The organisation hacks every maker needs to know + FREE pincushion tutorial!

There’s no denying it, at times us crafters are a messy bunch. But is crafting really crafting if you’re not covered in threads, knee deep in fabrics with five half-finished projects surrounding you? The key to keeping your cool through the chaos is to stay organised. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a whole room for your crafting or are confined to a kitchen table, I’ve got some top tips for organising even the messiest of makers.

1. It's all about the desk

When creating your own crafting space, choose your set-up wisely. If you’re tucked into the corner of a room, consider arranging two desks in an L-shape for the ultimate sewing station. Cover one desk with the biggest cutting mat you can fit and the other with your sewing machine and you’re set to twist and turn, cut and stitch to your heart’s content without moving an inch.

2. Have everything on hand

If you’re blessed with neat freak tendencies, then you may like to keep your kit hidden tidily behind closed doors. If not, it helps to have everything visible and ready to use so you can save time searching and just get sewing. Store your threads on a spool rack, or keep them in a large clear container for a pop of colour in your workspace.

3. Off the wall

Wire grids on the wall are also a great way to keep all of your tools handy. Hang scissors, pins, rulers and rotary cutters on hooks or slot on a shelf at the perfect height and distance for easy grabbing. Hanging buckets are a nifty place to store binding clips and odd small tools, too. You can even peg photos, cards or quilt blocks to your grid to personalise as you please!

4. Keep it confined

It’s a good idea to store everything that you may need while sewing (pins, bobbins, seam presser and the dreaded but oh-so-necessary stitch-unpicker) in a tray right next to your sewing machine. That way, your ‘mess’ doesn’t spread, but it’s still conveniently close so you can access your tools whenever some unfortunate unpicking is needed.

Plus, if you need a little more space at your sewing station, you can move it all in one go – no stress! And for those less attractive items that can turn from convenience into clutter, find some cute jars or drawers to pop ‘em in! I keep my sewing machine feet and needles in a cactus cookie jar, and it never fails to make me smile.

5. Not-so secret stash

If ‘excessive and unruly’ are words that you’d use to describe your stash, there’s only one place for it. Store your precious prints in a basket under your desk for easy access and accountability… once that basket’s overflowing it might be time for a scrap intervention. Larger cuts of fabric such as metres and fat quarters are allowed to live in the drawer until it’s time for their project debut!

6. WIP it away

Ever found it hard to count how many projects you’re working on with two hands? Project bags are important for keeping track of which white triangles go in what quilt… you’ll understand if you’ve ever found yourself using the wrong pieces in the wrong project! Print out a picture of the design you’re working on and pop it in your project bag for total ease.

Make your own DIY pin cushion!

This simple pincushion, based on the traditional Courthouse Steps quilt block, can be whipped up in an evening and will mean you never lose track of your pins and needles again!