I love that you just jumped straight in and tried some of the more 'difficult' projects at the start of your sewing journey. So many people are scared to try the harder projects but that's how you learn!
Yesss!! It kept me motivated to work on projects I was really excited about, even if they were a little more challenging (and a lot of indie pattern designers have excellent instructions which was a big help when I was starting out)! I have learned so much by just going for it and making mistakes and trying again. :)
To prove your point about beginner garment attempts not necessarily being disasters: one of the first things I made for myself when I started sewing last year was a forest green circle skirt from the cheapest fabric imaginable. It was 100% never intended to be worn outside the house, demonstrated in the fact that I used MAROON thread because I COULD NOT be bothered to rethread the machine. Messed up the waistband and ended up using exposed elastic instead. But lo and behold, it fit like a glove and I still wear it all the time. Literally had it on for errands this morning. Have since redone the elastic as well as the hem with my improved skills, and I'm definitely going to keep wearing it.
As per usual- thx for a great video of your process! When I went back to garment sewing (and that was during the pandemic- I'm an ICU RN) I was really excited to create my space! I watched and absorbed info from several of my youtube favorite's channels and came up with my own process. I now have a functional space w adequate lighting and stations! I realized as a young person when creating , I had to clean and prepare my space for my process!. Even the house! I couldn't be creative when I was disorganized! Even now, I -of course- become disorganized in my space and when I just lack drive to create I go right back to reorganizing my stuff and it puts me on a creative trajectory! Yup, agreed, on the choosing fabrics with a purpose! I found myself bordering on hoarding... the excitement put me there! I have turned the corner on that and am attempting to sew through my huge stash. LOL.
Thanks so much, Theresa! I agree, it is so hard to be creative when my space is a disorganized mess! It's just good for me to regularly do a clean sweep and try to get things back in order. We'll see how long this one lasts 😂
I love an organized space. Built-ins with open and closed options are the best for a sewing room space. A great shelving system works too. Closet systems are a great option as well. Happy organizing 😊👍🏾👍🏾
I always enjoy your videos :) I’d love to see one about how you go about thrifting for clothing items. What stores you like, your method for finding great items, how to treat the items once you buy them for any lingering odors, etc.
So glad you hung on to that wrap blouse. It's BEAUTIFUL! I could totally see it as holiday wear. I feel like I'm constantly organizing my sewing/craft space. I get it looking good, and then along comes more fabric scraps.
Love, I live in a tiny basement studio apartment in NY with my husband and my sewing space is basically the entire apartment🙄 For that reason, I have a VERY small stash and my organisation is pretty basic. Thankfully, my beloved is very tolerant and doesn't freak out when my crap is literally everywhere! Oh! to have a whole room dedicated to creative pursuits!! And to have a door to close, so no-one can see the chaos! Heavenly. 😄😄😄 Totally love seeing other peoples' sewing rooms and how they organise themselves. Always picking up hints and tips! Looking forward to the next instalment. Thanks for sharing :)
We used to live in a tiny apartment and it was a similar situation--all my crap pretty much everywhere! haha. My husband is also very easy-going about it, thank goodness! To be able to close the door and not see the mess at the end of the day is pretty nice, i must admit!
I see another knitter already pointed out that it's best not to hang knits, and another mentioned adding elastic to that stretched out neckline. I'm going to add that if the neckline doesn't need to stretch to get over your head you could also stabilize it with narrow twill tape hand stitched along the seam between the body and the neck ribbing. You can also do that along shoulder seams for sweaters that tend to stretch out in the shoulders as you wear them. As someone that sews for dolls I can't manage to make myself get rid of scraps bigger than a sheet of copy paper; I could make something from that.
I probably need to (definitely)store my sweaters differently...brainstorming an attractive and easy to maintain solution for those! I also saw a video where someone did a creative folding technique for hanging the sweaters in a less destructive way...
I put my fabric stash on pieces of foam core poster board that I buy at the 1$ store. One piece of poster board makes 4 boards. I roll my big pieces like you do too. Thanks for this, my sewing room is a m s right now, I’m inspired to go clean it again. When we moved into this house we had a media room that we never use. I took it over for sewing. It’s huge which is not such a good thing.😂
your channel is so amazing :) i feel like every single video is interesting, can't wait to watch them! really loved watching your organisation process. can relate to shopping out of your own stash :) already getting ideas on how to improve my fabric storage, love the cardboard hack!
It would be great if you started a site for the re-sale of hand made clothing - maybe not only for yours but other TH-cam creators' pieces! One side benefit would be not having to put in tags...
