I have either photo copied or slipped the patter into a page protector when I do cutting. I take a dry erase marker to cross off what has been cut. This works really well if you need to walk away.
i am lucky to finally have my own quilting space! I am transforming my attic, previously used for packaging for my candy business. Two 36" mats butted up against each other are always out on 2 4 four foot tables. To the left of my sewing table (my parents old dinging room table) is another table with a 24" mat and wool ironing mat. Fabric is in fish boxes (sterilized of course!) for designated projects and collections on steel shelving. Individual colors, 3 yard kits, fat quarters, layer cakes and jelly rolls. Sound organized? Not al all. In the processing of decluttering I have found 7 instances where I bought the same fabric twice. So now I am doing inventory to see what I have. Shocked at the amount of fabric there is. Some people say the winner is the quilter who dies with the most fabric. I want to leave this world with a empty bobbin and strip of selvage. Better get busy!
For lighting my sewing area, I have installed the led strip that is peel and stick onto the underside of my machine. I’m 82 years old and these old eyes of mine really appreciate the additional lighting right where I need it the most. I bought mine on Amazon. It plugs into a USB plug. Another gadget I like is my what I call my stick-it gizmo. I keep scissors, tweezers, a pencil or pen and my heat erasable pens in. Silicone products are becoming a big part of our lives these days!
I have my cutting scrap fabric bin directly under my cutting station on the side where my dominant hand is so I can fluidly clear the scraps from my cutting surface while keeping them contained and limiting chaos. I'm saving everything (thread snips, tiny trimmings, etc) all up to stuff a GIANT snake for my niece, it'll prolly take at least a year of saving my own scraps, but I'm determined! Also I've found sooo many sewing space solutions second hand. Facebook marketplace, thrift stores, people I know getting rid of random office supplies or furniture, sometimes you can make things work for uses other than what their original intent was
I purchased a clamp on laptop stand and use it on my cutting table. It's wide enough to hold an open magazine or 2 pages side-by-side. Then I use desk clips to keep them from falling off. I like this setup because it can also be clamped onto my sewing table. And I can put my laptop or tablet on it if I want to watch a sewing video that goes with a pattern without having it right on my cutting table. I had some fabric I loved and didn't want to cut into. I decided to use it to make fabric bins to hold my fabric. That way I could look at the fabric all the time and it wasn't just there doing nothing. The cardboard your fabric is wrapped around is so thick it's taking up way too much room in that bin, use flatter cardboard. And be careful using cardboard if it isn't acid free as it can harm fabric over time. If you use up your fabric quickly this won't be an issue. Don't use zip ties, if you decide to move the light then you have to cut them off. Use velcro strips for cabling which are inexpensive and reusable. Instead of a plastic grocery bag as a trash can, you could always sew up a trash bag and use clips to hold it on your table. More eco-friendly and it would be a great video tutorial.
I roll larger fabric scraps onto paper towel tubes. Found an old wine rack & I keep these rolls of fabrics in the Wine Rack. The one I found will house at least 11 rolls, very handy. I also store long, prepared bindings on tubes from toilet paper rolls. Neat & tidy!
I was pleased to see your idea of using the command hooks and a fold back clip for the books. I was thinking that you could use two command hooks and then you’d be able to have the book open so you can see what comes next. For the garbage and strings my Mum taught me to use a small Kleenex box with a bounce sheet in it to help prevent the strings from sticking to things. Really enjoyed this video!
I saw a sewer using a strip of batting, hung over her shoulder, to catch the threads. I forgot all about that hint until I was watching this good video 😉
I finally found a design wall that worked for me. I have an upstairs sewing room but my walls only go up 4’. I was in a furniture store and found a tri-fold divider. I put batting on it and lean it against a book case. When not in use I can fold it up and hide it in a corner.
Such awesome ideas ladies! I will definitely put some of them to work. I had to hang my head when Fran talked about having her guest room not look like a sewing room. When our son’s family comes I need 3 sleeping spaces so my cutting / ironing table gets folded and we put a queen air mattress on the floor for my granddaughter. My cutting mat gets stored under the air mattress. I store my rulers in a ~ 12 x 15 piece of stained wood that my hubby salvaged. He cut several slots across it to stand the rulers in. He also made risers for my cutting / iron table using 12” lengths of pvc pipe. No more aching back. Thank you for sharing!
I hang rulers on my walls, as well as my June Tailor shape cut. I covered a piece of foam board (from the $1.25 store) with flannel to make a small design board. It stands up in my closet in my sewing room. I feel blessed to have a sewing room, and never take it for granted.
I use an ikea collapsible laundry hamper for less than 1/2 yd remnants. I then organize 1 yd, 2 yd, etc cuts of fabric by size. I also use clear totes with lids for jelly rolls, charm packs, etc on wire racks. I also have a separate rack for flannel and fleece. That way, if I need 4 yds for backing, I know where to go to find something that works. I am putting up curtain rods above my cutting table to slip wrapping paper and ribbon rolls on. Then, i just have dual purpose cutting table. I have severe arthritis in my back, and can only bend over for so long. My adjustable height table really helps with wrapping and cutting fabric. Hope this helps. Happy quilting!
I share my sewing space with our guest room. I bought a rolling kitchen island that has a leaf I can pop up when in use as a cutting table. I drilled two holes along the edge of my 24x36 cutting mat that I hang from the back of the island under the leaf. The island has three drawers and a two-door cabinet. I can close the leaf and roll it into the closet when not in use. I have an adjustable height table that functions for sewing and pressing. I strongly considered the suggestion from Nikki at Pin, Cut, Sew, who uses a big dresser as her cutting space which also serves as fabric and pattern storage (I will be using my grandmother's dresser for fabric storage as it is too low for cutting or pressing).
