Sewing Room Organization Ideas

Hello, and welcome to my most recent organize-the-sewing-notions project!  I had quite the tangle of sewing geegaws and gimcracks going on and decided it was time to tackle the mess.  You know it’s time when you pull out a piece of ric-rac and everything in the basket is knotted together, or you sort through the same huge jar of buttons every time you need a certain color.

I was given some old (read: vintage) bottles full of thread and buttonhole twist.  Some of the lids were rusty, so I spray painted them the same blue as the original color (Alka Seltzer blue).   They are perfect for holding all those buttons sorted according to color.  And, they look like candy all lined up.

The thread that came out of the bottles went into an old wooden bowl — just because it’s pretty to look at.  I find it inspiring to group things together like this — such great colors!

Another desk surface was added for papers and organization.  IKEA came to the rescue for the desk and drawer unit.  Two chairs salvaged from the demolition of an old school, where my dad used to teach, are perfect for side-by-side collaboration.  The wall grid system keeps current projects and supplies up where they are less likely to get buried under fabric.  A rolling vintage laundry basket corrals our current quilt samples.  It’s so great when stuff doesn’t get lost.

I couldn’t resist these button-encrusted drawer knobs, since I already had the button rug thing going on.

An old sugar mold and pretty mugs keep marking pens, lotion (it’s a desert here), and other good tools handy. 

Here’s a close up of the wall grid with a large wire basket and hooks, but practically anything can work for this.  I’ve seen everything from baking/cooling racks to crib mattress springs used for this kind of thing.  Add some clips, clothespins and S-hooks and you’re in business.

The other grid has a small shelf to keep marking pens up high and more tools from getting lost.  Clear acrylic boxes are the perfect size to show off pretty fat quarters and new thread colors.

On a trip, I found this little Limoges-style porcelain box that looked like my featherweight.  It is displayed atop an old wooden factory spool. 

And here is my real Singer Featherweight.  It isn’t beautiful like some of yours, but it’s mine, iconic, and I love it.  It was actually found in someone’s chicken coop buried beneath, well, you know.

A sewing machine man in town found it, cleaned it up and it works really well.
A jar for yo-yo’s and a bigger jar for ric-rac.  All in one place now!  Did I mention how exciting this is to me?

This little toy sewing machine doesn’t really work, but it makes lots of noise when the grandchildren play with it.  It’s just so cheerful and makes me smile.  It’s a reminder that our work is really our play.

Project notebooks are essential to keeping larger projects on track.  I made the one on the left to carry sketching and painting supplies, and the one on the right was purchased.

Fabric swatch cards and notes stay together in one handy place when shopping for (more!!??) fabric.

The inside of the sketch notebook can hold a few pens and pad, or it can be fully loaded with watercolors and the whole caboodle.

Some of my fabric stash sorted by color and/or style in cubby shelves.  This is really nice when beginning something new– I can see what’s on hand at a glance. This is probably more exciting to me, because this was once UNDER the stairs in baskets and bins.  No more putting on my knee pads and crawling under there to challenge the spiders . . . etc.

I found it amazing that hanging kitchen baskets are the exact size of ribbon spools.  Who knew this?

Sometimes I want to make a quilt that never makes it to the top of the priority list.  I have been gathering the materials for these stragglers into stylish baskets to remind myself that they need attention.  I have been collecting clover greens to make a traditional Irish Chain quilt.  I usually hang seasonal quilts on the stair banister and this will be for St. Patty’s in March.  I’m super motivated now that I had my ancestry DNA done and found out I’m 33% Irish!

Thanks for checking out a few corners of my more functional sewing room (click here to see the full tour we did a couple of years ago).  I am enjoying working in this more organized space, and I can tell already that it is saving a lot of time and head scratching.  I’m hopeful that you got some ideas to use in your own space.  I know you have some great tips of your own to share–please leave them for us in comments!

-Diane