NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

The making of a sewing/craft room

by

Many of us don’t have the extra space for a fancy craft room. I’m one of those people. In our first home, we had a downstairs bedroom that I was able to use for my crafting and sewing, along with a big closet for craft storage. I realize now that I was a spoiled little brat to have that.

I really miss that space.

In this house, we don’t have an extra bedroom for an office/craft room, so I decided to store all my “stuff” in the basement until I figured out what I was going to do.

Five months later, almost everything was still living in tubs in the basement. Along with all the other junk I didn’t know what to do with. I was bringing my sewing machine upstairs to the living room to sew, which isn’t super practical. When I do projects, I’ve been sifting through the boxes. Which meant that the basement was beginning to look like a hurricane swept through.

Hurricane Kim.

So, in January, I decided I wanted to get the space in working order to actually use the space to sew and craft. Sure – I’d have to share the space with all our holiday decor, but I think I can make the space functional, organized, and maybe even a little pretty. The basement is dry and we painted the walls and floors so it’s not a terrible space.

The room will be particularly useful for me as we get ready for baby. I may have a few things I’d like to make for the nursery … or perhaps more than a few things. It will be nice to have my own area.

To make this space work for me, I wanted a few things:

  • Visible fabric storage, so I could actually see what I have to work with.
  • Other craft storage, for all the extra stuff – paint and glue and notions and glitter and ribbon – to be easily accessible.
  • Table space to set up my sewing machine and actually leave it set up.
  • Better lighting – while the basement gets plenty of light during the day, it’s pretty gloomy at night.
  • Something underfoot, besides concrete.
  • A little pretty.

Also – I wanted to spend next-to-nothing. I may have to buy a few small things, but I’m hoping to use what I already have.

I started working on the space this weekend, beginning with the first two bullets (organizing fabric and craft supplies). It took much longer than I expected, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I started going through the four bins of fabric and craft supplies I had. I was able to get through all the fabric first.

We had this little hand-me-down bookshelf in our old house, and it’s perfect for fabric. To fold into mini-bolts, I used comic book boards (purchased on Amazon for about $12). I got this tip from Smashed Peas and Carrots.

This worked really well for me. It kept the fabric nice and neat, and also seems to be pretty sturdy so the fabric will stay nice and neat. I was able to use the boards for almost all the fabric I had, outside of the super large, stiff and extra bulky (like outdoor fabric and burlap). Now, I’m able to see all the fabric I have and it fits neatly on the shelves.

I even have a little extra space for future fabric finds. I had a few large rolls of fabric, and I just stuck those into the umbrella holder part of a coat rack. It works pretty well to coral the larger items.

For now, I put all the the smaller pieces of fabric into a bin for sorting (later). I don’t like to toss pieces of fabric that could be used for pennant quilts or other small projects. I think I’ll either organize them by color in small IKEA boxes I have, or by size. I may even cut some of them to 4 or 5 inch squares to store. That’s still to be determined, but for now, they are corralled.After getting this organizing inspiration from Pinterest, I also thought I could use my old college-era shoe hanger for notions or fabrics like beforeispendit.blogspot.com

For now, I rolled up some of my charm packs and other fabric sets, along with other notions. The shoe holder separates them pretty well. Which is handy when you are like me and have several different projects going at once.  I think I’ll add some tags/labels when I’m all done.
As for the other crafting supplies, I think I’ll have plenty of room in the base cabinets I’ve been using as a cutting table. Since my supplies were already organized into photo box, it will be easy to find what I’m looking for. I still have some other things, but this is a good start.
For sewing machine seating, I pulled out my hand-me-down card table and chair. I put it right under the center light, which is the only place where I can currently avoid a shadow on the table. The table is a little worse for wear, but I’d like to cover the top with oil cloth for a little pop of color.
So, after a weekend of work, I was able to see some progress. I also have a few totes full of stuff for Goodwill. Purging is good for the soul.
Next up:
More organization – I need to finish organizing my craft supplies, which includes a box of paper and party products that I don’t know what to do with. I also need to go through my smaller fabric pieces and organize.
 
