Simply store it

Creative ideas for organizing sewing equipment

Determining how to organize your sewing space is a challenge for every sewer. How do you keep precious tools and materials neat, accessible, and arranged so you can find what you need when you need it? There are a multitude of solutions and options for this common dilemma. Threads asked some of our contributors to share their conventional and unconventional methods for organizing typical sewing tools and materials.

There are some universal themes running through these tips: Keep your mind open and look beyond the original purpose of items, and it’s not necessary to make a big outlay to be organized. Enjoy and share what works for you—it might work for someone else, too.

“For me, it’s all about pegboard. My thread collections are all on the walls. Attractive versions are available from retail supply companies. Nail polish organizers work for thread (check the sizes first)—also little bins, buckets, etc. It’s amazing what is available. For everything else, it’s all about labels. I label every drawer so I don’t have to remember what is in it.”

—Katrina Walker, KatrinaWalker.com

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Repurposed storage

Look beyond an item’s original purpose to its stowing potential to organize your sewing space

Sealable sandwich bags: to separate trims and buttons by type and color (pom-poms, bias tape, cording, elastic, men’s shirt buttons, etc).

Silverware drawer organizer: for holding pens and scissors in the long utensil compartments and for storing machine needles, thimbles, and chocolates in the smaller compartments.

Repurposed bobbin holders: for machine feet. I like to see the feet without having to fumble in a machine drawer.

Small vintage recipe box: for my sewing trash (cut threads, fabric snips, etc). This was the box my mom…