Hi Everyone! In part 4 we have a special treat - a brand new Liberty Jane pattern and a full video sew along to go along with it! The Snuggle & Store Tote Bag is a recreation of one of my most treasured childhood keepsakes. When I was a kid, my mom had a small sewing business and she began making these cute "diaper bags" for all the baby showers in town. When she made me one for my eighth birthday, I was thrilled! I used it to store my Kimberly doll and all her clothing creations that I attempted to make! I still have that bag today and am so excited to bring this to you as a new pattern design. My hope is that you can use it to create a special and meaningful gift for someone that you know too!

As a reminder, all of the coupon codes, download links, and monthly bonuses can be found in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section. If you haven't used this months pattern coupon code yet, you can use it to get this pattern at no additional charge. You could also wait a few days and use the February code if you like.

Ok, are you ready to sew this together? 

Step 1: Download the Snuggle & Store Tote Bag pattern, it's listed in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section currently. It will be listed, site-wide soon, but it's available to you early as an SWC member! 

This bag will fit a variety of dolls, such as Wellies, Bitty Baby, and other dolls shorter that 15-inches.

Also - Please don't feel rushed with this project! I'm already thinking that we will work this sew along into the February topic as well. There's so much to cover and techniques that can be used in other ways, like creating and using piping, inserting a zipper and more. 

Gather up all the needed supplies:

• 1 1/8 yards fabric (outside of bag) We used a pinwale corduroy in both of our examples. If you use a different type of fabric (where the grain isn't visible) you can cut the zipper placket horizontally instead of vertically, which requires less yardage.
• 1 yard fabric (lining)
• 1/2 yard fabric for contrasting bed top (optional)
• 7 yards piping (3 packages)
• 1 yard eyelet ruffle trim
• Thin layer of batting to back all of the lining pieces
• Double pull #3 zipper 40-inch minimum length OR two 18-inch zippers (we used the60" Meillia Double Slider Zipper found on Amazon)
• Sewing Machine
• Zipper Foot
• Double sided basting tape (optional) 

Just a thought... If this seems like too big of a project to tackle, I've heard that you can "shrink down" a design like this to 35% and it will work as a scaled down version for an American Girl Doll to carry! Maybe that seems like a more exciting project to attempt? I am planning on working on that scenario over the next week or so and may add it into the pattern as a bonus, but feel free to try it out on your own!

Here's an overview of the supplies and prep steps you'll want to do to get ready to sew the bag:

And Here We Go...

 Continuing to Part 2:

Hi Everyone! In part 3 we take a look at several ways to create hanging storage for  your doll clothes items! First I'll share with you a few of the ways I've set up my clothing racks. Then Shari joins us with a creative way to create hanging storage in a plastic tub. We hope these storage methods inspire you to find the best way to create your own hanging storage too!

As a reminder, all of the coupon codes, download links, and monthly bonuses can be found in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section.

Hanging storage is something that I've experimented with in a variety of different spaces. I've really come to love the use of tension rods set into bookcases. They're easy to set up, functional, customizable, and easy to take with me into a new room or space. They are available in a variety of rod widths and lengths. Be sure to measure the width of your bookcase to find the best fitting rod. You'll also want to make sure your hangers will hang and slide comfortable on the rod.

Another hanging system I recently came across at Ikea called Elvarli, is quickly becomming a new favorite! It's easy to set up, stores a lot of clothes, and is also customizable. I have the basic set with just two posts and several hanging "clothes rails". The rod on this one is a bit wider so it only works with my 18" doll hangers - both plastic and wooden, but not the ones that come from American Girl or the smaller plastic hangers for 14" doll clothes.

Here's a look at two ways I've set up my own doll clothes hanging storage:

The Hanging Rack Storage Bin Project Tutorial

From Shari... As my kids have been growing older, they have requested that I start saving some of the doll clothes I make to pass down to their kids. That is a request that I am more than happy to fulfill, but as my collection grows, storage is becoming a bit of a problem. For long term storage, I prefer to used plastic totes, but the clothes quickly become crushed and wrinkled if they aren't stored hanging up. One solution I came up with is build hanging racks from PVC pipe that fit inside my plastic totes. These hanging racks are really simple to make – think tinker toys. They don't require any glue and the only tools you will need are a measuring tape, pencil, and a hacksaw (or a PVC pipe cutter - if you can get your hands on one they make cutting the pipe a snap).

