Tips to Organize Your Sewing Space

The Ultimate Resource Guide To Sewing Room Organization

We've put together the ultimate resource guide to organizing your sewing space. Our hope is that these tips help you to have a craft or sewing space that inspires you and motivates you to create something amazing!

For more great tips about creating the ultimate craft space, be sure to check out this article from Redfin, which features an expert tip from Cinnamon and many other sewing and crafting enthusiasts!

Giveaway Alert! Be sure to scroll to the end of this post to enter the Amazon Gift Card giveaway! Use your prize to get your sewing room in tip top shape!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

How To Organize Patterns, Fabric, and Notions

Pattern Storage

One great way to store printed patterns is to place the pattern pieces and summary of instructions in a file folder, then store the folders in a filing cabinet or file box like this one. This is a great way to keep cut-out pattern pieces all together for the next time you want to use a pattern, and it's very convenient to file the pieces away with the summary of instructions if you've printed that too. Writing the pattern name at the top tab of the file folder makes it easy to search through your pattern box or filing cabinet for just the pattern pieces you're looking for. 

One tip for organizing your digital PDF files is to come up with a system that works for you. This could include having a specified folder on your computer that you put PDF pattern downloads into, or even a group of folders where you sort patterns by category like "Tops," "Dresses," etc.

You could also consider storing your pattern downloads on the cloud so you can access them from any device; Dropbox™ or Google Drive could be great options for this organization strategy. 

Storing Fabric

Our favorite way to store fabric is by folding pieces around comic book boards to create a neat and tidy display of all our fabric. This helps avoid a few of the common problems of fabric storage, like the messy pile that inevitably results from trying to have a folded stack of lightweight or slippery fabrics. It also is a great way to store fabric so that all of it is visible, making it easy to remember what you already have and find exactly what you are looking for without having to dig or sort through any boxes or piles. 

The size of boards you may need depends on the depth and height of the shelves on which you plan to store the boards. We have found that these 7-inch x 10.5-inch boards, or these 6.75-inch x 10.5 inch boards are what work best on most book shelves. 

Storing Notions

The best way to store notions is to make sure that every little thing has its place. You can do this with the help of a variety of tools, like drawer inserts and small bins to help organize things like elastic or hook and loop tape.

We also like to have clear acrylic drawers to store things like needles, beads and embellishments, zippers, etc. The clear drawers are great because you can easily see through the top and sides to locate items at a glance without having to comb through each drawer. 

Another helpful organization tool for notions is clear glass jars. We use these for things like buttons and loose trims, and like the clear drawers, they make it easy to find exactly what's in the jar with just a glance. They also make a great candy-store-esque display!

Patterns for Organizing and Displaying Doll Clothes

Patterns For Displaying and Organizing Your Doll Clothes

If you're looking for ways to organize and display dolls, clothes, and accessories, Pixie Faire's got you covered! Be sure to check out our Organize and Display collection, which includes patterns for helpful items like dress forms for displaying outfits, hangers, accessory bags, and more. 

  

Use a custom made Dress Form to create a visual type of storage for your most favorite pieces! Create a variety of sizes and display collections that showcase a theme or color scheme. Change them up seasonally to switch things up!

An Over the Door Doll Organizer is a great piece for your studio or craft room! Use it to keep things organized and hidden out of view!

Custom Hangers are the perfect accessory, use them in tiny closets or hanging from pegboards. Display finished garments or projects in progress!

Cinnamon's Tips For a Beautiful Sewing Space

Now that we've covered organization tips to make your sewing or craft space functional, it's time to consider how to make your space beautiful too. 

Use beautiful fabric and notions to your advantage!

Whether your space is big or small, make it inviting! Use your craft supplies as visual displays. This not only keeps the space organized, but it also puts everything out in view and at arms reach. for example, take care to arrange your comic boards of fabric into a rainbow of colors to add intentionality to your space. 

Take Time To Clean Up

A craft room is notoriously messy. Take 5 minutes at the end of each day to put things back in their place. This simple habit will change the way you feel about your space and inspire you to be creative and get more done each new day! A bright, light, and tidy space is sure to be a happy space.

Get an insiders tour!

If you're looking for more organization tips or sewing room inspiration, be sure to check out Sewing WIth Cinnamon! If you join the monthly recurring membership, you get access to a full set of videos that walk you through all of these suggestions. The content is a free bonus with membership. Or you can purchase the course as an instant download for just $19 HERE.

 

ENTER TO WIN An Amazon Gift Card!