Don't forget the back of the door! Back in the day, homes had a closet by the front door entrance. On the inside of the closet door, we had an organizer that we hung on the back of the door. It was made of canvas or heavy decorator fabric. There were poofy pockets, lets say 4 across and 4 down. We would stuff our gloves, hats, etc in them. Kept them out of the way and less likely to be lost. You can store a ton of stuff in them. I have one on the back of my food pantry door and I love it. I also use the clear vinyl closet organizers that are used for purses or shoes. They are open on both ends. I slide my tubes of stabilizers and interfacing in them. Rolls of whatever are difficult to store. I find this works great.
Hi Hannah and Fran, That was so fun and educational! To be honest, my conscience made me select this video. I saw Hannah's face on the video's front page and thought if too many people feel like I do about getting organized, she will not have enough subscribers watching and it certainly won't be Hannah's fault. To my delight, there was Fran's smiling face on my computer screen, as soon as the video started playing. Now if too few people press play when they see the video's title, it won't be all Hannah's fault...she has Fran for backup! Guess what? ! Learning about organizing one's sewing space was so fun, and definitely useful. I had not remembered seeing the other two Fabric Cafe videos on additional aspects of organizing. If I did watch them, I guess three times to hear about changing one's ways really is a charm. I'm starting tomorrow morning and looking forward to this task. Your ideas were wonderful and will make the entire process of quilt making efficient and looking lovely. For the first time in my life I do not have a cat, but I love them very much and am looking forward to moving so I can have a cat again. I only mention this to emphasize how much I loved your cat jokes too! Well done ladies, I truly am looking forward to learning more. It is midnight, so I will say good night and wish you both a wonderful week in your world of Quilting.
I use the rings you use for shower curtains and slip my rulers on them, then hang them up on an over the door hanger in my bedroom room. Nice and tidy and out of the way. I have a pig peg board in my sewing area, and my hubby dressed it up, and he made a picture frame to frame the peg board. Don't forget to put some space between your pegboard and the wall so you can install the peg board hooks. Oh,and my sewing room is an 8 foot space along the wall in my 17' × 11' bedroom. Happy designing your sewing space.😊
I am so lucky that I have a sewing room! I can leave my work laid out. If I have to store things I put them in clear plastic containers so I can see what is inside, as I usually have a couple projects going at a time. I put a tension curtain rod in my window with hooks and hang all my rulers on it, makes a cute curtain.
I use cd storage for my fat quarters! I bought a tall unit and laid it on its side along the back of my work table and it holds a lot of fat quarters without taking up too much space.... in fact I ended up buying a second one that sits right on top of the first. It looks nice too! 😊
gals, I have a great tip for you, Use all of your used needles as nails in your walls. They do not leave a hole and have enough strength to hold your pattern or essential instructions just where you need to have them. I use the plastic sheet holders B-cuz it has a hole to hang, protecting my pattern.
Fran, I just love your shirt. You can never go wrong with cat material. You and Hannah have great ideas in this video. Thank you. I'll be using some of them.
I use large Sonic cups on my cutting station for trimmings and another near my sewing machine - they are small and portable and easy to empty. I also have a larger trash can dedicated to fabric/batting trimmings that I use to stuff dog beds for our local animal shelter.
What a great video. So many useful ideas. I love that your suggestions are realistic, affordable and “common sense oriented” for us average quilters who can’t necessarily afford all the bells and whistles that are out there. Thank you so much. Keep the coming!😉
I have a cart similar to the one on Hannah's side; also tall shelving. I use "S" hooks and binder clips (alligator clips?) to hang items from the shelves and supports. "S" hooks come in various sizes, shapes, and designs at the hardware store. (or shower curtain aisle). The stand and cart ends hold my special rulers, small mats, tote bags, hand broom; the faces have books, 'cheater' charts, and inspirations. Rules can be grouped together and placed into baggies (ziploc) and then hung from the binder clip/"S" hook assembly.
Thank you for your great ideas....I do hate peg boards with a passion(to me it is visual clutter) I want my walls for hanging beautiful things. I repurpose containers and use them to store scissors needles and bobbins and all the other things that don't fit in drawers or cubbies
I have a 3 inch binder with all the 3 yd quilt books and I have separated them by books and have them in page protectors. This way I have them I one area and can take them out and use the patterns.
Me too……I bought plastic magazine holder strips on Amazon. That way I can still read each book while in binder and remove when needed easily. Digital downloads that I printed are in page protectors. Loved the ideas in this video. I’m a fabric collector, quilt maker and vintage machine restorer…..so my room is full!
I have several smaller bulletin boards that I use to pin patterns, notes, instructions, etc to keep those items off my workspaces and where I can find them easily. I have one on the wall behind my cutting station and another above my sewing machine. I attached the boards to the wall using command hooks picture hanging velcro so I can remove them at any time. I like your idea of using a line and clothes pins to organize pieces.
I use S hooks or dollar store curtain shower curtain hooks(thin metal ones) that fit through ruler holes & hang rulers on a hanger. Each ruler is easy to see & find. Thanks for great tips.
Fran, I have a newer version of your small cut/press mat- and I ❤ it! Hannah, your sewing space is lovely, and I love how you organized your quilt top rows- that's so clever!! Wonderful video ladies 🧵❤️🪡
I haven't watched this whole video yet, but I am going to set up Hannah's clothesline idea tonight! I have a big room but no wall space to set up a design wall, but I have exposed beams on the ceiling so this will be perfect to replace it. I can't wait to try it out.
I hang quilt blocks & quilts on pant hangers that have the adjustable clips on both ends. I use a heavy duty Command hook on the back of my door so I can hang a couple of hangers with different quilts in different stages of sewing on them.
