One of the trickiest things to tackle with any hobby is how to organize and store supplies so that they are protected during storage and easy to find when needed. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time organizing my sewing and crafting supplies. And when I move to a new place, I often have to change how I store things.
So whether you’re just starting out or looking for a change, below are a few blog posts with my tried and true tips for organizing my sewing patterns and fabric stash. Happy sewing!
Today is the first day of the second annual I Love my fabric virtual party! So, in celebration and in the hopes of helping you organize your fabric, today’s video is devoted to fabric folding. I know kind of boring but, trust me, it is key to a well organized stash. This method of folding can be used when storing fabric in either drawers or shelves. The main benefit is that you can see all of your fabric stash at a glance. Nothing will get hidden underneath something else. The bonus benefit is that the fabric will have fewer wrinkles.
In today’s video, I share my favorite method for folding and storing tissue paper sewing patterns. This is especially helpful if you use Big 4 patterns with those tiny envelopes and you cut out (as opposed to trace) your patterns. (By the way, in case you missed it, I also did a video about tracing versus cutting.) The first best thing about this folding method is that it makes the pattern pieces easy to get back into those tiny envelopes. The second best thing is that it keeps them flat and organized so that when you’re ready to sew the pattern again, it’s easy to find the pattern pieces you need.
Today, I’m sharing how I store my pdf patterns. These patterns can get rather cumbersome and I often get asked to store them. I’ve been using this method for a quite a few years now and it works really well for me. But it may take you a little experimenting to find a system that works for you. Watch the video to learn how I store my pdf patterns both digitally and physically and read on for more tips.
One of my biggest sewing room struggles over the years, has been finding ways to store my fabric. I’ve had periods of success and many periods (like right now) where I feel like my fabric is taking over the sewing room. Because I’ve had success in the past, I know that I have all the knowledge and tools that I need. The only thing lacking was motivation. Which is why I’m hosting the I Love My Fabric Virtual Party (happening August 10-11, 2019). In today’s post, I’m sharing a bunch of ideas and links that will help you organize your fabric and get your sewing room in tip top shape. There are two main kinds of organizing and you can do either or both. The first is to physically organize the stash, meaning the folding, stacking, storing, etc. The second is to create a catalog of your fabric that you can reference instead of diving into the physical fabric. Read on for my best fabric storage and organization ideas for your sewing room.
(Side note, the party is very open ended and you are not required to do any sorting. And if your stash is already organized, feel free to join in spirit and share photos of your system or even just a few of your favorite fabrics.)
How to create a Sewing Pattern Catalog using Evernote
For years I've been searching for an easy way to digitally catalog my 100+ sewing patterns. I've tried a few free online sites and I know there are others you can purchase but so far haven't been satisfied. I wanted something quick, visual and portable. I really wanted something like Ravelry but for sewing (if you are a knitter you know what I'm talking about). I know there are some sites developing out there but the ones I tried were too time consuming or confusing.
I hope you find these tutorials helpful. You can explore more on my Tips & Tutorials page.
As a follow up to the virtual I Love my Fabric Party a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d share how I go about sorting and organizing my fabric scraps. While I’m working on a project, I tend to just throw all my scraps into a basket and ignore them for a few months. Then, when the basket becomes particularly unsightly, or I have some motivation to tidy up, like the virtual party, I will set up tackling the scraps. In this video, I share some ideas on what you can do with your scraps, how to sort through them efficiently and share tips for how to store them later.