To enter this week's contest, simply click the link below and then enter through the giveaway widget at the bottom of the blog post, there are many things you can do to earn multiple entry points!

Contest Details: You enter through the entry form that is embedded on this page and appears just below this paragraph, if you don't see it, be sure to visit the page from your desktop or an alternate browser such as Google Chrome. It may not appear on all mobile devices. The complete rules and entry details appear on the entry form. This is not a comment contest - in other words, leaving a comment on the bottom of this page is not an official entry method. The only required entry method is to leave a comment under this post and then confirm that you did it in the contest widget. One person will receive the Amazon gift Card. You can enter once, or gain multiple entries by completing the other entry methods and increase your chances of winning. Please review all Terms and Conditions on the giveaway page before entering. While we wish we could run this contest everywhere, for legal reasons it is only open to eligible residents of the U.S. and Canada, not including Rhode Island. This contest is exclusively endorsed by Liberty Jane Clothing and Pixie Faire. 

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We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us - what is your biggest organization challenge in your sewing space? Commenting below and confirming your entry in the widget above gives you one entry method, the other methods are listed in the widget above, be sure to enter in as many ways as you can to receive the maximum amount of entries to win one $100 Amazon Gift Card!

Thanks, everyone!

The Pixie Faire Team


100 Comments

Leslie Koepke
Leslie Koepke

April 30, 2020

I have two challenges… The first one has to do with the area to the right of my sewing machine. Even though I have something to put my threads and bobbins on…it can become a big clutter mess!
Second is storing tulle bought by the yard. Ideas???

Deb H
Deb H

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is that I am using the dinning room table as my sewing area. Our plan is to eventually get an area set up in our basement for me to have a sewing area.

Karen W
Karen W

April 30, 2020

my biggest organizational challenge is being able to see what I have. Everything is in boxes and drawers and I have to search for buttons, elastic, lace, etc.

Diane
Diane

April 30, 2020

I have gremlins that come out at night and get things out that I’m pretty sure I had perfectly organized! My working space gets smaller and smaller until I’m forced to ‘try’ and put everything away again!

Connie Lancaster
Connie Lancaster

April 30, 2020

Making the time to organize my area before I get started on project has to be my greatest challenge!

Roxanne
Roxanne

April 30, 2020

SPACE, space, space!!!

Julie
Julie

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is organizing my patterns and fabric.

Amanda
Amanda

April 30, 2020

almost everything! i need more large shelves, proper drawers, etc. having things in totes just doesn’t work. nothing gets 100% put away or its buried so you buy an extra then it leads to having too much.

Aimee
Aimee

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is probably just lack of space.

Ann
Ann

April 30, 2020

My biggest organization challenge in my sewing space is fabric storage. I do not have shelves so its all in plastic bins.

Sharon
Sharon

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is that I do not have a space that is dedicated to sewing and crafting. I use the kitchen/dining room table and have to put up my sewing everyday, multiple times. I have seen some great ideas on creating sewing rooms, but I just do not have the space.

Connie M
Connie M

April 30, 2020

I have small things organized except I have more fabric than can fit in my small space. I am forever looking through tubs of fabric for what will suit for my project.

Rita Rogers
Rita Rogers

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is working on numerous project at same time and keeping the materials / supplies close at hand yet tidily stored away. I seem to misplace or intermingle projects.
Love your articles for organization and doll clothing instructions.

Joan
Joan

April 30, 2020

My main challenge in my sewing space is placing my machines near natural daylight. My room is small with an oddly placed single window. I’ve rearranged several times and finally think I’ve achieved a workable solution. Now I’ve ordered some boxed desks to put together. That will be my next project and challenge.

Joan
Joan

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is cleaning up at the end of the day so the “organization” doesn’t fall apart.

C pearson
C pearson

April 30, 2020

Keeping fabric organized

Kim C
Kim C

April 30, 2020

My biggest sewing room organization challenge is finding things after I “organize” them!

Alpha Harper
Alpha Harper

April 30, 2020

I have been working with dolls for most of my life, I am excited to learn a better more accurate way to not waste fabrics while designing. I look forward to learning how to organize the small leftover fabric pieces and labeling/ storing my new patterns for future use.
thanks, Pixie Faire

Terri silva
Terri silva

April 30, 2020

My biggest organization problem is an inability to purge items I will probably NEVER use!

Liz Brennan
Liz Brennan

April 30, 2020

I hung a 4′ × 6′ pegboard on my wall. Each long hook holds a spool of thread with the matching bobbin, rolls of lace and ribbon, zippers, cards of buttons, etc., so I can see my sewing notions at a glance. My biggest problem is that I have way too much fabric. I need a bigger house!