I have a small second bedroom that I use for cutting and fabric storage. My scraps are all in a toy storage. The kind with bins on it and they sit in a slant on the shelves. I need to see things rather than closing them up or hiding them in boxes. Bigger pieces are on a bookshelf and wrapped around comic book boards. My rulers and some patterns as well as cross-stitch hoops are hung on the pegboard. I found stick-on-shelf paper to match the color of my sewing table, then covered a small delivery box and made a cute little box to keep on the shelf to hold small stuff. A piece of cardboard from a delivery box has leftover flannel hot glued to it and works as a little design board that I keep at my machine. And I love your shirt, Fran! I thought it went well with the fish fabric. 😆
I took 2 large boxes... one is from a couch and another is from a Christmas tree. I hung curtain rods ( I already had) in them 3 rows in each one (i did buy one dowel rod). Stacked some heavier duty boxes sideways like the cubes. Hung a couple of closet organizers from the dollar store and a few hooks. It eliminated many stacks and was less than 30$. I got 20 hangers from the salvation army for 1$... it is a good start. 👍 y'all have some fabulous ideas too. You can dress up the big boxes and reinforce them with duct tape. They were free.
I have the larger 'Quilter's Cut n Press' that I got at a yard sale. The fabric side was really dirty but the price was right , so I got it. Since I didn't need the extra cutting side but needed an extra pressing mat for piecing small things, I covered the whole thing with a regular sized pillow case and pinned the extra fabric down with pins. (It was kind of like wrapping a present.) It works perfectly for my needs and I don't have to go to the ironing board each time I just want to press something small. If the cover gets dirty, I can take it off, throw in the washer and put it on clean again.
So happy that I found this video! And these ladies have made me feel so relieved & happy that I’m not loosing my mind afterall!…, as they too confess to doing all the silly things of loosing supplies that are right in front of (or on) them! 😁
On my last quilt, I had precut all the little squares and triangles ahead of time and since I am limited on space, I found a spare basket and put each of the separate shapes/colors in a separate plastic zip food bag and put a post-it-note inside with "A", "B", "C", etc. so that when it came time to sew the blocks, I didn't get them mixed up or have to keep looking at the pattern to know what they were. They stayed nice and flat and it kept the pieces from fraying and I didn't have them in piles all over my sewing desk. I have a bulletin board in front of my sewing machine on the wall that I hang my smaller rulers on with thumb tacks and my bigger ruler slips behind the side of my desk on the floor against the wall. Thanks for sharing your tips...I enjoyed hearing all the ideas.
My friend only has a 4x4 corner to work in. She bought a card table and some mobile drawers( the plastic from Walmart) on casters. She also bought some pant hangers to hang her multiple yardage on. the drawers hold some scraps, notions and other items. She also has the double sided mat like you showed with the cutting mat and ironing surface. I got her the silicone base for her iron. Her son made her an ironing top for larger fabric. She can place it on her bed. Her entire bedroom is only 10x10. Very limited but has made some king size quilts. She shares this room with her granddaughter.
Wonderful tips ladies! My cutting mat doesn't have a nail hole, so I clip it to a pants hanger and hang it in the closet. My rulers are on hooks on the back of the closet. Yes, my sew space is in the spare bedroom too. Fun video, thank you!
Inspiring! Thank you. Our local City Mission takes fabric scraps (and worn out clothes) to sell to a Co that makes rags. I do try to use larger scraps but binding & anything smaller than 2” I put in the “rag bag” to donate. I’ve also donated batting scraps. It helps the Mission!
Great video! Thanks! For my “trash can” I just use an empty medium size plastic bin. This way my aim doesn’t have to be real good and everything still ends up in the bin (which is easy to empty into the kitchen trash can). My sewing desk and cutting/work table are right next to each other so the plastic bin is for both sewing and cutting scraps. When we go on vacation, I will look for very small woven baskets. Usually they are made locally and I keep the baskets next to my sewing machine. One has my sewing machine feet and accessories. One that is a little taller holds all my scissors, turning tool, magnifying glass, etc. one is my pencil can. One holds packs of pins and thread. They are very pretty and are souvenirs that I use every day.
wonderful ideas, suggestions, and unique finds. Thanks for sharing. Fran, it's nice to know that you have similar issues with limited space, despite being a seasoned Sewist and quilt designer. I really appreciate your and Hannah's ideas for managing your WIPs on mini design boards and "clothesline" displays. There are so many neat things to take from this video. Thanks ladies!
Mam,😊 you gave me soooo beautiful tips . I don't have sewing room for myself, I use my dining table for that. Every time I have to bring things to the table and after finishing my work , I have to take all things back to another room, where I keep them in different shelves. So thanks once again 😃
I am fortunate to have my own room for sewing supplies. In our last house, I commandeered my boyfriend's old wire shelving unit (similar to the nice wood ones you showed) and scrapbook boxes (12x12x3?) and stacked them on the shelves. I have scraps and shelved projects in the boxes. I am able to fit 4 boxes per square and have a total of 16. Then on top, I took a length of wood, just a bit longer yet narrower than the wire shelves, wrapped it like the canvas idea and laid it across as my iron station. It works out as being a fraction taller than my table, which, for my short little self, is the perfect height for pressing.
My brother made a friend of his a wooden shelf for cookie sheets of cookies. She passed away and now i use it to store upcoming projects. I buy the plastic cake pans with covers from Dollar Tree to put on the shelves.
1. I use command hooks on the side of my sewing machine for my scissors & snips. 2 Also command hooks for my trash bags by tying a knot on the handles then looping on the hooks on the side of my sewing table. 3. Command hooks to attach my binder clips to my completed blocks on my wall unit since I don't have walls in my living room. 4. I have a design board and I had the back of an old picture frame that I hot glue to the design board to stand it up by my sewing table.
