I’m busy making my main studio space more usable… check out my progress AND enter my giveaway!
I give you a BEFORE tour
My main studio space is where I work all the time. It has my projects in progress, machines, computer, and most of my fabric.
About 3pm I started pulling all the projects out of my studio space to resort them and put them into better size container and more effective & productive spots for my use. I did a video for you
For the post part I’m not doing fabric, just projects.
That includes all the different products I review or test. PLUS I had some UFOs in my main space that were not being worked on and taking up valuable work space. They needed to be moved.
Taking it out is EASY.
Deciding how to regroup and where in my studio should it now be, is more difficult. I started when I got up.
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For our family business we work at home, so our whole small home has become our office.
We have no basement and no usable attic. So my business takes up 4 rooms in our home.
- My studio is my main work room and what you see all the time. It is the family room of our home, it’s what in the videos with my beautiful Koala Furniture and my Baby lock machines
- The shipping department has one room as his office.
- We have 1 other rooms for quilts, batting, notions, projects not being working on, other fabric, books, etc.
- AND the ‘over flow’ room right now is our dining room as it can’t all fit in the one room upstairs. The photo above is one wall in my dining room. On the wall is my village quilt (BUY the pattern here), and the blocks are from my Triangle book (HERE)
In my studio I keep JUST what I’m working on and my main fabric. On that video I talk about it being messy. It is ‘messy’ in that projects were not in optimum work places, split across areas, and things got put in spots that took up valuable space in my small room
Now for a few photos of my ‘after’
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Keeping it organized keeps my sanity 
Hope you enjoy watching as I make progress!
If you are new here, welcome! I run a lot of fun projects
These are my 2 latest FREE sew alongs, join me!
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1,818 Responses
I continually have trouble keeping my sewing/cutting table organized. It’s so cluttered with all kinds of supplies.
My biggest challenge is organizing projects and fabrics into nice stackable boxes that fit on shelves in my studio. What’s the problem? I promptly forget about them and start a new project.
Not enough storage for notions.
My biggest problem is keeping everything for one project together, especially if it is not purchased all at once. Then when I “find” parts of projects, I can’t remember what I had in mind to make!
My issue is space and storing my scraps.
I use my “Dining Room/Crafting Room” for sewing and cutting. It has ceased being a dining room about 4-5 months into learning to quilt. Then all the fabric stays in my sons room (so glad he has moved out – I mean so glad he has his life in order so he can feel confident enough to live apart from the family). Did I say that better LOL!
Having room is my MAJOR problem. The sons room is also for guest so I cannot keep it but so messed up in case someone shows up. (yes, someone came and had to help clean it up) The closet in his room is FULL and hanging up clothes – that isn’t happening.
my biggest problem is cutting all the scrap fabric into usable sizes. I have a lot of containers full of scraps.
I guess my biggest problem is too many hobbies in one room.
my biggest problem is scrap fabric organization, all the time it takes to cut the scraps into usable sizes.
My biggest issue is my addiction to starting new projects! I need to focus and finish, but there’s so much fun stuff out there! So I have LOTS of works in progress:)
My biggest problem is that I use leftover furniture from other parts of our home to make do, but none of them are truly suitable or efficient.
I also live in a small house only 2 bedrooms no basement or usable attic space. I have moved my sewing room into the living room (we use the family room for our main entertainment). I have My daughter-in-law passed away 2 years ago and I now have her quilting fabrics and tools plus my own. I have several bins of her completed tops to sandwich and quilt. I need to figure out how to get better organized so I can do my own projects and complete at least one of hers each month. All of hers will be going to her children when finished.
I’m usually working on multiple projects at the same time. Keeping it all organized is my biggest problem.
My biggest problem is deciding what to keep and what to get rid of!
My biggest problem is heading to the scrap bags area of most any quilt shop so that I can increase the variety in my fabric selections. I used to concentrate on civil war and ’30s. With smaller samples of other genre, I am becoming more eclectic in my fabric choices.
My biggest problem is that I work and spread out over the space. Also I do not put things away that are new. Pretty soon a big mess. My brother passed away and I moved the sewing things he had (plenty) into my studio and things like his storage plastic lockers are in the way but actually full of good usable fabric for charity items. So I will keep them.
I do have fabric sorted by color and all scraps in a bin just jumbled. I make lots of crumb blocks and do make quilts from them. Pillow cases for donation and lap quilts too.
So I do produce. But the messy surface on my table is often limiting and I do need to clean that up and put it away.
I call my sewing room the “Black Hole” that should say something about the organization!
My biggest problem is thread storage. What is the best way to store thread so it readily available and I don’t have to go searching for it!
Getting rid of stuff! Ugh!
My biggest organization problem is space.
My biggest problem is too much stuff needs to be cleaned & rearranged but then I can’t quilt. Rather be sewing than cleaning or rearranging. I do a Lillie at a time but than not getting enough done to look like I did anything. Hmmmmm.
My biggest organizational problem is honestly me! I collect way too much stuff and am easily distracted. I need to do exactly what you did-move most of the stuff out of my sewing room and then organize before I put it back in. And don’t have “squirrel” moments during the process!
