Creating Multiple Sewing Stations

Have you ever been ironing a piece of fabric and needed scissors but you simply couldn't find them? It's happened to me, and on more than one occasion. This situation inevitably leads to a frantic hunt for sewing scissors. Or maybe you need your seam ripper while sitting at your sewing machine and you just can't remember where you left it. If this happens to you, you might want to considering setting up and organizing separating sewing stations.

Start with your basic sewing station. The sewing machine. If at all possible, set it up so you don't have to constantly take it down. A separate table is ideal. Keep a selection of pins and pressure feet here. Also thread and all the needles for your sewing machine. And don't forget a pair of scissors and a stitch ripper.

When you're sewing, you'll often need to iron fabric, both before you start using it and during your project. So you'll need an ironing area. Stock this area with pins, a lint roller, and a quality hem gauge. And a pair of scissors so you don't have to run to your sewing area every time you need to snip a thread.

Cutting tables are ideal for laying out your fabric and cutting your pattern pieces. At this table, you'll also want marking tools such as pens and your marking wheel. Also put all your rotary cutters in this area, even if you don't use them very often. At least you'll know where they are when you do need them. And, of course, a quality pair of sewing scissors.

These are your three basic sewing stations. Keep them separate and well stocked and you'll find your projects are suddenly completed more quickly and with greater efficiency.

Keeping Track of Sewing Supplies

Sewing supplies have a way of getting away from you. Pins roll onto the floor. Scissors and marking pens get lost under swaths of fabric. Beads and buttons end up all over the place. And you never can find that sewing machine manual when you need it, though it will turn up when you don't.

Everyone who sews needs to track of those sewing supplies. And different supplies require different solutions. For all those little pins and whatever other metal tools you might have, try magnetic trays. You can find these simple items at your local hardware store and they'll keep your pins from rolling away. And, if the tray is knocked over, most of the pins stay in the magnetic tray.

But a magnetic tray doesn't help when it comes to marking pens and cutters. So try recycling an old silverware basket, the kind that come in most dishwashers. You can use these baskets to hold marking pens, scissors, cutters, glue sticks, and other supplies. It works magic and allows you to keep your sewing area organized.

Then there are those tiny little items such as buttoms, crystal, trim, and even the pressure feet from your sewing machine. While some of these might fit in the silverware basket or conveniently stick to the magnetic trays, some of them are just awkward. try an old fishing tackle box. These boxes fit almost anything and tend to conserve space better than traditional sewing boxes. They're also cheaper.

And what about all those manuals, supply instructions, magazine article, printouts, and other random papers? Don't toss them in a drawer. They'll get crumpled and perhaps even ruined. Instead, invest in a good-quality three-ring binder and some inserts. Also pick up a few pockets to fit in your binder. This way, you can store all the paper you need in one convenient location.

Keeping your sewing area organized will cut down on the time you spend searching for the items you need. Get creative and find unique ways to keep track of all your sewing supplies and you'll find your life gets a lot easier.

Remembering Those Serger Settings

New fabrics are always fun to work with. I love to bring home a new fabric. The first thing I do is find that perfect serger setting and serge all the raw edges. This is an important step before washing the fabric since it helps prevent the edges from fraying. Then, I'm ready to use the fabric for whatever project is necessary.

But the second time I buy this fabric, I just want to get down to business. I don't want to spend maybe 15 minutes finding the perfect serger setting. I just want to serge the edges and wash the fabric. The problem is each fabric has a unique serger setting. So I've developed a little method to help me keep track of the many different settings I have to use. I record that perfect setting and write in on a sticker. Then I take that sticker and stick it firmly on a small scrap of fabric. Now, when I begin a project, I know exactly what setting that fabric needs. The problems are solved and my sewing projects are completed with less aggravation and far more speed.

Keeping Sewing Cords Under Control

If you're anything like me, you don't just have one sewing machine with a single cord. It can never be that simple. There's the serger, iron, and whatever other small appliances you need for your particular sewing project. And all those cords get in the way and tangle in the knees when I'm sewing. It's very irritating and quite easy to solve.

I picked up a couple 2" magnetic bulldog clips at the local office supply store. I do a lot of shopping for my sewing supplies over there. These clips just about saved my life. I use them to secure the many cords to the underside of the sewing table. Of course, you need a metal table (or metal on the table) for this to work. Once clipped, the cords are kept away from my legs while I'm working, don't tangle with themselves, and are not in the way. Therefore, I don't trip on them as I move around the room, and my children and dogs don't get tangled and pull a heavy sewing machine or iron down on top of themselves.