How to Organize Sewing Supplies in Cute & Sensible Ways

Updated November 18, 2021
woman using sewing machine

Your sewing hobby has started to take over your life. You've got fabric falling out of cubbies and sewing needles everywhere. Not to worry. Learn how to organize sewing supplies in cute and creative ways. You'll even get some tips for organizing when you don't have a sewing room.

Simple Ways to Organize Patterns and Large Tools

Sewing room organization can be hard. They are bulky and take up a lot of space. This is especially true of cutters, rulers, boards, and more. Organizing these large tools doesn't need to be a challenge. You just need to get a little creative.

Magazine Holder

magazine holder to organize sewing supplies

You can use a magazine holder to organize your binder of sewing patterns and books. This is also a great place to organize fusible interfacing in containers and scraps of fabric wrapped around cardboard. The magazine holders create a perfect nook for keeping things organized on your bookshelf.

File Organizer

yellow file cabinet to organize sewing supplies

Whether you use a file cabinet or an accordion file organizer, your patterns and other loose materials fit well into slots. You can add your patterns to a large envelope and file them in, or you could create a slot for each pattern with a label. Regardless, the patterns stay out of sight and secure.

Pegboard With Hooks and Cups

Pegboards can be your best friend if you are short on space in your sewing area. These boards have multiple functions and various purposes. You can hang large mats and tools off hooks and organize your ribbons, thread, and cutters. Hanging cups off the pegboard give you an area for your tape measures, pencils, Velcro, and other tools.

Easy Tips for Organizing Small Tools and Thread

Small tools can be a bit harder to keep organized. It can be easier to use containers for organization. Clear containers can be the best so you can see the small tools within.

Magnetic Tape to Hold Everything in Place

Needles and stitch rippers can be hard to keep track of sometimes. Add some magnetic tape to the bottom of a plastic container or a drawer. With a bit of magnetic tape, you can keep your metal needles and tools in order.

Clear Cookie Jars for Organization

clear glass cookie jar for sewing storage

When you have a lot of loose tools around your cutting area, using clear cookie jars can help keep everything organized and together. Label each cookie jar for the specific tool (i.e., scissors, pencils, etc.), and you can put them back after use. This works to keep them organized but handy.

Mason Jar Shelf for Accessories

When it comes to storing buttons, ribbons, and other sewing accessories, mason jar organizers can be essential. You can put this organizer on the wall, and you can stack them. This allows them to go up the wall and take up wall space.

How to Organize and Store Fabrics

As you are creating clothing, blankets, towels, and more, you have a lot of different strips of fabric. Getting the smaller pieces can be hard to arrange. Try a few of these tricks to keep all your fabric in order.

Plastic Totes Organized by Color or Design

sewing fabric organization in plastic tote bins

Get some clear plastic totes in various sizes. Sort your fabric by color and place each of the scraps carefully into the container. You are easily able to find the specific size and color fabric you need quickly. This type of organization is great for hard-to-stack fabrics like fur, felt, and swim fabrics.

Clothespins to Hang Fabric

metal hanger and clothes pins to organize sewing fabric

When you have a bunch of similar fabric squares, you can organize them using clothespins. Stack the fabric together and put the clothespin over a metal hanger to grasp the fabric. You can then hang the hanger on a hook or rod to make the fabric pieces easily accessible. You can use this method for storing quilting squares with ease. This method also works for long pieces of fabric as well.

No Sewing Room Storage Ideas

Not every person has a dedicated room for their sewing hobby. You might use a den or an office as a multipurpose sewing area. So, you need to be extremely organized to ensure that the whole thing doesn't fall apart. Other than making the room's closet into a dedicated sewing area, you can use a few different methods to organize your sewing supplies.

Bookcase Storage

bookcase to organize sewing supplies

A bookcase makes the perfect area for storing your sewing supplies within any room. You use the different shelves for fabric, patterns, and even your sewing machine. Using other organization hacks like jars and baskets for smaller supplies ensures everything stays where it should.

Sewing Cabinet

If you would rather not keep your sewing supplies out in the open, you can purchase a decorative sewing cabinet. These cabinets offer all the nooks and crannies you need to store everything from patterns and yard to accessories. Some even include a fold-out sewing table for ease.

Repurpose a Toolbox

tool box repurposed for sewing supplies

If you just have a few sewing tools to organize, toolboxes can be amazing organizational hacks. You will need a drawer for your thread. If you sew, you likely have a large collection of threads in multiple colors. A standard case size for the thread will hold 30 to 40 spools of thread. Not all spools come in the same size, so you may need multiple cases or drawers to store your thread. Toolboxes come in sizes from handheld to large stand-up ones. This gives you all the space you need to organize your sewing stuff easily. You can also use a cute vintage sewing box for a stylish option.

Tips for Organizing Sewing Supplies

Getting all the little supplies you need for sewing in one place can be hard. But all you need to do is use some clever hacks to be an organization goddess.

  • Store small supplies in small easy to find containers.
  • Label everything, so it's easy to find what you need.
  • Use the wall space to your advantage, especially if you don't have a dedicated sewing or craft room.
  • Sort fabrics and thread by color.
  • Use high shelves for bulk items.
  • Store the materials you use daily in easy-to-access drawers.
  • Store things you use less like manuals in low drawers.
  • Use drawer dividers to give everything its own space.
  • Use hooks on pegboards to keep your mats and scissors in place.
  • Mobile rolling carts can help make quick alterations.

How to Organize Sewing Supplies With Ease

Sewing often begins as a hobby. You decide to take a quilting class or spend time with friends or family members who sew. The next thing you know, you are knee-deep in fabric with a serious scissor obsession. Now you know how to keep all your fabric and scissors organized and ready for action.

How to Organize Sewing Supplies in Cute & Sensible Ways