WASTE NOT, WANT NOT (or how to tips for recycling and reusing in your sewing room)

The current movement to recycle, re-use, and re-purpose items is not new to me.  I grew up in a poor home and we just did not have anything to waste so we learned early to re-use items somehow if it was possible. I still follow this premise - I would rather give away or sell something I am no longer using, or somehow re-purpose it.

Fast forward to now........I have a budget for quilting and I rarely go over that monthly amount.  In fact, I usually do not spend it all so that gets saved for something big that I might want for quilting (I usually save it toward my trip to the quilt show in Paducah, KY each spring).  That being said, I do not want to spend money on organizing or storage for my sewing room - I would rather use items I can get free or second hand or already have.  I want to spend money on fabric, patterns, or quilting.

I was given this big old wooden desk if I would just take it away. I should have refinished it first but I was excited to have all the drawers and space to sew. I got it because I saw it sitting outside of a house and asked if I could take it.  The owner was thrilled. It isn't pretty but it sure is functional and other than being scratched up nothing was wrong with it.  My husband says it is from the 1950's.  Lesson: Ask, the worst you can be told is "no".

I have UFOs (unfinished objects) that I have started and for whatever reason end up needing a place to be stored.  I like to keep the pieces, directions, and fabric all together.  For many years, I would save the shoe box when I got new shoes and use those those for UFOs. Gradually I am replacing them with plastic boxes as I find them at yard sales or Goodwill.  I like the plastic boxes better simply because I can see what is in them while they are stacked on a shelf.  I always forgot to mark the shoe  boxes and then I had to look in each one to find the project I was after. Lesson: being frugal is not bad.  Spend the $$ where you really want to spend it, not on things you can get for free or almost free.

Then - real shoe boxes

Now - gradually moving to plastic boxes as I find them second hand

Jars are great for storing needles, thread, buttons, pins, pencils or markers, etc.  I have lots of canning jars to use, but sometimes I find pretty jars for almost nothing.  I found a dozen of these nice looking decorative jars for 50 cents a piece at Goodwill. Tip: check out second hand sources for storage or organizing items - think outside the box.  How can you re-purpose items for your own use??

Peg boards are great items for storing sewing tools. This one was given to me along with all the pegs. It is wonderful for so many items I use frequently while sewing.  The items each have a peg and are ready when I need them.

Rulers, stencils, scissors, rotary cutters all have a home now

When I bought new fancy shower curtain hooks, I re-purposed the old hooks for holding my quilting stencils.  Each hook holds a theme of stencils such as narrow borders, wide borders, blocks by size, all over design, etc.  No more stencils getting bent or sliding behind the fabric.

When a friend got rid of her gardening magazines, I saved her throwing out these cardboard magazine organizers by bringing them home and using for quilting magazines. The binders for my quilting scrap books are from Goodwill at 50 cents to $1 each.

So as any quilter can tell you, there are tiny scraps of fabric and batting that really are too small to use and so end up in the trash.  Where I live the Humane Shelter always needs rags and stuff that can be used for bedding for the animals.  Years ago I started making a bag from left over fleece (sew 3 sides like a pillow case) and keeping it on the cutting table. As I have tiny scraps they go into the bag. When it is 2/3 full I sew the top shut and there is a soft animal bed that is completely washable and machine dryable. The shelter can't get enough of them and any size is appreciated.

Soon to be an animal bed for the Humane Shelter

People donate all kinds of fabric to me for the donation quilts I make.  What I can use is organized in a closet (separate from my own fabric) and what I cannot use is given to others, or the Humane Shelter.

I make it a game to figure out how to re-use or re-purpose items.We throw away very little each week.  Look around your sewing area or house.  How can you re-use items instead of throwing them away?  Don't hoard but do re-purpose items.  Save money and the environment in one swoop.