Organized Sewing Tips from Red

Here are some great tips from Red Red Completely Red about getting a little sewing done in the time you have.  http://redredcompletelyred.blogspot.com/2013/05/planning-for-possibility-of-time.html
These tips work great for garment sewing as well as other crafts.

Organizing your Closet for Spring

Each new season, I like to go through my closet and weed out.  I've been getting newsletters from Get Buttoned Up with organizing tips.  This recent article, "Simple Closet Switches" suggests buying flat, flocked hangers to streamline and unify your closet.  I totally agree.  I bought some and it actually helped make more space because I replaced bulkier hangers with the flat ones.  Tip #4 though, I don't agree with completely.  I do have a door shoe rack, but mine has closed pockets and hangs on the lower half of the door.  The one shown in the article has open shelves and looks like it is face level on the door.  I don't want the bottoms of my shoes right in my face every time I go in the closet!  The Buttoned Up newsletter has lots of great articles and ideas to keep me motivated. 

Tax Organizer

I hate to bring up the "t" word, but tax time is upon us.  I usually do mine in February.  That would give you plenty of time to sew up an organizer to brighten up the task!  This one has loads of pockets and can be sewn using your favorite color scheme.  Then you might even enjoy doing paperwork.  Get the pattern here. 

Counting Down the Days

If you are planning to sew gifts for the holidays, time to start now if you haven't already!  There are a variety of patterns and instructions available in my shop- all for a low $7!  The pajama pants pattern is quick and easy to sew.  Pick out a fun print that reflects the recipients interests and you could knock out several gifts in one weekend!  For the musician on your list, a nice new Gig Bag would be much appreciated.  Of course bags and purses are always welcome, and I've got several to suit your specific needs.  Anyone who sews or crafts would love a chatelaine , so handy for holding tools etc.  Don't forget, I've got a free tutorial here on this blog, just click on the tab at the top.  This shopping bag style tote is great for filling with items to match each recipients hobbies and interests for custom gifts sure to please.  Don't wait any longer to get started, that way you can enjoy the sewing as much as your friends and family will enjoy the gifts!

Well Organized Sewing Room

I love looking at well organized and beautiful spaces- it is calming for me.  So check out Carla's sewing lab at The Scientific Seamstress Blog.  It is wonderfully organized and lovely to look at (and sew in, I'm sure) at the same time.  She even includes a fun Periodic Table of Sewing Elements to download at the end of the post!  Thanks Carla!

Craft Organizing

Pam Harris wrote this great article on how to organize yourself to get more projects done.  I keep notebooks everywhere for idea collecting like she suggests.  Mine are full of clippings, drawings, and ideas for projects.  I like how Pam takes it further suggesting you periodically go through all your ideas and make a crafty plan for the projects you want to get done this month or year, and then schedule it!  Definitely worth reading the article- thanks Pam!

PDF Pattern- Attache Case to get you organized!

Want a pretty way to organize your papers?  Sew your own Attache Case !  Create your own look for meetings, errands etc.  Finished size is 15"x 12", closed.  Hold everything in 10 pockets, ranging from large to small zippered ones.  Attache closes with a button and loop.  8 pages of clear instructions in English.  Free shipping- I email it to you. 

 I designed this pattern to brighten up meetings and paperwork.  Happy Sewing!

Spring Sewing

It is only a few days into spring and the weather is just starting to warm up. Time to plan your spring sewing! Each season I clean out the old clothes and accessories that just aren't working anymore. They might not fit well or be too worn for me to wear. I wash winter coats and put them away. Draw up a list of activities you plan on doing (biking, work/church clothes, hanging out with the kids etc.). This year, I'll be needing a fancy dress for my high school reunion. I've been shopping sales for t-shirts, so I'm covered there. I always make sure I have a light sweater in a go-with-everything color for spring. Look at fashion ads and magazines to get an idea of whats new. Once I decide what I need (reunion dress, top to go with print skirt, etc.), then I decide which ones to sew and which ones to buy. Next I "shop" my fabric stash in case I already have fabric. Then I go shopping with my plan!

Organizer to Go-#2

This is another organizer that I made a while ago. I think I was inspired by one I saw on Sewing with Nancy. I pieced the outside and added a little free motion sewing. I attached a handle along the "spine".

I used zipper bags because I liked the closing on them, but I wish I had found some completely see through ones (if they exist).

The contrasting pocket could hold a small calendar or note pad and pencil etc.

