Getting organised with pegboards in my craft room

I’d had my eye on some pegboards for my new craft room since the room itself was a glimmer in my eye! Initially I thought we would make them up ourselves so that they could be truly customisable for whichever space I chose, as it really couldn’t be that hard. And if I had a truly awkward space I don’t think it would be that hard, but once I’d worked out where I wanted to put my fictional pegboards, and once I’d seen the IKEA Skadis pegboards and how flexible they were, there was no other choice for me.

I decided that my pegboards would make the best use of a blank wall inside the small walk in cupboard in my new craft room, which would also be the ideal way to store my quilting rulers. Since we’ve moved, and I’ve unpacked my craft room, they’ve not really had a dedicated space and nor were they all together. But that soon changed!

What I chose: pegboard size and accessories

Our house is a new build, which means there’s a lot of white - and for a self-confessed colour addict, surprisingly I’m ok with all the white, so for me it was always going to be the white version, although the black colourway would also have worked. I opted for two 56x56cm square pegboards, while I did have room for one of the larger size I wanted to keep some space clear, as that’s something else I’ve come to appreciate with our new house - we don’t have to cram it full of stuff, and the same goes for this small walk in storage space.

As I was ordering online I was keen to get the pegboards and accessories in one shop, however I didn’t really know what would work but given that the accessory pack prices were under £5 I decided to chance my luck.

The accessories I opted for were:

• Two packs of Skadis shelves, £4 each

• Two packs of Skadis clips, £2 each

• Three packs of Skadis hooks, £2 each

• A single Skadis hook rack, £2

• A pack of 5 Skadis push in hooks, £1

The final addition to my basket was the connector for Skadis pegboards, which was recommended when hanging two pegboards side by side (or in my case top to bottom!).

So for just under £50 I was able to bring a whole lot of order into a space which would otherwise have little use - and now that it’s finished it’s not only useful, but it’s a pretty and practical addition too.

MY SKADIS PEGBOARDS BRING FUNCTIONALITY TO AN OTHERWISE UNUSED SPACE

Even better though I guessed just about right on the accessory front. I used most of the ones I bought - though I did have a few challenges along the way. I naively assumed that all of my acrylic quilting rulers and templates would come complete with a hole to hang them from. That wasn’t the case, especially for those which came as free gifts from magazines, and some which I’ve had for a long time (I reckon I’ve had my Fiskars ruler - the one bottom right in the photo above - since the early 1990s), so the hooks weren’t going to work for those, or at least not in the same way.

Thank goodness for creative thinking though!

I was able to position some of the hooks so that the templates could balance on top of the hooks, and used the clips for the long Fiskars ruler, which I still probably use the most. I realised I had little use for the hooks on the hook rack, but the rack itself was useful to hold more templates.

The trays bring a 3D element to the pegboards, and while I’ve used them to store smaller templates and the hooks I’ve not yet used, I’m not sure if I’d opt to buy these if I were to do this again.

I’m glad I opted for two of the smaller sized pegboards - and the connectors were an absolute gem according to MOH who was tasked to put these on the wall for me. As well as the feeling of space, I can use the whole pegboard making use of the space below as well with the rulers, templates and metal rings I bought to make some crocheted mandalas (one day!) hanging off the bottom.

I’m so pleased with how these turned out, and how it’s made a space that usually wouldn’t be used into a functional feature. And yes, I’m using the rulers and the space is still this tidy!

Creating a space to craft

As part of our move from London it was important for each of us to have a ‘day space’ and for me that was a space to craft. It didn’t matter what part of the house it was in, but I was keen for it to be in the house rather than say an outbuilding (purpose built or otherwise) in the garden. I know that on the colder days I’d be tempted not to venture out, and heading upstairs would always be preferable.

But the main thing for me about having a dedicated craft space was to have my craft supplies together and organised. As a spoiler to this post, my craft supplies are together but not yet completely organised, but I’m confident that will come!

Previously I’d stored my crafts between at least a couple of rooms, and having them together felt like the ultimate luxury. Before we moved I toyed with the idea of an adjustable standing desk, and at one point one of those clever storage cupboards where the doors fold outwards and a crafting heaven comes into sight.