Ok, now let's jump into the project! In this video, Shari is going to show you one way to turn a simple plastic storage bin into a long term hanging storage solution!

For this project, you will need:

Supplies:

• Large plastic tote that is tall enough to accommodate the length of your clothing on a hanger (for this demonstration I am using a tote that is 12” wide, 22” deep, and 17” tall)
• 1/2” PVC pipe (for this demonstration I need 15', but your numbers may vary depending on the size of your rack)

•  1/2” PVC elbows and “T” joints (for this demonstration I need 10 elbows and 6 “T” joints, but your numbers and types of joints may vary depending on the size and configuration of your rack) 

Tools:

• Measuring Tape
• Pencil
• Hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter

Here's a breakdown of the full step by step tutorial:

Step 1: Designing your Hanging Rack 

Figure out how your hanging clothes will fit best in your tote – lengthwise or widthwise. In my tote, the hanging rods fit best in three short rows instead of two long ones. Determine the configuration of the base of your hanging rack. The completed base should be a complete rectangle secured with elbow joints at each corner and “T” joints along parallel sides that are evenly spaced to accommodate the uprights for the hanging rods. The space between the hanging rods and the sides of your tote should accommodate the width of your hangers with a little extra space. The uprights and the hanging rods will be built up on this base to fit the height and width of your tote.

Step 2: Building the Base

Measure and cut the pipes for the base. The base ends should be about 2” shorter than the width of the bottom of the tote - to accommodate the elbow joints. The upright base pipes should be the width of the hangers – the extra space between the joints will keep the clothes to hang more freely. The upright base ends should be ½ the width of a hanger minus 1” - to accommodate the joints.

Pipe Measurements for this Demonstration

• Two 10” lengths for thebase ends
• Four 6” lengths for theupright base
• Four 2-1/4” lengths forthe upright base ends

Step 3: It is now Tinker Toy time.

Fit all the base pieces together, making sure the center hole of the “T” joint is facing up. Test fit the base in the bottom of your tote and adjust the length of the pipe pieces as necessary.

Step 4: The Uprights

Cut a length of pipe for each upright about 2” shorter than the height of your tote - to accommodate the joints. Test fit the first piece to make sure you are happy with the height and then cut the remaining uprights.

Pipe Measurementsfor this Demonstration

• Six 14” lengths for the uprights

Step 5: Fit the uprights in place.

If the top of your tote it wider than the bottom, you can angle the uprights to follow the sides of the tote to take advantage of the space.

Step 6: The Hanging Rods

Cut a length of pipe for each hanging rod about 2” shorter than the width of the top of your tote - to accommodate the joints. Fit an elbow joint on each end and test fit the first piece on a pair of uprights to make sure you are happy with the fit before cutting the remaining hanging rods.

Pipe Measurements for this Demonstration

• Three 12-1/4” lengths for the hanging rods

Step 7: Fit the remaining hanging rods on the rack and you are ready to start hanging clothes in your storage tote!

Hi Everyone! In part 2 we are joined by Donna Kinley with an adorable and functional storage idea! I'm loving this and am really excited to have her share this easy to follow tutorial project with the group. So gather up your supplies and follow along in the video below to see how easy it is to make a doll bed storage bin!

As a reminder, all of the coupon codes, download links, and monthly bonuses can be found in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section.

The Doll Bed Storage Bin Project Tutorial

Ok, now let's jump into the project! In this video, Donna is going to show you one way to turn a simple plastic storage bin into a cute ottoman or bed for your dolls.  And it doubles as a storage box!

For this project, you will need:

• A plastic storage bin.  Look for one that is mostly rectangular with straight sides, and no special locking system on the lid. The plainer, the better. This shoebox size is about 13 inches long so it’s about the same length as a Little Darling® doll or a Maru® Mini-Pal.  A sweater size box seems to be about right for WellieWishers™ or Ruby Red Fashion Friends®. I’m going to use the shoebox size for this demonstration, but the process is the same for larger bins as well.