I'm in the process of helping organize my wife's sewing nook. I will utilize some of the tricks you discussed in the video, greatly appreciate this. Above that though, I've been designing 3d print files to make custom storage solutions for some items, like for holding thread better in an Ikea Alex drawer that is part of her sewing shelf. I found that "Gridfinity" fits very nicely in that shelf, so I designed parts for the gridfinity system to organize thread, and needle boxes, etc.
Great video. I read where your scraps of fabric and thread ( natural fibers only like linen, cotton, wool etc) can be used in the planting holes when gardening. It’s considered brown matter.
I store my fabric in plastic totes with colored tops and put only the coordinating colored fabrics in them. So easy to find when looking for a specific color fabric. For snipets, I use one of those plastic square boxes that were made for organizing Christmas ribbon. It has a top with a round hole, it's removable for dumping when full and the box has cutout handles. They come in a variety of colors. It holds a lot and works great. Thank you for other great tips.
I created a pocket of that I hung up my embroidery hoops on the side of my metal fabric cabinet. I got 2 hooks from Harbor Freight that holds 25 lbs each..I had used 6 small hooks until I found these mondo hooks that was so much better!
For storing your pens, purple thang, stylis, chalk markers etc in a container like a flower pot filled with glass rocks from the dollar store works great
Annie's sci!Qsor hold - I bought several of these at a quilt show in Castle Rock, CO. I loved that a young girl come up with this idea and produced to sell!
l love all of the organizational ideas! I’ve already used your idea of hanging rulers on the wall, and it is so easy to grab one from there. Thank you!
I use empty Lysol/Chlorox canisters for threads and scraps when I’m cutting fabrics. They can be emptied and reused, plus I can put sticky notes on them.
I have been trying so many ways to think of a way to have a design wall. I love the string and clothespins idea. Thank you for a great video. I really enjoyed it
You can also just get a flannel sheet & tape it to your wall. The blocks should stick themselves to the flannel w/out pins. I'm out of design walls using 2 already. So I now hang new quilt works in progress off older, finished quilts which hang displayed on my Walls. This way I can always step back 10 ft & see them from a distance to better assess their progress. I live alone so I can do this anyway I want.
Thank you for sharing your terrific ideas. I’m going to try several. For a long time, I kept my rulers in a mail sorter as you demonstrated. Because it sat on my cutting station, I found it got in my way. I mounted a picture ledge shelf on the wall above the cutting station and put my rulers on that. The ridge at the front of the shelf keeps the rulers from falling off, they are off my work station, easily visible and I can’t accidentally knock them off. I’ve used a repurposed tissue box as a trash can next to my machine. You could try securing it to the table with some of the double-sided gel tape (I found at the Dollar store). The tape is removable and holds well.
I have either photo copied or slipped the patter into a page protector when I do cutting. I take a dry erase marker to cross off what has been cut. This works really well if you need to walk away.
What an excellent idea! Thank you for sharing!
Mine are in sleeves, buy will be buying markers on my next trip to town! Great idea
i am lucky to finally have my own quilting space! I am transforming my attic, previously used for packaging for my candy business. Two 36" mats butted up against each other are always out on 2 4 four foot tables. To the left of my sewing table (my parents old dinging room table) is another table with a 24" mat and wool ironing mat. Fabric is in fish boxes (sterilized of course!) for designated projects and collections on steel shelving. Individual colors, 3 yard kits, fat quarters, layer cakes and jelly rolls. Sound organized? Not al all. In the processing of decluttering I have found 7 instances where I bought the same fabric twice. So now I am doing inventory to see what I have. Shocked at the amount of fabric there is. Some people say the winner is the quilter who dies with the most fabric. I want to leave this world with a empty bobbin and strip of selvage. Better get busy!
I love my little cutting/ ironing pad. Have had it maybe 20 years and use it extensively 😃
For lighting my sewing area, I have installed the led strip that is peel and stick onto the underside of my machine. I’m 82 years old and these old eyes of mine really appreciate the additional lighting right where I need it the most. I bought mine on Amazon. It plugs into a USB plug. Another gadget I like is my what I call my stick-it gizmo. I keep scissors, tweezers, a pencil or pen and my heat erasable pens in. Silicone products are becoming a big part of our lives these days!
Great video! Thank you for sharing your ideas!
I have my cutting scrap fabric bin directly under my cutting station on the side where my dominant hand is so I can fluidly clear the scraps from my cutting surface while keeping them contained and limiting chaos. I'm saving everything (thread snips, tiny trimmings, etc) all up to stuff a GIANT snake for my niece, it'll prolly take at least a year of saving my own scraps, but I'm determined!
Also I've found sooo many sewing space solutions second hand. Facebook marketplace, thrift stores, people I know getting rid of random office supplies or furniture, sometimes you can make things work for uses other than what their original intent was
I purchased a clamp on laptop stand and use it on my cutting table. It's wide enough to hold an open magazine or 2 pages side-by-side. Then I use desk clips to keep them from falling off. I like this setup because it can also be clamped onto my sewing table. And I can put my laptop or tablet on it if I want to watch a sewing video that goes with a pattern without having it right on my cutting table.
I had some fabric I loved and didn't want to cut into. I decided to use it to make fabric bins to hold my fabric. That way I could look at the fabric all the time and it wasn't just there doing nothing.
The cardboard your fabric is wrapped around is so thick it's taking up way too much room in that bin, use flatter cardboard. And be careful using cardboard if it isn't acid free as it can harm fabric over time. If you use up your fabric quickly this won't be an issue.