Lighting – I’m not sure how extra lighting is going to happen. Do you think I can convince my husband to add more overhead lights? (No? Me, either.) Maybe I could find a few inexpensive lamps at Goodwill that direct light upward? For free?
Power – Ryan’s parents have an extra piece of carpet that we can cut and fill the space. That will keep these tootsies nice and warm, and hopefully make it feel more like a real room and less like a basement.
Outlets – Between the iron, sewing machine, Silhouette machine and computer that inevitably lives with me, I need some power. I’m thinking of mounting a power strip on each side of the room (one on the storage shelves and one on the cabinetry) since there isn’t a close outlet.
Pretty – I’d like to clean up the floors and windows. Then, I’d like to make some little curtains to the windows for some flair. I’ll also add some oil cloth to the tabletop. I need to finish the unfinished side of the cabinetry, too. And perhaps I could make something pretty to hang on the walls?
Any other ideas to help me make the most of the space I have?

Comments

  1. We used the florescent light idea in the garage and it works beautifully. A cheap, quick and adorable decoration for walls is to take a piece of fabric, duct tape it to foam board and Velcro to the wall. Easy to change. Easy to cut to the size you want. Possibilities are endless!

  3. Good progress. I started work on my craft room (yes, I’m very lucky) last spring break….and I’ve crafted a lot since but done little on the room. I sorted my fabric by color and then rolled them. I might use the boards. But I really like having it sorted by color, you should try that with your scraps.

  4. What a great way to organize fabric! Totally going to do that when we set up the sewing area later this year, so thanks for sharing the idea you found! Your room looks great – I hope you are enjoying it and I’m looking forward to seeing the first baby quilt you make for yourself!! 🙂

  5. You have inspired me again. This time in the fabric organization department.

    I had heard of the comic book thing before but that amazon link was just too handy to have an excuse not to do it.

    I am a little worried though. Once all my fabric is all neatly sorted it is going to become even more apparent that I have an addiction.

  6. I love that way of organizing fabric; it is a perfect way to see what you have. I will definitely have to keep this in mind!
    Good luck with the rest! =)

  7. I think someone is nesting 🙂 looks great so far, love the idea another poster had about curtains over the front of the shelves. Our basement in MN also had the lone light bulb. Our Solution was to get some Menards florescent lights ($13 for four foot lights) and hang from your exposed ceiling and they plugged into the base of the light fixture. Very bright now. Some overhead lights for brightness and some table lamps for warmth would warm up the space for you.
    PS-did you see your dining room curtains are on the cover of the smith and noble catalog (in blue) this month?

  10. I do most of my sewing in the kitchen too because I get a little lonely in my craft room. That, and it is more like a storage/guest/craft rom.

    PS, I am drooling over your fabric stash!

  11. Looking good! I love how you organized your fabric. I like your idea of adding little curtains to the windows.

  12. I love the trick to organize the fabric even though I have no fabric because I can’t sew.. but if I ever can I will use your tip! 🙂

  13. You’ve done a great job of making your space functional and organized. My sewing space is also in the basement My girlfriends’ dh hung a utility florescent light unit (has 3 of those long tube bulbs) over the space and I run an extension cord to an outlet. Works great and I think it cost about %35.

  15. That is the best looking fabric storage ever! I kind of want to steal all of your fabric. I need to use that same storage tip. Your new space is looking good. Doesn’t it feel so good to get organized!?

  18. I love how you organized your fabric – it’s pretty and functional! Can’t wait to see waht you do about lighting – we just bit the bullet and hired an electrician to install overhead lighting in our basement (b/c my electrical engineer of a husband is scared to do it himself. I LOL’d at that…).

  19. The mini-bolts were a very clever idea! I only have one bin of fabric and no craft room, but if my fabric supply continues to increase, I’ll have to consider this for organization.

    I currently do most of my sewing in the kitchen. It seems like a weird place to set up shop, but the counters are the perfect height for sewing and there are a million outlets. I’m hoping to one day have the guest room double as a craft room. We’ll see.

    It looks like you got off to an excellent organizational start and I like all your ideas so far.

