This course was announced at a great time, while my sewing room and guest room were in shambles from already starting a big rearrangement and reorganisation 😝
Day 1: Organisation Fundamentals
Assess Your Starting Point (Facts vs Feelings)
Errr objectively speaking I probably have too much fabric. I definitely succumb to FOMO as there have been quite a few times where I have been on the fence about a fabric, held off on buying it, thought of the perfect project later, but by then it was sold out. Maybe the destashing day will help with that (I feel like it probably won’t cos I’m stubborn haha).
I didn’t spend too much time on this section because I’ve already started my reorganisation project. So I had already identified what problems my space has and how I planned to address this. Also I don’t like talking about feelings LOL. I guess in summary my overarching feeling is I love sewing and so I need to make things efficient so I can spend more time sewing and less time feeling frustrated because of my set-up.
What Type of Organiser Are You?
Definitely a Hidden Organiser. I have all my projects planned out (in Stash Hub) so I don’t need things on display for inspiration. Rather, most of the stuff I own is because I’ve already been inspired. Also I dislike having stuff out because it gets dusty.
Also more of a Micro Organiser than a Macro one. But up to a point I guess. I’ve realised as I’ve been using Stash Hub that I don’t need/want/enjoy putting absolutely everything into it. For example with threads, I just want to know if I have bought it yet or not. I’m not going to look through an app to see what I have, I would ideally open a drawer and immediately see all my threads. So I think anything that goes into a ‘design’ needs to be tracked but anything more functional or supporting (thread, interfacing, twill tape) I can ‘macro’ organise (dump all in one location).
Establish Your Aims (Making & Space)
For the Making aspect I am definitely not just a multi-crafter, but a multi-project-at-a-time multi-crafter 🤣 And for space, I’m quite lucky to have a big room (plus hallway) to myself, but cognisant that I must try to keep myself to within this space…which is getting harder with all the big (but useful) things I have been buying like a heat press, work table and dress form to name a few…
I also didn’t spend much time on reflecting on this as I have already identified what I need to do with my space – make things accessible and put like things in one area. While I am lucky to have a big space to work in, walking back and forth to get things is not efficient (even if it’s good for step count). And in terms of accessibility, not only do I have to make sure it’s safe to access (no reaching over to grab heavy items), I need to make the things I use more easily accessible than the things I don’t. Plus, I need to start putting labels on stuff haha! I have put this off because I was always moving things to try and fit more things, but I’ve now mapped out where everything should go so no problems now marking things up with labels.
Day 2: How to Organise Patterns
Pattern organisation is something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently and have already implemented some changes. For example, downloading all files (A4, A0 and projector) just in case and also keeping my A0 prints for future reference as well as storing these (by garment type) in poster tubes. So I’ve already decided my category I guess – pattern type. Although I sort my digital files by designer. And I put everything into Stash Hub for searching purposes. So my catalogue is actually Stash Hub, but I have digital storage for all patterns and poster tube/envelop storage for printed patterns (including those printed from digital).
I don’t think I’ll use subcategories with the exception of maybe ‘recipient’. So anything for my nieces and husband will get lumped together as ‘not me’ 😝
So far I’ve been using Keji plastic document wallets for storing my traced pattern pieces. As time has gone by, I’ve started not including the instructions as I feel like I can just refer to these on my laptop. But in the supplies list for this course, I’ve learnt about gusset envelopes. I was having trouble finding the paper versions in Australia (seems to be a UK thing), but I recently found a version by J Burrows that is plastic but with a gusset. I can get it in a range of sizes including A5 and A4. I think I might start storing ‘archived’ patterns (ones that I don’t think I’ll use again but it’s never a good idea to get rid of patterns, from past experience) in A5 gusset envelopes but keep the ones I want to have easily accessible in A4 (since then I can just print off the first page from the instructions as the cover). Because a lot of my Big 5 pattern envelopes are falling to pieces 😣And this way I can store Big 5 patterns and indie ones together. So time to put in a big order at Officeworks I guess 🤣
Day 3: How to Organise Notions
So notions was one of the first things I got overly frustrated with and ended up implementing a solution 😅 In particular buttons…I had them stored in clear plastic bags but all the bags were dumped in a shallow tray in a small stationery drawer, which was starting to overflow. So I decided I need to change something, and in the process rearranged all my notions in the four stationery drawers I have. So I feel like I didn’t need to do anything extra for this category. Btw buttons are completely separate from the rest of these notions in their own special storage.
