I think it’s the time of year. I think, ingrained in us, we have this “beginning of the year” impulse to get organized, and it manifests itself every year in lots of questions about needlework project organization.
This year is no different! Questions have been rolling in over the past month about organization in general, but the Number One Popular Question has to do with keeping a number of projects going at one time – not just juggling many projects, but staying sane in the process and making progress all around.
I’m not exactly the Queen of Organization in every area of life – and lately, it feels as if certain areas are crumbling around me – but when it comes to Needle ‘n Thread, I try to keep things moderately organized so that I can work efficiently.
And that’s the whole thing about organizing needlework projects, whether you’re working one project or you have a number of projects going at the same time.
Organizing is simply a matter of situating things so that we can use our time (which is a most precious gift) efficiently. If we aren’t wasting time sorting and ferreting and foraging, we can enjoy our needlework oh-so-much more, and for longer periods of time.
Tips for Organizing Your Needlework
You’ll find quite a few articles on Needle ‘n Thread touching on the subject of organization, but the most popular article on the topic is this one about organizing multiple embroidery projects that are in progress at the same time.
This article about clearing the table and using carts to organize needlework tools and frequently used supplies might give you some ideas about organizing space. There’s a lot to be said for the clean-table approach!
This article is about the essentials in my workroom. I’ve changed locations since then, but the gist of the article is still the same. There are some organizational tips in there – especially on the point of keeping things under cover, if you can!
This article on six bad stitching habits hit home for a lot of people – and I’m guilty of all of them. Of course, organization shows up in more than one point!
Confessions of a Disorganized Stitcher will give you some pointers on thread organization, which applies to any project. And yes, I’m the one confessing. I tend to get disorganized pretty quickly when I’m engrossed in a serious stitching session. I try to combat the tendency, but some days, I fail. I don’t even bother. Usually, those are the Very Engrossing Stitching Sessions, where I’m not only concentrating and making good progress, but I’m enjoying the Happy Heck Out of It!
I hope you enjoy reading those articles and that you find them helpful, if you’re seeking project organization tips!
If you have any favorite tips you’d like to share with the wider Needle ‘n Thread community, please chime in below with your own experiences and suggestions! You never know how many people’s lives you will touch with your own suggestions.
A Thousand Flower Kits & Holly & Evergreen Towel Sets
The long-awaited threads for the kits for A Thousand Flowers are making their way to the US as we speak, so I’ll be preparing the remaining kits from the first round and making them available soon! If there is additional interest, I’ll order the materials for another batch of kits.
If you’ve been waiting for this news and you want advanced notice of kit availability, drop me a line and I’ll put you on the email list for advanced notice. Otherwise, the kits will be available on a first-come basis once they are added to the shop.
I’ve added some Holly & Evergreen pre-transferred flour sack towel sets to the shop. I’m taking a hiatus from prepping these for a while while I concentrate on other projects, so if you’ve been waiting for those, now’s the time to get them! Any that sell today and this weekend will ship on Monday via priority mail.
