Folks who visit me often want to know how I have organized my stash. It isn’t especially amazing and I think I’m the queen of repurposing other kinds of items to use for storage.
That’s what a life hack is all about. The name has its roots in computer culture where quick and dirty solutions to problems are called “hacks.” If you apply that same philosophy to the stuff in your life, you get “lifehacks.”
Often lifehacks use items created for another purpose, such as the pants hangers from last week, to serve another purpose. At other times, they are just really cool gadgets that will make your life simpler. Here are some more I’ve found recently to share with you.
Binders for Floss Organization
Small skeins of stranded threads of all kinds, not just floss, can be a pain to store and organize. If you aren’t careful, you end up with tangled messes.
The folks at Lolli and Grace came up with a wonderful way to organize these: binders with sheet protectors. It’s neat and compact. It’s also really easy to store and view.
More Magnetic Needle Storage
Brenda Cote liked my lipstick-style needle container but she wanted a less expensive option. She found one made by Dritz and blogged about it.
These are a great idea unless you stockpile needles, as I do.
More Floss Organization
Not quite as simple as using binders, this method, seen on Mary Corbet’s blog, uses comb binding and a wooden file box to make floss storage. It’s a very clever hack but you’ll need floor space to store the boxes (always a problem for me).
Magnet Storage
Since I wanted to put up some of the framed needlework I got from my mom’s house, I needed to free up wall space. One space was where my board of magnets stood.
I use a flat metal board from IKEA to store them (they only have it in a longer version now). It’s just a bit narrower than my desk drawer. I slid it in top of the tools there. I also rearranged the magnets so the ones I want to use are nearer the front. Because its in the same drawer as my tacks and my needles when starting a new project I only need to go to one place after I get the stretcher bars.
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
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