Sewing Organization Challenge, Weeks 3 & 4

Welcome back to my blog. How did I miss Weeks 3 & 4? Okay--time to catch up, right? Here we go!

Week 3 was all about pins, needles, and clips. Here are the details:

Theme: Tools

This week: Things that hold fabric together like pins, needles, and clips.

Questions to ask yourself:

Where do I do my pinning, clipping, gluing? Do I have sharp pins and needles? Are they well cared for? Are speciality pins in one place and well-labeled?

Task:

1. Evaluate: What pins, needles, clips, glue, tape do you use and need?

2. Gather all your pinning and clipping tools together. Make sure they are sharp. Dispose of anything dull, bent, or otherwise not usable. Toss pins/needles that are dull or bent, but dispose of them safely. Put pins, needles, etc. together in a way that makes sense for your sewing space.

3. Take care of your pins/needles: Store them safely. Make it a habit to dispose of pins, needles, clips when they are no longer usable.

4. Find a cute mug, container, etc. and make a pin cushion. Something cute and quirky is always fun!

5. Make sure your pins, needles, clips are where you use them and something you can get your hands on easily.

Week 4 was all about everything pressing. Here are the details:

Theme: Tools

This week: Pressing, Ironing, and Stabilizing

Questions to Ask Yourself:

Do I have what I need to effectively press fabric? Is it all in one place? Are my iron(s)/ironing board(s) clean and in good working order? Do I have my fusible stablizers and interfacing stored well?

Tasks:

1. Evaluate: What do you need at your pressing station? Do you have everything in one place? Gather everything you need in one place in order to make it more efficient and enjoyable.

2. Care and Maintenance: Wash your ironing board cover, clean and refill your iron, etc. Make sure everything is in good working order.

3. Buy or Locate: Stock up on parchment paper, presser clothes, spray bottles, etc.

4. Organize: Organize your fusible interfacing/stabilizers. Toss out old ones. They do have a shelf life.

5. Something fun: Try out freezer paper. I think you will love it!