Reorganisation is such a chore, but once it’s done it’s a treasure - because you rediscover stuff; And can put away stuff in between projects. I don’t have a dedicated sewing room, I have sewing cupboards and a dining room table😂. I actually bag up fabrics in large ziplock bags to keep them dust free, bug free, and moisture/humidity free - keeps out that musty smell of storage. Or maybe that’s me living in the southern hemisphere near the equator line in Northern Australia… I just made a dress with fabric I bought 25 years ago, and it was still the same condition as new, after that first pre-wash. Your large plastic storage containers is also excellent in keeping out moisture, smells, dust and other undesirables - and probably easier to pack and move; and clear plastic makes it easier to see it’s contents.
So true!! I always dread it but am always so happy when it is done. I grew up in humid Mississippi so can relate to keeping fabric protected from the elements (and critters) :) I keep my interfacing scraps in plastic bags because I will often piece them together on projects--that's the one thing I get super scrappy and frugal with haha.
Hi Casey, love your videos, your candor, and generosity in sharing your knowledge. My sewing and fit mentor, Sarah Veblen, keeps a teaching collection of garments which is really helpful to her mentees and workshop participants. When selecting items to retire from your wardrobe, you might consider retaining some for educational purposes. Best regards, Patchin
That is so smart! I end up keeping so many of them for reference (and sentimental value). I have a hard time letting them go! I like the idea of using them as educational tools 🙌
It is fun to see you go thru your stash. I go thru mine a couple times a year. I don't get rid of much as I have many to sew for and I end up using fabric for someone. Also I end up using small pieces for crafts, etc but i have most of our downstairs to use. Wish you could expand since you are such an avid sewer and designer. Can't wait till next week.
I have to do the same (or at least I should!) :) It just gets a little crazy in here every 6 months or so. Now that I've done the fabric and clothes I feel so ready to get the rest of the room in order!
This video gave me so many much needed signs! The first being that I need to organize my stash lol, but also that you tackled a lot of the more challenging garments early on in your sewing journey. I get very wrapped up in my head about my skill level and I end up chickening out! And then the last sign I took from this is that you really get a lot of use from your Byrdie button up, the pattern of which has been sitting on my table taped together ready to cut out for a month now (this goes back to my overwhelm/anxiety that I previously mentioned lol). I will try to do something this weekend! haha! Thank you for this and all of your videos!
I totally get that! I put off wardrobe sewing at all for YEARS for that very reason (and I knew how to sew!). Once I started I was so enthused, I just put the pedal to the metal haha. I basically always have the mantra in my head: I am learning new things and I will get better. And yes! That Byrdie button-up is by far the most worn thing in my wardrobe. I want to make another one or two when I get a chance! So glad you are thinking of trying the pattern--I hope you love it!
My sewing goal this year is to sew through my fabric stash. I like to say I became a fabric collector before I became a sewist. Lol. I knew I wanted to sew but had little time with babies so I just bought fabric I loved but didn’t have a plan for lol. So i have a closet full of fabric that I will sew up this year for the family!
Great video, I love organising my sewing/knitting room. The stretched out neck on the orange sweater could be fixed by weaving in some hat elastic. Would also stop it from stretching further.Also, you could make beanies from the bottom of the sweater bodies (or sleeves if they're big enough, or for kids). The hem/cuffs become the cuffing on the beanie and you can just cut and sew the head shape...instant "knitted" hat 💙💙💙
Hi, how timely your video is for me. We are moving and my new sewing room is a lot smaller thank my sewing shed !, I have here on the farm. Hence I spread out a lot and get into a mess. I need to scale down my stash also and my. Lot he’s. so will be following your ideas. I have only recently got back into sewing after about 50years as I retired a few years ago. Enjoying all the pdf patterns available but measurements and size to sew are giving me a bit of a headache, it I will keep plodding. Looking forward to your next video on this subject. Cheers from Aus.🇦🇺
Girl! You need new hangars! I hate those slippery plastic ones that tak up a ton of room! Get the skinny velvet hangars - Huggable Hangers - stuff doesn’t slip off and they are so thin! Everything matches and adds to the orderly look! And they are not expensive!
Thank you Casey for this video. I appreciate its not the type of thing you can do every week but I enjoyed this departure from the norm. I feel motivated to open my couple fabric bins and cull it down - perhaps even make it one tote... See you next week for part 2 😁
So glad you enjoyed it! Feels so nice to have everything sorted and know what I have again. And now I am super motivated to get the rest of the room in shape!
