Sewing Room Organization

Sewing Room Organization

Pegboard. My favorite aspects - the thread holder and scissor/ruler hooks. We could also probably find a way to hang ribbon spools. Clears up shelf/tablespace. https://www.blueistyleblog.com/sewing-room-organization-ideas/

Organizing Chart Keeps track of multiple projects. Can list them all out as well as where you are with them. 

Ex. I use a dry-erase board divided into sections with washi tape to keep all my projects, deadlines, and seamstresses organized. 

I sometimes write my to-do list with a dry-erase marker on the large mirror I use for fittings. 

A picture frame with w/plain white paper or an empty printed chart inside the frame is quick and portable. You can then write on the glass with a dry erase marker. 

Fabric Management Ideas:

Styrofoam board - wrap smaller bits of fabric around a small Styrofoam board and then put them into the shelves organized by color or print

Fabric folded on shelves – this might be the cheapest option. I tend to stack in rainbow colors order (ROYGBIV) and keep only one color per stack. One problem with this option is trying to pull one out from the bottom, as well as having slippery fabric (silk/satin) making things want to slither. 

Ruler Folding Technique - Larger yardage - use 5" to 8 1/2″ x 24″ acrylic ruler depending on the width of your shelves or other storage spaces. 

For example, if you have a 30" wide bookshelf and you use a 6" ruler, then you can get 5 stacks of fabric per shelf. If you use a 5" ruler than you can get 6 stacks. If you're storing them on end in a drawer or tub that is 9" wide, then you can use the 8 1/2" ruler. 

Pin a post-it with measurement info to your fabric!

Baskets and clothesline - a little impractical, but essentially it works great for fabrics of all different sizes but similar colors.

I have a lot of small scraps that I use for applique and patchwork that I keep in a large, legal-size paper organizer with drawers that pull out. They’re sorted by color (each drawer has a different color) and occasionally by type (ex. Large Prints, Small Prints, Leather, Denim...). The scraps are folded and placed on end so that you can see the top edge of each of the scraps when you pull out the drawer. 
Rubbermaid Tubs – Put fabrics on cardboard bolt, write the yardage on the end of the bolt, and set the bolts, labeled end up, in a Rubbermaid tub.

Bins - would require an investment in that many buckets. Especially ones clear enough to see the fabric in. This seems especially good for little scraps. Or use larger ones for slippery/specialty fabrics.

Legal-size paper organizer-
I have a lot of small pieces of fabric that I use for applique and patchwork that I keep in a large, legal-size paper organizer with drawers that pull out. They’re sorted by color (each drawer has a different color) and occasionally by type (ex. Large Prints, Small Prints, Leather, Denim...). The scraps are folded and placed on end so you can see the top edge of each of the scraps when you pull out the drawer.

https://www.nationalbusinessfurniture.com/legal-size-30-drawer-storage-cabinet-33369

Fabric/Trim Organizer- Roll upholstery fabric and ribbons/trim on the rolls that upholstery fabric comes and stand them in a trash container like flowers in a vase. 

DIY Ribbon Holder- I drilled holes in a 2x4 and glued in dowels. I stack ribbon spools sorted by color and style (I have a lot of rick rack!).
http://ellenscreativepassage.blogspot.com/2011/08/ribbon-organizer-tutorial.html 

Projects -  to keep projects together, you can label a storage Ziploc bag or paper/reusable bag. These can be stacked/stored in a milk crate or on a shelf.

Pattern Organizers
Filing Cabinet. I took all my patterns out of their envelopes and put them in manilla folders labeled and organized by pattern company (where applicable), pattern number, and size. 

Milk Crate. I have a milk crate I use to hold the folders of frequently used patterns. (I keep this in an easily accessible spot, so I also keep my rulers and other pattern drafting here). 

Expanding File Organizer. I then open out the envelopes flat and put them in an expanding, accordion file organizer divided into categories (Tops, Bottoms, Business, Casual, Bridal/Evening, Costumes, Children, Men…) so I didn’t have to dig through all my patterns to find what I needed (and the envelope usually has material requirements). For patterns without an envelope, I use a piece of paper with a sketch or photo.

