Organize Sewing Supplies
Create a clutter-free work space by storing your scissors, rulers, thread, and other notions with one of these stylish organization ideas.
In the Groove [1]
In a cabinet tall and deep enough to house your largest rulers, grooved wooden ruler caddies store measuring tools vertically, saving space and preventing clutter.
Compartmentalize It [3]
Inexpensive containers purchased in bulk at a dollar store turn a drawer into a perfect place to sort tiny sewing notions.
Hanging Storage [5]
Kitchen storage gadgets, such as this hook-filled rod, often work well in the sewing room, too. Make your own with S hooks and a curtain rod to keep cutting tools in line.
Classic Pegboard [7]
Pegboard looks nicer when painted to match your decor and framed with wood trim. Use it to keep rulers and acrylic templates at your fingertips.
Wood Carryall [9]
A wooden carrier can easily hold the most-used supplies on your work table. Place taller items in the back of the carrier, so you can easily see all your tools. The handle makes it easy to grab and go.
Salty Storage [11]
Salt shakers can hold a variety of smaller items like pins, buttons, and trims. Arrange them together for a cute display.
On-the-Go Storage [13]
Make a simple storage container out of a toolbox to take your must-have supplies on a vacation or retreat. Separate notions and other supplies into the compartments in the tray and hide fabric and scissors in the larger space underneath.
Creative Station [15]
Make an inspiration board that also serves as creative storage. A shelf and magnetic board underneath allow extra space for a rod with ribbons, salt shakers filled with buttons, and storage boxes.
Smart Shelves [17]
Shelves built along the ceiling allow books, magazines, and patterns to reside in mostly unused space, leaving shelves and other storage items free for more fabric!
Spinning Storage [19]
A spinning organizer stores scissors, cutters, marking tools, and other small items in a contained (but accessible) space.
Down to the Wire [21]
Sewing patterns file away nicely in this vintage dish drainer. Even the utensil caddy is put to good use holding ribbon and a pincushion.
Stick Them Up [23]
Command™ Hooks are perfect for putting storage where you need it. Place them above a work space to hang rulers, acrylic templates, and scissors close by. Or hang them from the side of a table or cabinet for storage that doesn't take up extra space.
Multi-Use Storage [25]
A large desk organizer can fit smaller cutting mats and acrylic rulers and templates. Smaller items, such as scissors, marking tools, and embellishments can fit in the separaters.
From the Baking Aisle [27]
Cookie jars are the perfect size for storing spools of thread, buttons, ribbons, and more. Clear jars and printed labels let you easily see what's inside each jar. If you want a more uniform look, buy painted jars in a color that match your decor.
Ruler Storage [29]
Keep track of smaller templates and specialty rulers with a large D-ring binder and zippered see-through pockets.
Ribbon Rods [31]
Hang a ribbon collection on rods over a table. This allows you to pull off the lengths of ribbon you need and cut them to size. A small shelf above is the perfect display for your pincushions.
Slim Storage [33]
Drop-down cabinet drawers at a work station corral rotary cutters.
Stashing Notions [35]
Use a flatware divider to store often-used items next to your sewing machine. They'll always be in reach, but won't roll off the table.
Clever Ribbon Storage [37]
Fill straw dispensers with towers of ribbon spools and watch them rise to the occasion. Not only are unruly ribbons kept in check, but they’re also visible. To get the spools inside, remove the top of a dispenser insert and slide ribbons onto the rod.
Perle Gates [39]
Designer Stacy West organizes her embroidery floss and perle cotton using unconventional storage pieces. Here vintage berry baskets, scales, hardware store bins, and muffin tins hold her thread.
Window of Opportunity [41]
Make use of an awkward wall between a door and a closet with Command™ Hooks -- perfect for hanging your rulers and templates. A salvaged window is a stylish catchall for quilting awards, retreat pictures, and other momentos.