• Quilter’s batting. It’s nice to give the top a little bit of cushion.
• Fabric. The amount you’ll need depends on the size bin you are using.  I did this shoebox size with less than a yard of fabric.  A sweater size bin would need about a yard.
• Trim for the sides of the lid.  Gross-grain ribbon works well.  This trim is about an inch wide, but you may prefer even wider trim.  You’ll need enough to go around the perimeter of the lid with a couple extra inches for overlap.
• Elastic ½ to 1 inch wide.  Most any type will work.  I’m sure you could make a skirt for the bin without using elastic, but an elastic casing is just a quick and easy way to make the top band of the skirt section.
• Glue or double-sided tape.  This will be used to keep the skirt from sliding down the sides of the bin.  I also used it attach the topper to the lid.  You need glue or tape that will adhere to both the plastic and the fabric.  I had this Aleene’s Jewel-It® Embellishing Glue™ on hand, so that’s what I used for the fabric to plastic areas. This glue is designed to bond beads and jewels to fabric. Hot glue might work as well, so you could test that out if you have it on hand.  I used double sided tape to hold the ribbon to the sides of the lid because I was concerned that the glue would bleed through the trim.

Some other things you’ll want to have on hand are:

• A long ruler, preferably a clear one that has a half inch line.
• A pencil or other marking tool.
• A measuring tape.
• Straight pins.  I use mostly one color, but I like to have a few red and green or yellow ones as well. (You’ll see why later.)  I also like to keep a small safety pin handy in my pin cushion.
• You’ll need some sort of bodkin for threading the elastic through the casing.  You can use a large safety pin for this, but my favorite one for wider elastic is the Clover brand because it holds the elastic flat.

• Scissors for the batting and your fabric scissors.  You might want to have some pinking shears for trimming raw edges.
• And of course, some thread and your sewing machine.  A serger is great if you have it. I used mine for sewing the side seams and finishing the edges on the skirt.

Here's a breakdown of the full step by step tutorial:

Part 1: The first thing we’ll do is cut all of our pieces and then we’ll work on putting things together.

• For the topper, lay the lid on the wrong side of the fabric, making sure you have plenty of space around the edges for a seam allowance.  Trace the lid.  Add a ½ inch seam allowance all the way around.
• Fold the fabric right sides together so that you can cut two pieces for your topper at once.  Pins will help keep the fabric from sliding. Cut the topper layers along the outer line.
• You can use the cut fabric toppers as a guide for cutting your batting.  You’ll want to trim the seam allowance off of the batting so that it’s the size of the lid itself.  You could trace the lid on paper to create a pattern for the batting if you prefer.
• The skirt section is made like a simple elastic waist skirt.  The fabric pieces are long rectangles.  To determine the size needed, we need to measure the height of the sides of the bin and the girth around it.  For the height, fold the end of your measuring tape to the size you need to make a casing for your elastic.  This would be the width of your elastic plus a half inch or so of seam allowance and wiggle room.  Then hold the folded edge of the tape up to the side of the bin and note the distance to the bottom of the bin.  Add a half to ¾ inch for hem allowance and this will be the height needed for the rectangle. In my case, it’s about 6 ½ inches.  For the girth, measure around the perimeter of the bin.  You can just do this with the fabric or actually measure it. In order to have some fullness, I took this measurement and added half again for my total length.  If you want a fuller skirt, you could just double the girth measurement. Now that we have the dimensions, we can mark these measurements on the fabric and cut out the skirt pieces.  It will most likely be necessary to sew two rectangles together to get the total width needed for the skirt.

• Construct the skirt in the same way you would for an elastic waist skirt.  When sewing the casing, remember to leave an opening for threading the elastic.  Once you have the casing sewn, you can thread the elastic through.  I use a same small safety pin to hold the ends together while I check to make sure the elastic is laying smoothly. I stretch the skirt out and check the fit.  You want it to be snug, but not too tight, especially if you have slanted sides on your bin because it will want to slide to the smaller edge of the bin. Once you are happy with the fit, you can stitch around the overlapped section of the elastic to secure it and tuck it back inside the casing. Now it’s time to topstitch, and close the opening. 

