I am a firm believer of making the best of what you have.
When I was first quilt making, I had a box where I stored my fabric and notions and I sewed on our dining room table. It did mean a bit of creative thinking as to where to store things and where my sewing machine could be kept safely when not in use.
I am incredibly lucky now to have my own sewing room - when we moved into our home a few years ago, we converted our garage into a space for me to run my business from. It's something that I have built up to and toward for many many years.
You may be reading this, worried that you don't have a dedicated sewing space. Please don't let hold you back. We just need some creative ways to work and ways to store our the bits we need.
1. Sharing the Space
If your sewing area doubles as another room, these tips will help you make the most of your shared space:
- Utilize Multi-Functional Furniture: Choose a sewing table that can also function as a dining table or desk or vice-versa. Think practicality here.
- Keep Essential Tools Handy: Store frequently used items in a portable caddy or hanging organizer. I have a wheely caddy I bought from a big box craft store - it's got the main things I use daily stored inside. I also keep the patterns I want to work on inside. I often add a small ironing board over the top to give me an extra ironing place too.
- Maintain a Clutter-Free Workspace: Regularly tidy your area to make it easier to go between sewing and other activities. (I think this is a good idea no matter what the space you are using).
- Use Foldable or Portable Design Walls: Roll-up or collapsible design walls can be stored away when not in use. You will see quilters with large, fixed design walls - but they aren't necessary. I don't have one and I cope just fine.
- Store Projects Neatly: Use project bags or boxes to organize ongoing work and easily move them when needed. This also keeps them safe and clean.
2. Smart Storage Solutions
Here are a few ways you can maximize your space with creative storage ideas:
- Utilize Vertical Storage: Install shelves or pegboards on walls to keep tools accessible without using floor space. I have pegs board across the whole of one wall in my space and I use it to hold all my scissors and various other notions.
- Over-the-Door Organizers: Hang organizers on doors for patterns, notions, or small tools.
- Store Fabric on Hangers: Use a closet or garment rack to hang larger cuts of fabric, keeping it wrinkle-free and easy to access. If you need to, you could actually hang your fabric in a section of your closet.
- Invest in Rolling Carts: A wheeled cart can hold supplies and be tucked away when not in use.
- Implement Under-Bed Storage: Use flat containers with lids, to store less frequently used supplies or fabric under your bed. If you have drawers under your bed, maybe you could store fabric or even batting/wadding in there. I stored my batting/wadding this way for a long time.
- Baskets and boxes: I love to use pretty boxes and baskets to store items in. This will help keep you organised and you'll be able to find what you need.
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Project containers: I love to keep each project in a separate project container. A see-through container which has a lid and into which I put everything I need for that project inside.
3. Creating a Compact Sewing Station
Even the smallest space can become a functional sewing area:
- Choose a Compact Sewing Machine: There are some fantastic starter sewing machines available which are smaller in size.
- Invest in a Foldable Cutting Table: A collapsible table which you can fold and store away, may be a great option so it doesn't take up too much space when not in use.
- Incorporate Wall-Mounted Ironing Boards: Save space with a fold-down ironing board that tucks away neatly. There are also a variety of sizes you can purchase or you could make your own to fit your space. I have a larger ironing board for when I need to press larger cuts of fabric but I store this away and just have a smaller board out the rest of the time, for pressing seams and blocks.
4. Staying Organized
I think organization is key when working in a small space:
- Label Everything: Clearly label storage containers to easily identify contents.
- Adopt a Minimalist Approach: Limit your tools and materials to essentials, reducing storage needs. There is a never-ending list of tools and notions available for quilting, but you don't need them all. Choose the keys pieces you want and need.
- Keep a Folding Chair Handy: Store a foldable chair and bring it out only when needed.
- Use Clear Storage Containers: Transparent bins allow you to see contents at a glance. As I mentioned above, I love storing my projects in see-through containers and zipper pouches. It also means that I can easily transport them to different rooms or even out of the house, if needs be.
I have created a list here of some incredibly useful items to help with your storage and organisation, so that you can create the sewing space of your dreams
Here is the link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/beginnersquiltinghub/list/20U307BOBYJMS?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_KAYPQ989N56RT095GC97
I hope this has inspired you to think creatively about the space you have and all that you can achieve - maximising even the smallest space.