My sewing tools, fabrics, notions etc were starting to look crazy messy. Things were thrown in containers with no rhyme or reason. There was no organization. You'd think I would be able to keep threads with threads and maybe zippers and buttons all together. At one point it was that way but then as I used items and left them about I got lazy and just started piling things into whatever container was most handy to me at that moment, or wasn't crowded with other things or if I had a bunch of stuff to put away and a majority of them were going in the same bin then I would just dump everything into that bin.
It got to the point that I was lucky if I could find 3 things I needed for any given project. To make matters worse, my mom came for a visit and brought all her left over sewing notions, fabrics and tools. I already, didn't have enough room for my own things what was I going to do with the items she was bringing over. I was intimidated with the bag of goodies she brought over. So much so that for over a month I left everything in the giant, travel duffle bag she packed it in. Rather than sorting, haphazardly, I just dug through the bag whenever I needed something or wanted to look at the fabrics enclosed. When I found what I was looking for I just stuffed everything back in, worse then the time before! Yeah, I know, bad, bad, bad.
Then one day I couldn't take it anymore and I had to get my act together and ORGANIZE.
Step 1
- Sorting & purging notions
- organizing
Step 2
- Sorting Fabrics & scraps
- storage
Step 3
- Creating my sewing space
Let's tackle Step 1!
The sorting and purging was the easy part. I actually enjoy that part, a lot, its easy for me since I don't easily attach myself to my stuff. I had so many things that needed to go, like bobbins that don't fit my new sewing machine. Anyway once I got the pile-o-stuff down I headed to the one place I knew I could find some killer organization thangs....Storables. Here in Portland we have a few of them, I went to the one in Pearl since its closest to my home.
One of the items I needed was a container to hold all the threads for my serger. These threads are a about 4 inches tall and a sort of cone shape, no easy feat to find something to hold these oddly shapen items. Storables did not disappoint.
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| "DVD Storage Box" used for Serger Thread ONLY $5.95
I also picked up a box to hold my various notions. These were originally thrown about and stuffed into any old container I could find. I sorted out my notions by type and used Ziplock sandwich bags to group similar items. I didn't want to buy a bunch of small containers to store them, since that would defeat the purpose. Luckily I found this fantastic stackable double bin by Snapware. There are two well sized compartments that spans one on top of the other and has a convenient handle so you can tote them around, easily.
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| Roomy, space saving bin from Storable $7.95
One of the last storage bins I needed was for my essential items, like, scissors, rotary cutter, pins, measuring tape etc. I needed to be able to transport it easily, to lock and to have a few smaller compartments to keep smaller items tangled free. Again, Storable did not disappoint. They had a fantastic, translucent toolbox that was exactly what I was looking for. I like that the box is clear and i'm easily able to identify if the tool I need is still in the box or if I took it out and let it on my cutting table.
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| Medium Toolbox from Storables only $7.95
Storables is one of those stores that you go into to find items you need and find items you didn't know you needed. The organizing possibilities are endless and I feel like I need to go back, there are so many things I can use and so many items I can't figure out how I lived without. If you're in Portland like me then you can find a Storables in The Pearl and in Tigard (new Washington Square Mall) and while I was in the store I noticed a great deal offered to our fine educators, teachers receive 20% off their purchases!!!!!! That is so awesome because being a volunteer in my kids classrooms I've seen first hand how a store like Storables can be extra helpful.
You can find Storables in The Pearl at:
105 NW 13th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209 Phone: 503.221.4500
And in Tigard at:
9140 SW Hall Blvd. at Greenburg Rd.
Tigard, OR 97223 Phone: 503.624.9500
Or Online at:
http://www.storables.com
Stay tuned for Installment 2 of my Sewing organization bonanza
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