Hey when you stated you probably wouldn’t wear the thrift flip from the scarves… I pictured it hung on the wall or the door… like they display kimonos… just a thought…
Your video got me inspired to use my huuuge fabric stash. Unfortunately I stayed late to watch World Cup and now I feel like zombie and also have many chores to do, so I can’t go and start working on a new project. ☹️
Wait!...shoot! there is such a thing?? I just put out a recent thrifted Loft sweater I adored, bc of pilling! I will look that up and bring it back in the house!!
I have been courting the idea of using cardboard for organizing fabric. Now that my co-pilot has ordered way too many things, I have plenty of cardboard in my house! 😂
1 question after organizing everything and finding placing to put it do you label every box or place or on paper make a map where u place it all so then when time to search for a certain fabric or bla bla you know where it exactly is ? Or do you go from spot to spot searching for where u placed the box of fabrics or bla bla ?
I got that at JoAnn Fabrics (they are usually rolled up near the patterns section). I also have a similar one linked in my amazon storefront here: www.amazon.com/shop/patternscout It's a great mat and fits my table perfectly!
If you’re watching on your device, just below the video when it’s not full screen, where the video title is visible in that block of white space, you should see the word, “more…” in bold type. Tap “more” to find links mentioned in the video.
The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/patternscout12221
You can stitch in elastic thread in your sweater collars to help them retain there old neckline
I love that you just jumped straight in and tried some of the more 'difficult' projects at the start of your sewing journey. So many people are scared to try the harder projects but that's how you learn!
Yesss!! It kept me motivated to work on projects I was really excited about, even if they were a little more challenging (and a lot of indie pattern designers have excellent instructions which was a big help when I was starting out)! I have learned so much by just going for it and making mistakes and trying again. :)
To prove your point about beginner garment attempts not necessarily being disasters: one of the first things I made for myself when I started sewing last year was a forest green circle skirt from the cheapest fabric imaginable. It was 100% never intended to be worn outside the house, demonstrated in the fact that I used MAROON thread because I COULD NOT be bothered to rethread the machine. Messed up the waistband and ended up using exposed elastic instead. But lo and behold, it fit like a glove and I still wear it all the time. Literally had it on for errands this morning. Have since redone the elastic as well as the hem with my improved skills, and I'm definitely going to keep wearing it.
I love that!! Sewing makes me appreciate my wardrobe so much more and find ways to make it last.
As per usual- thx for a great video of your process! When I went back to garment sewing (and that was during the pandemic- I'm an ICU RN) I was really excited to create my space! I watched and absorbed info from several of my youtube favorite's channels and came up with my own process. I now have a functional space w adequate lighting and stations! I realized as a young person when creating , I had to clean and prepare my space for my process!. Even the house! I couldn't be creative when I was disorganized!
Even now, I -of course- become disorganized in my space and when I just lack drive to create I go right back to reorganizing my stuff and it puts me on a creative trajectory!
Yup, agreed, on the choosing fabrics with a purpose! I found myself bordering on hoarding... the excitement put me there! I have turned the corner on that and am attempting to sew through my huge stash. LOL.
Thanks so much, Theresa! I agree, it is so hard to be creative when my space is a disorganized mess! It's just good for me to regularly do a clean sweep and try to get things back in order. We'll see how long this one lasts 😂
I love an organized space. Built-ins with open and closed options are the best for a sewing room space. A great shelving system works too. Closet systems are a great option as well. Happy organizing 😊👍🏾👍🏾
I always enjoy your videos :) I’d love to see one about how you go about thrifting for clothing items. What stores you like, your method for finding great items, how to treat the items once you buy them for any lingering odors, etc.
Thank you! I will try to share more on those topics!
So glad you hung on to that wrap blouse. It's BEAUTIFUL! I could totally see it as holiday wear. I feel like I'm constantly organizing my sewing/craft space. I get it looking good, and then along comes more fabric scraps.
Thank you!! I really need to find more reasons to wear it. And yes...the fabric scraps...they haunt me!! 😅
I like to keep small remnants for my contrasting pockets or bias tape which adds a nice touch to a garment.
Oh that is smart!
Love, I live in a tiny basement studio apartment in NY with my husband and my sewing space is basically the entire apartment🙄 For that reason, I have a VERY small stash and my organisation is pretty basic. Thankfully, my beloved is very tolerant and doesn't freak out when my crap is literally everywhere! Oh! to have a whole room dedicated to creative pursuits!! And to have a door to close, so no-one can see the chaos! Heavenly. 😄😄😄 Totally love seeing other peoples' sewing rooms and how they organise themselves. Always picking up hints and tips! Looking forward to the next instalment. Thanks for sharing :)
We used to live in a tiny apartment and it was a similar situation--all my crap pretty much everywhere! haha. My husband is also very easy-going about it, thank goodness! To be able to close the door and not see the mess at the end of the day is pretty nice, i must admit!