Notions Organization

Button Organizer. I keep my buttons and similar notions organized by color in a box normally used for organizing screws and such. I painted mine white to match the room.

Dresser. I have a lovely small vintage set of drawers that I've painted and labeled with the contents (fastenings, elastic, trim, misc...). Don’t use deep/large drawers, things will get lost!

Thread Organizer - tiered, adjustable spice organizer – organized by color.

I love Dollar Store stuff for inexpensive organizers.

Silverware organizer kept near my sewing machine (I put it in the pullout keyboard drawer under my desk) allows me to keep things nearby and in one place things like seam rippers, 6” rulers, elastic, thimble, binders, and clips.

Fishing tackle box. For notions/projects/tasks with small pieces. Ex. wedding-specific stuff (small hook and eyes, white fabric button, safety pins, random bits of lace and lace appliques, cording, labels..).

Sewing machine hooks. Attach Command Strip hooks to your sewing machine and never lose your scissors again.

 

Sewing Machine Mat. Keep your notions at hand and even a thread catcher. DIY Sewing Machine Mat Pattern- https://www.polkadotchair.com/diy-roll-up-sewing-machine-mat/ at/ 

 

Project-specific organizers 

Gallon storage zip lock bags to keep fabrics, trims, and all materials needed for an individual project. I store these in a milk crate (sometimes I keep the bags stacked on a shelf, but they're pretty slippery and tend to slither off the shelf so I rarely do this).

Plastic bins or boxes to keep materials needed for specific projects together in one place and portable.

Misc.

Over the door hook that holds multiple items.

Clothes rack –They come with wheels! I put the base of mine on bed risers to make it tall enough to accommodate the longer costumes. 

Cutting Table –
I love my cutting table. The sides fold up and down, it’s on wheels, and it even has storage underneath. This one even has an adjustable height (mine doesn’t). https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/adjustable-home-hobby-table-sullivans.aspx

Adjustable Dress Form - 

You probably don't have to have an adjustable dress form, but I like mine. 

I purchased (I think I spent less than $75 including shipping) a size small adjustable dress form (most of the bridal gowns I alter are for tiny young women), and then I pad up to what I need. Most dress forms only go up to a B cup (I'm a double H with a 32" rib cage). So for myself, I adjust the ribs of the mannequin to be my size and throw one of my bras on it. (Make sure you're wearing the right size bra! {Are You Wearing The Right Size Bra?}
{When I was in college I left my dress form "naked" except for a bra. My roommate asked me to throw clothes on it because it was upsetting her boyfriend! lol}

Custom Dress Form Cover

I found a great measurement format called Fast-Track Fitting by Joi Mahon It offers a very detailed measuring system. I'll be honest, making the customized pattern is a lot of work, but when you're done you have a "master" pattern that fits perfectly and you'll know how and where to use those adjustments on any patterns you use in the future. {Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) and Other Pattern Alterations}

I used the muslin made using this system as a cover for my mannequin. I added padding where it needed filling out and when I was done it was much more accurate than my adjustable mannequin. This gave me a better form to drape on and cut down on the number of fittings needed. I made one for each of the people I sewed for often or who needed a custom, fitted dress. 

Hanging Chain – My favorite! A chain on a bike hook that hangs from the ceiling. It can hold multiple items. I love it for the longer/heavier costumes and dresses.

Dresses/costumes can be moved to different heights by hooking the item’s hanger onto different parts of the chain.  This allows me to leave the item on the hanger and raise and lower the costume so that I can work on different parts of the item at a comfortable height.

(Ex. The bodice can hang right in front of me while I do hand stitching rather than draped over my lap or the table. No boiling because I have multiple layers of a dress on my legs. No dress slithering to the floor when I’m not looking. No getting an applique twisted because I can’t tell that it’s no longer where I put it. No (ok, rarely) sewing the dress to my pants or the front to the back.)

The weight of a wedding dress can be supported by the chain and kept off the floor too while the dress is being hemmed. For bridal gowns, I keep the dress storage bag on the hangar so things like a long train can remain safely in the bottom of the bag while I work on the bodice or part of the hem.