• To determine the hem line, slide the skirt onto the bin and hold the “waistband” up to the top of the side. Fold the raw edge up so that it is even with the bottom of the bin and pin.  Remove the skirt. With the final length marked, fold the raw edge down so that you’ll have a nice, finished look to your hem.  Press up this amount all the way around the skirt and then topstitch your hem in place.  Set the skirt aside.

Part 3: Now it’s time to do the topper. 

• Place one layer of your topper fabric face down on your work surface.  Place the batting in the center, so that you have about ½ inch of seam allowance all the way around.  Now lay the second layer of the topper fabric over the batting, right side up, matching the raw edges with the other layer of fabric.  Pin in place, sandwiching the batting between the layers of fabric.
• To help keep the batting from shifting with use, we’ll make several tacks through all the layers.  The number of these you need depends on the size of the lid.  I’m doing four on this one.  You could choose to sew several lines of topstitching rather than using the tacks.  Either way you choose to do this, mark your tacks or stitch lines and put in a few pins to hold the layers in place as you sew.
• Stitch around the perimeter of the topper using a ½ inch seam allowance.  I did this by setting my needle position to the left and using a wide presser foot.  You could use a zipper foot if you prefer.  The main thing is that your stitch line ends up about where your original traced line of the lid is, so it turns out to be exactly the size of the lid.  Now you can stitch your tacks or lines that hold the batting in place.  If you are doing tacks, you can pull the threads to the underside and tie them off or add a dab of seam sealant.

Part 4: Now it’s time to add the trim. 

• Start your trim in the center of a side or an end, rather than on a corner.  Place the edge of the trim just over the line you stitched earlier and stitch near the edge of the ribbon.  When you get to the corners, go slow and pivot as needed to keep the trim on the stitched line.  The ribbon will pull up at the corners, but that is exactly what you want it to do, so no worries, there.  Stop when you get near the end of the trim and fold under the end so that you have a little overlap.  Cut off any excess ribbon and continue stitching along the edge until you get to the end. Pivot and stitch down the folded edge to secure the ends.  Now you can check to see how it fits the lid.  Trim the seam allowance of the fabric layers if desired.  Pinking shears are great for this.

Part 5: Now it’s time to set it up. 

• Place the skirt on the bin and add a line of glue or double-sided tape to hold it in place around the “waistband” area of the skirt.  I put some glue around some of the top areas of the lid to help secure the topper and then added some double-sided tape to hold the ribbon to the sides of the lid.
• When the glue is dry, you’re ready to store your doll’s items inside the bin.

Place the lid on it and add a pillow and some cover so she can have a nice nap!

As a reminder, all of the coupon codes, download links, and monthly bonuses can be found in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section.

Doll Clothes Storage Topic Overview:

This month, we will look at several ways to store and organize your "Fashion in Miniature" clothing items. The topic will be divided into a 4-part series: 

• In part one, we will do a sew along of Liberty Jane's Dress Form pattern.
• In part two, we will show you a few container storage options for things that might not hang well.
• In part three, we will show you a few of our go-to hanging storage options.
• In part four, we will introduce our newest pattern - The Baby Doll Storage Tote - with a sew along video.

The Dress Form Sew Along

Ok, now let's jump into the sew-along! Follow along as I show you how to sew the 18" doll size Dress Form. This pattern is probably one of the most popular patterns on larougetdelisle. The dress forms are perfectly proportioned to fit 13" to 18" doll clothes. It is fast and easy to make and a fun way to display some of your favorite doll outfits.The pattern available as a bundle or in separate sizes. If you don't have it yet, then this is the pattern we recommend you use this months coupon code for!

This project is super easy to sew and can be made from a variety of non-stretch fabrics. I'm using a custom printed fabric that I had made through Spoonflower. It's a nice quality Kona Cotton. You can use vibrant prints or something more subtle and classic like an unbleached cotton. The choice is yours!

A Few Notes on Supplies:

The fabric, felt, and poly-fil stuffing are all fairly easy to find (or something you might already have on hand). 

The acrylic gems can usually be found in the floral department at your local craft store. Here's a link to them on Etsy or you can paint a 1" wooden ball (also available at a local craft store or online.

The base is made from a purchased candlestick, you can use something decorative or find a bulk package of wooden candlesticks and paint them with craft paint.