I see another knitter already pointed out that it's best not to hang knits, and another mentioned adding elastic to that stretched out neckline. I'm going to add that if the neckline doesn't need to stretch to get over your head you could also stabilize it with narrow twill tape hand stitched along the seam between the body and the neck ribbing. You can also do that along shoulder seams for sweaters that tend to stretch out in the shoulders as you wear them.
As someone that sews for dolls I can't manage to make myself get rid of scraps bigger than a sheet of copy paper; I could make something from that.
I probably need to (definitely)store my sweaters differently...brainstorming an attractive and easy to maintain solution for those! I also saw a video where someone did a creative folding technique for hanging the sweaters in a less destructive way...
I put my fabric stash on pieces of foam core poster board that I buy at the 1$ store. One piece of poster board makes 4 boards. I roll my big pieces like you do too. Thanks for this, my sewing room is a m s right now, I’m inspired to go clean it again. When we moved into this house we had a media room that we never use. I took it over for sewing. It’s huge which is not such a good thing.😂
That's a great idea! And so nice to have a big space!
It helps to eliminate visual clutter if you invest in all new hangars. That match. Like wooden ones.
I use the organization check list ✅
Wearable
Repairable
Discards
Thanks for your help also!
In my 50’s. Life is full of reorganization and clearing out. Best of luck with life’s reorganization
your channel is so amazing :) i feel like every single video is interesting, can't wait to watch them!
really loved watching your organisation process. can relate to shopping out of your own stash :) already getting ideas on how to improve my fabric storage, love the cardboard hack!
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it!
It would be great if you started a site for the re-sale of hand made clothing - maybe not only for yours but other TH-cam creators' pieces! One side benefit would be not having to put in tags...
Reorganisation is such a chore, but once it’s done it’s a treasure - because you rediscover stuff; And can put away stuff in between projects. I don’t have a dedicated sewing room, I have sewing cupboards and a dining room table😂. I actually bag up fabrics in large ziplock bags to keep them dust free, bug free, and moisture/humidity free - keeps out that musty smell of storage. Or maybe that’s me living in the southern hemisphere near the equator line in Northern Australia… I just made a dress with fabric I bought 25 years ago, and it was still the same condition as new, after that first pre-wash. Your large plastic storage containers is also excellent in keeping out moisture, smells, dust and other undesirables - and probably easier to pack and move; and clear plastic makes it easier to see it’s contents.
So true!! I always dread it but am always so happy when it is done. I grew up in humid Mississippi so can relate to keeping fabric protected from the elements (and critters) :) I keep my interfacing scraps in plastic bags because I will often piece them together on projects--that's the one thing I get super scrappy and frugal with haha.
Looking forward to the next video I love to see how other people organize their sewing spaces. Thanks for sharing
Thanks! Excited to finish the space!
Hi Casey, love your videos, your candor, and generosity in sharing your knowledge. My sewing and fit mentor, Sarah Veblen, keeps a teaching collection of garments which is really helpful to her mentees and workshop participants. When selecting items to retire from your wardrobe, you might consider retaining some for educational purposes. Best regards, Patchin
That is so smart! I end up keeping so many of them for reference (and sentimental value). I have a hard time letting them go! I like the idea of using them as educational tools 🙌
It is fun to see you go thru your stash. I go thru mine a couple times a year. I don't get rid of much as I have many to sew for and I end up using fabric for someone. Also I end up using small pieces for crafts, etc but i have most of our downstairs to use. Wish you could expand since you are such an avid sewer and designer. Can't wait till next week.
I have to do the same (or at least I should!) :) It just gets a little crazy in here every 6 months or so. Now that I've done the fabric and clothes I feel so ready to get the rest of the room in order!
Good for you! My sewing room doubles as a guest room so I have to organize it in the next week or so for the holidays. Good inspiration here!
Thanks! Really looking forward to getting the rest of it in order now--it's a hot mess in here! 😂
Me too. Ugh.
This video gave me so many much needed signs! The first being that I need to organize my stash lol, but also that you tackled a lot of the more challenging garments early on in your sewing journey. I get very wrapped up in my head about my skill level and I end up chickening out! And then the last sign I took from this is that you really get a lot of use from your Byrdie button up, the pattern of which has been sitting on my table taped together ready to cut out for a month now (this goes back to my overwhelm/anxiety that I previously mentioned lol). I will try to do something this weekend! haha! Thank you for this and all of your videos!
