Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A Place For Everything


 Like most self proclaimed OCD sufferers I am a subscriber to the "a place for everything" philosophy. But every now and then you have to reevaluate a place and find a new one. Recently I have been spending lots of time at the quilt frame and sewing machine. As I age and become more forgetful it becomes even more important that things be organized. If I have a designated place for things I find that I am much less likely to misplace items.

I remember so well my late mother in law. In the later years of her life she became almost blind. She managed really very well until someone reorganized her things. Then she was lost. She memorized where everything was and as long as it was in it's place she could find it without her sight. 



This is especially important with a skill such as sewing. There are so many small but useful items that are easily looked over or lost. Needles, pins, thimbles and other small objects easily fall behind tables and under chairs to be lost forever or end up in the vacuum cleaner or even worse someones' foot. Since I quilt and sew in a carpeted room I have to be especially careful with this.  For years I have had pin cushions full of needles around my sewing areas. I dislike needles in pin cushions because they get pushed down into the pin cushions interior because there is no head to stop them. There they become embedded and lost forever.  


So I took the time to make myself some needle books. Just scraps of fabric sewn into books with scrap felt pages. Odds and ends of rick rack and lace to decorate them and buttons from the spare button jar and bits of elastic for closures. 


Now I have small books for different needles. Quilting needles, embroidery needles, basting needles, upholstery needles, and any other needle you can think of. 


All neatly tucked away in their own little books. These can go into a drawer or sewing basket and I don't have to worry about them falling out or becoming lost.  


Wouldn't these make a great stocking stuffer for daughters that sew or even MOMS. Or maybe small sewing kits for the purse or glove compartment. A small pair of scissors, needles, a needle threader and a couple of cardboard skeins of thread. 

There are lots of patterns floating around out there online. Just let your imagination run wild. 



Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter

12 comments:

  1. The needle organizers are a great idea and much prettier than the packages that the needles come in. The only thing needed is a little imagination and some material scraps. Love your photos.

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  2. Those are beautiful and so useful! I will have to get busy and make some ~ they would make great small gifts for friends also!

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  3. they are beautiful and so practical, I need to do this and wow can I relate to your mum inlaw , when people move things on me i'm a lost bird for sure!

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  4. Such a wonderful idea. I get so aggravated with those little needle packs. I shall make one of these! Thanks.

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  5. Oh my goodness....I love it! What a great idea...I will be putting this on my "to do" list. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Have we met? Any idea where I put my magnetic pin holder? Sigh. I have a terrible time keeping track. I will get busy on some needle books today. I set my machine up in a sunny kitchen corner but that means I have to stash away all those gadgets.

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  7. I love them! I'm gonna have to whip a few of these up. Thanks for the inspiration. :-)

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  8. This is Fantastic! I am always looking for my needles in my sewing box. I will have to work on one of these. Thank you for the idea.

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  9. Okay all....I'm feeling relieved. I started looking for said pin magnet and THEN I couldn't find my bobbin cases. I mean, really. These bobbins go to the newer machine which sets in the table. I now have the Singer slant out to fiddle with and it doesn't set in the cab.... wait a minute! I opened up the cabinet and there all nice and safe are the bobbin cases and my pins where the machine would sit.

    Give me strength.

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    Replies
    1. I'm with ya honey! Of all the things I have lost I miss my memory the most : )

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  10. Those are all so cute and a cleaver idea. You always make the cutest things.

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  11. I love these! One more project added to my to do list!

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