Debbie Peek
Debbie Peek

April 30, 2020

The biggest organization challenge in myr sewing space is where to put things. I need shelves and drawers for all my gadgets and fabrics.

Alpha
Alpha

April 30, 2020

my biggest challenge is storing or organizing my new pattern creations and small pieces of expensive fabrics that can get lost so easily.

Alpha Harper
Alpha Harper

April 30, 2020

I have been working with dolls for most of my life, I am excited to learn a better more accurate way to not waste fabrics while designing. thanks, Pixie Faire

Marvel
Marvel

April 30, 2020

Organization of notions and fabrics to look neat and tidy and also what’s available at a quick glance are my major challenges! So many good ideas here!

Pat S
Pat S

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is fabric storeage…I have it sorted by fabric type and color and stored in totes. I have to move the totes all the time to get to the one I am looking for….

Beverly
Beverly

April 30, 2020

My biggest organization problem is organizing fabric and displaying my dolls. Any suggestions would be great!!!! Have a Blessed and beautiful day.

Ruth
Ruth

April 30, 2020

I can get everything organized, but keeping it that way is the problem!!!

R France
R France

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is finding room for everything and trying to organize it all in very little space.

Angela
Angela

April 30, 2020

I have difficulties keeping my fabric organized. A lot of it is small pieces, so it goes in a tub, but that means I have to dig through the tub and disrupt everything. I also don’t really have a good spot to store my finished doll clothes, so I’m working on that.
And, of course, there is the cat that likes to lay on everything.

Carole
Carole

April 30, 2020

I have fabric in storage bins that I forget about.

Shannon
Shannon

April 30, 2020

There’s never enough space :D. Organization is a problem too. Way too much gets let’s out and just shoved around. Need a good system.

Patricia Shehan
Patricia Shehan

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is having enough space for all my fabric. I can not pass up a good sale on fabric. Oh My!

Lori
Lori

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is having things in cardboard boxes. I don’t remember what I have or where I put it.

Connie
Connie

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is to keep everything organized. Once I have everything set up and in its place, it seems to get out of hand again in no time.

Janet F
Janet F

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is space. I currently use our guest room and there simply is no space. I don’t have room to sew, let alone organize things for easy finding/access. I do have an old screw organizing drawer box that is awesome for my velcro, pins, buttons, needles, buckles, etc. I also use 3-ring binders to organize my patterns. Each pattern gets a page protector. They are organized by tops, dresses, bottoms, jackets, shoes, and accessories. But there really is no where to put anything in my tiny guest room.

Clarice
Clarice

April 30, 2020

SPACE is without a doubt my biggest challenge. I live in a nursing home and it was built many years ago so it’s VERY small. As if that was not enough there are many restrictions on what you can have and where it can go.

Christina Patrizio
Christina Patrizio

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is finding a better method of organizing and storing my fabrics and other sewing essentials. At the moment, everything is stored in clear plastic boxes on closet shelves. Whenever I want to work on anything, all the boxes have to come into my sewing space, where they are in the way. Removing lids and rummaging through each box to find what I need is counterproductive. I could really use a better organization plan!

Diane
Diane

April 30, 2020

Where do you fit it all!!!

KIM
KIM

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is keeping everything tidy. I have a system for storing things, but as I use items I keep them out so they are handy, and by the end of the day (week, month!) I have clutter everywhere.

Iris
Iris

April 30, 2020

I use a glass conservatory as a sewing room. I adore all the light but cannot have storage above the worktops on the wall and i badly need that space. Lots of the ideads given I do already but oh for some more shelves to put pretty things on display.

Gail Beam
Gail Beam

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is where and how to store all of my fabric. Another big challenge is how to store and hang all of my embroidery hoops. I have some that hang from over the door hangers, but I still have 3 plastic containers with hoops that I would like to find a way to organize them that would make them more accessible.

Joy
Joy

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is keeping it organized. I keep trying to simplify how things are stored, which has helped immensely, but it’s something that I’m still working on.

CJ
CJ

April 30, 2020

My biggest challenge is to find ans say. Way to pack up my sewing stuff in an organized manner – right now my sewing space is my kitchen table.

Jo
Jo

April 30, 2020

I, too, am challenged with fabric storage. Even the comic boards don’t fit in my space, so it said s always a mess.

Sherry R.
Sherry R.

April 29, 2020

My main organization challenge is too much fabric! I can buy it so much faster than I can sew it so I have heaps of fabric. Literally heaps.

