Sewing Pattern Reorganization

May 1, 2011

Why is it that I can’t seem to ever put away my sewing patterns?  I mean, I even wrote a huge blog post about organizing your sewing patterns.  You’d think I’d have this Sewing Room Organization thing under control.  No such luck.

I have turquoise binders,

pink binders,

and some more pink binders.

Did you count all the pattern binders?  Yep…there’s 18 of them! 5 Turquoise binders and 13 Hot Pink binders.

And that’s it.  I’m not buying anymore binders.  The bookcase where I keep my sewing pattern binders has 3 shelves which neatly fit 6 binders each…I’m maxed out at 18 binders.  There simple isn’t anymore room for patterns.

And I’m not buying anymore sewing patterns either.  Seriously…I rarely use any of them.  I buy them to read the construction details.  I’m always looking for a quicker way to do a sewing technique, etc.  Tell the truth—you do it, too, right?

I had dozens and dozens of patterns, some old, some new, laying around all over my sewing room.  It was time to finally reorganize and try to consolidate my pattern collection.  I was able to part with a whole box of patterns and will give them away on my local Freecycle website.

I used my Silhouette SD Electronic Cutter to make some vinyl labels for the pattern binders.  How cute!

 

I was tempted to paint my ugly old faux wood bookcase, but I’ll have to save that for another day (or year).

I keep the patterns I use most often on professional pattern hooks for easy access.  They hang from the basement rafters next to the sewing pattern bookcase.

I feel so much better now that I’ve reorganized my sewing patterns.  Only problem now is my fabric pile of shame.  Don’t laugh…you have one of those, too!

Happy Sewing!

Hitting the Ground Running…

Jan 14, 2009

(Kidney Toy available from Tracy Beans)

Marielle and I returned home late yesterday afternoon from Philadelphia–just two weeks after her successful kidney transplant!  Woo hoo!

It is great to be home, but the reality of what’s ahead is daunting:

• Twice weekly doctor appointments for the next 6 weeks and weekly appointments thereafter
• Daily in-home nursing appointments for Marielle
• Filling a zillion prescriptions
• Christmas decorations that need to be put away
• A sewing studio that looks like a bomb went off in it
• Designing a quick Fall/Winter 2010 boys’ clothing line for buyers
• Complying with the new CPSIA requirements
• Manufacturing and shipping my Spring/Summer 2009 boys’ clothing line
• Preparing for house painters
• Planning a 15th Liver Transplant Anniversary for Marielle on St. Patrick’s Day for more than 200 people in my home.

Overwhelmed is an understatement.  Seriously.  So please be patient with me while I dig out from under all this insanity…

oh and did I mention my home is TRASHED!  Thanks Mr. Diva…great job.  Not.

Design Your Own Ultimate Sewing Room Contest

Dec 22, 2008

C O N T E S T       H A S        E N D E D ! ! !

Can’t believe I forgot to mention this!  Have you entered the Fabric.com / Craft Stylish Ultimate Sewing Room Contest yet?  There’s over $7,000  in prizes!  Prizes include:

 

Fabric.com Shopping Card – Value – $1,500

Baby Lock Ellure Sewing Machine – Value – $2,499

Reliable Corporation IronMaven™ J490A – Value – $399

Reliable Corporation C81 – Vacuum & Up-Air Pressing Table – Value – $499

Fabulous Fit Dress Forms Pro Series® Misses Regular Form – Value – $687

Sylvia Sewing Cabinets Model 810 work table – Value – $1,099.95

American & Efird Mettler Thread 28 Spool Gift Pack– Value – $82.10

1-Year subscription to Threads magazine – Value – $32.95

Threads Fitting DVD Series – Value – $99.95

Threads Industry Insider Techniques Volume 1 & 2 – Value – $59.90

The Best of Threads DVD-ROM Volume 1 & 2 – Value – $99.90

Here’s the Official Rules.  Hurry–the contest end December 31, 2008!

Here are the two sewing room designs I entered:

Design Your Own Ultimate Sewing Room NOW!  Check out the sewing room gallery to see what others have created.  Creating a sewing room online is so simply—really.  Go do it now!  You never know if you’ll be one of the winners, KWIM?

Sew Urgent – Help Save My Daughter’s Life

Nov 12, 2008

PLEASE SEE MOST RECENT UPDATE:

>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE<<<<<<<<<<

Things continue to be difficult.  But where there is life, there is hope. 

