|
|
I use 8 1/2 x 11" sheet protectors to put charts in. Especially small ones like LHN that are folded small. They protect the charts after much handling. I buy them in bulk at office supply stores, usually about $15 for 200. They are of course reusable, too for when I've finished a project. If there are just three pages or so I usually put all in one sheet protector with the chart showing on one side and the key on the other. If there are multiple pages I will use more sheet protectors and keep them together using metal rings at top, middle, and bottom. I get these at the office supply store and buy them in bulk, too. I can't remember the cost but it's about $15 for 50 approximately.
If I have a small project I will put threads/buttons in quart size Zip-lock bags and slide that into the sheet protector to keep it together. If larger project, I use gallon size Zip-lock bags and put the sheet protectors in it to keep together. The Zip lock won't close totally but that's not important I want air to go through anyway to keep out moisture over time.
I put the fabrics (rolled or folded) into the same gallon bags or sheet protectors if they are very small projects. Then I put several "kits" in a large tote bag. I can usually fit a dozen in one bag. I try to arrange them so that there are small, medium, and large projects in each bag. I currently have more than 30 bags of projects in progress or fully kitted. These have grown over the years. Every so often I will rearrange how they are sorted. Usually I rotate working on various projects but eventually some will "pull ahead" and I will focus more on those.
In several of the tote bags I have a small quart size zip bag with a variety of needles, magnets, thread cards or bobbins, pen and notepad, hi-lighter tape, scissors, etc. It's taken a long time to keep a kit of supplies in each bag but I always buy supplies just like anything else stitching related. This way whenever I grab a bag to take on a trip or to just go outside to stitch, I have everything I need to get started and don't have to always think about it.
I store the tote bags in my stitching room closet but also have them in the other bedroom closets, and usually keep a couple in the living room closet. So definitely had to spread them out since they have grown to many.
This system works for me and really the costs are low overall. I buy ugly tote bags on clearance at discount stores at the end of the summer so many are beach bags or even free ones I've gotten from airlines, gift with purchase, etc. I don't care how they look, they just need to serve a purpose to hold my projects. And I didn't buy all at one time. In the beginning I even used paper shopping bags with the twine handles because they are sturdy. Eventually I replaced those paper ones over time. The office supplies are all reusable as are the plastic bags.
And before I forget, I do also buy the plastic mesh bags sold at many stitch shops and sites on-line (Nordic Needle) for much larger projects. So I have several 11x17 zippered bags and other large sizes. If there are multiple small projects I'm really into doing, I will sometimes put three or four in one of these just to be able to grab and go easily.
I also stitch in hand for the most part but do also like to use Q-Snaps. Again, over time, I've acquired many sizes so I usually keep one in most bags, small, medium, and large. So they are readily available to use at any time and if one bag doesn't have one I can easily pilfer from a different bag.
Hope this gives you some ideas and helps you to decide your own best way to organize your kits. :)
|
|
chekccard
Post time: 2013-5-27 05:25
Collection
Like
set top card
Colorizer
Drop the Thread Top
Jack
Author
