How to Unpack and Organize a Sewing Room
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Since I am once again unpacking my sewing stuff for the umpteenth time and getting my sewing area organized, I thought I’d share the process with you….
Steps to Unpacking and Organizing Your Sewing Room
Step 1: Send your husband off on a business trip
This is perhaps the most important step. In doing this you are creating more time to unpack and sort because you’ll be spending less time making meals, doing dishes, washing clothes, and other general household duties… It also helps with the next step….
Step 2: Dump all the contents of the boxes, one or two at a time, on your bed
Of course this step only applies if you have your sewing area in your bedroom. Having your husband away for a business trip means that at the end of the first day of unpacking you only need to clear enough space for you to sleep on….
Step 3: Start sorting your sewing stuff into tubs from Ikea
I love the Trofast tub system from Ikea. It is meant for kids rooms, but I love them for my sewing stuff…. Leave the lids off so that you can just toss things where they belong… also label them using your handy dandy label maker or write out labels…
Step 4: Use all other available surfaces for sorting as well
Spread out to all other surfaces in the room, including chairs…. make little piles, or big ones…
Remember, it will probably get worse before it gets better…
Step 5: Start moving the piles to the areas they belong
My new Billy bookshelves in the living room are where my fabric stash will be stored…
Don’t worry about sorting it into colors, or whatever, that can happen later… just get it in the right place.
Step 6: Be encouraged as the piles on the surfaces get smaller and the boxes get emptier
Step 7: After all the boxes are empty and all the sewing supplies are roughly where they should be, reward yourself with some sewing in your new sewing space
Doesn’t look too bad does it?
Nina and I sewed up the blue Squared Away blocks… and I hung them with the purple ones on my makeshift design wall:
Hopefully I won’t need to open the doors for a while…..
Next up are the green ones…
And there you have it… the steps I take to unpack and organize my sewing room…. of course I still have a bit of sorting to do, but for the main part it is ready to use! I’m pretty excited!
PS I’m linking up to Finish it Friday , NTT & Whoop Whoop!
Fantastic job, Joy! I need some of those IKEA bins!!!!
You made quick work of those boxes and still had time and energy to sew!!!! Looks great !!!
Loved your post. I definitely agree that step 1 cannot be skipped 😁. It looks like a great sewing space you have created. I love your blocks on the display board. X
Great job–but how did you manage it with out a males input!!!!????
It always feel good to be a bit organized–even in small spaces!!!
have fun sewing up a storm!! (not the weather kind here))
enjoy, di
Looks great Joy. love your space. Your blocks are lovely. Hugs,xx
Hi Joy great work my friend your sewing area looks fantastic and love your new blocks,well done xx
Great job getting your boxes 📦 emptied… lots of lovelies there.
Sew nice to be able to sit with Nina and make your pretty blocks.
LOL – I am sure you are an expert by now! Yes those Ikea trays re great.
Well done Joy! What better reward for a good day’s work than some sewing. Your blocks – and sewing space – are looking great!
A great job of organizing! Now the fun begins and you can sew up a storm! Nancy
Love the Ikea assortment! Great job…..room for hubby now lol?
Job well done! And I’m sure the first step really is the most important. Love those Ikea bins. Happy sewing.
Great tips! I love the part about the husband!!
Love your process trying to catch up on reading blogs while sitting on bus all day
Oh my – you are so funny…. but you have doen so well for quite a small space to work in….
Hugz
There are definitely upsides to sending the hubby away on work! Including an unused half bed. 🙂 lol. Your space is looking great, I’m glad you are mostly set up now, hopefully you can settle for a while. xx
Welll done!!!
Ha, I notice there was no final shot of the bed! LOL You managed to get a lot in a small area, really. Congratulations!
i have all this to look forward to when I finally finish decorating my new studio… after I’ve done the floor, i still have to decide what furniture I want and how to arrange it, then it’s on to unpacking 54,000 boxes!! They are currently stacked in a room the same size, and take up almost all the room… not sure how I’m going to make all that stuff “disappear” neatly…
What a HUGE job. Well done on doing it so quickly.