Trying to find room for fabric etc and then finding when I need. I have too much fabric and don’t seem to get rid of much. Should make quilts with larger pieces. Pillow cases take the most fabric, but I have to be able to get to fabric!!
I have good space. I save too much. Seems that I am always surrounded by piles.
My biggest organization problem is storing/organizing all my smaller pieces of fabrics – less than 1/4 yard, scraps and bits. I do a lot of applique and use these small pieces. I have them somewhat sorted by color.
My biggest problem is having way too many projects going on at the same time. I’m great at starting a new quilt but have a hard time completing them. Therefore, I have piles of fabrics, patterns, tools, etc. pretty much all over my apartment. I could use a professional organizer but that would cost money, money I’d rather use for more fabric and quilting.
My biggest organization challenge is my WIP (works in progress). I don’t want to put them away out of my sight so I just put them in boxes and work on them as I can. I have three going right now. Since my bedroom is currently my sewing room, that makes for a crowded and messy sewing room.
I dream of organizing my nightmare. I use Tupperware for all my tools.
Hi Pat: I love your blogs, patterns, quilts and basically everything you do. My problem is that I don’t have enough time. I am already retired, but because I love everything quilting and sewing, I always have so much I want to try. I could be a little more organized, I could put more things in baskets, and put them away. Maybe I will start that this weekend. Thanks for the motivation.
One of my biggest organization issues is with storing fabric scraps & various sizes of fabric pieces. I recently moved into my retirement dream home and have a wonderful spacious sewing studio, complete with a large Koala Studio cabinet for one of my machines. Yet, I have over 200 bolts of fabric, because you can’t just buy one yard of fabric if you like it so I buy about 5-10 yards typically. As I work on projects I end up with fabric left over and scraps. My dilemma is how to cut them, store them & keep them organized so I can find them when I need them??? Hummmm. I recently attended a guild meeting that was all about organizing ones stash and fabric scraps – very enlightening. I came away with ideas to try. My biggest trait is I am very “TIDY” and “NEAT” & can not do messy or dirty, so I am constantly cleaning, and re-organizing to make room & re-do to make better use of the room I currently occupy. It is a work in progress. Love seeing others studio room & ideas.
TJG
It’s difficult to organize sewing and quilting stuff. My yazzi bags help so much with small items. I wish I could organize my fabrics better. At first I bought a quarter of each, now I buy 1/2 yards and 1 yard pieces, so lots of sizes need organized! Have a fun day!! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
My biggest problem is putting things up. I get so excited about the next project.
Oh Pat!!! I have a small room for my creative pursuits at home, plus the chicken for my baking and cake decoration. My hubby is very supportive, except for home-improvement projects. I am, normally, in the hunt for unique vintage pieces, and between the day of purchase and the day that they are actually “installed” in our little home, they just lay in the overflow room; which, by the way, is my crafts’ room! So… my biggest problem is space!
Keeping the organization in my brain with many different projects in mind…must be a sign of creativity.
I would say my biggest challenge is keeping my smaller pieces of fabric organized and easy to see. Not the small scraps, but the sizes around a fat quarter or a little larger.
I have plenty of bins, boxes, buckets to put THINGS into, just no place to put said bins, boxes, and buckets! The dog & 2 cats try to be helpful in rearranging things for me if within paws, mouth, or jumping range….
Time and energy!!!
My biggest organization problem is scrap fabric! So hard to organize it and keep it from taking up so much space!
I don’t know if you would mind coming to my crap I mean craft sewing studio and clean oops organize it lol, just kidding. I am a lover of all things sewing crafting related and you are more organized with yours messy than I am. And I would be honored to add to my collection.
My biggest storage problem is all those UFO’s. I’ve been trying to get the bags and bags of projects under control for years…..
Space to put everything. Especially where I can get to it easily.
Storage for my sewing supplies
my biggest problem is space….not enough! So I have stuff spread in different areas. My daughter and 2 grandsons moved in and took my 2 craft rooms. now I have to try to organize everything. Wish me luck!!
wow i found a place to leave a comment.
My biggest problem is putting fabric away after starting the quilt. I always pull out more fabric than I need, you might change your mind about a particular fabric. The quilt will be finished but there will still be pieces of fabric not used😯
Hi Pat. I go to Lot of retreats. When I return home things just but in sewing room. Things get shuffled around and I get ready for next retreat I can’t find the project to finish. Help!!!
Having to many projects started at one time. I am fortunate that I have a craft room, however it is small and I forget that and try to have to many things going at once.
Yikes! I started out right with many great ideas employed to both stow and display fabric and all that comes with Quilting. But I’m trying to squeeze all my crafts into my roomy sewing room and it’s rather overflowing. Some are stored very well, others are shoved here and there where there’s left over space. Did I mention I just can’t throw out anything!!! My machines and quilting projects have table space and a designated cutting table… but bench space continually gets compromised blocking access to fabric cupboards etc.
Therefore I see my biggest organisational problem as ME. To continually keep in mind that everything has a place and everything NEEDS to go back in that place. Mmmmm!!!
Primitive Quilts wonders if Pat Sloan ever sleeps….I had to laugh and come tell you….
My sewing studio all needs to fit in my bedroom so my biggest challenge is space to put everything.