I’m forcing myself to blog so I can update all my dear friends and family about what is going on with my sweet Sunshine Girl, Marielle, as her kidneys fail.  It looks like we are on the way to the local emergency room again tonight–she’s in terrible pain and a bit lethargic.

After continued difficultly getting calls returned and kidney donor evaluation packages send to those who have come forward to donate their kidneys, we’ve given up on the Philadelphia hospital of ever finding a living kidney donor.  They’ve recently told us they will only test family members and the closest of friends.  They’ve taken it upon themselves to decide who our friends are.  Philadelphia has only tested 3 donors in 4 months.  To say I am furious is an understatement.

But there is hope.  We are in the process of transferring Marielle’s care to NY Presbyterian-Columbia University Hospital (NYP) in hopes their additional living-donor kidney programs will save her life.  Not only will NYP consider family members as donors, but are willing to evaluate EVERYONE (friends, associates and kind strangers) who wants to donate a kidney.  That’s right…EVERYONE regardless of blood type, antibody mismatch, age, etc.  They offer several kidney donor options for us:

Compatible Living Donor

Incompatible Donor Program

Paired Donor Exchange Program

Deceased Donor Program

Marielle will only match 1 in 50 people in the general population (average person matches 1 in 2). I  am asking EVERYONE who has ever loved a child as deeply as I do my daughter to please consider being a living-kidney donor to her. You might be the one who can save my daughter’s life.

If you would like to receive a donor consent form to see if you could be a potential donor, please print out this form:

kidneydonorquestionnaire

Then send it to Joan Kelly either by email at kellyja@nyp.org or fax (212) 305-9642.  Be sure to put MARIELLE CARROCCIO as the Potential Recipient’s Name.

Please pass this information along to anyone and everyone.

I continue to be comforted by the tremendous amount of love and support from all of you.  Thank you seems to fall short.

Sew…I is for Internet Sewing Web Sites

Aug 22, 2008

Back to the Encyclopedia of ME…we’re up to letter I…

 

Besides all the sewing blogs listed on my sidebar, thought I’d suggest a few others.  If you haven’t check out the new Sewing.org web site, I suggest you do!

After the Home Sewing Association (creators of sewing.org) closed their doors on December 31, 2007, we thought all was lost.  But guess what?  Sewing.org is now a part of the Sewing & Craft Alliance (SCA)! SCA provides education and creative resources to the sewing and craft enthusiast. You can visit their complete line-up of web sites at:

National Sewing Month

Trained Sewing Instructor

Sew Trendy

Sewing Events

Got Sewing

 

Be sure to sign-up for their monthly newsletter. (can’t get their link for the newsletter to work…sorry!)   Happy Sewing!

Oh and don’t forget to check out my FREE CANDY GIVEAWAY!

SEWING ROOM ORGANIZATION CHALLENGE – PART VII – SEWING ROOM DESIGN

Jul 30, 2008

A PLACE TO CREATE

Whether you have an entire room dedicated to your creative space, closet, guest room, under a staircase, hallway, garage, basement, attic or corner of the kids’ playroom–claim your space!

Nothing is more frustrating than having to drag out your sewing machine and supplies every time the creative bug strikes.

ROOM PLANNING SOFTWARE

Start with a plan by first accessing your needs.  Sewing rooms are as individual as the sewers who use them.  One who sews ladies’ garments will have different sewing needs than one who quilts or sews home decor.

Smart Draw Free Trial

Better Homes and Gardens’ Arrange-A-Room

Jordan’s Room Planner

MyFloorPlanner.com

Room Planner

Icovia Space Planner – Design Edition

Free Furniture Templates

Raymour & Flanigan Room Planner

COLOR

Choosing Color

Selecting the perfect color for your sewing room is a personal choice.  I chose Pink accented with Black and White.  I had originally planned on using Brown to accent the Pink, but decided against it as it is much easier to find Black and White items to coordinate. 

