Updated July 20, 2018
In the midst of the many modifications we are making to the house, I decide that my office needed a serious clean and my stash needed an equally serious cull. I’m hoping at the end of the process to reduce the books and threads by at least 25% and the canvases by about 10%. I also plan on going through tools and finishing items.
I’m hoping with at least some of the finishing things I can actually finish stuff and get it into the world. If I’m successful with the cull I’ll have places for threads that are organized and I’ll have enough space to install my new computer. It would be nice to have my desk look like the picture below instead of piled with assorted stuff that falls down often.
Although you don’t need to plan before you organize your stash, you’ll be happier if you spend some quality time thinking before sorting and storing.
First, think about what you have to store. Is it UFO’s, canvases, threads, books, or just about everything. Write down the board categories and not if you already have storage for them.
For example thread is the main thing I need to store, which is fine, But much of my thread lives in a seed cabinet and two chunks of card catalogue, which may not be so fine. They take up a ton of space and any organizing I need to do has to take that into account.
Second, think about the space you have. Is it big or small? Does it share space with other things? Does it have furniture in it? What lighting does it have? Is there hidden storage space anywhere?
Finally, think about how often you use the things in your stash. Do you start projects often? Are you mainly working on your UFOs? Do you need to get to blank canvas often? Do you mostly work on small projects so long stretcher bars can live far away?
Now that you know what you have, how you use it and what space you have for it, you can start thinking about how you will use your space. Do you sit in a particular space? What needs to be near it to make stitching easier? Do you do your work at a desk? What needs to be close by? Do you have a door you can close?
Once you have thought, write down what you have discovered and write down what you like and hate about your space.
When I set up my studio I knew it would need to be a guest room, so I bought a daybed, but not the one I wanted that had storage. But I found that I hated pulling out the bins.
Re arranging our house last winter allowed me to move that daybed to another room and to get a daybed with storage. The drawers make me more organized and I am MUCH happier.
A final word of advice. You won’t get it right the first time, but with each reorganization, you’ll get closer to a space that functions for you. By planning you’ll know what is good, what needs to be changed and where there is untapped potential.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Wendy TC says
I echo your last paragraph. With numerous re-orgs, I have actually been able to put more and more craft items into my craft room, including cabinets I thought I had no room for. And thinking about re-organizing and re-arranging before physically doing those activities has made me come up with re-purposing ideas as well. Enjoying the articles on organization so far, learning or becoming aware of alternate ways of organizing, and getting into the organization zen!
Judy Hammerschmidt says
Hi. I find that if I store my canvases in large, under-the-bed plastic storage bins, I can divide them according to type: Christmas, stockings, ornaments, belts, pillows, etc. I have organized most of threads in bins created for workshops: instead of nails, I have threads. They stack on top of each other, which makes their existence in a closet or along a wall much less intrusive. I also have a triple basket stand that sits behind my stitching chair which allows me to have easy access to little projects that I have going all at one time. Finally, next to that same chair is a large bag full of threads which are organized on notebook rings so that I don’t have to run upstairs to my guest room (also my needlepoint room) every time I need a different fiber. All in all, it works. Of course when I die, my kids will say, “what possessed her to own ALL OF THIS STUFF???”