A GON Reader Asks

Hi Maria,

I started sewing again and I need help organizing my fabrics, notions, patterns and stamping supplies. I have limited space and I feel the clutter is getting out of hand. I lost fabric I bought to make a bag. I feel it has to be here somewhere, but no idea where. I work two part-time jobs so time is limited.

I waste a lot of time searching for what I need. I keep everything in one small closet. That closet also has grandchildren's toys in it and my 'I Love Lucy' doll collection too. Any suggestions on how to organize my supplies?

The sad part is, I do not have that much yet. I am 60 years old and my goal is to get organized and have more time to sew. I do have two grandchildren living with us, ages four and three, their parents too. I have to keep my sewing supplies out of little hands. My puppy chewed up my seam ripper. I've also been married 40 years. I just need my own space and right now I do not have it.

This Fabulous Reader Question was submitted by:

Kathi Parks
Gardner, Kansas




Maria Gracia responds...

Dear Kathi,

Thank you for your great question! Personally, I think it's wonderful that, even though you have such a busy life, you have chosen to take up a hobby again that once brought you joy. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Make your space 'all yours.' Because your life is so full and your time so limited, it's important for you to claim this space of your own, even if it isn't a large one. You need a door you can close to keep temptation out of little hands (and little paws!). Try to dedicate this space to your crafts and sewing and nothing else. See if you can pare down your grandchildren's toys to ones they play with most frequently and find other ways to store these. Perhaps you could use some open shelving or storage cubes along a wall near where they sleep, or some underbed storage. You might keep your doll collection on the highest shelf of your space to keep it safe, yet separate from your supplies.

2. Plan for the future. Ordinarily I would suggest your next step would be to declutter your craft and sewing supplies and keep only what you know you will use. But because you don't have a lot of these yet (a good problem!), it will be useful for you to create storage for what you already have, as well as the additional supplies that you will want to add as you go along. That being said, it's not a crime to NOT have much. Better to have only what you're using right now, then a huge stash of supplies you may (or may not) use someday.

3. Keep like things together. Measure your shelving area and visit your local dollar store for bins of various sizes that will work in your space. The storage containers with small drawers can be useful for thread, needles, pins, scissors and other small craft supplies. For non-transparent containers, use removable, white stick-on labels to quickly tell you what's inside. Look around your home for things like glass canning jars that can be repurposed to hold buttons and other tiny items. Also, have a few tote bags for projects for which you've already gathered the supplies you need. For instance, the fabric you lost for that bag you wanted to make...when you find it, contain it perhaps in a tote bag and hang it on a hook in that closet. You might have a few tote bags stored on hooks for the one or two projects that are currently 'in process' so they could be found quickly.

4. Make it easy to find what you need. Because your time is limited, you will want to make it as productive and enjoyable as possible. You might try folding each piece of fabric to the same size and stacking it on its own shelf, making it easy to see what you have at a glance. It might be possible to hang a rod somewhere in your closet, allowing you to hang your fabric, at least the larger pieces, on skirt hangers.

5. Let others inspire you. Search the Internet to see what other craftspeople have come up with for storage solutions. There are thousands of ideas out there, and some of them just might work for you, with a few tweaks to make them all your own. The photo I used in this article is just one random photo I found online of someone who created a small, organized sewing area using shelves, containers, and some pegboard.

I hope some of these tips are helpful. I wish you many hours of happy sewing and would love, love, love to see your next project when it's done. Be sure to send me a photo!

Maria

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Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

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