Organisation Station: Shape Up Your Sewing Space with These Easy Hacks

above MEGAN NIELSEN’S STUDIO

If you are sewing a lot, it’s worth investing the time to make a pleasant space to work in. 

We’ve all seen some truly swoon-worthy sewing spaces on our aspirational social media of choice. You know the ones – clutter-free, gleaming surfaces; everything colour-coordinated and close to hand; probably utilising some cool wall-hanging storage system. In real life, our sewing setups may look a little different. More like a bomb has gone off inside a fabric store, or perhaps a small localised cyclone. It’s alright, this is a safe space for messy sewists.  

A clean, organised space is better for our minds, moods and creative output. But does knowing that make it any easier to achieve? Of course not! Especially when everyone and their mum is telling us to just attach a pegboard like we’ve all got spare wall space and a drill?! 

Don’t fear mess mavens, your ol’ pal Peppermint is here to humbly offer a few tried and tested organisational hacks – small and easy tips that can make a big difference to the usability and vibes of your space, no renovations required!

left SEEKATESEW right ARROW MOUNTAIN

MAGNETIC APPEAL

Pins hold two non-complementary qualities – they get absolutely everywhere and they are quite sharp. Save yourself from a sore foot (or punctured patootie, ouch!) with the magic of magnetism. Using a magnet you can collect all your pesky pins in one sweep. This makes clearing and cleaning your sewing surface much faster and easier, as well as safely sweeping your floors and chairs for runaway rascals. Many places offer magnetic pin dishes which do double duty as collector and storage, as well as preventing the heartbreaking moment when you knock over your pin dish and watch those tiny sharp shivs spill everywhere.    

left WHITEWOODANDLINEN right SAITO WOOD CO

BIN VOGUE

A pinch of prevention is worth a buttload of cure (sorry Benjamin Franklin, there will be no imperial measurements in these folksy sayings). Keeping a small bin under your sewing machine to immediately catch scraps of fabric, trimmed seams, loose threads and other detritus you generate while sewing can make a huge difference to the general neatness of your space. Less time spent tidying up means more time to have fun and enjoy yourself! Plus a bin’s worth of scraps can make a useful resource if you need cabbage to stuff something like a pin cushion or a floor poof. Nifty and thrifty!

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above DAYLIGHT – SEWING LIGHTING EXPLAINED

LIGHT IT UP

Unfortunately, most of us must fit our sewing time around the tiresome demands of jobs, loved ones and life at large. This means we can’t always choose to sew when the piercing light of the sun hits our workstation at its optimal angle. Regardless, it is essential that your sewing space does have adequate lighting, be it natural or store-bought. If you find yourself squinting and slumping over your work, the best solution is a movable light source – a portable, flexible lamp of some kind to ensure, no matter where you are working – at the machine, cutting and pressing, or finishing by hand – you have proper light. This will allow you to work longer and later hours and leave you feeling less tired and stained! 

Do you have a sewing hack you swear by? Is your sewing space sexy and you know it? We’re on the hunt for the most heartening, handy and handsome home sewing setups out there! Share it with us at sewing@peppermintmag.com for your chance to be featured in Peppermint!