NOTION COMMOTION
In addition to your Sewing Room, any of these organization ideas can be used in your Craft Room, Scrapbooking Corner and/or Jewelry Making Studio. Get creative!
Ok…it’s time to get back to work! We have a few little things we need to still need to organize, so let’s get started.
CLOSURES
There are literally dozens of ways to fasten a garment or home décor item. Get yourself some clear containers or cheap photo boxes and start sorting your closures. Make sure you label each container and stack it on your shelves. Here’s how I divide them:
Zippers
Buttons, Snaps, Eyelets, Grommets, Hooks and Eyes
Elastic, Velcro and Snap Tape
ZIPPERS
Teresa Franco’s awesome zipper storage idea
You could also organize your zippers with safety pins, but instead put them on a tie rack:
Revolving Tie Rack from Harriet Carter
Wall Mounted Tie Rack
Just bought my husband this motorized revolving tie rack. Think he’d mind if I borrowed it for my ribbon? LOL
Brookstone Motorized Revolving Tie Rack
BUTTONS, SNAPS, EYELETS, GROMMETS, HOOKS AND EYES
There are literally hundreds of ways you can organize these small objects. I store my snaps and buttons in these See n Store magnetic containers:
I currently have 36 of these nifty containers and plan to add more as needed. They can be mounted on the wall or free-standing and in a variety of combinations:
5 Tin Magnetic Standing Storage at Organize.com
5 Tin Magnetic Hanging Storage at Organize.com
8 Tin Magnetic Standing Storage at Oriental Trading
Custom Magnetic Spice Racks
Kamenstein Magnetic Spice Rack
Making Memories Modular Storage System
If you’re trying to keep costs down, Make Your Own Magnetic Storage Board. You only need FOUR things to make this quick and easy board to hold your sewing and craft notions:
1 -STEEL SHEET
2 - SMALL METAL CONTAINERS
3 - MAGNETS
4 - GLUE
Have your husband or dad drill four holes in the corner of the steel sheet/board for mounting, if desired.
Hang sheet/board on wall or store in drawer.
Glue a magnet to the back of each container. Let dry.
Stick magnetic containers to sheet/board. Done!
Martha Stewart adds Buttons to her Magnetic Containers
Add a photo to your containers if you’d like.
Additional magnetic board tutorials:
Amber’s DIY Spice Rack
Lowe’s Magnetic Board Tutorial
Other clever storage ideas:
Solutions Station Set
Deflecto Revolving Clear Storage at Shoplet.com
Drawer Cabinet at Shoplet.com
Button Bank
Making Memories’ Jars
Economical Glass Jars by the Case
Fancy Jars
Storage Tins
ArtBin 24 Compartment Slide ‘n Store
Making Memories’ Sortables
Carousel Organizer
Snap or Button Organizer from Stacks n Stacks
60 Translucent Drawer Unit
Bead and Embellishment Tower
36 Compartment Bubble Box
You could also use a rail system installed on your wall:
Rail System
and add the coordinating wire basket and/or containers:
Wire Basket
I absolutely love my Deflect-o Tilt Out Storage Bins. They are my favorite storage system in my sewing room:
These bins come in all different sizes to suit your needs and lock together. They can be mounted on the wall or placed on a shelf:
Deflect-o Tilt-Out Clear Storage Bins at TheNerds.com
Deflect-o Tilt-Out Clear Storage Bins from Staples.com
Provo Clear Mini Drawers
ELASTIC, VELCRO AND SNAP-TAPE
With all the different sizes and applications, it is easy to accumulate a large “stash” of elastic. I sort my elastic into three stacked storage boxes:
Thin Elastic (includes elastic thread)
Foldover Elastic and Decorative Elastic
Waistband Elastic
Here’s my pink leather boxes (once again from Home Goods):
My Velcro and Snap-Tape are stored in similar leather boxes. Any type of storage container, box or drawer will work:
IKEA CD Boxes
GLIS Plastic Boxes
IKEA Decorative Boxes
Interlocking Clear Containers
Clear Acrylic Stackable Storage Drawers
Small Organizer Drawers
10 Drawer Tower Organizer
Foremost Modular Storage Drawer Cubes
You can cover these drawers with either fabric or paper and then use decoupage to seal them:
IKEA Wooden Drawers
You can even make erasable labels on each drawer:
Erasable Label Tutorial
MARKING AND CUTTING IMPLEMENTS
Are you constantly trying to find your favorite scissor or disappearing (literally) marking pen? A great solution is to find some type of utensil caddy which can be placed on your cutting table and then moved next to your sewing machine when needed. I found this great revolving caddy (pictured above) at my local Home Goods store.
Check out your local office supplies store in their desk accessories aisle for lots of good ideas.
