Found a Spot for the Sewing Machine, Tidied up the Place, Now Back to Sewing
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
United States
July 23, 2020 8:14am CST
Took me a while to figure out how to utilize my space better yesterday. I had an old sewing machine that is inside a table. I brought that out of our bedroom and into the dining area. I moved the small table that has storage underneath it to the living room. Organized the toy area in the living room.
Refolded the boxes of fabric and placed them inside 2 clear storage boxes. One of the smaller boxes held scraps and fabric that I had an abundance of. I placed the 2 clear boxes in the dining area and the small box in my bedroom. We now have more space in the living room. That's a huge plus.
The dining area is still a bit cluttered, but I have everything I need to work on my sewing projects close by. I did move the sewing machine to the table last night so I could work on masks. I'll move it back to the sewing table when I prepare dinner. There is just much more space on the table to place everything I need.
I keep thinking once I get through this batch of orders I will stop for a while. But, that is what I thought before I got these orders. I have about 80 masks to make now. Once school starts I will need to focus on homeschooling Little Miss. It is then that I will put the sewing machine in a case and only take it out for small orders or when I get bored and feel the need to create.
Doubt I will be able to sew just for the fun of it anytime soon.
7 people like this
8 responses
@Juliaacv (56432)
• Canada
23 Jul 20
Its great that you found a way to work with the space that you have.
You must do good work on your masks, you have a lot of orders.
Are you finding people asking for different, thicker fabrics for the pending colder seasons that will be here soon?
I bought some triply ply washable masks that we will use for the colder weather, or if another spike comes along.
It really was a blessing that you retired when you did, imagine how torn you would feel if you were still working plus had to worry about homeschooling. I feel for the parents that must work and do not have the choice to assist with the education of their children.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
One of my friends is torn between keeping her child home and working. I told her that I would help out. Her mother watches her child while she works. However, she said that she wouldn't be able to do it full time.
Because she needs to be to work at a bakery by 5:30 most days, she needs to drop her child off at her mother's home by 5 a.m. and then picks her up when her work day is done. I told her that I would pick her daughter up later in the morning and bring her to our house. I would make sure she completes most of her school work. She would have to do some with her when she got home from work though.
I make all of my masks from 100% cotton. There is an opening at the bottom or a filter to be inserted if they so desire to do so. Many people find 3 layers to be too much. I do have some lightweight flannel and will get more if people desire to have a heavier mask.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56432)
• Canada
23 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly The ones that I have bought do not have an opening for a filter. I like the 3 ply thick ones, they are made from a stretchy jersey type of material.
You'll have to come up with a name for your homeschooling, you might just be on to something here.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
@Juliaacv I have tried the jersey ones and don't care for them as much as my 2 ply pleated masks.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 Jul 20
Have you considered getting one of those plastic drawers from walmart? I think they are around $20-$25 and they come in handy. I have one and it has two small drawers perfect for thread and needles, and three bigger ones perfect for cloth and scraps.
It sounds like you have the space looking good!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
I really don't have any room for anything else in here. Once we move to a bigger place I will be able to organize my sewing/craft space.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum I would love cubby spaces to hold my fabric and yarn.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly Oh I see. I've seen lots of videos / pictures of craft spaces and I love them all. Especially those that utilize the cubby type of shelves to display their yarn.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
28 Jul 20
I have utilized the spots beneath our beds too. Actually need to pull out the boxes and go through them again.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
1 Aug 20
@simone10 If my husband would clean out the shed and then repair it to be weather proof, he could store so much of his tools and other items out there and it would open up space in here.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
1 Aug 20
@ElusiveButterfly We need more storage and more cabinets in our kitchen. I'm hoping we can get a house next year with a garage. If so, we can put all our holiday decorations in the garage and that will help a lot. Until then, we have to continue to be creative.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91197)
• United States
23 Jul 20
Sounds like you did a lot of work rearranging your stuff but found a solution. Usually when I rearrange stuff it causes more work and problems than I first thought 
Happy mask making
Happy mask making1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
24 Jul 20
The task took hours to complete. Of course once you start moving stuff, you find more stuff, and then need to clean behind the stuff you found. LOL
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
26 Jul 20
@Marilynda1225 I don't even want to think what shape a garage would be in if we had one. My husband would utilize it for his needs and doubt there would be room for a vehicle once he took it over.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91197)
• United States
25 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly I know exactly what you mean. I'm trying to clean out and organize our garage. I think I created a bigger mess lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128856)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Jul 20
That is very admirable that you are using your sewing talent to create masks. There is definitely a huge demand for them.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
26 Jul 20
I have made over 500 masks so far. Keep getting a lot of requests for them. Have even sewn masks for friends that live out of state.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
28 Jul 20
@moffittjc about 10-15 minutes from start to finish, not including cutting time. I usually cut at least 20 from different fabric prints. Then zigzag the edges that are the bottom opening. Easier to whip through them at a steady pace when the zigzag part is finished first.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128856)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly Wow, 500! That is amazing! You are on quite a roll. How long does it take you to make each mask?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
I do enjoy making the masks. But, I want to start other projects as well. There are some really cute dress patterns I want to purchase and make Little Miss some dresses.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
@just4him ever since I started sewing again, I realized how much I enjoy creating things. Also mended many of my my husbands torn jeans. Not my favorite task, but felt good once they were wearable again.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly That should be fun too.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
Whenever I finish one order I get more. I will just move at a slower pace if I get more orders. Time to start doing things for me.
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
23 Jul 20
I hope it works or you can find some other idea for it
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
23 Jul 20
I am always moving things around in this place. How people live in "tiny homes" is beyond me. We really need a larger home.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
24 Jul 20
@Butterfingers I've been looking online at homes. Some are really expensive. We don't need a huge place, just one that suits our needs.
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
23 Jul 20
@ElusiveButterfly yes a larger home does help a great deal
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