Hot glue gun: After recording this video and being frustrated with my super shot cord and unstable glue gun/cardboard stand, I came across this genius cordless glue gun. I ordered it immediately, but don't actually have it yet. I thought I'd mention it anyway, just in case any of you have the same frustration! Lynn Lilly Edition Mini Cordless Glue Gun

Ok, now it's your turn! This is such a fun and easy project to make! It's a great storage prop to have in your studio or in any room of the house! I hope you'll jump in and create one, or several, today!

Hi Everyone! This week we go a bit deeper into the the topic of fabric storage and organization.  I've been working hard to solve some of my fabric storage challenges, and thanks to many of the tips shared here, I'm making progress in my space! In the video posted below, I'll share with you my before and after fabric storage. After seeing some examples of fabrics wrapped on comic book boards, I was inspired to redo my "shelved fabrics". I also have a few examples of some other fabric storage ideas.... Enjoy!

Resources (same list for the whole month long topic):

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert

New Items Referenced this week:

• Comic Book Boards (6-3/4 x 10-1/2 or 7-1/2 x 10-1/2)
• Magazine Boards (8.5 x 11)

 Week One task:

• Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions for pattern storage with me and the group! If you have pictures of your own space that you want to share - please do! We'd love to see where you work! If you have questions or need help in specific areas, ask!
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post

Next Tuesday  - Week 3: Come Along with me to our sewing cooperative in Zambia, with Sew Powerful...

Hi Everyone! This week we wrap up this topic with a look at storing notions and small sewing essentials. 

In the video posted below, I show you how I've stored my notions and small essential sewing items. As with any of these tips, some may work for you and some may not. My hope is that you find things here to inspire you to create a system of organization that works best for you! If you have additional ideas, please share them with the group!

You can download the videos from this course in the Organizing For Productivity -  collection page on Vimeo.

Link: https://larougetdelisle.com/user39282990/organizing-for-productivity

Password: Organize1707  (Case sensitive, no spaces) Please note - this password is different than this months discount code.

Dress forms are a great way to create beautiful display pieces! We have them available in several sizes. 18-Inch dolls, 14.5- inch dolls, BFC, Inc dolls, and Ellowyne Wilde Dolls. The BFC, Inc size works perfectly to display the 16" A Girl For All Time items too! 

Resources (for organization):

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert
• Comic Book Boards (6-3/4 x 10-1/2 or 7-1/2 x 10-1/2)
• Magazine Boards (8.5 x 11)
• Acrylic Drawer Units - Link to Amazon as a category search, many sizes and configurations available. The unit I showed in the video is pretty large, it measures 16 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 15 inches tall.

 Week Four Task:

• Continue to share your ideas and success stories with us! 
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post. 

Hi Everyone! This week we go a bit deeper into the topic of pattern storage and organization. As with fabric, this is also one of my biggest challenges! Whether you're looking to store traditional purchased patterns or pdf patterns - the challenges are the same. Are easily accessible? Are the pattern pieces easily found? Can you set aside a "project in progress" to jump back into it easily? Is there a master list of all the patterns you have so you don't accidentally purchase the same one twice? I'm pretty sure we all struggle with these same issues when it comes to organizing our sewing patterns.

This week in the SWC Bonuses section, you'll find a current master list of all the Liberty Jane brand pattern titles. It's saved as an Excel file so it's easily editable. It includes the pattern titles and SKU numbers sorted by doll type. You can use this to keep track of the LJ designs you have, track order numbers and purchase dates so they are easy to access on the larougetdelisle site.

If you would like to have a download of your purchase history (for the entire catalog). I'm happy to get that for you! We can access the data and export a list of the titles/order numbers as a csv file. You can then use this to track your purchases and identify the order number associated with a particular title, for easy access to download it again in the future. If this is of interest to you, please email me directly from your PF customer email address. my email is [email protected]

In the video posted below, I'll share with you several tips that address these concerns. My hope is that we all learn and grow together and pick up some serious organization skills so we can be more productive!  

