BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Sewing Taming Clutter

Even though I make every effort to clean up after each stage of a project, within a week or two my sewing stuff is spread all over the house AND all over my limited work space. I've taken advantage of clear plastic bins (they're great) and giant zippered plastic storage bags (they're also great) but I still can't stay organized. Any suggestions?

Have you tried a peg board (like they sell for DIY enthusiasts and gardeners)? You can hang scissors and other tools, plus they have little plastic tubs with lids for pins, buttons, bobbins... anything small.

Taming clutter has to be the hardest thing to do in my craft room. I do beading and sewing and so I have one out and try to totally switch gears. My husbands grandmother moved to an assisted living center and had a really nice craftsman toolbox in her garage. It has 3 huge drawers in it and I moved it into my room and store my material in it. It is not pretty to look at, but very functional. I am also a fan of the clear boxes for storing things. That way I don't have to dig through it to find what I want.

So no one has tamed any clutter?!

Well, tamed may be the wrong word! I feel like the guy in the lion cage waving a chair and a whip. I reach in every once in a while for something I need and hope to come back with all my fingers intact.

I do have one thing in my sewing room that I just love that I have been meaning to post about.

It is a bulletin board about 18" square that is 1/3 cork board and 2/3 perforated metal. I can't remember where I picked it up, but I would strongly suspect Target. I have magnetic clips that I use to hang pattern instructions above my sewing machine and it is wonderful to be able to just look up and glance at the instructions instead of fumbling around with the sheets. My days of skipping steps because I didn't want to bother with looking at the instructions are over. :P

I also use thumbtacks to hold my rotary cutters and scissors so they are always easy to find.

How about you? You have any tips?

Tammy

Well, I am totally tipless lol. I just try to clean up after I get done with one project instead of getting excited about something else and going ahead.

Oh. Is *that* what you are supposed to do? Huh.

<<looks around and sees remnants of more than one project>>

*cough, cough*

Well, I am not the best at cleaning my messes up! Usually I get so frustrated because I have so much stuff everywhere that I have to clean up and get totally sidetracked dreaming about starting some other project. Maybe cleaning up is part of finding inspiration lol!

My area is a mess right now because we purchased a new printer that has moved into a space where I had some bins stacked so I have to find a new home for those. I guess I am going to have to spend this weekend organizing things. *sigh* I just wanna sew!!

Just sew and organize later!! Sounds good to me anyway!