How to Organize Sewing Supplies

Organize sewing supplies in repurposed containers.

An organized sewing space saves you time and aggravation. You can organize sewing supplies easily and inexpensively with containers you have around the home. Repurpose baskets, boxes, jars and zippered bedding bags. Use zip-top bags to corral small items. Give new life to odd items, such as a novelty coffee mug to use as a pencil cup or a silverware caddy to hold your scissors and other tools. Display your organized items on open shelves or tuck them away in a closet or drawer.

Things You'll Need

• Variety of containers
• Zip-top snack bags
• Zippered bedding bags
• Cereal boxes
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Adhesive labels
• Permanent marker

Instructions

Collect Containers

1. Look through your kitchen for containers to recycle. Find jars with lids and empty cereal or other food boxes. Set them on the counter or table.

2. Look throughout your home for items to repurpose. Find baskets, decorative mugs, a mug rack, a silverware caddy or tray, a tackle box, shoe boxes and zippered bedding bags. Bring all the found items to the kitchen counter or table.

3. Sort through the containers and clean, as needed. Wash dirty jars, mugs and baskets. Wipe dusty boxes inside and out.

Sort Supplies

1. Sort your sewing supplies by type. Group like items together.

2. Get rid of supplies that are no longer needed. Put them all together in a box to donate to a local thrift store or other charity.

3. Sort through each group and put small items together in zip top bags. Separate buttons, trims and thread by color, patterns and magazine by type or title, needles by type and size and notions by type.

4. Separate frequently used items, such as scissors, measuring tape, pin cushion and seam ripper. Place them together in a basket or a silverware caddy or tray to keep them neat, but close at hand.

Fill Containers

1. Put like items into containers. Place small zip-top bags of buttons together in a box or jar. Fill a tackle box or shoe box with notions.

2. Stand marking tools, such as fabric pens or chalk pencils, in a decorative mug. Fill zippered bedding bags with fabric. Organize thread by color or type in a box or basket.

3. Write the contents of each box, bag or jar on an adhesive label with a permanent marker. Affix the label where it will be easily visible. Make additional labels for the top or other sides of the container if you're unsure which areas will be visible during storage.

4. Neatly stack filled containers on open shelves or in a closet.

Magazines and Patterns

1. Cut the top flaps from a cereal box. Draw a line horizontally across one narrow side, 2 inches from the bottom. Cut down both corners to the line, and cut across the line to remove the side.

2. Draw a straight line from the top of the uncut side to the top of the cut side on both the front and back of the box. Cut along the drawn lines.

3. Place magazines or patterns in the newly-created holder. Make more holders, as needed. Stand the holders on a shelf or table, or line them up on the floor against a wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover boxes with fabric or decorative paper. Ask friends and family to save the zippered bags for you when they buy new bedding.

References

• Martha Stewart: Sewing Basics - Organize Your Supplies
• Organized Home: Sew Organized: Storage Solutions for Sewing and Crafts

Resources

• Martha Stewart: Sewing Room in a Closet