Hi Reader,

Is storing finished projects a problem for you?

Making things is always a lot of fun, but unless you're selling or giving away them away as gifts or donations, it doesn't take long before all those wonderful projects start taking up space.

One of my readers sent me this reply after the last Snappy Scissors newsletter:

Storage is a common problem, and I did have a few ideas to share with her.

• A dedicated cabinet to store them. (1)
• Lay several on top of each other on a bed and rotate the one on top so you can enjoy seeing your finished quilts. This works best if you have a spare bed, but it could work with just one bed. (2)
• Use vacuum storage bags. You can put one or more quilts in a bag, suck out all the air with a vacuum, and end up with a compressed bag(s) that should fit under your bed. These flattened bags do stack nicely on top of each other and may fit on the top shelf in your closet.

The first two ideas are how my friend Pat stores her quilts, and the photos are from her home. (Shared with permission.) My sister uses the vacuum bags.

I repurposed a large TV armoire to be used for quilt storage (3) and also use a free standing quilt rack that belonged to my mom (4).

Storing finished projects can be a challenge. I'd love to hear about what you sew and the solutions you use.

You can reply to this email, and please send some photos if it's not too much trouble.

Sewing Space Playbook

​In the last newsletter, I shared the challenges I've been facing related to my sewing space and how I solved them in the past.

My plan was to finish a couple of commissioned quilts before tackling my out-of-control stash, but my mind and heart are telling me NO.

I'm not quite done with the quilts, but I don't want to wait any longer to get started with Sewing Space Playbook (SSPB).

It's a process I know works.

These pictures show my first sewing room transformation.

Since then, I have successfully used steps from the playbook a second time when I shifted parts of my sewing space to another room.

I'll be following the proven SSPB process again to sort through, reorganize, and redesign my current dedicated sewing space so it's a place where I want to be instead of room that crushes my soul.

The proven process is made up of 8 Plays and the current state of your sewing space will determine what play you start with.

If your sewing space is hindering your quilting/sewing or you've been thinking about making some changes but didn't know where to start, Sewing Space Playbook may be exactly what you need.

I'm not the only one the SSPB process has worked for.

Over the next few days, I'll share comments and results from several SSPB students who created spaces where they love to sew following the 8 Plays taught in the course.

If you're ready to make changes, click on the button below to get Sewing Space Playbook.

I hope you'll join me in creating a space where you love to sew!

Not interested in Sewing Space Playbook right now? Click here to let me know and you won't hear about it again during this promotional period. Don't worry. You'll still get the Snappy Scissors newsletter. 😀

Pressing Tools

Have you ever heard the saying, "The difference between handmade and homemade is proper pressing."?

Pressing is an important part of the construction process whether you're sewing or quilting because it helps to set stitches, flatten seams and hems, smooth out puckers, and even shape fabric into darts, pleats, and curves.

Pressing is the action of pushing the iron lightly but firmly down on the fabric then lifting and moving it to press down again in another area.

This is different than ironing which is moving the iron back and forth when the heated plate is touching the fabric. (Like you would do when getting wrinkles out of clothes or a large piece of fabric.)

When the iron is set to the correct temperature for the fabric you're working with, you can get some great handmade results when pressing.

But did you know, there are some additional tools you can use to achieve even more amazing results?

I have a couple of tailor's hams and use them to press curved seams when making garments.

I also have a wooden clapper that I'll pull out when I need some extra help in getting seams to lay flat.

The clapper has been very helpful as I've worked on some pinwheel blocks to flatten bulky seams.

My clapper is from Jackson's Woodworks LLC.

They have a video showing some of their sewing and quilting tools for both garments, quilting, and other types of sewing.

If you want to learn more about clappers or make your own tailor's ham, check out the following resources.

• Sew Very Easy has an informative video on What is a clapper and how to use it. At 3:07 in the video she shows how to steam press. This is when you use the clapper with only steam and without touching the iron to the fabric.
• Twig + Tale has an excellent tutorial along with free downloadable directions and pattern to make your own tailor's ham.

Don't forget to check out Sewing Space Playbook if organizing your sewing space has been on your mind.

That's all for now. Until next time...

P.S. Are you new to the Snappy Scissors newsletter? Check out past issues HERE.

P.P.S. Not interested in Sewing Space Playbook right now? Click here to let me know and you won't hear about it again during this promotional period. Don't worry. You'll still get the Snappy Scissors newsletter. 😀