I totally get that! I put off wardrobe sewing at all for YEARS for that very reason (and I knew how to sew!). Once I started I was so enthused, I just put the pedal to the metal haha. I basically always have the mantra in my head: I am learning new things and I will get better. And yes! That Byrdie button-up is by far the most worn thing in my wardrobe. I want to make another one or two when I get a chance! So glad you are thinking of trying the pattern--I hope you love it!
My sewing goal this year is to sew through my fabric stash. I like to say I became a fabric collector before I became a sewist. Lol. I knew I wanted to sew but had little time with babies so I just bought fabric I loved but didn’t have a plan for lol. So i have a closet full of fabric that I will sew up this year for the family!
I know haha...the fabric is just so tempting!! That is a good plan 🙌
Great video, I love organising my sewing/knitting room. The stretched out neck on the orange sweater could be fixed by weaving in some hat elastic. Would also stop it from stretching further.Also, you could make beanies from the bottom of the sweater bodies (or sleeves if they're big enough, or for kids). The hem/cuffs become the cuffing on the beanie and you can just cut and sew the head shape...instant "knitted" hat 💙💙💙
Oh I may try that! Thank you!
Hi, how timely your video is for me. We are moving and my new sewing room is a lot smaller thank my sewing shed !, I have here on the farm. Hence I spread out a lot and get into a mess. I need to scale down my stash also and my. Lot he’s. so will be following your ideas. I have only recently got back into sewing after about 50years as I retired a few years ago. Enjoying all the pdf patterns available but measurements and size to sew are giving me a bit of a headache, it I will keep plodding. Looking forward to your next video on this subject. Cheers from Aus.🇦🇺
So glad you enjoyed it! Hope there are some helpful tips in there (and this week I'll be sharing the total sewing room makeover). Thanks for watching!
Girl! You need new hangars! I hate those slippery plastic ones that tak up a ton of room! Get the skinny velvet hangars - Huggable Hangers - stuff doesn’t slip off and they are so thin! Everything matches and adds to the orderly look! And they are not expensive!
1. This is so reliable and 2. Super inspiring because I really need to do this as well!!
For your scraps, see if you have a place like Fabscrap near you. For a fee, they take scraps and recycle them.
Great video! A realistic view of an avid maker. I’m inspired to consider my next studio reorg!
Thank you! :)
I enjoyed this video
Thank you Casey for this video. I appreciate its not the type of thing you can do every week but I enjoyed this departure from the norm. I feel motivated to open my couple fabric bins and cull it down - perhaps even make it one tote...
See you next week for part 2 😁
So glad you enjoyed it! Feels so nice to have everything sorted and know what I have again. And now I am super motivated to get the rest of the room in shape!
@@PatternScout and then the creativity will overcome you and we'll benefit from more great content 👏 ✨️
@@catherineb6565 I sure hope so! 😄
Good job
I just love your videos and am always excited to see a new one pop up on my feed. Thanks for another great one ❤
Ah, thanks! So glad to hear that!
Hey when you stated you probably wouldn’t wear the thrift flip from the scarves… I pictured it hung on the wall or the door… like they display kimonos… just a thought…
That's a great idea!
Your video got me inspired to use my huuuge fabric stash. Unfortunately I stayed late to watch World Cup and now I feel like zombie and also have many chores to do, so I can’t go and start working on a new project. ☹️
Sweater shaver can really help with pilling
Wait!...shoot! there is such a thing?? I just put out a recent thrifted Loft sweater I adored, bc of pilling! I will look that up and bring it back in the house!!
@@theresasmith1000 😎
sweater shaver ordered!
I sorted one of my rooms now its a mess again. I get busy, have projects that need to be done and things just get left. Great video!
That is what happens to me too! I have good intentions but bad habits haha
I have been courting the idea of using cardboard for organizing fabric. Now that my co-pilot has ordered way too many things, I have plenty of cardboard in my house! 😂
Oh yeah, it is the perfect solution for us box hoarders! 😅 I always have so many!
1 question after organizing everything and finding placing to put it do you label every box or place or on paper make a map where u place it all so then when time to search for a certain fabric or bla bla you know where it exactly is ? Or do you go from spot to spot searching for where u placed the box of fabrics or bla bla ?
Can I ask where did you find your large cutting mat? Or what brand is it?
I got that at JoAnn Fabrics (they are usually rolled up near the patterns section). I also have a similar one linked in my amazon storefront here: www.amazon.com/shop/patternscout
It's a great mat and fits my table perfectly!
How do I find the description box
If you’re watching on your device, just below the video when it’s not full screen, where the video title is visible in that block of white space, you should see the word, “more…” in bold type. Tap “more” to find links mentioned in the video.
You’ve probably been asked this, but why don’t you wear your wedding band?