Don't use zip ties, if you decide to move the light then you have to cut them off. Use velcro strips for cabling which are inexpensive and reusable.
Instead of a plastic grocery bag as a trash can, you could always sew up a trash bag and use clips to hold it on your table. More eco-friendly and it would be a great video tutorial.
All great ideas! ❤
Dollar Store is your best friend. A book shelves is another one.
I roll larger fabric scraps onto paper towel tubes. Found an old wine rack & I keep these rolls of fabrics in the Wine Rack. The one I found will house at least 11 rolls, very handy. I also store long, prepared bindings on tubes from toilet paper rolls. Neat & tidy!
I was pleased to see your idea of using the command hooks and a fold back clip for the books. I was thinking that you could use two command hooks and then you’d be able to have the book open so you can see what comes next. For the garbage and strings my Mum taught me to use a small Kleenex box with a bounce sheet in it to help prevent the strings from sticking to things. Really enjoyed this video!
What's the reason for the dryer sheet? If you're putting threads, etc in tissue box (good idea btw) it's out of the way.
@@lorineuland5171 The bounce sheet removes any static that there may be in the threads or fabric pieces too small to do anything with.
Love that idea. I use old Kleenex boxes and empty Lysol wipe containers for table trash.
I saw a sewer using a strip of batting, hung over her shoulder, to catch the threads. I forgot all about that hint until I was watching this good video 😉
I finally found a design wall that worked for me. I have an upstairs sewing room but my walls only go up 4’. I was in a furniture store and found a tri-fold divider. I put batting on it and lean it against a book case. When not in use I can fold it up and hide it in a corner.
You just gave me an idea: a cardboard trifold poster board covered with batting. Then can fold and tuck away! Since I don't have room for the divider.
Such awesome ideas ladies! I will definitely put some of them to work. I had to hang my head when Fran talked about having her guest room not look like a sewing room. When our son’s family comes I need 3 sleeping spaces so my cutting / ironing table gets folded and we put a queen air mattress on the floor for my granddaughter. My cutting mat gets stored under the air mattress. I store my rulers in a ~ 12 x 15 piece of stained wood that my hubby salvaged. He cut several slots across it to stand the rulers in. He also made risers for my cutting / iron table using 12” lengths of pvc pipe. No more aching back. Thank you for sharing!
Comic book boards work great for storing fabric
Old baby changing tables make good for "ironing" table and storage. :):)
Hahaha, very true!
I hang rulers on my walls, as well as my June Tailor shape cut. I covered a piece of foam board (from the $1.25 store) with flannel to make a small design board. It stands up in my closet in my sewing room. I feel blessed to have a sewing room, and never take it for granted.
I use an ikea collapsible laundry hamper for less than 1/2 yd remnants. I then organize 1 yd, 2 yd, etc cuts of fabric by size. I also use clear totes with lids for jelly rolls, charm packs, etc on wire racks. I also have a separate rack for flannel and fleece. That way, if I need 4 yds for backing, I know where to go to find something that works. I am putting up curtain rods above my cutting table to slip wrapping paper and ribbon rolls on. Then, i just have dual purpose cutting table. I have severe arthritis in my back, and can only bend over for so long. My adjustable height table really helps with wrapping and cutting fabric. Hope this helps. Happy quilting!
Thanks for sharing all of your tips, Carolyn!
Hope someone can integrate something into their setup.
I share my sewing space with our guest room. I bought a rolling kitchen island that has a leaf I can pop up when in use as a cutting table. I drilled two holes along the edge of my 24x36 cutting mat that I hang from the back of the island under the leaf. The island has three drawers and a two-door cabinet. I can close the leaf and roll it into the closet when not in use. I have an adjustable height table that functions for sewing and pressing. I strongly considered the suggestion from Nikki at Pin, Cut, Sew, who uses a big dresser as her cutting space which also serves as fabric and pattern storage (I will be using my grandmother's dresser for fabric storage as it is too low for cutting or pressing).
Don't forget the back of the door! Back in the day, homes had a closet by the front door entrance. On the inside of the closet door, we had an organizer that we hung on the back of the door. It was made of canvas or heavy decorator fabric. There were poofy pockets, lets say 4 across and 4 down. We would stuff our gloves, hats, etc in them. Kept them out of the way and less likely to be lost. You can store a ton of stuff in them. I have one on the back of my food pantry door and I love it. I also use the clear vinyl closet organizers that are used for purses or shoes. They are open on both ends. I slide my tubes of stabilizers and interfacing in them. Rolls of whatever are difficult to store. I find this works great.
Hi Hannah and Fran, That was so fun and educational! To be honest, my conscience made me select this video. I saw Hannah's face on the video's front page and thought if too many people feel like I do about getting organized, she will not have enough subscribers watching and it certainly won't be Hannah's fault. To my delight, there was Fran's smiling face on my computer screen, as soon as the video started playing. Now if too few people press play when they see the video's title, it won't be all Hannah's fault...she has Fran for backup! Guess what? ! Learning about organizing one's sewing space was so fun, and definitely useful. I had not remembered seeing the other two Fabric Cafe videos on additional aspects of organizing. If I did watch them, I guess three times to hear about changing one's ways really is a charm. I'm starting tomorrow morning and looking forward to this task. Your ideas were wonderful and will make the entire process of quilt making efficient and looking lovely. For the first time in my life I do not have a cat, but I love them very much and am looking forward to moving so I can have a cat again. I only mention this to emphasize how much I loved your cat jokes too! Well done ladies, I truly am looking forward to learning more. It is midnight, so I will say good night and wish you both a wonderful week in your world of Quilting.
