I inherited my Gran’s sewing box years ago, and believe it or not, left everything in it. I’ve used a few things over the years, but have always just left it the way Gran had it. Well, maybe not exactly the way she had it… it’s a lot less orderly now!
And if you think this is bad, here’s a peek at the mish-mash of my own sewing box!
Enter the little red vintage tool box that inspired me to take charge of all this chaos.
Yes, this was a thrifting find from the other day, and for some reason I saw it becoming part of my sewing mix… even though this is what it looked like inside.
Some soaking, Goo-Gone, lots of elbow grease and a little steel wool took care of this, and then I lined the bottom with rubber shelf liner and red felt.
It’s actually this I was more worried about!
Sorting and organizing all the random contents of my sewing stuff along with my grandmother’s to become one! Eeeek. And getting better systems in place to boot.
My thread and bobbins were a tangled mess.
The idea behind this thread/bobbin caddy isn’t so bad, but it’s one of those organizers that doesn’t really work. I’ve moved my bobbins to this little case instead…
I still have to decide on storage for my thread. Do you have any favorite solutions to share?
And buttons. Who saves them in all these packages, anyway?
Well, that would be me! I’ve now sorted my buttons and separated them into little jars of darks, whites, metallics, mixed colours, and kid inspired!
My Gran made her own dresses, and she loooooved rick rack, seam binding and elastic. I wrote about a quilt she made here.
Did you notice the vintage labels with their vintage prices?
I corralled all the rick rack and seam binding into a small box, and placed it with the rest of my craft supplies.
No need for this factory supply to be kept in my sewing box, right?
I did put all Gran’s elastic into a pretty little box, and it along with some other things you saw on the table now live in the bottom of my sewing box.
I also sorted and organized more things from the table into the top tray of my sewing box, and this is what lives there now.
The pink seamstress tape belonged to my Gran along with the very burnished thimble beside it. The tape is only in feet and inches, and it’s so old I’m afraid it might crack and break if I handle it too much. I have two of my own, but there’s no way I want to part with Gran’s, so it gets to take up a cubby of its own! Hey, do you know of any DIY ideas where I could showcase this special tape instead?
Remember all those envelopes containing spare buttons? Here’s how I used some of them for my larger needles and pins.
They’re now tucked down a side compartment in one of the trays in the top of my sewing box.
And by now I bet you’re wondering where on earth the little red tool kit comes in.
Well, tools of course!
Between my Gran and I, we had a few tools of the sewing trade…
Believe it or not, the wooden handled tracing wheel, seam guide, and large seam ripper were mine in high school! Never mind, never mind – I said my stuff was ‘semi-new’!
Here’s something of Grannie’s I never had! A scissors sharpener.
Do they even make these anymore? The scissors you see are mine… would you dare use them to cut paper? No, my family doesn’t either 
Anyway, I thought the little red tool box would be perfect for our sewing tools!
I slipped the sharp objects into the little leather pouch on the right, just to protect them and the red paint that’s still in tact!
Everything fit perfectly.
And the lid even closed! 
My Gran’s sewing box is empty now, and all our sewing things combined. You see, I have to do some minor repairs to it, because the screws that hold the hinges in place are really loose, and the drawers are pretty shaky when they’re pulled open.
In the meantime I will just enjoy it for the beautiful piece that it is. Well used, and well loved!
Do you craft or sew? What kind of organizational strategies do you use for all the ‘stuff’ that goes with it? Oh, and if you noticed the old Aspirin bottle in the first photo, pop by next week… I’ll show you some of the other treasures that kind of go with it!
So happy to be featured over at Junkin Joe’s! Thank you, Andrea
and…
Published in the Home section of Savvy Stories over at Savvy Mom.
Thanks for stopping by!
Photographs by Sheila Zeller
Sheila you always manage to find such fun items thrifting – I love that red tool box! And how lucky that you inherited your Gran’s sewing box. I laughed when I saw your sewing scissors too, my mom sewed a lot when I was growing up, and we did not dare use her sewing scissors. Have a great weekend!
