I’m doing quite well with the sewing room declutter this year, I’m almost up to date! Karen Brown from Just Get it Done Quilts breaks it down into daily bite-sized chunks, some bigger chunks than others!

After a day sorting through books and magasines, I’ve two piles to either sell or charity shop. I love books so it was quite hard, but I had a realistic look through them. There are some I’ve had for years but they’ve still projects in them I’d like to do, others are good for ideas or techniques. However my tastes and crafts that I enjoy have changed over the years and some books have never been used and are not likely to now. I’ve got three GB Sewing Bee books which I’ve hardly used, luckily my daughters friend has just taken up sewing so she is going to give her them.

Patterns was big area as I have sewing patterns, quilt patterns, as well as embroidery patterns. I’ve a little pile of unused sewing patterns to sell, I’ve binned a few which I’ve made but either no longer fit or I don’t want to make again. I sorted out my embroidery and cross-stitch patterns and any unwanted ones can probably go to my stitch group sales table.

We had a day sorting scissors etc. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of a thing for pretty embroidery scissors, but they’re all sharp and used fairly regularly. I decided I didn’t need quite so many paper scissors, a large pair and a smaller pair were enough, so the rest have gone downstairs for general use.

Threads was a big day for me. Sewing machine threads aren’t too bad but my overlocker threads are getting old and thread doesn’t last for ever. I’ve kept four of each colour and disposed of the rest.

My DMC threads are pretty sorted, I’ve a set of mini drawers with Pip and Chip bobbins, they’re all in number order as that’s mainly how I use them. I had a few old ones which I think probably came from my mums, so probably over 20 years old. I decided if they weren’t used by now they could go.

I had quite a few other hand embroidery threads which needed sorting, I put what I could on bobbins, they’re kept in another set of drawers in colour order. I need to try and use these more, be a bit more adventurous rather than always reaching for tried and trusted DMC.

Machine embroidery threads are in a box and last years I made trays for the box so they’re nicely sorted.

I enjoyed the day for irons and pressing stuff as I’ve recently bought an ironing station! Well actually it’s a kitchen trolley, but the top was just the right size for my wool ironing mat. I’ve a drawer for things like pressing cloths and hams, a cupboard where I can keep the Best Press spray and my clapper. I hang tape measures on the end and there’s shelves for some of my storage boxes. It’s on wheels too so I can easily move it round, though it’s working quite well sitting at the end of my sewing table.

Today I’ve to sort out notions, that may take a while…buttons, ribbons, linings interfacing…it’s a big section!

So far my sewing room doesn’t look much tidier, probably because I’ve still several projects on the go, but at least I know it’s more sorted!

Is anyone else doing the challenge?