I use the rings you use for shower curtains and slip my rulers on them, then hang them up on an over the door hanger in my bedroom room. Nice and tidy and out of the way. I have a pig peg board in my sewing area, and my hubby dressed it up, and he made a picture frame to frame the peg board. Don't forget to put some space between your pegboard and the wall so you can install the peg board hooks. Oh,and my sewing room is an 8 foot space along the wall in my 17' × 11' bedroom. Happy designing your sewing space.😊
I am so lucky that I have a sewing room! I can leave my work laid out. If I have to store things I put them in clear plastic containers so I can see what is inside, as I usually have a couple projects going at a time. I put a tension curtain rod in my window with hooks and hang all my rulers on it, makes a cute curtain.
I use cd storage for my fat quarters! I bought a tall unit and laid it on its side along the back of my work table and it holds a lot of fat quarters without taking up too much space.... in fact I ended up buying a second one that sits right on top of the first. It looks nice too! 😊
Love it! Useful and aesthetic!
gals, I have a great tip for you, Use all of your used needles as nails in your walls. They do not leave a hole and have enough strength to hold your pattern or essential instructions just where you need to have them. I use the plastic sheet holders B-cuz it has a hole to hang, protecting my pattern.
Fran, I just love your shirt. You can never go wrong with cat material. You and Hannah have great ideas in this video. Thank you. I'll be using some of them.
Hi. You have a lovely space
I use large Sonic cups on my cutting station for trimmings and another near my sewing machine - they are small and portable and easy to empty. I also have a larger trash can dedicated to fabric/batting trimmings that I use to stuff dog beds for our local animal shelter.
I'm an old dog and I have learned a lot of new tricks. Thank you ladies.
Thanks for watching, Cheryl!
What a great video. So many useful ideas. I love that your suggestions are realistic, affordable and “common sense oriented” for us average quilters who can’t necessarily afford all the bells and whistles that are out there. Thank you so much. Keep the coming!😉
Thank you Sharon! Yes! We all need tools and systems that are accessible for everyone!
I have a cart similar to the one on Hannah's side; also tall shelving. I use "S" hooks and binder clips (alligator clips?) to hang items from the shelves and supports. "S" hooks come in various sizes, shapes, and designs at the hardware store. (or shower curtain aisle). The stand and cart ends hold my special rulers, small mats, tote bags, hand broom; the faces have books, 'cheater' charts, and inspirations. Rules can be grouped together and placed into baggies (ziploc) and then hung from the binder clip/"S" hook assembly.
Nice Heath! I like the diversity that the "S" hook provides, lots of good ideas!
Longer S hooks are found in plant sections of hardware store👍🏼
Fran, you crack me up. Sounds like something I would do ..lose my spot and do the wrong thing. Lol. Great ideas. I need a silicone mat too
Love your cat shirt
Thank you for your great ideas....I do hate peg boards with a passion(to me it is visual clutter) I want my walls for hanging beautiful things. I repurpose containers and use them to store scissors needles and bobbins and all the other things that don't fit in drawers or cubbies
I have a 3 inch binder with all the 3 yd quilt books and I have separated them by books and have them in page protectors. This way I have them I one area and can take them out and use the patterns.
I do the same…and use the spreadsheet (free on the website) to keep track of individual patterns as well as books!
Me too……I bought plastic magazine holder strips on Amazon. That way I can still read each book while in binder and remove when needed easily. Digital downloads that I printed are in page protectors.
Loved the ideas in this video. I’m a fabric collector, quilt maker and vintage machine restorer…..so my room is full!
I also use an old music stand to put my binder or patterns on.
I love this idea. I have a few more to get but they would ALL be together!
This was the best video of the year. THANK YOU!!!!!!! I feel like I took a college class in organizational skills.
Great tips!❤ I keep my bobbins on chopsticks, with a thread roll on the bottom to stand up, in plastic trays.
Oooo, how cool Rosie! I like it!
I have several smaller bulletin boards that I use to pin patterns, notes, instructions, etc to keep those items off my workspaces and where I can find them easily. I have one on the wall behind my cutting station and another above my sewing machine. I attached the boards to the wall using command hooks picture hanging velcro so I can remove them at any time. I like your idea of using a line and clothes pins to organize pieces.
I use S hooks or dollar store curtain shower curtain hooks(thin metal ones) that fit through ruler holes & hang rulers on a hanger. Each ruler is easy to see & find. Thanks for great tips.
You two are so sweet and full of great ideas. Thanks so much.
What good ideas! I love the idea of using Post it notes to keep your place in the pattern.
Fran, I have a newer version of your small cut/press mat- and I ❤ it! Hannah, your sewing space is lovely, and I love how you organized your quilt top rows- that's so clever!! Wonderful video ladies 🧵❤️🪡
I have a large table and 2 cutting mats stay on that. I love the ironing mat you can fold. It’s so much better and bigger than an ironing board.
I haven't watched this whole video yet, but I am going to set up Hannah's clothesline idea tonight! I have a big room but no wall space to set up a design wall, but I have exposed beams on the ceiling so this will be perfect to replace it. I can't wait to try it out.
Awesome! It sounds like it will work beautifully!
I hang quilt blocks & quilts on pant hangers that have the adjustable clips on both ends. I use a heavy duty Command hook on the back of my door so I can hang a couple of hangers with different quilts in different stages of sewing on them.
I have a small second bedroom that I use for cutting and fabric storage. My scraps are all in a toy storage. The kind with bins on it and they sit in a slant on the shelves. I need to see things rather than closing them up or hiding them in boxes. Bigger pieces are on a bookshelf and wrapped around comic book boards. My rulers and some patterns as well as cross-stitch hoops are hung on the pegboard. I found stick-on-shelf paper to match the color of my sewing table, then covered a small delivery box and made a cute little box to keep on the shelf to hold small stuff. A piece of cardboard from a delivery box has leftover flannel hot glued to it and works as a little design board that I keep at my machine. And I love your shirt, Fran! I thought it went well with the fish fabric. 😆
Great ideas Jyl!