In the end I opted for neither of these, but nabbed the fourth bedroom which I’d earmarked from the very first time we viewed our new house. It’s the same size as the third bedroom, but importantly the room I nabbed has a built in cupboard, and as any crafter knows, storage is king.

It’s taken me a few months to get my space to where it is now, and I’m sure it’ll take a few months more to fine tune it but I’m back crafting. And I’ve many projects that I can’t wait to get started on, and to share with you, but first let me share more about setting up my space.

Three weeks in…

With family visiting in the first few weeks our priorities were to get living - and sleeping - spaces functional, and as a consequence the craft room became a bit of a box store, but I was determined that it wouldn’t fall to the bottom of the list. I was determined to make my mark and get my desk set up, so that’s how I ended up with this bizarre setup.

It didn’t matter that most of the room was full of boxes, that I had no actual seat and that I mostly still didn’t know where anything was, or what I wanted to craft. I had a desk and space to craft if I wanted to, and of course, the perfect excuse to disappear and ‘just sort a few boxes out’ if I wanted to.

I knew I had a lot of craft supplies, and this was OK as I also knew that when I moved I should have more time to actually get on and craft. Before my Carpal Tunnel Op I’d bought ten medium sized boxes to pack while I had the use of two hands, reckoning that after my op I’d not have much call to craft immediately anyway. I filled those boxes so quickly though that even I was shocked, and there was still so much more to be packed - which also meant that unpacking would take some time.

We had two eight section Ikea Kallax units that were being repurposed as storage in this room, along with our old Ikea washing basket and the orange legged desk which MOH had used in his office while working from home, and which I’d long coveted!

I naively thought this, along with two slim Billy units in the built in cupboard, would provide all the storage I needed.

MOH looking at the storage space I’d used already and the amount of full boxes still to be unpacked managed to say with a straight face that he didn’t think I’d pull it off and perhaps I should get more storage. Realising he was probably right we soon headed off to Nottingham and Ikea for another eight section Kallax.

And it was absolutely the right thing to do, while they’re not empty there is space to flex and grow - and I’m hoping that I’ll be using supplies too, so there’ll be some natural turnover of stuff.

Starting to take shape

With the right amount of storage, by the middle of August the room was starting to take shape. I’d requisitioned the orange legged desk from its temporary place in the kitchen area as soon as the usefulness of having a desk for paperwork was proven, and quickly realised the advantage of having a double length desk space. Gone was the idea of the adjustable standing desk!

But just as quickly I discovered the shortcomings of my mismatched desks.

Yes, differences in sizes. The desks were about an inch different in height, and more like three inches different in depth. I could manage with the tops being different colours, but not the size differences, so I needed a plan B.

Plan B

I thought it would be simple to buy another desk from the same seller on Etsy to match the orange legged desk. Not so, the seller was no longer trading and try as I might I couldn’t find anything similar. A more imaginative response was needed.

I knew I could buy the hairpin legs as this was something we’d looked at before, but discarded for ease when we saw the desk. In the interim I’d also realised my desks would benefit from some drawer space. I had my heart set on some Bisley drawers, initially looking at second hand units on eBay, but without much joy.

Instead after some umming and ahhing these arrived, and I couldn’t be happier.

I had the legs, and now I had the drawers - all I needed now was the desk top. I struck lucky on the internet and ordered a piece of plywood the same thickness as the existing desk, I opted not to have it bevel cut as I didn’t think the cost of that was justified. I’m not sure I considered myself quite so lucky when it was delivered at seven o’clock one morning though!

All I needed now was MOH and tools. And I didn’t have long to wait.

It wasn’t long before the two hairpin legs were screwed in place and the plywood top was positioned on top of one set of Bisley drawers, themselves balancing on a plinth to get to the correct desk height.

Not only did they look good side by side, but the top down view also shows they’re the same height, as well as the same depth so now I have the continuous space I was after. It gives me space to have my sewing machine out, but also space to use the other desk in anyway I want - whether that’s for pressing seams, or papercraft, or anything else.

