How to Organize a Sewing Area

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Rebecca, and I'm going to talk about how to organize a sewing area. So, there's several important things that you need to have available to you when you're actually sitting in front of the sewing machine. One of the things that I keep right next to the sewing machine at all times so that I don't loose it in the table under scraps of fabric or somewhere else, is my seam ripper. So even if I can't see it, when I'm working on the other side of the table doing my patterns, if I reach right through here, it's going to be right in front all the time. The other thing I have right next to my sewing machine is a pair of thread scissors. And these also don't leave the sewing machine because it's no fun to have your garment stuck in the sewing machine and have to go look for a pair of scissors. The other thing I keep right to the side of my sewing machine is an assortment of bobbins. So if I need to change thread, you know I have a lot of basics here already wound, like navy or white, so that I can just grab them and not have to go searching for them again, or wind them again. And beside that, I also have a pack of needles because sometimes needles just snap off and break and I can just grab one and change it right away. I also keep pins in a few different places in my sewing area. One of them is right in front of the sewing machine. As I'm sewing, I pull the pins out, and they end up right here in front of the sewing machine. Which is good because sometimes when I'm sitting here, I need to put pins back in. So, I leave some here and then I have my box out in my pattern laying area. In the part of the sewing area where i make and lay out the patterns and cut out the pattern pieces, there are several things that I always keep handy. One of them is any sort of weights. These obviously are coasters. Sometimes the fabric is much bigger than your area to lay the fabric out, so when it hangs off the table, so it can still lay nice and flat, just weight it down so it doesn't go anywhere or get wrinkled. The other thing that you obviously need in this area would be pins because this is where you're going to be taking your pattern pieces and attaching them to the fabric. Tape measure is always useful and it is always lying around somewhere. Use it in all parts of sewing. Both sometimes by the sewing machine, mostly in the area we're working with the fabric and laying out the pattern. I have my fabric scissors also right handy in this area. And for my pattern pieces because I like my fabric scissors to stay nice and sharp, I always keep just a pair of regular scissors and they are different colors so that I know which one is fabric and which one is for paper and other items. And just in case you need a larger straight edge, a T square can be handy. Not necessary, but it can be quite handy. And that's pretty much the basics of how to lay out a sewing area."