Let’s talk more sewing room storage ideas! Today on the help list is all your sewing tools.
There’s so many different types of tools we use in sewing! I’m confident that we’re all really good at keeping our scissors away from family members, but what about your other tools? You know, like those bias tape makers that your forgot you had because they’re at the bottom of some rando box…
My goal here is to give you several different ideas for organizing your sewing tools. Functional sewing room storage is the name of the game, and being able to quickly access and see all your stuff is how you win here. Pick your favorites and choose what works for you!
elizabethmadethis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking toSome of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Table of Contents
How to create zones for your sewing tools
Because there’s so many different aspects and processes that we deal with as sewists, I like to tackle sewing room organization by dividing my room into zones.
Here’s how I break it down:
- Desk: marking tools, sewing machine feet, tube turners and elastic threader
- Wall 1: mostly scissors and other metal tools
- Wall 2: my sewing room pegboard
- Ironing station: ironing tools and accessories
- Closed storage: various sewing storage boxes for tools I use less frequently (like those bias tape makers!)
By breaking up my tools into these different areas of my sewing room, each spot has it’s own function. That way I never have to guess where something is, and any clutter that might accumulate gets sorted out quickly.
So let’s explore each zone and as we’re doing so, I’ll share my favorite sewing room storage ideas for each one.
Sewing desk storage ideas
Storing marking tools + tube turners
One of the best things I’ve found for housing all my marking tools is just plain old tin cans.
There’s fancier desk organizers that you can get, but why not use what you have? Each can can hold a fistful of markers and other marking tools you might use.
I love keeping my tube turners and elastic threader in these cans too. They’re both some of my most used tools, so having them within arms’ reach of my sewing machine is key!
You can spiff up old cans with vintage zippers like I do in this tutorial. It gives them a facelift and a definite sewing room themed vibe!
Wall organizer for sewing machine feet
The other big item in the desk zone is this cork board for my sewing machine feet.
It’s a simple cork board I painted. Small picture hangers provide a little hook to hold each presser foot, and there’s labels above each one. The labels give each foot it’s own spot plus is a reminder of what that foot is!
What about other sewing room storage ideas for your presser feet?
Try jewelry organizer boxes or tackle boxes. The small individual compartments are great for those feet!
Try jewelry organizer boxes or tackle boxes. The small individual compartments are great for those feet!
And if you don’t have your own collection of presser feet, this one from Madam Sew gets consistently good reviews. The presser feet feet snugly inside it’s box which is set up pretty much like a chocolate sampler box. Plus it has 4.5 stars from 400+ reviews on Amazon–not too shabby!
I love this box too from The Homes I Have Made.
Magnetic racks for all your metal sewing tools
Magnetic wall racks have been a game changer for me in my sewing room.
They take up very little space and all of my scissors, rotary cutters, pliers, zipper nippers, and even my buttonhole cutter fit on them easily.
The best part is that they’re very secure on the racks and they don’t bump into each other. I always worry that scissors will bang into each other in a drawer or a storage caddy.
Other good sewing room storage ideas for your scissors: scissors can do well on pegboards. Use a little hook for each pair and hang them by the handles.
A pegboard for your sewing room
There’s a lot of advantages to a sewing room pegboard. Yes, they take up a lot of wall space, but in that space you can cram an incredible amount of sewing tools.
They’re also endlessly adaptable. Don’t like where something is, move the peg, or add some or take some off.
Currently on my own pegboard:
- Mallet: for jeans tack buttons
- French curve + quilting rulers
- Hammer: also for tack buttons, LOL, but also rivets and snaps
- Block printing brayers: an essential for making your own fabric!
- Embroidery hoop
- Circle rotary cutter: the best for cutting circles for fabric yoyos
- Lint roller: because sewing room fuzz happens
- Measuring tapes: so I always can find one!
- Caddy for a pincushion: I have migrating pin cushions. With one on the wall, there’s always one available. Make your own magnetic pincushion
Other inspiring sewing room pegboards
Storage ideas for your ironing station
Pressing is something you do everyday when you’re sewing!
Having sewing tools at your right hand next to your board will go a long way in helping you press your sewing projects the right way.
I talk more about my triumvirate of awesome tailoring tools in 11 Helpful Sewing Tools You Can’t Live Without.
As for organizing my ironing supplies, I keep my Tailor’s Ham, sleeve roll, and point presser/clapper in a basket under my ironing board.
On the wall, there’s a hanging organizer for iron cleaner, a water bottle, press cloths, hem guides, and interfacing tapes.
Other ideas for organizing ironing supplies
Sewing storage boxes
If you have tools that you don’t use as often, small storage boxes can be a good solution.
You can upcycle just about anything here. I had this nice wooden box from a bottle of cognac from an era when I was cooking a lot of French food.
In this box are my bias tape makers, snap setters, walking foot. I used to keep my Simflex buttonhole gauge in here until I started using it all the time!
Other ideas for closed sewing room storage
If you use a more traditional desk for your sewing, a good drawer organizer is good for closed storage.
So how are you feeling about your own sewing room storage? I hope by now you’ve got some good ideas about how you can tackle organizing your tools. How do organization zones play out for you in your own sewing room?
More sewing room organization ideas
- How to store fabric
- Wipe out your clutter with these sewing pattern storage ideas
- Sewing efficiently: Your Ultimate Guide
Elizabeth Farr is the writer behind the Elizabeth Made This blog where she shares helpful sewing tips, step by step sewing tutorials and videos to help you explore your creativity through sewing. She has written sewing Eguides and patterns, been a featured teacher at Rebecca Page’s Sewing Summit and Jennifer Maker’s Holiday Maker Fest and her work has appeared in Seamwork and Altered Couture magazines. She also created a line of refashioned garments for SEWN Denver. When her sewing machine isn’t humming, she’s playing and teaching violin, and hanging around a good strategic board game with her husband and 4 kids.