Sherwin Williams’ Color Visualizer

Benjamin Moore’s Personal Color Viewer

Pantone’s Paint Selector

Sewing Room Color Ideas

Bella Dia’s Sewing Room and Alicia Paulson’s Romantic Portland Sewing Studio

Magda’s Black and White Sewing Room

House on the Hill’s Little Sewing Space

I Mess Around’s Bright Blue Studio

Happy Zombie’s Inspiring Sewing Room

Melissss’ Craft Room

Jessica Griffin’s Pink Sewing Room

Creative Little Daisy’s Pretty Studio

Elneenya’s Terra Cotta Red Sewing Room

Jenni Apple’s Deep Red Sewing Studio

Syrommet Mitt’s Yellow and Green Sewing Studio

Dog Child’s Pink Studio\Sew Pixie’s Sewing Room

Pink Present’s Sage Green Workroom

Squeaky Monkey’s Orange Miniature Sewing Room

Chalet Girl’s Bright Pink Sewing Room

Amber’s Aqua Craft Room

Quaint Handmade’s Soft Pink Sewing Room

Dharma Lemon’s Retro Green Sewing Nook

Jigabug Baby’s Butter Cream Sewing Room

Liquid Paper’s Dark Gray Studio

Crafty Intention’s Aqua and Red Studio

Lucky Lola’s Bright Pink Sewing Room

FLOORING

Whatever you do, don’t install carpeting if you can help it.  Carpets hide pins, needles and other little sewing notions.  Use flooring that is easy to care for such as concrete, hardwood, vinyl or tile.

Consider an anti-fatigue mat next to your cutting table:

Wearwell’s Anti-Fatigue Mats

KEY INGREDIENTS

SEWING WORKSTATION

There are dozens of ways to set up your sewing machines.  I use an L-shaped desk and a sturdy folding table for sewing machines and sergers.  Figure out what fits your budget and go from there.

Depending if you have one sewing machine or several, you could set your workstation up against one wall, in a U-shaped or L-shaped configuration.  Here’s some sewing workstation ideas:

Koala Cabinets

  Horn Sewing Cabinets

Horn’s Regal Multi-Height Electric Lift Table

 

Arrow Cabinets

Perfexion Tables

Sylvia Designs

Robert’s Fine Sewing Furniture

Sullivan Furniture

Delta Cabinets

Deluxe Tables

Totally Furniture’s $99 Southern Enterprises Sewing Table

Southern Enterprises’ Sewing Cabinet

Joann’s $139 Sewing Table

Other Joann’s Homespun Sewing Tables

Sauder’s Craft Armoire

OMG…is this the ULTIMATE Craft Armoire:

The Work Box™

Hirsh Craft Storage Stand with Drawers

BALT Pneumatic (Adjustable) Workstation

Adjustable Height Folding Table adjusts from 22″ to 32″

Folding Table

CUTTING TABLE

My current cutting table is an old conference room table I acquired from my husband’s old office.  It was a little too low, so I raised the table legs using adjustable bed risers (see below).

Minimum Width – 23 inches.  Ideally, 36 inches would be sufficient as it equals the length of folded decorator fabric.  However, 60 inches would be even better as you could spread most fabrics open.

 

Minimum Length – 36 inches (1 yard).  72 inches would be ideal for most.  However, if you work with larger lengths of fabric, purchase the longest cutting table you can fit in your space.  My new cutting table (pictured above) is 4 feet wide by 16 feet long–the big industrial type  table I need to transition from home sewing into apparel manufacturing.

Minimum Height – 34 to 36 inches.  Ideal height would be the at 2 to 4 inches below your waist.  If you’re under 5′ 3″, you might be comfortable with a table height of 32 inches while if you’re closer to 6′ tall, a 38 inch height would be great.  If you need to raise your cutting surface, use:

Adjustable bed risers which raise the cutting table 3.2 to 5.2 inches more or

Extra Tall Adjustable Bed Risers which raise the table up to 8 inches higher

Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio used PVC pipes to raise her folding table from 28 inches to 36 inches…how clever!

 

Cutting Tables

Sullivan’s $99 Cutting Table

Arrow Cutting Table

Robert’s Cutting Table with Storage Drawers

Saber’s Pow-R-Pax Industrial Cutting Tables

Alvin Craftmaster Hobby Station adjusts from 0 – 30 degrees

What about that big freezer chest?   Surely it would make a great cutting table. You could add a sheet of plywood to the wall mounted with piano hinges…and add a latch hook to keep it from knocking you in the head when digging in the freezer.  Or if you’re not that handy, you could just put a large cutting mat on top of it.  LOL!