Resources (same list for the whole month long topic):

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert

New Items Referenced this week:

• Colette Sewing Planner
• Cute Hanging File Folders
• Printable File Labels and Cute Folders
• Dropbox (free online file storage)

 Week One task:

• Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions for pattern storage with me and the group! If you have examples or pictures of your own pattern storage that you want to share - please do!  If you have questions or need help, don't hesitate to ask.
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post

Next Tuesday  - Week 4: We'll wrap up the topic with a look at notions storage.

Hi Everyone! I've been so excited to see so much interaction on this topic! It's reassuring to know that this is an area many of us struggle with and are looking for ways to improve. Thank you for sharing your tips for organization and also for sharing pictures of your sewing spaces, big and small! It is so helpful to see what others do and it is especially helpful to hear about methods that stand the test of time!

In the video posted below, I share with you my "go to list" of essential sewing supplies. These are the things that I like to have on hand all the time. I use them frequently and have given more in-depth information throughout other topics in SWC. The video is a quick look at my list.

New Sewing With Cinnamon Bonus: I also have a consolidated Ultimate Resource Guide available in the Sewing With Cinnamon Bonuses section. This PDF guide includes all the resource lists from the various topics covered. I will update it as we add new items to the lists in the future. I hope this is helpful and a good resource for you to have on hand when you are looking for sewing supplies, fabric, and notions!

Suggestion - Dress forms are a great way to create beautiful display pieces! We have them available in several sizes. 18-Inch dolls, 14.5- inch dolls, BFC, Inc dolls, and Ellowyne Wilde Dolls. The BFC, Inc size works perfectly to display the 16" A Girl For All Time items too! 

Resources (for organization):

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert
• Comic Book Boards (6-3/4 x 10-1/2 or 7-1/2 x 10-1/2)
• Magazine Boards (8.5 x 11)

 Week One task:

• Watch the video :) Download the Ultimate Resource Guide (watch for it to be listed on Wednesday in the SWC Bonuses Section). If you have other items that you love or "just have to have" let us know! 
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post 

Next Tuesday - Week 3: Pattern Storage and then in Week 4: Storing and Organizing Notions

Hi Everyone! Welcome to 2019! Not only is it a new year, it's also a new month and time for us to kick off another Sewing With CInnamon topic. The holidays are over. The Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and 12 Days sales are over. We've all shopped til we dropped or maybe even received some sewing supplies as gifts. Now it's time to get it all put away, create some new habits, set up some project goals, and increase our productivity! 

Organizing For Productivity - is our #1 most requested topic and over the next four weeks, we'll work together to get organized, streamlined, and mentally and physically prepared to sew sew sew. Sounds fun, right? This is one of my biggest challenges, so I'm super excited to learn and grow with you!

We are revisiting the topic that was originally posted in the summer of 2017, but with added content throughout the month. For some of you, this will be a bit of review, but honestly, I have been re-watching these videos, listening to the great advice I'm giving and am thinking... "Ok, Cinnamon - there's some great advice here, time to put all this into action!" (especially, the clean it all up and put it in its proper place when you are finished, part... haha!)

In the videos posted below, I share with you an overview of the month-long topic as well as take you on a tour of my personal sewing space! So grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and come on over for a visit to sewing room :) I'm also excited to show you how I've transitioned my space into a new room in my house in the last follow up video.

Organization Tip - Dress forms are a great way to create beautiful display pieces! We have them available in several sizes. 18-Inch dolls, 14.5- inch dolls, BFC, Inc dolls, and Ellowyne Wilde Dolls. The BFC, Inc size works perfectly to display the 16" A Girl For All Time items too! 

Resources:

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert

 Week One task:

• Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions with me and the group! If you have pictures of your own space that you want to share - please do! We'd love to see where you work! If you have questions or need help in specific areas, ask!
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post 

Next Tuesday - Week 2: Sewing Essentials

Hi Everyone! This week is a bit different. I'm really hoping you enjoy following along with me as I travel to Lusaka, Zambia to visit with the seamstresses that we support through Sew Powerful. The topic of organization carries through into several areas relating to this trip :) First, How did I do on my own organization prepping and planning my sewing projects to be able to travel for two weeks! Second, I worked with a few ladies to organize a few fun sewing projects to train the Lusaka seamstresses on some new skills, and lastly, how can we work with the co-op to provide them with a fun happy workspace that is organized and optimized for success? I hope you have fun watching this video and please share with me your thoughts and suggestions.... Enjoy! 

