2 must-have notions that organize your cutting table in a flash!

Yesterday on QUILTsocial I talked about thread storage solutions such as the Hemline 60 Spool Thread Stand and the Clover Stack ‘N Store Bobbin Tower. I also showed you other ways I store my cones of thread, and we did some more work on our sewing machine mat.

Today I want to talk about how to organize your cutting table. Here’s what my cutting table often looks like when I’m in the midst of one or more projects. Rulers, rotary cutters, pens, pencils – you name it and you’ll find it on my cutting table.

Christine’s messy cutting table

To help me tidy up my cutting table I use the Sew Easy Ruler and Template Stand to organize my rulers. It fits templates and rulers of all sizes and shapes of ⅛″ [3.17mm] thick and helps to keep these organized and protected from scratches. It has six universal slots and three small slots for different size and shape templates and rulers, and one mini slot for the quilters’ ¼″ ruler. It’s nice and heavy too, which prevents it from falling over when you put the rulers in, and it has non-skid rubber feet to prevent it from slipping around on your table.

The Sew Easy Ruler and Template Stand

I always have pens, pencils and rotary cutters on my cutting table too, so this HEMLINE Thimble Shaped Tabletop Organizer will be so cute to help store them. The thick plastic construction in rose gold is ideal for storing sewing, crafting and office necessities.

The HEMLINE Thimble Shaped Tabletop Organizer

Here’s my cutting table all tidied up with the help of the Sew Easy Ruler and Template Stand and the HEMLINE Thimble Shaped Tabletop Organizer. Let’s hope I can keep it clean for at least a few days!

A tidy cutting table organized with the Sew Easy Ruler and Template Stand and the HEMLINE Thimble Shaped Tabletop Organizer.

Making the thread catcher bag

Now, let’s get back to work on our thread catcher bag. Using the same process as yesterday, make a selvage panel and trim to 9“ x 18“. Cut a rectangle the same size from your binding fabric.

A 9″ x 18″ rectangle of the selvage panel and the lining of the bag.

Place the two rectangles right sides together and sew along one long side. Press open and fold in half as shown in the photo, matching up the seam. Pin the three raw edges and sew the three sides, leaving a 2“ section unstitched for turning.

Fold in half, matching the seam and then pin.

Fold the bottom corner of the lining fabric together so the side seam and the bottom seam line up. Box off the corner by sewing 1½” up from the corner. Trim off the excess fabric. Repeat this process for the other corner of the liner and the two corners of the outside of the bag.

Box off the corners of the liner and the outside of the bag.

After sewing and trimming both corners, here is what the outside fabric of the bag should look like before it is turned right side out.

The boxed corners of the outside of the bag.

Turn the bag right side out through the unstitched section and push the lining inside the bag.

Turn the bag right side out.

In order to stabilize the top edge of the bag and to help it stay open all the time, we need to put something inside the top seam. If you have a plastic container, such as ice cream container, cut a strip long enough to go all the way around the top edge of the bag. If the strip isn’t long enough, you could tape two strips together to make it long enough. Make the strip about ¾” wide.

Cut a strip of plastic ¾” wide.

To make the strip easier to feed through the top edge of the bag, use your scissors to round off one end of the plastic strip.

Round off one end of the strip.

Topstitch the top edge of the bag and then again 1“ away to make a channel for the plastic strip. Feed the strip through the channel and trim off any extra. Hand stitch the opening closed.

Make a channel and then feed the plastic strip through.

Here’s the finished thread catcher bag.

The finished bag

Isn’t that selvage bag cute!! Fabric companies have started making their selvages more interesting by adding shapes other than circles to the printing. As you can see, I’ve found selvages with trucks, flowers and stars as well as others with leaves, butterflies and mini quilt blocks. All my friends laugh when I get excited by a fabric’s selvage, but now you can see why!

Tomorrow we’ll attach the thread catcher bag to the mat to complete this week’s project. With help from the Sew Easy Ruler and Template Stand and the HEMLINE Thimble Shaped Tabletop Organizer, my cutting table is clean and organized, making it easier to find the items I need for making this project! See you tomorrow.

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: 4 ways to organize your threads in your quilting space!

Go to part 5: 6 smart storage solutions I use in my sewing studio

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