Cassandra
Cassandra

April 29, 2020

Space to put all my supplies so I can easily access them.

Heather
Heather

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is space. I live in a small space and my current sewing area is a 6 foot folding table that doubles as a “class room” during the day. Welcome to the “new normal”. lol

Lorretta
Lorretta

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is having a room that is so small for everything I need/have in it. But that being said a big challenge is very little organizing skills.

Sue
Sue

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is fabric storage. I buy lots of remnants and stash them by fabric type but am running out of room to easily access what I have on hand when starting a project.

kathy m .
kathy m .

April 29, 2020

my biggest challenge is finding the time to make doll clothes I work full time as healthcare worker my farbic storage are box jars of buttons and lace etc basket of thread patttern in notebooks and flash drive too cutting table and set up table and sewing table then i cannot find what iam looking for with all these clever ideas for sewing room

Shirley
Shirley

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is having enough space to spread out my sewing. There is nothing like being able to sew all day. It soothes my soul.

LizT
LizT

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is storing fabric away from the cats! I use plastic bins to keep the fabric in sight but away from fur. My cats love to hop up onto the table (I have a $20 IKEA table – slab with legs- I put together) and see what I’m sewing. I also lose tiny pattern pieces all the time so I put them in zip lock baggies with a copy of the uncut pages so I know what project it is.

Eddie
Eddie

April 29, 2020

My biggest organizing issue is there is never enough storage space. Maybe once I finish remodeling my basement, I am doing it myself, I will have all the storage space that I will ever need (or not). Thanks for a chance to win.

Merry Lou
Merry Lou

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is not having enough room for my many hobbies.

Teresa-Jo
Teresa-Jo

April 29, 2020

I’m a lucky sewer, there’s a room in the basement for just my sewing hobby. At the present time, my challenge is organizing the numerous sewing machines that are in there.

Kristen C.
Kristen C.

April 29, 2020

Trying to organize my ribbon and lace is a huge issue for me. I have so much and little scraps and don’t know what to do with all of it so I can find it when I need it.

Annette
Annette

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge besides getting started and finishing :) is where to put items that have more than one use? Which drawer to store them in and how do I remember where I put it?! The other challenge would be the ability to purge. It’s ok to throw a little scrap away!

Moi
Moi

April 29, 2020

Finding a place for the completed pieces of clothing has become a problem. I had a number of little girls who took the clothes as fast as they were made, but now they have outgrown dolls and I have not outgrown sewing the doll clothes! I guess I’ll have to try to search out new children or find some way to store the finished pieces.

Sherry H
Sherry H

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is finding what I need. Ever so often I will try organizing my space but after that I often have problems finding things. I know I have them, but where are they? And then I buy them again and end up with multiples.

Nadine
Nadine

April 29, 2020

I need more room to work on projects.

Ruth Ann
Ruth Ann

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is finding things I KNOW I have somewhere — if I organize by project, inevitably I need something in that bin for another project, and then I don’t put what’s left back where it ‘belongs’.

Cathy
Cathy

April 29, 2020

I have a very small room that holds all my crafts. I’d like it better organized so I can switch easily between paper crafting & sewing.

kathleen
kathleen

April 29, 2020

Everything is in a bin or box on top of each other & I can’t find what I need… so I buy it again and end up with multiples, which I also eventually misplace.

Pat
Pat

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is finding space for everything.

Kam
Kam

April 29, 2020

I would like to have my materials somewhere more accessible instead of jammed into containers:)

Ali
Ali

April 29, 2020

My biggest organization challenge in my sewing space is dealing with brown recluse spiders so I really can’t have too much clutter/stuff not in containers 😕

gail
gail

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is finding something after I put it away! Too many containers!

Linda
Linda

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is too much stuff in too little of a room!!!!

Dorothy Czajkowski
Dorothy Czajkowski

April 29, 2020

My problem is I have only a small table in the corner of my very small apartment which does multiple-duty to sew on, do arts & crafts on with my Granddaughter, eat on and every other function imaginable, not to mention no sew and craft supplies storage. HELP !

Sandy
Sandy

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is having too much of a good thing! I recently inherited sewing supplies and received some when I got a vintage machine in a nice cabinet. I need to find the time to really see what I have so I can put all the same things together.

sheila
sheila

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is space…we live in a small condo so not much room for all I like to keep.

Florence
Florence

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is not having everything in the same room. I currently have supplies in two rooms. I share space with my husband and a guest room. Hopefully that will be sorted out soon and I can have everything together.