Omg! The clips and command hooks is fabulous idea!! Definitely implementing that. Thank you!
I took 2 large boxes... one is from a couch and another is from a Christmas tree. I hung curtain rods ( I already had) in them 3 rows in each one (i did buy one dowel rod). Stacked some heavier duty boxes sideways like the cubes. Hung a couple of closet organizers from the dollar store and a few hooks. It eliminated many stacks and was less than 30$. I got 20 hangers from the salvation army for 1$... it is a good start. 👍 y'all have some fabulous ideas too. You can dress up the big boxes and reinforce them with duct tape. They were free.
That's awesome! I love the creativity and repurposing that you did!
I have the larger 'Quilter's Cut n Press' that I got at a yard sale. The fabric side was really dirty but the price was right , so I got it. Since I didn't need the extra cutting side but needed an extra pressing mat for piecing small things, I covered the whole thing with a regular sized pillow case and pinned the extra fabric down with pins. (It was kind of like wrapping a present.) It works perfectly for my needs and I don't have to go to the ironing board each time I just want to press something small. If the cover gets dirty, I can take it off, throw in the washer and put it on clean again.
So happy that I found this video! And these ladies have made me feel so relieved & happy that I’m not loosing my mind afterall!…, as they too confess to doing all the silly things of loosing supplies that are right in front of (or on) them! 😁
Yes! I think the easiest things to lose are the things right in front of us 😅
On my last quilt, I had precut all the little squares and triangles ahead of time and since I am limited on space, I found a spare basket and put each of the separate shapes/colors in a separate plastic zip food bag and put a post-it-note inside with "A", "B", "C", etc. so that when it came time to sew the blocks, I didn't get them mixed up or have to keep looking at the pattern to know what they were. They stayed nice and flat and it kept the pieces from fraying and I didn't have them in piles all over my sewing desk. I have a bulletin board in front of my sewing machine on the wall that I hang my smaller rulers on with thumb tacks and my bigger ruler slips behind the side of my desk on the floor against the wall. Thanks for sharing your tips...I enjoyed hearing all the ideas.
Thank you for the great tips!
I love your fun segment on organizing the sewing space!
My friend only has a 4x4 corner to work in. She bought a card table and some mobile drawers( the plastic from Walmart) on casters. She also bought some pant hangers to hang her multiple yardage on. the drawers hold some scraps, notions and other items. She also has the double sided mat like you showed with the cutting mat and ironing surface. I got her the silicone base for her iron. Her son made her an ironing top for larger fabric. She can place it on her bed. Her entire bedroom is only 10x10. Very limited but has made some king size quilts. She shares this room with her granddaughter.
Loved these tips! Thank you ❤️
The awkward cutting mat when you need to store away fits nice and tidy under my couch! 😂 It safe and lays flat!
Haha! Great use of space! 😅
Great tips! How did you know I needed to see this?😂
Wonderful tips ladies! My cutting mat doesn't have a nail hole, so I clip it to a pants hanger and hang it in the closet. My rulers are on hooks on the back of the closet. Yes, my sew space is in the spare bedroom too. Fun video, thank you!
Inspiring! Thank you.
Our local City Mission takes fabric scraps (and worn out clothes) to sell to a Co that makes rags. I do try to use larger scraps but binding & anything smaller than 2” I put in the “rag bag” to donate. I’ve also donated batting scraps. It helps the Mission!
I have a twin bed in my spare bedroom that is also my sewing room. The cutting mats are under the bed to keep them flat.
Great video! Thanks! For my “trash can” I just use an empty medium size plastic bin. This way my aim doesn’t have to be real good and everything still ends up in the bin (which is easy to empty into the kitchen trash can). My sewing desk and cutting/work table are right next to each other so the plastic bin is for both sewing and cutting scraps. When we go on vacation, I will look for very small woven baskets. Usually they are made locally and I keep the baskets next to my sewing machine. One has my sewing machine feet and accessories. One that is a little taller holds all my scissors, turning tool, magnifying glass, etc. one is my pencil can. One holds packs of pins and thread. They are very pretty and are souvenirs that I use every day.
Haha, I love not having to have good aim! 😂 Awesome idea with the baskets, that way you also have a little memento from your different trips.
wonderful ideas, suggestions, and unique finds. Thanks for sharing. Fran, it's nice to know that you have similar issues with limited space, despite being a seasoned Sewist and quilt designer. I really appreciate your and Hannah's ideas for managing your WIPs on mini design boards and "clothesline" displays. There are so many neat things to take from this video. Thanks ladies!
Mam,😊 you gave me soooo beautiful tips . I don't have sewing room for myself, I use my dining table for that. Every time I have to bring things to the table and after finishing my work , I have to take all things back to another room, where I keep them in different shelves. So thanks once again 😃
Oh wow, thank you Fran and Hannan for all those wonderful organization tips. Awesome show.
❤ thank you for sharing these great ideas. 😂. I can relate to losing pieces and my mind
Lol, I want the fish fabric 💙💙
I have one of the silicone iron mats and I love it
I’m in love with the mini design wall.😊
Isn't it adorable? And so easy!
I am fortunate to have my own room for sewing supplies. In our last house, I commandeered my boyfriend's old wire shelving unit (similar to the nice wood ones you showed) and scrapbook boxes (12x12x3?) and stacked them on the shelves. I have scraps and shelved projects in the boxes. I am able to fit 4 boxes per square and have a total of 16. Then on top, I took a length of wood, just a bit longer yet narrower than the wire shelves, wrapped it like the canvas idea and laid it across as my iron station. It works out as being a fraction taller than my table, which, for my short little self, is the perfect height for pressing.