If you have a handyman around the house, enlist them to build a custom cutting table for you:

DIY.net’s Build Your Own

PRESSING STATION

 

Sullivan Ironing Cover for Cutting Tables

Nancy’s Notions’ Big Board

Here’s a bunch of iron board cover tutorials:

Vain and Vapid’s Design Studio Details – Ironing Board Makeover

U-Hangblog’s Super Easy Iron Board Cover

Feed Dog’s Cover for IKEA Ironing Board Tutorial

Innovative Sewing’s Ironing Board Cover Tutorial

Instructables’ Fabulous Ironing Board Cover

Marma Daisy’s New Ironing Board Cover

Purl Bee’s Ironing Board Recovery Project

STORAGE

Jumbo Organizer

Moraga Drawer Caddy

Mini Workbox™

Container Store’s Scrapbook Cart

Container Store’s UMBRA Pink Juxta Drawers

Robert’s Storage Caddy

Metal Storage Cabinets from Staples

South Shore Armoire at Staples

Simple White Bookcase under $50

For lots of ideas on how to organize and store your supplies, check out:

• Fabric Organization
• Thread Storage
• Needles, Pins and Stabilizer Storage
• Laces, Trims and Ribbons Organization
• Patterns, Magazines and Books
• Other Notions Storage

Custom Cabinetry

Wall cabinets are available in several heights and widths. The height(s) you choose depends on your ceiling and whether your design includes a soffit. Wall cabinet widths range from 9″ to 48″ with adjustable shelving.

Standard base cabinets are 34-1/2″ high and 24″ deep, and range in width from 9″ to 48″, increasing in 3″ increments. Base cabinets are available with full-height drawers, door and drawer combinations or full stacks of drawers.

Tall cabinets are 84″, 90″ or 96″ high, range from 9″ to 36″ wide, are 12″ to 24″ deep and include a toe kick area. They’re available with doors or a door and drawer combination.

Prices vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, type, hardware and installation.  Consider shopping home improvement stores for the best prices on cabinets and countertops.

CHAIRS

Don’t skimp when it comes to your sewing room chair.  Your back will thank you!

Black Leather Task Chair under $50

Pottery Barn Swivel Chair

Checkerboard Chair

Global Task Chair

Design*Sponge’s Office Chair Upgrade Tutorial

Turkey Feather’s Desk Chair Cover Tutorial

LIGHTING

Lighting in a sewing room is one of those things which is constantly overlooked.  Yet, it is one of the most important elements in designing a sewing room.  Although there are several different types of lighting, the two most important types in a sewing room are:

Ambient Lighting, also known as General Lighting, provides overall illumination.  This type of lighting is created by using recessed lighting in the ceiling, table lamps, chandeliers, track lights, and other ceiling fixtures.  Ambient lighting radiates an even amount of light in the room.  If you are using fluorescent bulbs in your overhead lighting, check out the “sunlight” replacement bulbs to give a more natural light.

Task Lighting directs light just where you need it.  Desk lamps, ceiling pendant fixtures and track lighting are considered task lighting fixtures.  Task lighting performs a specific activity.  Consider an Ott Light in your sewing room for true color.

BONUS INGREDIENTS

DESIGN WALLS AND INSPIRATION BOARDS

Design Wall

A Design Wall is a wall in your sewing room or work area with a felt, flannel, or similar fabric to which your quilt pieces will stick.  Sometimes this will be permanent; other times it consists of this fabric tacked to the wall.

You can easily make a wall to plan your next quilt or garment.  Here’s some great ideas:

The World Wide Quilting

Quiltmaker’s Building a Design Wall

Get Creative’s Make Your Own Design Wall

Jan Myer’s How to Create a Quilting Design Wall

Linda P. of Moonlight Quilters’ Portable Design Wall Instructions

If you don’t want to make your own, you could just buy one:

Block Butler

Cheryl Ann’s Portable Design Wall

Inspiration Boards

You can also make an Inspiration Board (aka Idea Board) like mine above.  Simple use some spray adhesive to attach fabric to a cord board and use some decorative trim to cover the fabric’s raw edges.  Here’s some other tutorials:

Not Nigella

iHanna

Charity Grace

Fresh and Vintage

Martha Stewart’s Framed Bulletin Board

Martha Stewart’s Homasote Bulletin Board

Make an Inspiration Board from Associated Content

Inspiration Boards on Flickr

DRESSFORMS AND MANNEQUINS

Consider adding a dressform or mannequin to your sewing room.  Not only can you use it to size garments, but it can be a decorative element for you to display your unique trims and lace.

