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
My biggest issue right now is space. We just moved again and I still have a sewing room but the closet is much smaller. I guess I didn’t realize how much stuff I actually have. I need to figure out how to store my fabric. I have different projects going on at a time and getting those stackable containers like you have in the closet work great. I love that you share so much with us. Thank you 😊
Too many tempting projects to work on. Hard to pass any of them up, so lots of things in progress.
Biggest problem is too many projects I want to do and even if I get the fabric out for it I just dump it somewhere and can’t find what I need when I finally decide to do it!
my biggest problem is that I share my sewing room with the washer, dryer and freezer! I need a room of my own. (sigh)
My biggest organizational problem, at the moment, is that I have to finish my sewing room.floor tiling project before I can really organize much of anything
My biggest organizational problem is when I take some fabrics out I hate to put them away in the right place again. I love all my fabrics so try to keep them themed and color sorted but some days it gets away from me.
My biggest problem is space. I overflowed the bedroom I’m using before I finished moving in. Now that I retired maybe I can start making a dent in the fabric. I just have to stay away from the fabric stores and web sites. RIGHT!!
Hi Pat,My biggest problem is to get rid of the bed in the spare bedroom or move everything to a space at my husbands office where I would have plenty of space to organize which would mean travel 40 min
I guess my biggest problem would be fabric storage. I need to empty out the closet and get rid of crafty supplies that I no longer use to make room for fabric/quilting projects but never seem to get to it.
I need to organize my fabric color’s. Also need to complete some of my quilt tops. I always have several projects going on at the same time.
Too much other stuff stored in my room. I am also looking for time to iron, sort, store my containers of scraps.
My biggest problem is lack of working surfaces. My sewing room doubles as our guest room. One wall is taken up by a queen-size Murphy bed. Another is my foam-core/batting-covered design wall. Opposite that,is the doorway to the room and a closet where I shelve my fabric stash. The wall opposite the bed contains a window and my sewing machine table. This table and my ironing board are my only work surfaces. I find it very difficult to have more than one project underway because there’s no way to keep things separate! I could really use some shelving for my quilting books, too.
It’s funny this would be the topic, as I spent a half hour searching for a 1yd piece of solid black I knew I had…somewhere in my shelves of fabrics. I have bins for charm packs and special places on shelves for fat quarters, but folded yard goods seem to be a problem for me to keep organized. I am open to all suggestions. I thought I had a handle on it, but obviously not. I’ll be paying attention to all your ideas Pat!
Not having enough storage space and wanting to save every tiny bit!
I have a small sewing room that is over all full.. Just a path in and out.
Just enough room to go in and sew at the machine, but not much else.
Do cutting and other sewing in another room where I have another machine set up.
Have a few unfinished projects here and there also. Getting ready for a retreat,
hopefully I can finish up some things while there.
Have most things in plastic boxes, some labeled according to contents. Some things
in shoebox’s that have labels on them. Hope we don’t have an earthquake as it will be
all over the floor..
Way too much stuff for too small a space and not enough of the right size containers
My biggest problem is ME and My Space, in a laundry room (from loading dryer so have a cutting space. I have a closet and sewing cabinet (small Koala). I rearrange a lot and never happy for long.
My biggest organizational challenge is – ME!!! I get distracted easily, and am a much better starter than finisher. I love trying new things but then leave the previous project out and unfinished. While I really don’t want to limit myself to only having one project going at a time, I would love to find a way to store ongoing projects that makes it easier to go back and forth.
I love your studio!
Wanting to start something new & have many unfinished projects. Keeping projects in sight so I remember them. But not looking so cluttered or feeling overwhelmed. Hate sorting! Like to continue working.
My biggest problem is having too many ufos going at a time, putting away everything so I can find it again is hard.But there’s only so much room…
My biggest problem is thinking I have to keep every scrap of fabric, fusible and stabilizer. And where to store it all in a small space.
My biggest challenge with organizing is space! I also live in a small home, and I just purchased a long arm quilting machine with a 12 foot frame! I finally have my sewing room, but I had to move out of my master bedroom, into what was my office, but I don’t care, I spend so much time in my sewing room, and I have always dreamed of having a place to leave my sewing machine out, along with any project I am working on at the moment. I have always had to put everything completely away, but now I can leave it out for the next time.
My biggest problem is organizing scraps and keeping things tidy while I am working on a project.
UFOs and not sorting stuff Finding a home for the stuff in piles
My biggest problem is too much fabric. Somewhere along the way I started putting fabric in plastic bins. I started storing them in my sewing room (under my cutting table etc). It is time to CLEAN my sewing room!!!
I like to be organized too. I just purchased and put together base cabinets from Menard’s in a clean white shaker style. I got a Microwave cabinet with a drawer that I use for my copier and supplies. The next is 3 big drawers that have quilts ready to quilt. I’m trying to do a first in, first out kind of thing. Then I have a cabinet with a door and inside 3 shelves. In there I have quilts ready to be made. Then a narrower set of drawers that hold all my notions. I’m waiting for the counter top. I just did this a few weeks ago and already feel more productive.
