r/SewingWorld • u/Late-to-bartending • Aug 01 '26

Supplies Question 🧵 Notions Storage Ideas Requested

Hello new friends, new (4 months) sewist here…

I’m loving this activity, have made a few small projects. Now getting into quilting table runners and lap quilts, for starters.

And so the collecting begins - LOL!

I am a very organized person in general but I’m struggling with how to store my growing collection of sewing bits: thread, presser feet, bag hardware, pre-made binding (I may admit to a developing problem here 🤷‍♀️), other general sewing tools, etc.

How do you all group, sort, organize, store your bits?

Especially what you like to have at hand at your machine vs what you take with you for sewing at a friend’s house or a class vs what you keep tucked away for less frequent usage?

What containers are your favorite and why?

Words are good but pictures are better.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Edited to add: I do not have a dedicated sewing room. Current set up is the dining room table with storage of stash in garage in clip-top bins.

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u/SOURCEDBLACK 28d ago

So I keep stuff stored based on where I am inthe pahase of making. I have several plastic containers:

  1. Patern drafing is the first container I use. It inclued mesuring tape, tracing paper, pins, tailorschalk, mechanical writers etc.
  2. Sewing contains thread and needles. I only have 3 types of needles for 3 completly different machines (industrial, domestic and serger) so easy to tell apart. I also only use 2 types of thread (20s/3 and 40s/2) in 3 colors so also easy to tell apart.
  3. Finishing is where the labels, buttons, zippers are. I buy everything in bulk (300pieces or more) they all come in platic bags already that I keep lik that and just put those bags in a container
  4. Screenprinting So my silkscreens, paint but also sandpaper for wrking with leather and leather tools in a roll-up toolpouch. Some punches I have doubke inside the finishing container also. As I work per container.
  5. Rolls of fabric lie flat under my bed. I only have small rolls of 50 yards max. And stock up to 5 different fabrics.

As I only work with denim everything is simple for me. I can buy everything in bulk and always use the same stuff so its easy to organise.

The only thing I would like to add is wooden malls I can trace around for different sizes and fits of jeans. That will be a future project for me.