Sewing Organization Tips

There are two things I find very helpful to do in my sewing room. (When I say "sewing room", I think you should know I just have a corner sectioned off in the kitchen.) First of all, I love buying fabric when I see it really cheap. For some reason, people in fabric stores believe people only want fabrics that go with the closest holiday or season. But as a gothic or alternative person, you know we dress the same year round, perhaps changing the warmth of the fabric for summer. So when I see black fabric I like, if it's the right price, I buy it. Or maybe it's an animal print or a remnant of vinyl or any number of things I know I can use, but will never find at that price again.

Buying this way can take some space. I save the stuff until a rainy day when I need something to do or until I run across the perfect pattern. Sometimes, you can forget what you have this way. The first tip, buy clear storage containers instead of solid. This way you can tell at a glance if you're wasting your time with the box. Second, I keep a small notebook next to my sewing machine. In it I put a small clipping of the fabric (swatch) with all the details: yardage, cleaning and care, and if using multiple storage containers, a number or reference to the correct box. Using this system, it's easy to keep your sewing area uncluttered. Also, if you want to work on a sewing project but just want to use things you already have, you can go through the notebook, matching fabric to patterns you already have on hand.

Another notebook I keep in my sewing room is a collection of magazine clippings. Whenever I see something in a magazine that I think could be worked into something I will make in the future, I clip it and tape it in the book. Sometimes it is an entire dress, other times a sleeve cut or embellishment. When I'm ready to start a new project, I look through the book and get ideas. Then I find a pattern that is close and alter it to fit the new image in my mind. It's a good way of using a pattern that anyone may have and turning the outfit into an original!

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