Week Four tasks:

• Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions for sewing room set up and storage for the Sewing Cooperative in Ngombe. It's basically a blank slate, and materials are very limited, but if we create a plan and it works for them we can set goals and begin to implement them :) It's also extremely dusty, no paved roads so dirt and dust abound!
• Interested in learning more about the Sew Powerful Purse project? You can find the free pattern at SewPowerful.org (scroll halfway down the page)
• Follow Sew Powerful on Facebook or join the Sew Powerful Purse FB group (it's very active and quite inspiring!)
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post

Resources (same list for the whole month long topic):

• My Sewing Room Inspiration Pinterest Board
• Pegboard Hooks
• Command Strips
• Thread Rack Wooden
• 10 Drawer Craft Cart - Tall plastic drawer unit for storing "projects in progress"
• Cascading Wall File Organizer - Plastic Inexpensive
• Metal Grid Magazine Wall Holder (just like mine in the video!)
• Desktop File Box (clear -change it up with new decorative file folders!)
• Fabric Organizer Boards - Mixed size set
• Art Bin 12x12x2 Storage box - Great for storing "projects in progress"
• 25x35 Bulletin Board - Cute & Stylish!
• Portable Kitchen Island (similar to the one shown in the video, a bit larger)
• Drawer Organizer Insert
• Comic Book Boards (6-3/4 x 10-1/2 or 7-1/2 x 10-1/2)
• Magazine Boards (8.5 x 11)

Hi, Everyone! So, now that we're sewing batches of dresses, pants, and tees; we need to figure out how to store them properly. Two types of storage situations come to mind: 1. Storing items to sell (or possibly donate) and 2. Storing items in your own collection. Many of the solutions provided can apply to both situations, but the things like plastic bags will only work for a quick turn around, like selling to a customer.

In the video posted below, I go over these topics as well as storing your "projects in progress". My hope is that the ideas presented will help you figure out what type of storage is right for you!

Early on in the video (at 2:00) I show a few pictures from an Etsy seller Elite Doll World, she has grown a ton this past year using Instagram to get in touch with her target market - young girls! If you're looking for examples and inspiration for what to do and how to do it, be sure to check out her IG feed, she's got a lot of pictures and some video showing her items as well as her sewing /storage process!

Pattern Overview:

• Liberty Jane Salina Dress (Shown in the week 2 video - AG, WW, AGAT, KNC)
• Liberty Jane Aspen Dress (Shown in the week 2 video - AG, BFC)
• Liberty Jane FREE T-Shirt (AG, WW, H4H, Barbie, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT)
• Liberty Jane Jeans Bundle (AG, WW, H4H, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT, Bitty)
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater (AG, WW, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Baseball Tee (AG, AG Boy, BFC, KNC, WW, JG)
• Liberty Jane Leggings
• Liberty Jane Basic Pants (Yoga Pants) Great for PJ sets with a tee or Piccadilly Sweater!
• Liberty Jane Avila Aviator (AG or WW) Simplest jacket to sew in bulk, just 3 pattern pieces!
• Liberty Jane Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane No Sew Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Open Toe Janes Shoes (AG, WW)
• Liberty Jane Dress Form (AG, WW, BFC/AGAT, Ellowyne/H4H) If you're sewing in bulk you'll need lots of these for display!

Resources For Storage Supplies:

•  Crates - Check out stores like JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels (especially in the fall!)
• Cube Storage - Check out Ikea, Target, and Walmart
• Protect & Store Boxes - Amazon 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12  or look in the scrapbook supplies section of any craft store!
• Wooden Hangers - just .65 cents a piece!
• Plastic Hangers
• Wire hangers
• Make doll hangers out of popsicle sticks! (link goes to Down Home Inspiration blog)
• Tension Rods - Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby, Amazon
• Clear Plastic Packaging Bags - Amazon

Week Three task:

• Watch the video :) and then jump into he discussion on this Facebook post started a few weeks ago. It's all about Doll Clothes Storage!
• We'd love to see your examples! 

Next Tuesday  - Week 4: Packaging & Branding...