TGIFF: my sewing space & a quilty can cover
7:00:00 AMI finally finished re-organizing and tidying my sewing space. A room almost 3 years in the making.
My mum was here for the month of March which started all of the spring cleaning in the area; she's a bit of a nutcase (in a good way!) about organizing and neatness so I most definitely took her up on her offer to help.
I quilt in the basement of our 1887 Victorian rental. It's so cold in the winter (it's not heated) that we have to keep the water running for days on end to keep the pipes from freezing; it floods when we get the Chicago torrential down pours; the lighting is poor (I have one little window in the space at ground level). I wish I could paint the walls a bright white - I think it would help a bit but because we rent, we can't paint. C'est la vie.
So I make the best of it! Something about "life" and "lemons"?
Without further adieu, here's my little space. I tried to link to as many products as I could remember, but if you have any questions about anything, let me know :)
My "Chicago {by train}" quilt greets me every time I walk into the space:
Linking up to M-R at Quilt Matters today for TGIFF today!! Yippee!!

this post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com.
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hallway entrance to my basement sewing room my "Chicago {by train}" quilt greets me every time I get my quilt on! the far wall is my design wall |
That gorgeous blue cutting mat on the table is from June Tailor.
Note the oil heater by my desk >chuckles<. It's May, but it's still freezing in the basement.
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yikes - don't mind the oil heater. Yes, it's May. Yes, it's still freaking cold in my basement. Blue cutting mat is June Tailor Light is Stella Edge Clamp Lamp |
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June Tailor Quilter's Cut'n Press Stella Edge Clamp Lamp wrapping around my machine like a friendly hug :) Machine cover {pattern here} by moi Pink Double Sided Rotary Cutting Mat Pin cushion is "as old as the hills", as my mum would say - it was her's - silk with little Asian figures running along the edge Don't mind the Tim Horton's coffee tin holding my pens and fabric pencils - see below - I jazzed the tin up |
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my mum spent hours folding each fat quarter perfectly while she was visiting. Gorgeous, gorgeous eye candy. |
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my first little monkey keeping an eye on me while I sew |
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this was my mum's idea: a left over piece of doweling with two picture hooks on the end, and left over curtain clips (Ikea: RIKTIG) to hang my zippers from. Cool and eye-catching :) |
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over the last couple of years I've bought two June Tailor spool racks |
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A view of my little pressing nook. I hung some cheap IKEA shelves we've had for years, and stuck some hooks on the underside for my shears & scissors. The light over the pressing board is from IKEA, too (NOT, $11.99) The cover for my sewing machine is a tutorial, by me, link HERE You can see my Stella Edge Clamp lamp |
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I really like this NOT light; the pressing corner is dark, so this really brightens it up. The bulbs are LED, so they don't generate any heat. |
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I store most of my patterns and yardage, and Etsy designated stuff, in these SAMLA storage bins. I like the fact they're clear - I can kind of see at a glance what I've got in them. I use an old scrapbooking case (on top) for my current block projects |
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a birthday pressie from my mum: my cool button rugs, Ikea TÅSTRUP. my feet are a little warmer now with these rugs underfoot! |
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I stuck all of my unruly cords and the extension cable in this handy cord-management box (KVISSLE: Ikea) Also a cheapie garbage can (FNISS, Ikea, $1.50) under my table, my ironing board, and under the cutting table |
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And a quilty TGIFF today, in case the TGIFF police are around ;) an appliqued hexie quilty can cover for all of my pens and fabric pencils/markers :) |
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inside the drawer beside my sewing machine - a utensil tray for my cutting/sewing supplies SMÄCKER Flatware Tray - $0.99 June Tailor rotary cutter |
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"Hi everybody!!" Baby Ewan likes my space, too :) |

15 comments
lucky you! you have such beautiful space to sew! love the zip organization!
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome, Erin. It looks so neat and tidy too.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I must do some DIY in my sewing room too. I love the idea of the zipper hanger, so clever!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great room! I'd brave the cold to sew there ;)
ReplyDeleteYour room looks great! Our house was built in 1899 and has such a short basement that I am the only one that can stand up in it- hub and 6 foot tall daughter can't LOL. You are making the most out of what you have! And I know what you mean about a cold house, in our daughter's bedroom upstairs- she has the exact same heater as you do.
ReplyDeleteYour Chicago by Train quilt is very cool- we visited Chicago in March of last year, not sure being there for the St. Patrick's day was the best idea- way more tourists than usual I bet, but we did get to see the green river!
great space, but the best part is in that last photo!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it! The zipper idea is awesome, tell your mom I said so ;) Great TGIFF finish and I have to get a pink cutting mat.
ReplyDeleteI wanna come sew with you and play with the baby! The best of both worlds!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful space and so much room to move. My sewing space is getting rather overrun with fabric so I have to get sewing...
ReplyDeleteLove your space. Do you think your mom wants to come visit me and help finalize the organization in my space.
ReplyDeletesuch great organisation, you can see whatever you are looking for at a glance, most of my stuff is in drawers etc, but concerned about the flooding though, does it happen often, surely not with the electric wires etc and would hate to think things would get ruined by water. Your little one looks so at home on the quilt
ReplyDeleteLOL! Good thing you had that hexie can cover there, Erin. Although I think getting a sewing room up and going is a huge finish in itself! Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour quilty space looks fantastic! Love that light that hugs your machine!
ReplyDeleteI love your sewing space! You have such great organization ideas! I don't have a dedicated space yet, but I'm definitely keeping yours in mind for inspiration when I do!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things I love about this space, despite the fact that it's cold for you. LOVE the Chicago train quilt. That's genius (and I recognized it right away since I'm also a Chicago girl). I also love the Ikea button rug. I've not seen it before and I'm at Ikea all the time (we have nearby where we live in Orlando). My sewing studio has wall-to-wall carpeting but I still want it!
ReplyDeleteI ♥ to hear from you!
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