You just sew through the plastic baggies. I used 6. Then I top stitched the fabric strip over them. This is great for organizing receipts, errands, parts for toys, fabric swatches etc.

Organizer to Go

I sewed this organizer a year or more ago to keep my class notes and samples together. I was inspired by another one I had seen, but I made this pattern to fit my needs. I used pre-quilted fabric, cotton for the bias, ribbon and a hand painted button to close it with.

Two big pockets outside, 3 pockets on each side of the inside. All of the large pockets fit standard copier paper. The shortest pockets have a zipper closure and are divided for holding smaller odds and ends.

I used ribbon printed like a tape measure for fun. The colors are so cheerful and the carrier is very handy, I love using it. Try making one yourself with pockets in custom sizes to fit your needs!

Gift Ideas/Planning

I've been sewing gifts all morning. I usually start thinking about Christmas gifts during the summer. I look through books, magazines, my own notebooks to get ideas. Sometimes its something someone says that will spark an idea. I try to concentrate on one or two ideas for all the adults and then something different for the kids. It is easier to do production style that way. If I'm making a bowl, it is easy to keep going and make 6. Of course I can't say what this year's gifts are, in case my family is reading this!

Past ideas include:

Adults-scarves, hats, bowls, quilts, purses, pillow cases, dinner in a jar, frozen meatballs, etc.

Kids-scarves, hats, name pillows, zipper purses, fleece ponchos, beanbags, doll clothes, vest & skirt, finish your own doll kit, etc.

Looking Ahead to Autumn 2009-Part2

I like to change decorations with the seasons. I recently dug out a few items that make me think of fall. This first one is a wall quilt that I made after I took a sashiko workshop a couple of years ago. I came home with the navy blue square and the quilt grew around it.

The colors make me think of autumn.

This group sits in a corner of my living room.

This is a small wool felt pillow I made with appliqued leaves. It was a fun, easy project. No pattern, I just cut out shapes, arranged them and stitched them down.

Looking Ahead to Autumn 2009

The first day of autumn. I absolutely love autumn with the changing colors and cooler weather. This time of year I always go through my cool weather clothes to see what I need for the coming season. I check for stains I hadn't noticed last year and I look for items that could do with a little work like hemming, sewing on buttons or adding something to update the style. I also try on everything. Check to see if each piece has something to go with it. I like to have skirts and pants that have at least 3 tops to wear with them. I make sure I have one wedding/dressy party outfit ready to go. I even write it down including shoes and accessories so I won't forget since I don't wear it often. I put this list in my jewelry box. Write out a shopping/sewing list for any missing pieces. This way I can be sure everything can and will be worn. This method helps me avoid Printosis (a serious condition where everything in your closet is a print and therefore won't go with anything else. I recovered from this a few years ago- so there is hope!).

Sewing Room Organization

My sewing room is also a laundry/exercise/kids' craft/spare freezer and occasional guitar building workshop as well! Finding a way to organize and store supplies is an ongoing challenge. The blue, 4 drawer file cabinet keeps my sewing books and idea notebooks mostly dust free. My husband made the terracotta colored drawers where I keep most of my fabric stash. It is mostly divided by color. I also have a knits drawer and a misc. one with novelty and hard to color-classify prints. I fold and store the fabric so I can see it all at a glance.

This method works really well for my t-shirt drawer too! The dark dresser has one drawer full of notions, needles, machine feet etc. Patterns and misc. items are in the rest. It is near my sewing area, so I can reach everything without ever getting up from my machine.

This white cabinet has zippers, elastic, serger thread, etc. For actual projects- I use baskets labeled cut, machine sew, hand sew, iron. This helps if I have several things going on at the same time. Also, I can grab the hand sew basket and take it with me because it has everything I need in it.

I use plastic zipper bags that sheets come in, to store everything needed for one project. Sometimes it makes sense to organize a project in bowls. My biggest obstacle is my nice big cutting table keeps getting buried under unrelated stuff. I try to clear it off each evening, so I can be inspired to sew. Do you have tips or methods of organizing to share? I'd love to hear from you!

Recently Visited Sites

Last night, I was surfing around and found these interesting sites:
www.greenkitchen.com Has fun craft info.
www.quiltersmuse.com Crazy quilt inspiration. Nice closeups.
www.fiberfantasies.wordpress.com Quilt history and some great crazy quilt closeups.
www.diynetwork.com Crafts and organizing info etc.
www.hgtv.com Crafts, home dec etc.
www.chihuly.com/glass.html This glass artist is inspiring with brilliant colors.
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com Good info.