Doreen
Doreen

April 29, 2020

I’m still trying to get everything set up & put away.

Jane Parks
Jane Parks

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is space. I live in a tiny house and have stuff stored in every room. Then I am always starting another project before I have finished the last one or more. So I run out of space cluttered with UFOs.

Karen
Karen

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is not enough space.

Sam
Sam

April 29, 2020

Probably my biggest challenge to organizing is lack of space and too much stuff and even though I try to keep it organized, lack of space causes things to be messy.

Lynne K
Lynne K

April 29, 2020

Too much fabric! Once it is put away, it is out of mind, and it gets lost.

Claudia
Claudia

April 29, 2020

Biggest challenge for me is finding a way to organize better

Grannie Frannie
Grannie Frannie

April 29, 2020

My problem is too much fabric! In recent years in anticipation of retirement, I’d buy or be gifted with fabric but retirement didn’t happen until last fall. I also want to make an assortment of things from toys to quilts so have many patterns, notions to make a variety of projects. Just hope I live long enough to make a huge dent in my inventory that is also difficult to organize.

Dorothy
Dorothy

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is space. I have too much of everything!

Melissa
Melissa

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is storage. I need a system to keep things tidy and organized.

Debra
Debra

April 29, 2020

I like my craft room, it’s small. But I know I could do better with organizing

Sue
Sue

April 29, 2020

Not enough space is my biggest challenge.

Bonnie Schwoerer
Bonnie Schwoerer

April 29, 2020

The worst for me is all my fabric, storing and finding the right one.

Bonnie Eberline
Bonnie Eberline

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is organizing all my wonderful sewing supplies. “I know they are somewhere” but where.

Alice Denny
Alice Denny

April 29, 2020

My biggest organization challenge is me. I have to constantly work at not buying more fabrics and notions than I can use in a year. Once I use up something I want to replace it right away but that means having to resist replacing AND adding on more. If I could just replace it would be fine. But I am always finding some “little” thing I want to incorporate yet have no immediate plans for a project for that little thing. Then it needs a place to be stored and of course then there are other little things to be added to that one and before you know it, every storage space is overflowing with my incomplete ideas and their catalysts.

Marsha
Marsha

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is being in a tiny space and not having the proper furniture to make the space work.

Cheryl
Cheryl

April 29, 2020

My biggest organizational challenge in my sewing room is ME! I am terrible at putting everything away when I am done with a project. I really need to get better about this, because not only is my sewing room aften a mess, it is not that exciting to get started on a new project when I have to clean up before I can get started.

Sherril
Sherril

April 29, 2020

My biggest sewing room challenge is finding space for all of my fabric scraps!

Lynn
Lynn

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is getting things put away where they belong after I take them out!

Dianne
Dianne

April 29, 2020

My biggest organizational challenge is having enough space to store my huge stash of fabric. I’m grateful to have it all and I’ve sorted and labeled it carefully, but there’s just so much of it. I guess it’s job security —I’ll never run out of projects to complete!

joan rivard
joan rivard

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is my fabric space——cottons from fancy, stretch from non, and yes, pieces
too big to throw out but too small to organize.

Barb O
Barb O

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is storing random items: fabric, batting, notions, patterns, magazines.

Susan Hebert
Susan Hebert

April 29, 2020

Separating thread spools into different fibers/uses, keeping them protected, and still being able to find the appropriate spool for each project.

Cin
Cin

April 29, 2020

I have a lot of patterns that I don’t know the best way to organize.

Judy
Judy

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is keeping or throwing scraps.

Penny
Penny

April 29, 2020

My biggest problem is storing the little garnishments that make an outfit sing. Buttons, tiny bows, chains beads etc where I can find them and use them while I am creating an outfit. I have storage boxes but they are like out of sight out of mind, I would dearly like a tip in this direction, so I don’t waste my time looking but using

leticia
leticia

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is that I don’t have a dedicated sewing room….I currently use a corner of my Livingroom/dining room area and have very little space to keep everything organized. It doesn’t inspire a lot of creativity when there is very liitle room to do any sewing but I manage. I love looking at people’s sewing and craft rooms on line to get inspiration for organizing small work spaces.

Jane
Jane

April 29, 2020

Putting away new items is my behest challenge because I often don’t have a space allocated for them.

Charissa
Charissa

April 29, 2020

My biggest challenge is creating a space that my teenage daughter and I can work in and then pause. To fulfill other tasks of our lives and return back to where we were without stress, chaos, or having to figure out what we did last because we were forced to put it all away to eat on the table or other silly activities we are forced to make time for :)

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