QUILTERS - ISO resources for deep decluttering/organization

Emptying the entire room really helps me. I do with it my craft room, and even my closet. We did it a couple of months ago with the "office". I purge as I empty, and then I purge again as I put things back. When the room has only furniture in it, no stuff, sit in for awhile and enjoy the emptiness. It is a nice calming feeling and it encourages me to try to not clutter it up again.

I no longer really quilt, but I had lots of fabric at one time. It was hard to give some of it up, but I found a person who loves to quilt so I was happy to let her go through my stash and take what she wanted. Dedicate space for your fabric and notions and tell yourself that is all the stuff you can have. Find another quilter who would love some fabric, it makes it less painful to declutter. It sounds like you have a lot of good storage already. It may just need a little organizing and a small declutter.

**GypsyGirl** is a quilter and hosts our organization thread and has (fairly recently, I believe) gotten her sewing space in pretty good shape. Maybe she has some resources or ideas.

If you can swing that - it's probably the best route - both from a no pins in the carpet perspective and from the idea of only bringing back in the stuff that you really want and need to keep



Alternatively, clearing out the stuff that doesn't belong in the room and either putting it where it does belong or trashing/donating it would probably help enough to be able to then tackle the random sewing stuff.

In general - it sounds like you've got a handle on the fabric for now. Do you need drawers for the random sewing stuff? Are you an open storage (need to see everything) or a closed storage sort? I would suggest clear containers for the former - iris type drawers work well and for smaller organisation, I like the Iris photo boxes (for 4x6 photos).

I sew not quilt and my sewing shares a doorless room with my scrapbook and genealogy stuff and my home office. I have a desk with drawers for my main sewing machine - the drawers hold thread and small tools and notions -and I use cube storage for fabric and patterns and sewing books/manuals - I keep interfacing and scraps and the like in the fabric cubes that fit the cube storage and just label the front

Empty the room, especially if it’s been years since you’ve done so. Make each item that you put back a deliberate choice. Designate a place for each item (a bin for interfacing, a drawer for thread, etc) and when it’s full, purge what doesn’t fit.

We’re on our 18th house and I’ve had a sewing space in each one. Do you have room to go vertical? That’s often wasted space in a cluttered room. Shop online sites like Marketplace, Craigslist, and Let Go for pieces that maximize your space.

Do you sew on a table or a cabinet? Is there storage space under that? I got my sewing cabinet used for a great price.  The drawers hold a lot, as does the cabinet itself. 

DH built me a set of deep shelves that have served me well over the years. I have built ins in my studio now and just gifted my parents my precious shelf. The top shelf was just high enough that I could put baskets on top of batting, works in progress, and another of bulky fabrics like fleece. Then the other four shelves were tall enough to put a bin on the shelf with whatever I need—felts, fiber arts, another work in progress basket, bins with fabric and patterns and all the other things that we “need”.

Other big space saver is a Jetmax cube system. Michael’s sells them now under their own label. They have 2, 3, and 4 drawer cubes, a cube with shelves, etc. I have 16 of them under my work table and they hold a TON. I also have a lot of my paper crafting items in these drawers. One drawer for interfacing, another for elastics and zippers, one for glues, another paints and glitter… you know how it is.

When we put my studio space in the formal dining rooms, I revamped my whole plan. I got white shelves from IKEA and the Jetmax cubes. All my furniture was chosen for maximum storage, not because they were cast offs from other spaces. Each could be used at almost 100% capacity—there’s very little air space in my shelves and drawers.

You won’t regret the nice clean space that you will have when you’re done!

I hope things get better for you soon. Hugs!


Maybe try to collect like items together, sort of like the Kondo Method, and reevaluated how many of certain items you have and if you have too many. Like, gather all your scissors. If you find you have 10 pairs, maybe you can donate 5 of them. But, take your time! Do it when you are ready.

It is so hard for a sewing/craft room not to become a dumping ground. BTDT.

I am in the process of setting up a new sewing and crafting room. When we moved my dad home in early 2021, we turned my space back into a downstairs master and my sewing and craft stuff got relocated to almost every room in the house and garage.

Dad passed away last June, and I am finally ready to move forward with making a new craft space.

DH had the idea to move our bedroom downstairs and turn our upstairs master bedroom into my craft and sewing space, which gives me a much bigger room to work with.

So now, like you, I have to paint and plan and purge and get things organized.

I am buying some Billy bookcases from Ikea for fabric, stamp, accuquilt, and book storage and turn my kallax into more scrapbook storage.

I think it is true what they say, crafting/quilting/sewing, buying supplies, and organizing supplies are three different hobbies.

I can't wait to see pictures of your finished space!

It looks like flanz has already received plenty of decluttering advice so I won't pile on any more of that.   Due to many moves over the past 46 years I have had at least 20 sewing rooms/areas.  About 10 years ago we remodeled our house and I was able to have a custom built sewing room.   It's small (8.5' x 8') but with thoughtful planning it holds everything I need and offers plenty of workspace for both a sewing machine and my Mac + printer.  Having lived with the custom built-ins for 10 years though, I can honestly say that there are times when regular furniture that is moveable can be a better deal!  

My advice would be to declutter first, then before buying anything for storage sit down and really think through what you want in the way of floorplan and workspace.   Focus on your work flow.  Write out how you spend your time in there, the movements your make, the steps/paths you take.  Do you have a full size ironing board and are getting up/down during a sewing session?  Or do you prefer a smaller ironing mat to the side of your machine?  Where do you cut out your fabric?  If in that room, is there space for a cutting table?  

If done thoroughly this will take a good deal of time, but the more time you spend working through your work flow, habits and preferences the happier you will be with the end result.  Only after you have a good floor plan do you want to start thinking about storage space and where everything fits within the room.   Once you start purchasing, I would focus on having excellent lighting, ergonomic seating and sewing table/desk that works for you.   Spend the bulk of your money on those things.   They are the backbone of a good workroom.  

I recommend you try to look at this book - Dream Sewing Spaces: Design & Organization for Spaces Large and Small.   It has been very helpful for me in planning my rooms over the past 10 years or so.  Since you are also a quilter, you might want to check out Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space: Sewing Room Makeovers for Any Space and Any Budget.  If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to reach out to me via PM.