This might be the longest I’ve gone without sewing anything for myself since I started to make my own clothes. I miss it, but I’m time poor at the moment, and when given the chance, I tend to choose sewing for K or tidying for the sake of mental sanity. In a little while, however, I’ll be able to get back to some grown-up sewing…I’ve got my denim washed, pattern pieces cut out, jeans hardware at the ready and if I don’t get started on these skinny jeans soon, there’s a risk that it’ll never happen. (and yes, I’m working on my secret valentine project too!)
I organized my sewing table. Have I told you that I sew in my bedroom? I know it’s sacrilege to have a workspace where you sleep, yada yada yada, but I moved my so-called “atelier” when K was in kindergarten three years ago because she would get scared at night and pad two floors down all the way to the basement where I would be toiling at my Bernina into the wee hours. Our bedrooms are next to each other, and I figured that if she could hear the hum of the machines, she would know that I’m close by and feel assured. So far it’s been working.
Plus, if a sewing table in the corner of a bedroom is good enough for Flossie Teacakes, it’s good enough for me. Mark Bittman cooks in a pint-sized kitchen (I half-heartedly tried to see if he’s upgraded since 2008 but I didn’t find anything), and though he doesn’t love it just as I don’t totally love my ad hoc craft station, it gets the job done and sometimes, magic happens. Of course, I drool over capacious and stylish studios on Pinterest, and though I sigh at the dreaminess of it all, I’m quite content with the functionality of the current set-up. I have humongous thoughts on the benefits of limitations, but that’ll have to wait for another day.
One of the things I did was to go through my drawers and trash all the junk. Now I am delighted every time I open my drawer of commonly used threads (I don’t like to keep them out because they get so dusty):
This is sort of a part one since the winter light in the Pacific Northwest makes photography a race against time and it was getting too dark for decent shots. I’ll show you more close-ups of how I arrange all my stuff because I get geeky about organization and love to see how other people keep their materials corralled. More soon!
So nice to see your space! You have perfect thread colors, of course. I am looking forward to seeing more of your organization. This is always interesting for me since my whole tiny appartement is my sewing space… I think Flossie has a new sewing room now in the attic! 😉
Sometimes M says that the whole house is my “studio” because I have supplies for all sorts of things everywhere! 🙂 It’s a constant battle to keep things from spreading, despite my frenzied tidying. And haha, it just shows you how I didn’t delve too deep into confirming my Flossie facts – I knew that she started sewing in her bedroom and that always stuck with me. I bet Mark Bittman’s no longer cooking in his miniature kitchen anymore either. That gives me hope that one day I might be able to expand my working area too 🙂 Thanks, Ute!
Oooh! This is a nice space!
I love seeing the spaces people create in. I saw a book a while ago, devoted to showing the inside of the workshops and design studios of all sorts of people. it was very tempting, but I resisted, trying to cut down on ‘stuff’ and unnecessary purchases…
I have the same Bernina sewing machine! And when i went to the sewing machine shop to buy a Brother serger (or overlocker, as we call them here), the man talked me into a Bernina. But can you believe I’ve been too scared to use it… and it’s nearly 2 years since I bought it. I’m ashamed. I’ve lost my sewing mojo for various reasons, but I feel it’s starting to return.
Looking forward to part 2 of this post!
PS I meant to ask what you use as a cutting table, so hopefully that will appear in Part 2?
Oh, that’s awesome that you have a Bernina serger, Jenny — I was scared of my serger too and it took me over a year to take it out of the box!!! Now I can’t imagine not using it. It’s a game-changer, and you’ll love your creations even more, I promise you. 🙂 And yes! Part two will feature the cutting table 🙂
“sometimes magic happens”? Umm. . . you are being far too modest! The creations that come forth from your little sewing area continue to enthrall us readers. And skinny jeans in the queue? Can’t wait to see ’em!
So I love that limited reality of space essentially forces you to be clean and streamlined at your sewing area. Again, the benefits of limitations, right? I think that while I don’t always practice it, I will be nodding my head as I read your future thoughts on this topic.
And I am so excited to see that you sew with a Bernina! See, this new job of mine is in a fabric studio, but it is also a Bernina dealer and I’m in the depths of having to learn all the different machines and their myriad functions. I am impressed to the point of being intimidated by these amazing machines. Our top of the line model costs $14,000 – I’m scared to touch it! I’ve sewn with a Babylock the past decade or so, but am seriously considering purchasing a Bernina so I become more comfortable with it. Do you know the model you have? And do you love it as much as I hear from other Bernina owners?
$14,000!!!!!???? Is it made out of platinum? That’s just insane, and I would be totally frightened of going near it since I have a penchant for breaking electronics. It’s a wonder that my Bernina (Activa 220 and I love it) hasn’t melted or imploded with the way I treat it. And yep, the cramped quarters keeps me motivated to keep it fairly neat and organized, which is great!
I love seeing the spaces that people have to work in. You are amazingly productive with the space that you have. I have ample space and don’t end up making a thing!
Can’t wait to see what’s coming up 🙂
I actually like having less space, isn’t it funny? When I had the entire basement to work in, I spread out too much and it was a holy mess. Now I’m forced to clean up since it actually bothers me to have piles of unfinished projects near my sleeping area. The beauty of limitations 🙂
Sewing space in the bedroom?! um…. does the humming sound put M to sleep too? I spread out everything on our dining table…. there’s just no other space.. and often I have to pack up when we have some guests. All my threads temporarily live in upcycled ice cream tubs. I’d love to get one of those racks like yours *envious eyes*.
Well, M is a serious night owl and I’ve changed my schedule around to get up early in the morning, so it’s actually been working out perfectly 🙂 I’ve sewn on our dining room table too, and it’s definitely tricky. Currently, the dining table sports a boatload of art supplies! As for the rack, I got them from Jo-Anns, I think. They’re the mini ones and happen to fit in my drawers. Score!
I love seeing people’s seeing spaces. Yours looks nice and serene. I share a space with the kids in our playroom, So there’s often a little ninja guy hanging out, or some Barbie clothes stuffed underneath the presser foot pretending to get sewn by my daughter. 🙂
Love that, Erin! Eventually I hope to move out of the bedroom, but it’s actually a really large room and has been working out pretty well. And looks are deceiving, because it doesn’t usually look serene! 😉