Pictures of swoon-worthy super neat organized home sewing rooms or sewing areas can spark many a tidying up effort. Ever-so-neatly folded fabrics organized by color or fabric type, glass canning or apothecary jars filled with thread spools or ribbons of all colors imaginable, peg boards neatly hung with scissors and sewing notions, various quilting rulers arranged by size and rotary cutting mats neatly stored flat or clipped to hang vertically. Of course, the beautifully polished sewing machine and or serger (with nary a thread poking out anywhere) is importantly displayed front and center of the photo. Sigh. Such picture-perfect arranged neatness makes one wonder if any sewing is actually accomplished in such an unspoiled area.

Consider a few budget-friendly sewing organization ideas:

Bookcase with Fabric Storage Bins – commandeer a bookcase if possible or a sturdy plastic freestanding shelving unit to fill with several fabric storage bins handmade or purchased. Several fabric bins can be placed side by side on each book shelf. The sewing room or area can be organized quickly as these fabric storage bins hold lots of sewing supplies out of sight, yet the contents are easily acceptable. The function of these fabric bins is out of sight but not out of mind.

Pattern Storage – if using clear stackable bins or plastic storage towers, some labeling will go a long way to saving time searching for just the right pattern. In a bin, file folders can be used as separations for categories of patterns such as children, women’s casual, women’s career wear, men’s casual, men’s jackets, home décor, soft toys, etc., or entire bins or tower drawers devoted to one type of pattern category can be labeled with a sticky note or more durable made with a label maker.

Thrifty Office Desk Supplies – generally inexpensive new, a bargain find from thrift stores, inclined wire mesh file/paper sorters handily hold printer ePatterns, clear acrylic quilting rulers, pattern instructions and much more. Small wire mesh compartment desktop organizers can hold plastic Wonder clips, buttons, and all those tiny notions that seem to proliferate everywhere. Seam rippers and fabric marking tools stand up well and are easy to spot in a wire mesh pencil holder. Magazine file holders can corral sewing magazines or catalogs and more.

Padded Fabric-covered Crisscross Ribbon Memo Boards – often thought to be quaint but tried and true to hold a myriad of sticky-backed notes, fabric coupons, pictures of to-do projects cut out of magazines, or sewing wish lists. Cover in burlap or denim patchwork scraps and crisscross with twine for a contemporary upgrade. No holes in the wall needed to hang if using sticky removable hooks or picture hanging strips. Thoughtful off-to-college gift too. Easy to make out of foam board (or very stiff cardboard), batting, fabric, ribbon or twine and buttons or decorative thumb tacks.

Fabric-covered Lids for Sewing Baskets – popular not long ago and still a thrift store find, a small woven basket with attached handle can be made into a sentimental sewing basket, picnic-style, by topping off the basket opening with a fabric padded lid. Cut out a cardboard shape to fit the opening (lightly score on the middle underside if desired), glue batting and pretty patterned fabric to topside and felt scrap to the underside, edge with lace if desired and loosely tie with ribbon to the side of the basket where the handles attach. Notably, as an alternative, a fabric liner can be made to line the basket adding color and style to the basket even without a fabric covered lid. Several small baskets with their colorful padded tops can hold many sewing notions (small scissors, measuring tape, pincushion, thread spools, odds and ends) to aid in reducing visual clutter and as a bonus easy to carry from room to room when needed. Definitely brightens up any sewing area.

Finally creating some organization to a sewing area is eventually time-saving when clutter is minimized and sewing space is maximized. Bonus - some long-forgotten or long-lost sewing notion might just be waiting to be rediscovered when the sewing organize bug bites! On a happy note – fabric organization and fabric storage ideas that go along with sewing organization is an area that receives volumes of how-to advice and best reviewed at those many and varied online sewing websites.

Sew happy, sew inspired.