Oh my goodness, this is my first time viewing your site and I love it. You two are so cute together and the tips are great! I will definitely be back.
I use an empty tissue boxes for my scraps. It fits nicely on my side cart which hold many of my sewing needs.
This seems to be a popular method! Love it!
Loved the sea glass material.
Isn't it beautiful!
Great tips, I love the post it note tip, I'll incorporate that into my projects. Thanks Y'all are awesome!
Great tips especially like the hanging the pattern on the wall 😊thank you
My brother made a friend of his a wooden shelf for cookie sheets of cookies. She passed away and now i use it to store upcoming projects. I buy the plastic cake pans with covers from Dollar Tree to put on the shelves.
Great tips you guys. Hannah you are so fun to watch.
Crop a dial punches holes in cutting mats as well as a leather hole punch or a rivet press with a hole punch die.
1. I use command hooks on the side of my sewing machine for my scissors & snips.
2 Also command hooks for my trash bags by tying a knot on the handles then looping on the hooks on the side of my sewing table.
3. Command hooks to attach my binder clips to my completed blocks on my wall unit since I don't have walls in my living room.
4. I have a design board and I had the back of an old picture frame that I hot glue to the design board to stand it up by my sewing table.
Used to hang but they warped so I store flat
I'm in the process of helping organize my wife's sewing nook. I will utilize some of the tricks you discussed in the video, greatly appreciate this. Above that though, I've been designing 3d print files to make custom storage solutions for some items, like for holding thread better in an Ikea Alex drawer that is part of her sewing shelf. I found that "Gridfinity" fits very nicely in that shelf, so I designed parts for the gridfinity system to organize thread, and needle boxes, etc.
Great video. I read where your scraps of fabric and thread ( natural fibers only like linen, cotton, wool etc) can be used in the planting holes when gardening. It’s considered brown matter.
Wow how interesting Phyllis! Thanks for sharing!
I store my fabric in plastic totes with colored tops and put only the coordinating colored fabrics in them. So easy to find when looking for a specific color fabric.
For snipets, I use one of those plastic square boxes that were made for organizing Christmas ribbon. It has a top with a round hole, it's removable
for dumping when full and the box has cutout handles. They come in a variety of colors. It holds a lot and works great. Thank you for other great tips.
Thanks for sharing Reba!
Awesome advice and devices. Thank you😊
Thank you so much for the ideas for organising my space. Some great ideas. Thanks. xx
I use a single command hook on the side of my sewing machine and just hang my small (trim) scissors on it - very handy.
I created a pocket of that I hung up my embroidery hoops on the side of my metal fabric cabinet. I got 2 hooks from Harbor Freight that holds 25 lbs each..I had used 6 small hooks until I found these mondo hooks that was so much better!
For storing your pens, purple thang, stylis, chalk markers etc in a container like a flower pot filled with glass rocks from the dollar store works great
Great ideas, ladies. Thanks for sharing.
Love it. Thanks young ladies for a great video.
Thank you for all the tips. I look forward to seeing your videos on Tuesdays and Thursdays
You gave some very good tips for small spaces I already use some. Fran I like your necklace
Annie's sci!Qsor hold - I bought several of these at a quilt show in Castle Rock, CO. I loved that a young girl come up with this idea and produced to sell!
l love all of the organizational ideas! I’ve already used your idea of hanging rulers on the wall, and it is so easy to grab one from there. Thank you!
You're welcome!
I also use a quart plastic milk jug that I’ve cut in half to put threads & small scraps in.
I use empty Lysol/Chlorox canisters for threads and scraps when I’m cutting fabrics. They can be emptied and reused, plus I can put sticky notes on them.
My cutting mat is stored upright between my piano and the wall. Your videos are so helpful and appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you for watching Debbie! So glad you enjoy the show 😊
I use my glass sliding door as my design wall, I cover it with a felt backed tablecloth that is taped with 2inch wide tape, work great🤗
A plastic table cloth attached to your wall with the fuzzy part out works great for a design wall
Great idea!
My cutting mats are stored under the sofa. Hang rulers on 3M hooks on the wall in laundry room, where fabric is also stored.
I have been trying so many ways to think of a way to have a design wall. I love the string and clothespins idea. Thank you for a great video. I really enjoyed it
Thank you Pamela! Glad you liked it.
You can also just get a flannel sheet & tape it to your wall. The blocks should stick themselves to the flannel w/out pins. I'm out of design walls using 2 already. So I now hang new quilt works in progress off older, finished quilts which hang displayed on my Walls. This way I can always step back 10 ft & see them from a distance to better assess their progress. I live alone so I can do this anyway I want.
Great tips! I use the post it note trick also.
Love this video ladies🎉 Thank you both😊 So enjoyable, entertaining and informative🎉😊❤️
Thank you for spending time with us, Lucy!
Thank you for sharing your terrific ideas. I’m going to try several. For a long time, I kept my rulers in a mail sorter as you demonstrated. Because it sat on my cutting station, I found it got in my way. I mounted a picture ledge shelf on the wall above the cutting station and put my rulers on that. The ridge at the front of the shelf keeps the rulers from falling off, they are off my work station, easily visible and I can’t accidentally knock them off. I’ve used a repurposed tissue box as a trash can next to my machine. You could try securing it to the table with some of the double-sided gel tape (I found at the Dollar store). The tape is removable and holds well.
Good idea about the tissue box! The perfect size for all the odds and ends we may not use.
Your favorite Home store (home depot) have great tool cabinets now that go
up and down with drawers, and rolls. Goes where you want.