Showing posts with label shortcut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shortcut. Show all posts

How I store my dress making fabric using coat hangers

April 16, 2015

how i store my dress making fabric
So I figured I'd continue on with my little series on how I store my fabric, you can see the post here about how I store my quilting fabric.  Today I'll be talking about how I store my dress making fabric.  As you know I recently moved and I'm working out my perfect system for my new sewing room.

I knew when it came to storing my dress making fabric I wanted it stored in a way I could see it all.  Now shoved in a box where I had to dig through to see if I had a certain fabric or find what I want.  Thankfully I have a large built in wardrobe and enough clothes to fit in the wardrobe in my bedroom!

My storage system in now devised of coat hangers!  Normal standard plastic coat hangers.  Well maybe not the totally normal ones, the ones that you can hang your pants over.  I found packs of 12 for $2.50 at my local target.

I simply folded the length of the fabric until it would fit over the coat hanger and then slipped the coat hanger in as I folded it in half!  It doesn't really need step by step instructions :)  If you have any questions leave a comment or shoot me and email and I'll get back to you.

How I store my dress making fabric using coat hangers
 
Super simple and easy storage for your fabric plus you can see what you have!  Plus I love opening the cupboard and seeing all the clothes that I have yet to make!

How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards

April 13, 2015

how I store my quilting fabric
 
I thought I'd share how I store my quilting fabric.  Sadly I don't have the luxury of specially designed custom shelving for my fabric, nor do I tend to buy enough of it to justify proper bolts.  Instead I had to make do with what I could buy.

How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards
 
I bought a 4x4 cube unit (from Super Amart, but like Ikea Kallax or many other shops).  For a while my fabric lived folded on the shelves but it didn't look nice enough for my liking.  I googled looking for mini bolts or something similar but didn't have too much luck.  To my surprise I found what I was after at my local comic book store, Kaboom Comics

Comic book boards!  I pay $20 for a pack of 100, cheaper than I could find online so I urge you to check with your local store as not only do you support local business you could save some money too!  I walked in and asked for some comic book boards, I was then asked what size, it was then I had to explain I wanted them to store my fabric.  Surprisingly the man behind the counter had heard about them being used for fabric but hadn't actually had anyone buy them for fabric before.

It was a pretty simple project to take a pile of fabric from a mess to something that you're proud to show off.

1.Pull out all the fabric you want to roll.
2.Leave the quilting fabric folded as it came off the bolt

How I store my fabric using comic book boards
 
3.Fold again, the fold down to the selvedge so the WOF is in quarters along the length of the fabric.
 
How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards

4. Place the board on the fabric and roll!

How I store my fabric using comic book boards
How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards

5.Fold over the end into a triangle and pin in place (Not strictly required but it does look pretty!)

How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards

6. Put in your shelves and admire the prettiness!

How I store my quilting fabric using comic book boards
 
I've found this works well for fabric 1/2yard and more, you could also use the same method for FQs but just fold in half not quarters obviously.

The guy behind the counter also told me to tell my friends if it worked, does this count?

*NB Kaboom Comics didn't pay me to tell you about them, I just thought Id support a local business who offered the product cheaper than I'd found online

Sewing Tip - what to do when you don't have an iron

April 12, 2015

As I've mentioned I moved recently. I've moved half my stuff but with each load of stuff I move I find stuff I need but haven't moved yet. It normally results in me leaving beind stuff I actually wanted to move too.

Anyway, I needed a break and am working on a cute little project for an adopted niece. The problem arose when I was first missing my cutting mat and rotary cutter (I have the ruler?!), but no worries I just skipped that step for now and worked around it. Pressing proved to be more challenging as my iron and pressing board still aren't here. 

Thankfully I remebered an email i relieved from Colette Patterns last week about using a hair straightener as an iron. I'm pleased to announce it worked!

Though if you are like me and your hair straightener has an automatic heat setting, just use it on cottons or linens so you don't burn your masterpiece!
 
Hair Straightener Iron
 
 
What are your sewing tips or shortcuts?
 
Emma
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