Things to Organize a Sewing Room

Fabric

• Keep fabric in a storage system you can see through, such as plastic bags, open shelves or clear plastic drawer sets. Organize your fabrics first by type, so that you can easily find pieces for specific patterns. After that, sort fabrics by color so it will be easy to find the shade you need for a project. If you want to complete an extra step, make a list for each drawer or shelf that includes how much fabric you have by yardage and fabric name so that you can have a handy reference for your stash.

Patterns

• You probably collect patterns the way you collect fabrics, hoping to one day have the time and materials needed to actually complete them. Purchase a filing cabinet or a free-standing hanging file folder system to keep up with accumulating patterns. Organize your patterns by type: dresses, shirts, bags, home decor, children's items, and holiday. Within each of those sections, set up one folder or file slot per pattern. If you use a pattern, put all of the pieces back in its original folder or tuck them away inside a zippered plastic bag so you can use them again, then slide this inside the file system.

Notions

• If you keep your sewing machine on a desk, use the drawers to store your notions. Purchase drawer divider sets so you can have a small compartment for straight pins and another for sewing needles, one for bobbins and one for seam rippers. Keep your scissors and shears together in one area, and have another section for thread. If you don't have a desk, purchase small drawer sets like you might use for office supplies and use one small drawer for each type of notion you keep. Another easy option is to use a shelf, and fill a clear glass jar with each type of notion. This way you can see through the jars to easily find the items you need.

Wall Space

• Your wall space can be useful for more than just decoration. Use a large bulletin board to hold all of your inspiration photos and ideas, from small fabric swatches to magazine clippings and even photos from nature. Add a knick-knack shelf and use it to hold your pin cushions and quilting rulers. Hang your ironing board on a mounted wall holster so you can pull it down when you need it and put it out of sight when you don't. Mount dowel rods on a board and use them to hold your serger thread cones or spools of sewing thread and ribbon. Add hooks on the wall to hang your sewing projects as they're in progress, and hang a clothesline from the top of the wall so you can attach freshly-pressed fabric to it with clothespins to hold onto it and keep it wrinkle-free until you're ready to cut and sew it.