Dressforms are available in canvas, wire, wicker and even paper mache.

Wicker Dressform

Wire Mannequin

Make Your Own Dressform

THE LITTLE THINGS

It’s the little things that make your sewing space your own.  Don’t be afraid to re-purpose household items and antiques to decorate your sewing room.

Bowls, baskets and other containers make great organizers and add your personal touch to your room.

Have fun with wall art, paintings and other items to hang on your walls.  You could even use decoupage letters to spell SEW or CREATE.  What about a huge pair of scissors?  Check out these neat sewing room silhouettes.  Or what about a vinyl zipper, a humorous saying, or some vinyl dressforms?

Be sure to shop flea markets for vintage items to complete your sewing room.  The possibilities are ENDLESS!

BOOKS

Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space

Perfect Quilting Space Planner

Dream Sewing Spaces

Organizing Your Craft Space

Where Women Create

Organizing for the Creative Person

Organize Your Scrapbook Workspace

The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker

Organization Tips for Scrapbookers

Home Workspace Idea Book

Home Storage Idea Book

Cabinets, Shelves and Home Storage Solutions

REAL SEWING ROOMS

A List of Over 100 Links of Sewing Rooms

Sewing.org’s Behind the Seams Sewing Rooms

Pictures of Sewing and Quilting Rooms

Now get moving!  Although it’s a work in progress, you can create the sewing room of your dreams!

 

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Sew…How Cute are These?

Jun 26, 2008

You know you want them.  Get them at West Elm.

Happy Stitching!

With friendship,

Lisa

Sew…It’s Sunday

May 4, 2008

Shopping

Ooooh…look what I bought…Vintage Dress Form Vinyl Decals…but I’m getting mine in hot pink (like the ones pictured below).  Figured they’d be perfect in my sewing room on my black metal fabric cabinets, right?

Here’s a smaller set of Vintage Dress Form Vinyl Decals from the same seller!

And while I was shopping on Etsy, I bought this and this, too!

Clothing Manufacturing

Remember last week when I was talking about dangerous drawstrings in children’s clothing?  Well, it seems the CPSC finally took some action:

CPSC Fines 8 Firms $230,000 for Drawstring Safety Issues

Perhaps other children’s clothing manufacturers will take the drawstring safety issue more seriously…KWIM?

Sewing Blogs

Mary aka Confessions of a Craft Addict is enjoying The Magic Sewing Box she won from me a while back.

Lots going on over at Sew Mama Sew.  They listed links to all the Sew Mama Sew Tutorial Winners.  In addition, they have a new Sewing Forum!

Patty of Mod Kid Boutique will be debuting her new fabric line with Michael Miller in October!  Way to go, Patty!

Kittee posted a tutorial for making Pink Popcorn Balls.  YUMMY!

Kristy of Lower Your Presser Foot came up with a great idea for organizing her sewing patterns!

Well, hope everyone’s Sunday is a relaxing one!  I think I’ll try to sneak off to Target and do some more shopping without my needy children.  Did I mention they’ve been home for 4 days straight?  Need I say more?

Sew…Help Me Out Here…

Feb 19, 2008

I finally got around to posting My Sewing Room Organization Challenge on Squidoo.com.  I’d be your best friend if you stop by there and favor it so I can move up the ranks.  Thank you very much…LOL!

Oh and something else…I just got tickets for Martha Stewart Live in NYC on Tuesday, March 11th…who’s coming with me?  Anyone?  Let me know!

Now back to the sewing room…

Sewing Room Tip for your Thirsty Steam Iron

Feb 16, 2008

Sometimes the simplest things are the most clever…

For instance, my water source is not in the same room as my iron.  That would mean a trip to the sink each and every time I needed to refill my iron.  And if you are a steam whore like me, pressing each and every seam as you sew, that’s a lot of water…KWIM?

 

One day while buying yet another drink dispenser at KMart (to be used in my laundry room for liquid detergent and fabric softener), it occurred to me I could use one in my sewing room.

I filled it with a gallon of water and placed it on a low shelf right above my ironing board.  Now I dispense the water I need right into my iron…genius, I tell you!  Sometimes I even amaze myself.

Get your own at Organize.com for only $5.99 or a Rubbermaid 2 Gallon Dispenser for $11.99:

However, if you are the fancy type, you could get one of these:

Siberia Dispenser at Target

Happy Sewing!

With friendship,

Lisa

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