Label every container with contents
I just did my patterns yah
*Development of standardized mechanism of needle check & change based on the use/condition of needle* this my project,can you help me in this regard
Am I the only one that heard a whites tree frog at 10:20? Australia has tons of them but they can also be pets. I have 2
Plastic bins, if they seal properly, will protect fabric better from cloth moth or other critters than your lovely bamboo bins. More of an issue with silks and wools.
My biggest issue is threads and bobbins… HELP Evelyn! How do you store/sort your threads?
Bobbins are in two bobbin boxes. Threads are in two small shallow drawers. The reels with cardboard centres are stored vertically graded by colour. The large reels in the other drawer on their sides. Each drawer has various boxes to separate colours.