Sewing Room Organization Ideas

Having an organized sewing space really makes a difference in planning and completing projects. Knowing where your tools, thread, fabric, and other sewing supplies are stored will help speed up the process and give you space to think creatively rather than spending time searching for the fabric and tools you need. Listed below are a few of our favorite sewing room organization ideas.

Thread Storage

There are many thread storage options. The Bisley 5 Drawer Cabinet is our favorite. You can find this mini filing cabinet at The Container Store. It comes in many different colors. We used inserts to help keep our thread organized by color and labeled the outside of the cabinet to help us find the right type of thread needed quickly.

Additionally, we love the Gypsy Quilter Bobbinis. These useful tools keep your bobbins and matching thread together. This handy tool is made of rubber that adjusts to most any spool diameter. You just attach the bobbin to one of the Bobbini and then insert the other end into your spool of thread. No more hunting for the matching bobbin or wasting thread.

Fabric Storage

After a sewing project is finished, we usually have extra fabric. We organize these scrap fabrics by color. Use these fun scrapy baskets with handles to store the fabric. We even have a tutorial on how to make them. Scrap fabrics from our stash were used to create this beginner friendly sewing project.

For larger fabrics, magazine boards work great for storage. Just fold the fabric and wrap it around the cardboard. Pins will hold the fabric in place. You can even label the magazine board with the fabric name, color, and manufacturer to add another layer of sewing room organization.

Another fabric organizing trick is to use a folding board. Grab a flat piece of cardboard and cut it to 6” x 9” in size. Then you can use it as a guide to fold your fabric stash. This allows for uniform fabric organization and limits wrinkles. To take it a step further, stack your newly folded fabric by color. These fabrics are from the new Dashwood Studio New Beginnings fabric collection.

Sewing Project Storage

Plastic bins work great for storing your work in progress projects. These 12” x 12” plastic bins have a lid to keep the dust out. They also stack nicely so you can easily find the sewing project you are looking for. Once you have finished the project, the bins can be reused for your next sewing work.

Project boards are an excellent tool to help you move your cut fabric to your sewing machine and back and forth. Lori Holt has a fantastic tutorial on how to make this unique boards. By applying fabric batting to the exterior of the board, your fabric pieces will not shift or fly away when you carry your project in your sewing space.

Ruler & Cutting Tool Storage

A magnetic knife holder is an excellent way to store rotary cutters and scissors. We use the Kungsfors Magnetic Knife holder from IKEA. Just attach it to the wall right by your cutting table. You will be able to quickly grab the right type and size of scissors or rotary cutter for your sewing project. At then end of a sewing day, the tools will quickly and neatly be put away. It is nice to begin another sewing day with an organized sewing space.

Hang your rulers on the side of your cutting table or on the wall with peel and stick hooks. The Plutt Hooks are also from IKEA. They are small in size, but strong. We attached these self-adhesive hooks to the side of our cutting table so we can grab the right size ruler for the project we are working on.

Binding Clip & Safety Pin Storage

I learned the hard way how to store my binding clips. I had an adorable ceramic bowl that I just loved. I filled it with my rainbow binding clips. It was so pretty! Then one day, I bumped it and it fell onto the floor and smashed into a bazillion pieces. What a mess! Now, I use metal cups with handles to store my binding clips and this is working out so much better!

I use the same trick for safety pin storage as well. I have a metal plant pot (yes – IKEA again) that is bigger than the mug to store all of my quilt basting pins. No more broken glass!

Solid Fabric Organization Inspiration Board

This magnetic board works fantastic for organizing all of my solid fabric swatches. I organize the fabric swatches by both color and manufacturer. I love how easy it is to find the color of fabric I am looking for and also play with different fabrics while I am planning out a sewing or quilting project.

I use these magnetic stickers on the back of the fabric swatches that I have glued to paper stock. They are self-adhesive on one side. You can easily label the fabric swatches with a pen or label stickers to stay organized.  

Pattern Storage

Three ring binders work great for downloaded PDF Patterns. Slide the pattern into a sheet protector and then add it to the binder. It is helpful to use tabbed binder dividers to further organize your patterns. You can organize by project type, season, or anyway that allows you to quickly find the pattern you are looking for.

A 6” x 8” acrylic brochure holder is just perfect for printed sewing patterns. Leave the pattern in its plastic bag and slide it into the brochure holder. You will be able to easily flip through the patterns to find the one you are looking for.

We hope you have enjoyed these sewing room organization tips. If you have any of your own, please share it with us. We would love to try it out and then share it with our sewing community. Happy Sewing!