Happy New Year! I’m sorry it has been a few weeks since my last post. You know how it is with the holidays; shopping, baking, embroidery (endless embroidery if you own a multi-needle machine), entertaining company and now cleaning up and organizing. I would like to help my multi-needle readers plan ahead for a more organized embroidery studio in 2016.
Machine embroidery requires many tools, notions, stabilizers, hoops and fabric to say the least. All of these items are absolutely needed; however some of us might have a bit more than most LOL. I know most of you have a substantial fabric collection because you probably started sewing first and then it evolved into machine embroidery which is great.
You can easily start to tackle organizing your sewing/embroidery room by spending 15 minutes a day just focusing on one problem area. If it is fabric, start by sorting it into three separate boxes. Label the boxes as “Donate”, “Trash” and “Keep”. Try working with a friend or family member who will really make you stick to your plan and search online for local charities that need fabric.
I know what you are thinking… where should I start? How about the thread rack? I know my thread wall rack is in need of serious organizing. I love my wall rack display for thread and it does help to see exactly what color is running low or is completely out. My suggestion to you is to utilize as much vertical wall space as possible and keep the sewing thread separate from the embroidery thread. Throw out old thread that has not been used in the last year or two.
Our multi-needle embroidery machines are amazing work horses but with a little effort and planning you can keep them in tip top shape by following the manufacturers suggestions for cleaning and care. Start out the New Year with the mentality of efficiency. Change needles as often as possible and especially when starting an important project, oil the rotary hook, dust the top thread area, remove the bobbin case and clean inside (I like to use a flash light so I can see better and a pipe cleaner to really get behind and between), remove the bobbin plate to clear thread and lint, and organize the counter or table top to give you more needed space.
Take an inventory of your stabilizer; label clear containers with contents (tear away, cut away, fusible and water soluble etc) decide what needs to be reordered and do it now. You know you will need it for the next project and you might be out of it.
Take a photo of your newly organized sewing room and print it out, look at it often and try to control the clutter in 2016!
All of these helpful tips are available in a book Eileen and I wrote together called: Embroidery Studio Organization in 6 Easy Steps.
Join me in my Craftsy class: How to Start a Machine Embroidery Business with Marie Zinno.
https://www.craftsy.com/ext/MarieZinno_4963_H
4 COMMENTS
Barbara Chace
8 years agoI just got my PR 1000e around Thanksgiving. Due to the amount of space this machine required, my sewing room went through a major overhaul. The room is only about 8 X 10 feet so I really have no choice but to keep it tidy. Another advantage to having a multi-needle.
Elaine
8 years agoI would suggest donating thread you are not using. They cost quite a bit of money and it would be wasteful to just throw it out. Maybe there is a new sewer/embroiderer just starting out and would love to have it.
Cynthia
8 years agoI LOVE that thread rack!! Wherever did you find it? Thread is my main storage issue – I have solid windows on 3 walls of my in-house shop, and very little wall space. For now my big ol’ cones of thread are stashed in a drawer. Looking for a better way ….
Bruce
7 years agoI agree, it looks cool! I hope I could find that.
Bruce, https://www.printavo.com