Fabulous find, that toolbox. My mom gave me my grandma’s sewing things too except she kept the sewing box that is just like yours! I have needles and thread on wooden spools, old buttons made from ivory (I know – shame…) from abalone, and other great trims too. If I were you I would put the measuring tape in a shadow box. Homesense carries rectangular shadow boxes, you could also display the vintage trim labels in a row in a shadow box as well!
now I know to whom I can leave my antiques
I just love stories like these. It’s so neat to see what your gran had and the packaging it came in. I really got a kick out of seeing that old aspirin bottle. I think you have done a lovely job organizing all of those goodies.
Wow sheila. I don’t have an inheritance like that but Ive managed to collect a whole lotta sewing stuff in my short turn as a pillow purveyor. I wish I could say it is organized, but no. I love that bobbin case with the foam. I need that!!! And just like the other comments…I adore your red tool box. So coool!
I bet you have a great collection of sewing supplies! The bobbin case was from Fabricland – they have a sale on right now until Feb. 14th, and I think I only paid $3.00 or 4.00 for it! I really like it, because the bobbins don’t move at all, not even when the case is turned up-side-down! I bought an organizer for my spools of thread as well – we’ll see how that works out
I have so much sewing stuff from my days in fashion, as well as everything people gave me over the years. It’s somewhat organized in a dresser in my project room, but it really needs a good going-over. Where did you get that bobbin case? It’s brilliant. I think I have many of the same “vintage” supplies I got from my husband’s grandma. It’s fun to see the cheap prices and how well made some of that stuff is.
Okay, just read the comment above about the case as I was hitting “post comment!”
I am constantly amazed at your talent to make old things look brand spanking new. Well done friend. You are a pro.
Oh what a lovely box, and a great find! It’s a good time of the year to organize, don’t you think? Soon enough it will be Spring!
I need to do this, but am still putting it off. Some of my sewing stuff is in a BOX. Like… shipping box. My little sewing box was overwhelmed years ago. Then there’s all the patterns, and buttons and trim and bobbins (why can I never find an extra one when I need it?). But… going to put it off a little longer, until I find something as striking and personally inspiring as your little red box!
I have that exact same sewing box – not sure if it came from grandma or her sister, who did some serious sewing her time. And I found a big box of buttons in the basement and separated them by colour into glass jars to display in my craft room. I made a piece of button art with some of them – which, come to think of it, I haven’t blogged about yet.
The little red toolbox is perfect for storing your and your grandma’s sewing tools
I like that you’ve combined all your things together – there’s going to be a little bit of grandma in every piece that you sew 
Wow! That’s a lot of sewing stuff, and you have organized it so perfectly. How cute is that little red toolbox! I was thinking shadow box too, for a few of the vintage items, including some of that 25 cent rickrack. Or maybe just setting up a cute little vignette in a cabinet or hutch.
This is so awesome!!!! That is a TON of sewing stuff for sure! Love the little red toolbox and so happy to have you back with us!!! Sending hugs!
Sheila, on behalf of Auntie Sharon, I am responding to your blog about Gran’s sewing stuff.
It brings tears to my old eyes as I think of the simple times when your Gran (my mom) made so many things for her family of seven kids and still loved to do her craftwork. Thanks for the memories. Uncle Ken
Thank you so much for your comment, Uncle Ken! What a nice surprise
I’m so glad you got to read this post. I really treasure Gran’s sewing box and all the things that were inside. I only wish I could ask her about them. The day I went through everything I could really picture her so clearly quietly working away on something…
xo Sheila
i loved seeing the contents of your gran’s sewing box. it made me think of my own two grandmas’ sewing boxes which i now have. a few things i didn’t see in your boxes that i have in mine are buttons still attached to a bit of clothing, snaps and other fasteners and marbles…yep! marbles! i also collect vintage sewing items…buttons, of course, as well as the other things listed above. i also have needle books that were given out at a bank and a grocery store (i think), lots of elastic, seam binding, rick rack and patches for knees and elbows and that thing that looks like a spur which was used for marking patterns (not that i have ever used such an archaic implement! never!) and the transfer paper to use with it! what a find for both of us! when i can, i will be show-casing all of these items in jars in my sewing space.