When we’re organising our own sewing space it can be helpful to see how others set their areas up. It gives us inspiration and ideas, and often triggers creative solutions for storage problems we might be facing. (That’s why we’ve all got so many Pinterest boards, after all! *wink wink*)

We thought you might like to see how Emily has set up her new(ish) sewing studio. Even though it’s where she operates her business from and you may be sewing for pleasure, a limited budget means that she has had to be creative with her approach. And we can all relate to that, right!?

Come with us as we take a peek inside Emily’s sewing studio!

tell us about your sewing space

I have a studio in a large, creative space with over 20 other artists and creatives. I enjoy having other creative people around to have lunch and a chat with. Running a small business can be lonely, so working in a space like this is a nice way to make sure I don’t go a whole day without talking to anyone!

My studio is a good size, with big windows down one end that make the space lovely and bright.

I have set up the space so it can be multi-use as there a lots of different parts to my business. I need a comfortable computer set-up as I spend most of my working hours at a computer; sewing space with notions and tools within easy reach; as well as a large patternmaking and cutting table.

Storage is also really important as I have lots of fabric for sampling and paper patterns to store.

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As well as a monthly sewing project, you’ll gain access to our private member platform where you can receive feedback and advice from the ITF team and other experienced makers, participate in sew-alongs and make sewing besties all over the world!

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WHAT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOU IN A SEWING SPACE?

It’s really important for me to be well organised so I can find what I need quickly and easily.

I’ve always loved the idea of designing spaces to maximise comfort and efficiency so things just work without you having to think too much about it. For me, this means having my most frequently used tools out on the table and having patternmaking paper within easy reach.

I find a pegboard the easiest way to see exactly where everything is, rather than rummaging through a drawer.

For a sewing space to be functional I want as few hurdles as possible in my way, so tidying up at the end of each day or sewing/cutting session is high priority!

Garment hanging space behind a cutting table.

ANY TIPS FOR MAXIMISING SPACE?

Yes! Here you go:

Hang patterns on a clothes rack. When I didn’t have a studio space I used to hang them in my wardrobe! It’s a great way to keep patterns flat, with the added bonus of being easy to flick through whenever I’m looking for a particular pattern. Using specifications sheets (like the one included in our Curated by ITF Organise Your Stash issue) attached to the front makes it even easier to keep track of what’s in my pattern stash.
Take advantage of vertical space. Using wall shelves is a great way to create extra storage space without making a room feel cluttered. It also means things are within easy reach and there is less bending down and rummaging through messy drawers!
Have a little bin, thread catcher or even just a bowl on your sewing table at all times. Having somewhere to throw all those threads and fabric trimmings is a game changer! When I started doing this I couldn’t believe how much I was collecting each day. Before this it all just ended up on the floor, which meant I had to vacuum after every sewing session.
Keep the fabric stash to a minimum. This one is easier said than done, I know! We all love to buy the pretty fabric, but it’s something I’m always striving for. I like to only buy fabric when I have a specific project in mind. Due to the nature of my business I do need to have some fabric on hand, but I am careful to make sure it’s practical and likely to be used. I love hunting for pre-loved fabric in local charity shops, so sometimes this rule is difficult to stick to!

Happy organising!

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WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MAKING…

Kate wearing her Rennie dress. — Rennie dress by @sewingwithkate

Do you love the start of a new year as much as I do?

I love to reflect on the year that's passed, but there's nothing like the feeling of refreshing and opportunity a new beginning brings. And I particularly love the excitement of making ambitious creative plans for the months ahead!

Both Emily and I recently changed studios spaces and we have seen firsthand how impactful a sewing space can be on our motivation and ability to sew, which has inspired this month's Curated by ITF project, Organise Your Space.

THREE LITTLE PATTERNS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

When you're setting up or rejigging a sewing space it's easy to get distracted by the BIG things - tables, chairs, shelves and the like. But as we set up our new sewings spaces last year we realised how impactful the little things can be and that we really shouldn't discount them.

That's why we included three sewing room accessory patterns with this month’s Curated by ITF Issue. If you don't have the time or the money (or even the inclination!) to make big changes to your sewing space, these three little patterns will have you feeling just a wee bit more organised in just a short amount of time and with very little financial investment. In fact, they’ll even help you use up some of those fabric scraps we KNOW you’ve got lying around!

Sewing accessory patterns for organisation.

the sewing accessories you need (and want!)

One thing we’ve noticed is that makers will often use what’s at hand as a temporary measure to meet a need. Tinned food for pattern weights, clip-seal bags for pattern storage. You know what we’re talking about, right?

And while it’s perfectly acceptable to make-do like this, we’ve found that there will inevitably come a time when you’ve eaten all the tinned tomatoes or the clip-seal bag gets a hole in it… So we wanted to create some alternatives to those items we’re ‘temporarily’ (forever) using.

Our beautiful Project bag replaces crumpled plastic wallets and clip-seal bags.

Our cute Pattern weights replace tins of chopped tomatoes (or lentils or corn or tuna).

Our Overlocker Thread catcher replaces … well… scooping up all those scraps from the floor!

Did you know, you can actually join Curated by ITF just for the community?!

If you're looking to be supported, motivated and inspired through your sewing journey, but don't want the monthly projects, then our Curated by ITF Supporter tier might be just what you're looking for. You'll receive feedback and advice from other experienced makers and make sewing besties all over the world!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF MAKERS

our design process

When we’re designing new projects, we start with a general idea of what we want the issue to be about, then we sit down together and decide the specific content that will be included. Emily and I chat through our thoughts and bounce ideas off each other until we’re happy with what to include.

For this month’s Issue, we had been separately thinking about what we wanted from a project bag, and when we started talking about it we realised our ideas were really aligned! We both wanted it to:

Be big enough to fit all of our projects in. 30 x 45cm had worked well for both of our current solutions.
Have a pocket to hold printed instructions.
Have a flap opening fastened by Velcro.
Have a clear pocket to label what’s inside.
Include a hanger tab for easy storage.

Then we spoke about different things we needed in our sewing space and came up with the pattern weights and thread catcher ideas.

As you know, we have a big focus on skill-building in Curated by ITF so we wanted to make sure that these patterns also provided us with an opportunity to learn something new, or practice and hone some skills we already have.

Even though these patterns might look simple, they will definitely help you continue to grow in your sewing practice. Specifically, we cover:

Sewing tricky corners. We've got lots of top tips to get a perfect corner. Our overlocker thread catcher is a great time to put this to use!

Sewing velcro. Something that’s not commonly used in garment clothing.

Sewing patch pockets.

Bagging out (sewing something and turning it inside out).

Hand-stitching to finish patterns (useful for sewing accessories and linings).

SMALL CHANGES, BIG DIFFERENCE

Sometimes a few small changes to your space can really refresh it and make you want to get back sewing, and that’s our intention with these three little (but very impactful and functional) sewing accessory patterns.

No matter how big or small your space, you can maximise it by getting clever with storage solutions like our Project bag.

We hope they help you help your future-self by setting up your sewing space so it’s easy to get started sewing next time.

Happy sewing,

Alys