Time to focus again on my low-cost “studio makeover.” By this I simply mean reorganizing my sewing supplies without a large investing $$$ in new furniture and cabinets, using what I have on hand but re-thinking the way I’ve been working. So this week I decided I really needed to address my thread issues.
I don’t know if this happens to you, too. You start collecting fabric and that somehow grows and spills out to other things: gadgets, buttons, thread, ribbons, zippers… and on, and on. I seem to be collecting thread these days, and I suddenly realized that I have not organized it adequately. I started with a small rack and when I outgrew that purchased a second one, then had a friend make me a third one and lately have just been stashing spools wherever I find an empty container. And cones represent a problem… how to store them? I realize now I had thread spread out in four different locations around the room!
- Racks/boxes set close to sewing machine
- Thread rack set on another table
- Shelves across the room with thread cones
- More cones in yet another location simply because there was space
- Container with threads that floats around everywhere
One possible solution would have been to take down some pictures and build one or two larger tread racks. I quickly discarded this idea for several reasons: I wanted an immediate solution (no time to build something), did not want to spend a lot of $$$, and I actually love the pictures I have hanging on the wall and do not want to have to move them. So instead I have taken some under-utilized bathroom shelves and invested in a three-drawer plastic storage unit, and rearranged things so that at least all of the thread is contained in the same area. I will have to see what happens over time, but for the time being I think this is going to work for me:
- Everything brought together now in one central location, close to the sewing machine
- Machine quilting threads
- Cotton thread
- All-purpose threads
- Thread cones – all together now!
- Invisible thread and other specialty threads
- Embroidery threads
- Hand quilting threads (can you tell I enjoy it?)
- Silk threads – I love them for appliqué!
- Embroidery floss
While I was at it, I also came up with a very simple solution for storing the zippers I use for making bags. Previously I had these all thrown in a drawer together, which I pretty much had to empty out while searching for the right color/size zipper. I took this hook unit (meant for hanging things in the kitchen – I know it actually has a name, but this just goes to show how much I am interested in actual housekeeping!), organized my zippers by size, used large clips to hold them together and to hang them from the hooks. Ah… much better!
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I am learning how to dye my own fabrics and am dabbling with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life.
5 Comments
Hi Angie,
What a delight it is to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words on my “Christmas in Ohio”.
Wow, you have A LOT of threads — I am a little bit envious! 🙂
In stitches,
Wendy
Oh gee that looks good, I really need to do this with my whole sewing room. Good idea to sort threads into same together. I have out grown my thread rack too, and have all these extras in boxes and zip lock bags.
That is a lot of thread and I know what you mean by the collections just seem to grow. I had to put up more shelves because I had stuff piled everywhere. your solution looks good.
Angie you should see all the thread I have…I love how you did it, mine is in plastic and wood three drawers cabinets, some are DMC cabinets. I do love the zipper idea and may i use it also. I have tons of zippers, I have been sewing since I came out of the womb…… had a business of sewing for others for over 40 years so I have a huge collection of zippers that customers purchased and it was not the right kind so I just threw them in a box and bought what I needed, guess what they are rarely the right one now when I need a zipper either but I do like having them around . I also have four thread holders on the walls for my cones of thread for the serger. I am thread poor. hehe… I too like to make do with what I have if I can and I do think it is fun to rething what we have and use it in a different way,oops, i just thought” Green”. Glenna
Thank you so much for your idea for “zipper storage”!! I have looked everyplace for ideas for storing my zippers. Utensil rack right under my nose so to speak. Perfect idea and the price is right too. I did go to the see-through 7 1/2 x 7 3/4 drawers for my embroidery floss. I was constantly going through all looking for a certain color. I stack 3 at a time and that really works well. Problem solved an I am in a much better mood!!
Thanks again for the rack for zippers!!
SC