if you put your .sortable in a function like that :
function initialise() {
// Sort the parents
$(".sortable").sortable({
containment: "parent",
items: "> div",
handle: ".move",
tolerance: "pointer",
cursor: "move",
opacity: 0.7,
revert: 300,
delay: 150,
dropOnEmpty: true,
placeholder: "movable-placeholder",
start: function(e, ui) {
ui.placeholder.height(ui.helper.outerHeight());
}
});
// Sort the children
$(".group-items").sortable({
containment: "document",
items: "> div",
connectWith: '.group-items'
});
};
You will be able to reuse it after your hide / show button. Don't forget to call your initialise function at start.
Here is my solution : http://jsfiddle.net/NFeqG/