    You might look into getting a power strip with a super long cord so that you can mount it wherever you like or have outlets in the center of the room. We have a few 12 foot power strips and they are incredibly useful.

  21. I love your fabric storage…soooo pretty!

    A couple suggestions for your space: 1. When you drop-off items at Goodwill, see if you can find a sturdier table. (I recently completed my 1st ever sewing project, a rag quilt, and used a card table to sew on. It was soooo shaky when I was sewing! Drove me nuts) 2. Make some curtains to hide the storage bin area – perhaps using painters drop cloth. Hang using tension rods, or on metal plumbing attached to the wood shelving. 3. For overheard lighting, IKEA has some good options for lighting you can install to replace the lonely lightbulb you’ve got in there now. Something like this: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70190450/ or this: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20131887/. 4. Also, are you able to move the base cabinets? I think they would look better centered under the window (especially when you put up some pretty curtains), move the fabric bookshelf to the left, with the umbrella stand on the wall where the base cabinets currently are. 6. Have you thought about adding ceiling tiles? This would make the room look more finished and less like a creepy basement.

    Can’t wait to see how everything comes together!

  22. Nice work. Way to make do with what you have. I store my larger pieces of fabric the same way and I love it. It really helps me remember what I already have and keeps me from buying more. Instead of the comic book supports, I cut up tag board and it seems to do the trick. Your post also made me laugh because I remember you saying that you didn’t like the creepy basement. :o)

  23. i sew in the kitchen. one of these days my SIL will move out of my basement and then I hold out hope for a guest room/craft room down there. ha.

    it’s looking good and organized!

    ~L

  24. Your fabric organization looks great. I have an unfinished basement too and am always trying to dream up ways to spruce it up without spending much money. I bought a few indoor/outdoor rugs on clearance at Walmart and that has made the space seem nicer.

  25. i was sewing in my kitchen for years since we didnt even have a living room. now thanks to making all 3 kids share one room i actually have a craft room! i know it sounds mean, but they want to stay together…so the craft room is a major treat for me!! i think as long as you having everything in one spot you will be good to go. and it looks like you have plenty of storage. great job. i bet it feels great:)

  26. I too wish I lived in a region where houses have basements. This looks lovely! I’m so sad though, where is your pretty wood desk with the cute spindly legs?

  27. Lookin’ good!! Great idea on fabric organization- I wish I had half that amount of fabric (and maybe half your sewing skills as well!)

  29. Purging (and cleaning) are great for the soul. Keep this up. You are inspiring me daily to get my act more together.
    The space looks great and it sounds like it will be even better when you are done. So smart, you are. Love it.

  30. You’re making me wish I lived in a part of the country that has basements! I love how you organized the fabric, that is brilliant – all of my fabric is in a crazy disarray and I need to whip it into shape (along with everything else craft-related). The basement is going to see some pretty amazing things made down there, I have a feeling!

  31. I know you don’t want to spend any money, but IKEA has a table that has large leaves that fold down on each side. The table, with the leaves folded down, is about the size of a end table. I was looking at it as a possible sewing table for my daughter who lives in a very small apartment. It has a shelf on the bottom where I thought she could store her sewing machine when not in use.

  32. I think you’ve done a great job! I really like the way you organized your fabric–looks fantastic! On a side note, part of the wording to your post was cut off for me. Do you use Live Writer or something? Some of the words on the right side of the post area were cut off….

  33. Wow girl you have quite the fabric collection… I may indeed be a tiny bit jealous :o). I can’t wait to see all the “pretty” that you do with your new space.

  34. This looks great. I love the bookshelf full of fabric. It makes me happy.

    I keep deciding whether I should actually turn the current bedroom I am using in to a craft room…or have kids. I will not ask my mother to weigh in on this. 😛

  36. You’ve done a great job, Kim! The fabric looks great displayed that way and it’s nice that you can see it all. Very inspirational.

    Enjoy using your new room!

  37. I am guilty of pinning the fabric organization a while back & my fabric is still sitting in bags NEXT TO my bookshelf.

    *scratches head*

    Maybe I need to just do this.

    I can’t wait to see what you do to your new craft area!