The second thing that frustrates me is thread storage, like keeping the bobbin together and having the colours easily visible. I’m currently in the process of getting my husband to print me thread spools to go in my IKEA Alex drawer, and have already split the threads into Rasant, Maraflex, Embroidery (don’t have many…yet) and overlocker threads. I don’t use the overlocker threads as much so they will go in a box underneath the table the overlock is on instead of in the Alex. But the rest will be in sequential drawers, with Rasant on the top and Embroidery on the bottom. My mum also found me bobbin….securing thingies…that I can use to make sure my bobbin threads don’t go crazy. I was using tubing before, but it was brittle and sometimes broke and wasn’t very pleasant to insert and remove.
As previously mentioned, I don’t want to micro organise my notions (except buttons) so have gone and deleted all the other categories in Stash Hub. But watching the video for this subject made me think of a good way to keep track of notions for individual projects. At the moment I might put them in a plastic bag and definitely put them in a Really Useful Box with the fabric, but this doesn’t help me keep track of what I have bought and what I still need to buy. This is where an Aneela Hoey Flip Pocket Folio or Booklet Pouch would come in handy. No more rummaging around the box to try and gather all the associated notions. I had already bought some patterns (to make travel storage rather than sewing storage) using the provided code but I think I’ll be making a couple more purchases 😋 The down side to this is I actually need to sew them before I can use them haha. But I think it will be a rewarding project.
Day 4: Organising Fabrics
I was looking forward to this section because I would like to be able to sort my fabrics better. I totally do the ‘fold to size of box and stack on top of each other’ method and it is not great.
I didn’t have to think about how I want to sort my fabrics because I’d previously tackled that. I keep my quilting fabrics separate to my fashion sewing ones already and have split those into pre-cut bundles, prints and solids. One thing I will do though is refold everything using comic book card. I’ll have to look at the sizes of my fabrics and see what works best as well as what will go with the depth of box I’m using.
As for my fashion sewing fabrics, these are sorted by garment type. I don’t think seasonal sorting (keeping the off season ones elsewhere) works for me because I really should be sewing things prior to that season so it’s ready to wear, so I probably will always be sewing a mix of seasonal clothing). I have Really Useful Boxes for these with all the fabric stacked inside, so another case of identifying the correct dimensions for folding fabrics around pieces of comic book card. One thing I will do differently from the quilting fabrics though is buy some fabric labels, not just to secure the ends of the folded fabric, but because I do tend to buy similar tones of natural fabrics and sometimes I forget what is what. I do have them in Stash Hub, but that doesn’t really help when I’m peering into a box.
Lastly, I’ve been umm-ing and ahh-ing about what to do about my rolls of fabric. They honestly don’t really fit in my sewing room. Watching the video for sorting fabrics for some reason helped me come to a decision about storing these in the walk-in robe of my office. I know what big rolls I have, so I don’t need to worry about forgetting they exist and I’ll know where to go when I decide to use that fabric.
Something fabric adjacent is my interfacing. I think I will also roll these on comic book card, but also write up what is what on the card, like people do when storing embroidery threads on the little thread cards. And it’s making me think about some of my other stabilisers (like for embroidery), I need to store these better so I know what’s what. For this I think I should use the clear plastic wallets and label these. It will make it easier to shuffle through the contents of the box instead of having to manage loose bits of stabiliser.
Now to figure out what size gold, silver, modern etc comic books are…
Day 5: Destashing
I had already started destashing a bit, fabrics that I knew I didn’t like the colour/pattern of but were also pretty low quality. But I think I need to go a bit further and any remnants that aren’t enough to be used for toile’s probably need to go too. I also kinda finally accepted that just because a fabric is expensive doesn’t mean that I need to treat it like it’s special. Sometimes it just doesn’t end up being what I expected (especially cases when I can’t buy a sample first), so in those cases I shouldn’t feel bad about using them in wearable toiles.
I also have kind of designated Homecraft Textiles as my go to for toile fabrics. I’ve learnt recently that it’s important to have the right fabric type when making a toile, bedsheets won’t cut it every time, and in this case Homecraft has that right level of nice enough quality that I would be happy to wear or donate a wearable toile, but also cheaper than the usual places I like to buy fabric from.
The big takeaway for me from this part of the course was dealing with scraps. I need to sort my scraps and get rid of the non-quilting quality fabrics and low quality ones. I also need to get onto a scrap pouf ASAP to get rid of my big box of “cabbage” haha (I didn’t realise people called the straggly offcuts that). Once I tackle that portion, I need to cut my scraps into either 2.5″, 5″ or 10″ squares or 2 1/4″ strips. I’ll need to figure out a way to separate each of these within the box. This will make me feel less overwhelmed and guilty about my scrap collection and also make it easier to plan out scrappy projects.
Luckily I already have a place I can donate my excess craft supplies too, so already ‘sorted’ there (no pun intended).
