My friend Heather over on True Stitches asked how do others keep their immediate working area clean and organized? (We’re not talking the whole studio space, just where you do *most* of your work, for those of you who use “hand” methods.)
HA. My stitching corner “stand” is most often a jumbled pile of various threads, whether in use or not. It also attracts stray earrings, dog hair, pins, cat hair, thread labels, dog and cat hair and old fashioned dust. And dog and cat hair. Once a month (whether it needs it or not 🙂 ), i DO clean it up. Usually when things start falling off the back, or between the stand and the couch, or won’t fit anymore because there’s already too much stuff in it… And presently, i am not sure and don’t care about whatever is in the bottom drawer….
To the right of the stand is my homemade niddy noddy for winding thread skeins, and a large board that i dream of Greyman attaching to the top of the stand to extend my space, *someday*………. i need more room for more crap after all. And dog and cat hair.
THIS however is my Best Friend.
Bought 6 or so years ago at a cheap department store (probably a Zeller’s or Giant Tiger or V&S, can’t remember as that store is now gone), for the magnificent sum of $8.00, i just can’t work without it. A lap table, it’s wide enough underneath that i can sit with my legs crossed, extended, or doubled up in agony ’cause my hip is bothering me again. It’s high enough that i don’t need SuperPower glasses to see what i’m doing (though i wear the Just About Super ones), holds scissors and marking tools out of the way for safety and for easy use, and has space for thread ends and bags of threads. I have to have a lifted area to work on, as arthritis also affects my shoulders, wrists and right thumb, so not dangling stuff over my capacious lap is paramount. I do clean this out after every use as the spaces regularly fill up with bits and scraps and the ubiquitous you know what hair.
And i never ever EVER use the armrest of the couch as a pincushion!!!
albedo too 
Good set up! And I never use the arm rest as a pin cushion either..or my pants leg to hold the needle while I go through my neatly arranged organized threads…snort!
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i never stick pins or needles anywhere but the pincushion–i’m really fearful of the cat or dog finding one otherwise!
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Thank you Arlee! The lap tray looks like a good idea. I hear you on the dog hair too!
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Lap tray is a great idea. Hmmm, may need to consider one of these. My stuff is all over. Sometimes when I organize my “stuff” I cannot find anything! BTW, I recd the beautiful thread today. Love it! You are appreciated my friend.
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I think i bought it with the idea of stitching in bed–but oh those needles then! 🙂
Glad to hear you received your threads.
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