SPACE is my biggest problem! Really does my husband need the whole garage for his workshop? second problem is my 3 helper cast that love to help me when I’m sorting anything, papers they like the best but leave out a black piece of fabric and the grey cats is on it or a white piece and the black cat is holdiong it in place for me LOL
Hi Pat, my biggest problem is that we have a small house and I use the spare bedroom for sewing. The closest is where I put some of my fabric. I also have several projects going and I am working on trying to get them done. Then I’m working on trying to make items to sell. Thanks for everything you post for us to see and read and thanks for offering your great giveaway.
My biggest problem is fabric storage. I have fabric in bins, bags, and boxes. Some are with the project as needed but then I buy more for the project and can’t find the original batch.
My biggest problem is space. I would love to have room for a stage cupboard. My sewing room is in the basement and I have a walkout patio door on one wall, one with stairs, then doors for bathroom and laundry room. So I have no flat walls to put up storage. Do you have any suggestions. My fabric is currently in big bins in the laundry room and a upstairs closet. Have to go though everything to find what I’m looking for. I feel that I have organized chaos. Lol
I struggle with putting the scraps back after pulling them for a project.
I usually have a pretty stack to pet a while before they go back.
Thanks for the encouragement to get organized.
My biggest problem is space, I moved it into a small bedroom. I also share it with a 10 year old grand daughter and her machine, her “stash” and her projects. (Yes, my fault, she has “helped” me and done her own thing since she was 5) I have boxes for projects, cupboards for stash and keep trying to update and organize.
I have old kitchen cupboards, an old TV armoire and shelves, it is full of “stuff” and lots of books and magazines. This is my “therapy”. I even made a dog bed for my Baby, so she has a place.
I am trying to find some cupboards that are floor to ceiling with doors! LOL Hoping hubby will build some eventually.
I do work ok in this space, just always seem to loose my organizational OCD skills when I am in here!
Love your projects, and your site! Thanks for your input!!!
Hi Pat, I am so thankful for you and the inspiration you provide. My biggest problem right now is keeping organized after a project is finished. My tendency is to jump right in to the next project without sorting and reorganizing what is usable leftovers,
Your ideas have given me direction. Thank you.
My biggest problem with organizing is space. I have a 14×20 shack that houses all my crafting materials. Just not sure how to store my “projects”.
My biggest problem is keeping my stash fabric organized.
I have trouble completing one project before I start another just because I think it will go faster and buying more kits before I do the ones I have. No self control.
My biggest problems to organizing are – small house, limited motivation due to an injury, and life-changing chapter as I’ve recently retired. I have ordered 3 of your Teach Me books and have goals, I just need to progress more on healing. I enjoy all the posts and spread positivity. I love life and hope to post pictures of my own quilts soon.
My biggest problem is my fabric. I have it in 3 different rooms in the basement and it’s hard to remember where I put “what”! I have run out of room and containers to put it in so I am very frustrated in my un-organizational skills, to say the least!!!
One of my biggest issues is my craft/ quilting space. I have a whole room over my garage for my crafting and quilting but I don’t like to climb the stairs to go up there so I find my self sewing on the main level of our house. There is no designated space on this level of our house. I find myself filling up a new closet with all my quilting stuff instead of using the upstairs to craft and sew. I have fabric and scraps just stuffed in this closet. I’ve got to get organized. I need a way to organize my fabric and scraps.
My biggest problem is space. I am confined to a 9×11 bedroom and it is really hard to have all of the shelves and tables that I need.
My biggest issue is I’m just getting started and trying to find a place for everything. I’m using a guest room as my space right now. I wish it didn’t have a bed in there, but we do on occasion have a visitor that needs a place to sleep. Go figure. I could clean out the closet and that would help. There are only so many hours in the day.
My pile of fabric scraps grows and I don’t do anything with it. I also have my fabrics color coordinated, but I also have fabrics bought that coordinate, but being diff. colors I separate them – then I forget that I have a collection in the same theme!
My two biggest problems is organing scraps. Should organize by size or color?still trying to figure out what works best for me. Also remembering to put thinks into their own spot so I can find them next time.
My problem is I don’t have storage shelves or cabinets. Most of my stuff is stacked on the floor in plastic containers or in the closets in boxes. I need more shelves and cabinets. I have been wanting to reorganize and clean my sewing room because it is a mess so this may be the weekend to do it! Maybe I can find a few more storage units at a yard sale. Thanks for the inspiration.
Space….never enough space
I purchase too many things for my storage space 🙂
My biggest organizing problems is giving things a home and the shelf space it needs to keep it in it’s home. I bought bins for projects I’m working on and have up to three projects and scraps in each bin. In addition, sometimes, I set one aside to focus on another and forget where I set things aside…this makes it difficult to get back to and find the materials for what I’m working on.
My biggest problem – well, I collect too much fabric. My sewing room is overflowing with the “too muches” and when I start to tidy it up, putting the projects in totes, I end up starting new projects to use up the fabric scraps. I like to just keep creating – my newest done project was to sort ALL my scraps into totes. They look great and I’m now using the Christmas scraps to make the Merry & Bright quilts for my kids for Christmas (3 in all).
My hubby thinks I am a hoarder. Not true! It’s just that I have sew many wonderful things in such a small space. My home is clean and neat. My sewing room is a mess! Try putting almost everything you love in an 8×10 room an make it look as good as every other room. Impossible!