Spice Up Your Storage [43]
A spice rack with empty spice jars can help organize buttons by color or size. Not only is it a convenient way to store small embellishemtns, but it looks pretty on your sewing table!
Pretty Pincushion Display [45]
Display a collection of pincushions within reach on this pretty pedestal. Keep yours on a counter for fun decor, or hide it in a cabinet to keep your work space neat.
Stack Them Up [47]
Stackable plastic storage holds hard-to-store supplies. Try using one container for your basting supplies, one for extra needles and pins, and one for specialty threads. Stack them as high as you need! Add sticker letters to the outside so you know what each container is for.
Magnetic Storage [49]
A bank of 7-inch-deep cabinets allows for creative storage ideas, including this magnetic memo board. To make your own, cut a piece of galvanized metal to fit your space, then screw it to the cabinet back. For a pretty finish, cover the metal piece with wallpaper.
Less-Mess Dispensers [51]
Unwind yarn or ribbon with ease by stashing the rolls in an empty sugar dispenser and threading the ends through the hole in the lid.
In the Pipeline [53]
Old piping and S hooks suspend hand-dyed floss in designer Stacy West's sewing room. Hanging the thread allows you to keep thread detangled.
Vintage Drawer Storage [55]
Decorate boring drawers with pieces of punchy wallpaper. Stash buttons, ribbons, and other notions in vintage candy dishes for easy-to-rifle-through storage.
Serve Up Storage [57]
Small ceramic dishes can store thread and buttons for your current project (or just the supplies that won't fit in your drawers). Arranging them on a matching serving tray makes them both transportable and stylish.
Pegboard Storage [59]
Keep supplies out of the way by employing vertical storage. Pegboards on a wall easily hold anything that can hang, such as these thread balls. Scissors and ribbon also hang perfectly from pegs.
Recycled Container [61]
You don't need expensive or fancy storage items to get organized. Reuse items around the home (like this tea holder) to corral your tools and most-used supplies. If you group multiple containers together, the display will look intentional and have a vintage vibe.
Display Your Pearls [63]
Pearl cottons are pretty! Display them in a bowl on your sewing table for easy access and a cute display. A wood bowl, like in this picture, gives a homey and warm look. Choose a bowl to match your decor.
Use Vintage Pieces [65]
Store buttons, pins, and other small quilting supplies in decorative containers, such as antique muffin tins.
Pop of Red [67]
Use pegboard and small buckets as functional decor. Eliminate clutter by stashing marking tools, thread, and other small quilting notions in cute painted, wooden, or metal containers.
Embellishment Storage [69]
For visible storage, line up jars housing small embellishments and notions such as buttons in a spice rack.
Test It Out [71]
Test tubes hold buttons in an unexpected display.
Glass Notion Storage [73]
Choose candy dishes and glass vases to hold buttons, ribbon, and fun embellishments in style. Organize by color and group them for a pretty tabletop display.
Flea Market Style [75]
Corral crafts supplies in a three-tiered stand made from vintage tins.
In-Progress Project Storage [78]
Corral supplies for a current project in an old lunch tray. Each section of the tray can hold a variety of notions, from pins to thread, for easy-to-see (and transport) storage.
Smart Use of Space [80]
Fashion a pullout ironing board or use a tabletop ironing board for light pressing tasks. Smaller ironing boards take up less space when they’re not in use.
Get Creative [82]
Store ribbon on a vintage wire rack. Scour vintage shops and flea markets to find other creative ways to display ribbon, trims, and fabric.
Small-Scale Storage [84]
Organize rickrack, thread, and other small quilting supplies in small plastic bins from a hardware or craft store. Many organizers that are for tools or other hardware items can easily accommodate sewing supplies.
Clever Details [86]
Hit the hardware store for useful storage containers. The small drawers meant for nails make great receptacles for embroidery thread. Create labels for the small drawers.
Coordinated Colors [88]
Organize buttons by color and store them in transparent, matching containers. Hide the jars in a pullout drawer to minimize clutter.