In this type of caddy, you can store:
Prior to getting my neat revolving caddy, I used to store all my extra marking pens, scissors, tube turners, etc. in leather containers (also found as Home Goods). For the items I don’t want to keep on my cutting table, I use one of these nifty Tupperware Utensil Caddies:
Here’s a few more organizers to consider:
The Caddy at HSN
Rubbermaid Rotating Desk Organizer
Donna Dewberry Storage Spinner
Grabbit Tool Caddy
Cabela’s Revolving Tool Caddy
Cutter Cubby
Portable Supply Caddy
Table Top Caddy
Economical Caddy
Tool Holder
Utensil Holder with Adjustable Dividers
Shabby Chic Utensil Holder
If you don’t have the space on your cutting surface or it’s portable, consider hanging your cutting implements on the wall:
Plastic Perf Board
EZ Wall Organizer
Metal Rail System at HSN
Clotidle’s Peg Board
Wall Hutch
Wall Pocket
Tip: The height of your cutting surface is so important as to avoid an aching back. I use these under the legs of my table:
Adjustable Bed Risers
RULERS
I use a wire mesh letter holder from my local office supplies store to hold my rulers at the end of my cutting table. You can easily organize your rulers by either hanging them or standing them up like I do. Here are some ways to do it:
June Tailor Rule Your Rulers
Quilting Ruler Organizer Shelf on Ebay
Ruler Holder Rack on Ebay
Ruler Holder Shelf on Ebay
Ruler and Mat Organizer
Rulers & Ruler Rack Combo Set
Clotilde Ruler Rack
Ruler Korral
Stop your Ruler from sliding on fabric. I really works:
Quilter’s Review
If you need a paper ruler to attach to the end of your table, here’s a free printable one. Consider sending this ruler link to those you sew for (family, friends, customers, etc.) to get easy measurements:
Free Printable Rulers
SEWING STATION
There are a few things I like to keep next to my sewing machines:
Get yourself a small bowl, container or divided tray (I use a dog dish…LOL) to keep all your necessary sewing supplies next to your sewing machine. You’ll be able to easily find what you need without going through drawers and cabinets.
Here’s some other ideas:
Sewing Station
June Tailor Sewing Station
Make your own Sewing Station:
Sewing.org’s Sewing Station Tutorial
Consider purchasing sewing machine and serger cushioned pads (helps with machine vibration) and thread/scrap catchers:
Pedal-Sta’s Sewing Machine Pad w/ Thread Catcher
Clotilde’s Serger Pad and Thread Catcher
Pedal-Sta’s Serger Pad w/ Scrap Catcher
Pioneer’s Serger Pad Thread Catcher at Joann’s
Joann’s Sew Essential Scrap Caddy
You can also make your own:
K Quilts’ Pincushion and Thread Catcher Tutorial
Kezza’s Pincushion and Thread Catcher Tutorial
SEWING MACHINE / SERGER PRESSER FEET
Do you always find yourself looking blanking at a strange sewing machine foot and wondering what on earth is its purpose? Well, then it’s time to sort through them. I have dozens of sewing machine and serger feet. I use a divided pink leather case to easily store my sewing machine feet. If you label each section, it will be easy to locate the one needed.
I keep my serger feet in a divided leather tray:
You can use a cigar box (decoupage it with fabric):
Cigar Boxes on Ebay Express
or any divided box:
Clear Box with Moveable Dividers
Small Parts Storage Case
Budget 12 Compartment Storage Case
and label it like Mean Jean did:
Mean Jean’s Presser Foot Organizer
You can even use a cutlery tray!
Expandable Bamboo Flatware Tray
A jewelry organizer will also work!
Jewelry Organizer at Stacks n Stacks
or Jewelry Case
PINK Jewelry Case
You can also purchase a great “foot organizer” from your local sewing dealer or use clear baseball card plastic sleeve protectors in a regular binder:
Home Depot’s Sewing Notions Organizer
Nancy’s Notions’ Presser Foot Storage Cases
Or make your own:
Husqvarna Viking’s Presser Foot Organizer Tutorial
Petit Debutante’s Presser Foot Organizer Tutorial
PRESSING SUPPLIES
Keep a small shelf over your ironing board for your pressing supplies. This would include:
I keep two boxes next to my pressing station. One contains all kinds of fusible tape which I use when I’m taking sewing shortcuts…LOL. In the second box, I store my small pressing aids such as my Ezy Hem Guide, Iron Cleaner and Point Turner.
I hang both my Tailor’s Board and Sleeve Board on the wall next to my ironing board.
I purchased one of these Slim Drink Dispensers to keep water (holds a gallon!) next to my ironing board. It saves me dozens of trips back and forth to the sink to refill my iron!
You could also use a mounted peg board with hooks to hang all your pressing essentials.
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES
I’m sure you have lots of other supplies which need to be organized and stored. The list seems endless…LOL! Here’s two more great storage ideas I came up with:
First, I re-purposed some doll accessory drawers. These drawers store my size labels, garment labels, bow-making clips, etc.
Next, I came across this neat piano-hinged box at TJ Maxx.
The front cover folds down to reveal my hot fix tool and glues. I glued a piece of cork board sheeting to the inside of the cover to make a nifty little bulletin board:
Since you’re nosey, here’s a close-up of my stickers:
You can get your own stickers here:
Opinions R Us
Cafe Press
Hope your creative space is finally becoming a place to love to be in–not a dreaded space. If you have any ideas for additional sewing room organization topics, just email me!
Happy Sewing!
Technorati Tags:
clean sweep,
clutter,
craft,
craftroom,
craft room,
CRAFTS,
declutter,
fabric,
fabricstash,
fabrics,
handmade,
lifehacker,
ORGANIZING,
organzing ideas,
scrap,
sew,
sewing,
sewing room organization,
organize a sewing room,
organize fabric scraps,
organize fat quarters,
organize fabric,
fabric storage solutions,
fabric storage,
tutorials,
tutorial,
sewing room,
sewing studio,
sewing room cleanup,
organize a sewing studio,
fat quarter storage,
organize fabric bolts,
scrapbooking,
scrapbooking studio,
scrapbooking room,
scrapbook organize,
scrapbook organization
