DIY Organization for Sewing Rooms

Sketch your sewing room, noting where the windows, doors and electrical outlets are. Think about how you use the room and your work process to determine the best placement for your cutting table, sewing machine and the other items you use. Your space will work best if you can flow from one detail of your projects to the next without crisscrossing around the room.

Arrange your furniture according to your sketch. Your cutting table can be pushed against a wall overlooking a scenic window or in the center of the room if there's enough space and you often work with someone else in the room. Bookcases and shelves can occupy an entire wall or surround your sewing machine desk or table.

Organize your fabric, patterns, supplies and tools in containers or jars that make sense for the object. Clear glass jars, such as recycled pickle jars, can hold buttons, safety pins, scissors or zippers. Small plastic jewelry, fishing tackle or tool boxes will hold small items. Utilize a small fabric book to hold needles. Plastic desktop organizers with small drawers will hold spools of thread. Store your patterns and fabric in canvas totes that fit on your shelves or in clear plastic containers.

Label the containers so you don't have to dig through a bunch of them to find what you need. Make your own labels using scraps of fabric, fabric markers and ribbon or lace if you're feeling especially creative.

Put everything away in a place where you can easily keep track of it. Keep the items you use most, such as scissors, within arm's reach or on a nearby shelf that is easily accessible while you're sewing. Fabric can be stored under the cutting table, on the shelves or in the closet depending on how large the space is. Utilize the closet to house works in progress in hanging canvas organizers and to hold items you don't frequently use, such as specialty sewing machines.

Hang a bulletin board to keep track of current projects or hold important reminders and notes.