I have no excuses now for not being productive, and to be honest I can’t wait to get started in earnest. In September I had my first ‘sewing day’ - or an hour or so at least, and that felts such an accomplishment. I only made some scrap kitchen towels, but the sense of achievement, I can’t tell you.

A sense of order is coming, I’m sure of it!

The more I use my craft room, the more it becomes familiar and the more I remember where I put stuff. Whether I’m making cards, journalling, using my watercolours, sewing, knitting or crocheting - or even just pondering, it’s a space that makes me happy.

With my new friend Alexa alongside me (we’re converts - more in another post I’m sure) bringing all the information, tunes and podcasts I could want, the issue could now be to get me out of my craft room.

I’m looking forward to rediscovering many of the projects I’ve started - maybe even finishing some of them, and starting the new projects on my list and sharing them here in the months to come - look out for details of the Christmas cards I’ve made this year coming early next week.

Falling for Tula Pink's Parisville Deja Vu

It’s been a while since I’ve started on a brand new craft project, I’ve been trying (and mostly failing) to finish some of the ones I already have on the go. And then I packed up all my craft stuff before my carpal tunnel surgery in June, we moved house and while I’m getting there sorting out my new craft room, I haven’t really done anything new, until now.

I was really taken with the English Paper Piecing (EPP) patchwork I saw at the Stitch Festival back in Spring, but the thing that stopped me buying a kit then was the concern that my hands would misbehave and go numb while I was sewing, which had happened a fair bit with my cross stitch - and was probably the thing that tipped me into going to the doctors to get them seen to.

I remember making, or attempting to make a hexie patchwork throw when I was a teenager, shortly after we moved house, for my new bedroom. The colours were pale pinks and greys to match my newly decorated room. You’ll not be surprised to learn that it took me a while, and I’m not sure it ever got finished, or what happened to it - I wish I’d kept it now though!

But anyway many years later, another house move and after successful carpal tunnel surgery, I found myself browsing through the Tula Pink materials and kits. I’ve been influenced by my SIL on the Tula Pink front, which I’m thankful for, and I love the bright colours. No surprises there.

So that’s how I found myself the proud owner of a couple of the Tula Pink Parisville Deja Vu Hexy kits. Two because I had no plan, and so I wanted to make sure I had enough, for my no plans, and to avoid another set of shipping costs if I needed more at any point in the future.

AREN’T THEY GORGEOUS?

I was hoping a plan would present itself. And it did.

As I was sorting through and getting straighter in my craft room I realised my sewing box and the pigeon shelves could do with a bit of a revamp. Back in 2016 they were both painted a grey-green colour which was great for our last house, but not so much for our new one.

Our new house has much less colour in it - all the walls are white, which surprisingly I really like, and the other dominant colours are charcoal grey and oak. That means there’s plenty of scope to add colour in our furnishings, which is where my plan started to develop.

I plan to paint both the sewing box and shelves a dark grey - I’ve not found one I like enough yet, but I’m still looking (loosely) and I know it’s out there. As before, I want the insides of my sewing box to contrast with the outside, and I’ve got bright yellow and bright pink in my mind.

I’ll need to recover the top too, and a pop of colour is just what is needed. And one that I’ve put together myself from my new hexy kits, will be just the thing, especially if I actually get it finished!

To paraphrase the A Team, I love it when my no plans come together!

Maximising my shipping costs

While I was browsing, and to make the USA shipping costs truly efficient I also ordered a couple of project bags - in truth I could have ordered a whole lot more and they are just as gorgeous. Yes I know there are Tula Pink resellers in the UK, but they didn’t have the items I wanted, so it made sense to maximise those costs. Let’s be clear though, I’m under no illusion that there won’t be future purchases.

The project bags will be really handy - I’m already using the spotty racoon A4 sized one for an embroidery project which is to repair and upcycle a t-shirt of mine. I’ll share more on that soon as it’s nearly done - I finished my original plan, and liked it so much I’ve carried on!

I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before I find the perfect use for the larger of the project bags either - I couldn’t choose between the two designs, proving once again choice is a dangerous thing!