I was originally going to post this on Tuesday, but it seems a bit more appropriate to share on Friday, when I like to have an organization or tip-related post. Also, Jen from iHeart Organizing is sharing her own sewing box!
Like Jen, I got my sewing machine about a year ago, but I don't have a super huge blog, three kids, and an organization empire to maintain! Therefore, I spent a lot of time sewing projects up and my sewing basket (gifted to me by a friend) is chock full of almost everything you could ever need.
Here's my organized sewing basket!
When you first open up the basket, there are a few items in the lid:
- Sewing needles
- Darning needles
- Seam ripper
I don't like to keep my pins on the cushion, but you'll see them later! Also, I always need my seam ripper handy, unfortunately. :(
The top interior has a tray with a ton of goodies.
From L to R, top to bottom:
- Tape measure
- Binder clips: for thick fabrics
- Safety pins
- Poster tack (for winding spools of thread from the serger cones; I'll explain in a future post!)
- Bobbins
- Thimble
- Chalk and other marking items (I may get rid of these since I have my new Chakoner)
- Chakoner
- Rotary cutter
- Thread snippers (2)
- Gingher fabric scissors
- Point turners (2)
- Seam guide
It usually looks a bit more organized than this, but I spread everything out to show you guys!
Now, there's a deep, deep space underneath the first tray, but things always used to get jumbled up. So what did I do? I used fast food storage containers as little trays!
Tray 1:
- Pin cushion cuff
- Extra pins
Tray 2:
- Thread spools to match my bobbins
Miscellaneous
- My sewing labels
- Hem guide (the rolled up paper just under the sewing labels
- Tracing wheels (close-up in a moment)
Now, there's a little bit of wasted space towards the front of of the basket since it's rounded, see?
So, I tucked my three tracing wheels (needle, serrated, flat) in an envelope. After looking at it here, I think I need to sew up something cuter for them!
The second layer of trays has a few important (but less accessed) items as well!
- Extra needles
- Sewing machine feet
- Other sewing machine accessories
The other tray holds a more items that I don't need often at all, but I hate to go searching for them when I'm in the middle of a project.
- Personalized labels
- Craft aid
- Fray check
- Scratch paper for jotting down notes, measurements, sizes, etc.
Behind the takeout trays, I have some other items that come in handy, but take up the entire height of the box.
- Bobbin box
- Rotary cutter disc refills
- Tracing paper
- Ruler
- Pinking shears
- Large fabric scissors- Other marking implements
And it all tucks neatly away in one (somewhat) tiny box!
I know that I could purge a few of my marking tools or even keep my tracing implements somewhere else, but since it all fits in here pretty comfortably, I'm happy with my system.
On a side note, I loved this sewing box because of the fireworks/floral pattern and the pretty colors. My friend gifted it to me, and when I brought it back home, I realized that I had bought the same fabric and made my sunglasses case out of it! Score!
What does your sewing box/basket look like?