Day 6: Maintaining a Joyful Stash
This was the section I initially disagreed with the most when pre-reading the worksheet LOL. Breaking down their main points:
- It’s good quality – I agree with this and moving forward I won’t be stocking up on low quality fabrics even if they are on sale. Plus will buy samples from places I haven’t bought from before in order to tell where that particular store falls on the quality scale. I have a pretty good idea now for the current fabric stores I frequent so ok there.
- I don’t have anything similar in my stash – I agree with this too, but perhaps not in the way they intend…rather my stash grows because I find fabrics types I haven’t sewn before in colours/prints I like and buy them because I enjoy learning and want to try sewing with allll different types of fabrics. So in a way I’m using it as an excuse to by more LOL
- I have a plan in mind – most fabrics I buy I have a plan in mind. A lot of the time the plan changes, but because I liked the fabric (that’s why I bought it), it will still end up with a goal in mind. And part of the fun is seeing how a fabric plan changes and then being super satisfied with what it turns out to be. A lot of the time I buy something thinking “I will probably use it in this project” but then later discover the perfect project for that fabric and that brings me a lot of joy 🤣 It’s like the journey is a major part of the process for me. So….I usually buy the fabric instead of putting it on the wishlist like they suggest because I’m still haunted by that ‘wifi cats’ fabric I talked myself out of buying and still regret it haha (it’s not actually wifi, it was Japanese waves but the colour scheme made it look kinda like the wifi symbol and I LOVED it…but couldn’t think of a project right at that time 😭)
- The colours work for my project idea – I don’t care about what colours look good on me (at this stage anyway), so I pretty much just ignore this advice. I feel like as long as I like looking down at myself and derive joy from seeing the fabrics I chose then that’s fine.
- I will enjoy sewing this – I disagree with this as even if a fabric type is outside my skill range/expertise, my goal is to learn. And having a fabric that I like in that type will motivate me to try sewing. So since it doesn’t make me feel guilty I also disregard this advice. Although I do make note of what I do and don’t like to sew and apply this to future projects. There are so many types of fabrics out there, it’s fine to put some on the blacklist.
- It’s within my budget right now – no comment 🙃 More seriously though, I’m privileged to be able to afford my hobby and since sewing and learning about all things sewing is probably my ‘ikigai’, I don’t restrict myself. I’m sensible enough to not go overboard and believe I am good about impulse purchasing, I often will keep a fabric listing tab open and mull it over and talk myself out of it. And the ones I really do impulse buy are ones I really have fallen in love with. Also, I haven’t really bought clothes for like the last 5 to 15 years so the ones I love are falling apart and the rest don’t bring me joy. So I am literally replacing my wardrobe, which means I’m doing many years worth of clothes shopping with my fabric purchases. I expect that once I have a wardrobe with a decent amount of garments that I actually like I’ll slow down on the fabric buying.
- This won’t be available in the future – the classic FOMO. I kinda agree with buying notions closer to when I’m going to sew my project, I have changed my mind quite a lot with my Man’O Wardrobe projects and now have excess notions that I don’t have a plan for. But fabric…unless it’s marked ‘stock service’ or similar….I’m going to buy it…(wifi cats I miss you)
The last part of this section reads “Remember, there will always be more fabric! Even if you can’t get that exact fabric in future, you’ll still be able to find something that makes you the feel the same way”. Big disagree! It needs to be THAT fabric 🤣 A lot of focus in this course was about mental health and how your stash makes you *feel*. And over the past year I have realised that I do tend to hyper focus on certain things (like having THAT fabric). And in those cases it’s best to just buy/do the thing so then it stops taking up brain space.
Conclusion
As I had already made progress on quite a few aspects of storage/management of my sewing supplies this course felt like welcome validation for (some of) my thought processes. It also did suggest quite a few useful products/techniques that I will definitely employ and am excited to apply. I am the type who does quite enjoy organising things. Plus the discounts were nice.
I think the main thing this course highlighted is that it’s important to understand yourself and your triggers, so that you can love sewing and not feel bad about any particular aspect of it.
Doing this course did make me think about a bit of a plan, or rather different aspects I need to tackle:
- Tools – keeping them easily accessible/like with like
- Notions – macro sort, fold or file interfacing/stabilisers
- Threads – set up drawers with spools and sort by type then colour
- Patterns – sort into current and archived and store archived patterns in gusset envelopes
- Fabrics – refold using comic book card and fabric tape
- Scraps – destash and pre-cut to commonly used squares/strip sizes/widths
Ever since I started my sorting/sewing room rearrangement works, I have occasionally felt overwhelmed by how much there is to do. Breaking it down into the above categories makes it feel a bit more manageable. I’ll still be working on all aspects at the same time/as supplies arrive in the post, but now I have a rough plan on what is the highest priority. I’m very much looking forward to how satisfied I’ll feel when everything is nice and neat 😝
Categories: Sewing
Leave a Reply