If you're like most sewists and quilters, you probably have more than one ongoing or unfinished project. Maybe it's a quilttop that's been in the corner for months, a skirt you're halfway through constructing, or a little gift project with an upcoming deadline. Sound familiar?

Without a proper organization system, multiple projects quickly can turn your space and the projects itself into chaos. Fabric pieces get separated from their patterns, specific notions disappear into the general sewing room clutter, you can't remember which thread matches which project. And worst of all, your carefully cut pieces get wrinkled, dusty, or damaged by wandering pets or curious children.

If your tools and materials are overgrowing your available space, destashing is always a good first step, read my guide about tidying up and destashing your sewing supplies.

00Since I have a project-based storage system, there is definitely less chaos than before. Of course, you need to clean up and put everything in its bag or box, but it is so much easier to keep a tidy space when everything has a bag or box. When each work-in-progress (WIP) has its own dedicated home, you can easily switch between projects, keep everything protected, and even take a project on the go. Let me show you how great storage solutions can transform your sewing workflow and bring peace to your creative process and your sewing space.

Not a lot of people finish every project from start to finish in one day. Most of us are juggling multiple works-in-progress based on our moods, available time, or approaching deadlines. One day you're machine-piecing quilt blocks, the next you're hand-stitching some holes or ripped seams while watching a movie, and the weekend can be devoted to finishing a jacket for springtime.

Project-based storage supports that natural creative rhythm. Instead of having all your projects in stacks and piles on a desk or in a big box, each project lives in its own bag or project box with everything it needs: the fabric, the pattern or instructions, the matching thread, the specific notions, any notes you've made, and the pieces you've already cut or sewn.

This approach offers several advantages:

1. Everything stays together. When you open a project bag, everything you need is right there: that specific zipper you bought for a particular project, or the binding fabric you pre-cut three months ago.
2. Your work-in-progress stays protected. Fabric attracts dust, quilt blocks get wrinkled if they are in piles that keep on getting a new place in your sewing room to make space for another new project, from the sewing table to the iron board to a cabinet, to a chair…
3. Switching between projects becomes effortless. When you only have 20 minutes to sew, you don't want to spend 15 of them gathering supplies. With project bags, you simply grab the right one and start sewing. When you're done, everything goes back in the bag until next time.
4. Portability opens new possibilities. Whether you're heading to a quilting retreat, a sewing class, your guild meeting, or just want to sew at a friend's house, having projects already organized in bags means you can grab and go. For me this is a big plus compared to using clear plastic boxes.
5. Visual organization reduces mental clutter. When you can see your projects arranged in a box on a shelf or hanging on a rod or in a closet, each clearly labeled and contained, you know exactly what you're working on and what is still there to be finished. This visibility helps you make intentional decisions about which project to tackle next, rather than feeling overwhelmed by a chaotic pile.

I would avoid storing active projects in closed bins. You'll forget what you have and waste time digging through layers. Save bins for long-term storage of paused projects only. Your current rotation of projects deserves visible, accessible storage that encourages you to actually work on them.

Know that the key to making any system work, is having the right types of storage for different purposes. Not all projects need the same solution. Find out what works best for you. If you are working on a big quilt, a small project bag will not work when you just finished a hundred blocks.

• Look for durability first. You'll be opening and closing these bags frequently, pulling them off shelves, and possibly traveling with them.
• Clear windows or mesh panels are helpful because they let you see at a glance what's inside without opening every bag.
• Handles make carrying projects from storage to your sewing table effortless.
• And adequate size is crucial. You need enough room for fabric, notions, and instructions without everything getting crushed.
• Having a system to tag and identify the project is a nice plus

I’m a big fan of the project bags we developed at Madam Sew. They are 16 by 16 inches sized, with a front pocket of 10 by 16 inches. They are made of waterproof transparent mesh PVC. They can hold multiple fabric pieces, quilt blocks, pattern pieces, notions and tools linked to a project. The inside of the pockets has a raised pattern that keeps fabric from slipping. They have a card slot to identify the project and two comfortable handles to store or take them to a class. You can replace these project cards easily.

Depending on the craft space you have in your house, your organizing setup will be different. If you have a dedicated space you can consider hanging project bags on a rod, on a coat rack, on wall hooks. Storing them in a big plastic box is also an option, although the hanging solution is more accessible and easier to scroll through.

Once you have multiple project bags, how you store them depends on your available space and how you like to work. Hanging solutions offer the best visibility, access and workflow. You can see all your projects at once and grab what you need without digging through piles.

• Closet rods, coat racks or garment racks work beautifully if you have dedicated craft space. The Madam Sew Maker’s Hang Up Hooks (coming soon!) make it easy to hang project bags on a rod, keeping everything visible and accessible. With a project card attached to the zipper in a project card holders (coming soon!) you can also label the bags on the side.

• For wall storage, consider hooks or a pegboard system. Hang your project bags along the bottom of a peg board using hooks while storing tools and notions on the upper portion. This creates a complete organization wall without taking up floor space.

• Box storage (on a shelf or under a table) works well too, especially when using transparent plastic boxes in which you can stand the bags upright and go through them easily and grab the one you need efficiently.

While project bags are mainly about active works-in-progress, quilt storage bags in essence serve a different purpose: protecting your precious quilts during long-term storage. But, they can also hold a large quilt-in-progress between working sessions or a finished quilt waiting to be gifted. In this sense, they can also be used as project bags for larger projects, maybe in combination with a project bag to hold the smaller items.

Quilts need proper dedicated storage from the start. Hundreds of hours of work go into a quilt. You want to protect them from sunlight, dust, and moisture. A quilt storage bag provides a barrier to keep any finished or unfinished quilt clean and fresh, ready to be gifted or for the next quilting session.

The Madam Sew quilt storage bags have a large capacity and come in different sizes and colors. The fabric is breathable but protects its contents well against moisture and dust. They have a clear window, a sturdy double zipper and two handles. As they fit standard shelves you can store them in any closet or clothing rack (15 inches deep).

When a project is finished (yes, some projects do get finished), you store all the notions and tools back with their family. How do you organize your ever growing pattern collection? Read this blog post about pattern storage, if that is what you are after.

In the process of making a larger project, you have to manage the fabric pieces, the thread and other notions, specific tools, but also pattern pieces, instructions, inspiration, and all those loose bits of information that accumulate around every project.

A binder system can keep all the different elements of your sewing projects organized and in one place. Binder pockets let you separate and protect each type of material in a folder. Your printed pattern can go in one pocket, some fabric swatches in another, modification notes in a third, and inspiration photos in yet another. Everything stays organized but accessible, all within a standard three-ring binder.

The Madam Sew Carry-All Sewing Organizer takes this binder pocket system even further. It is a multi-pocket binder bag that is designed to hold multiple binder pockets in its three-ring binder, and features additional clear pockets for small notions and tools (think buttons, threads, scissors, marking pens, measuring tape, or a seam ripper). This means your entire project planning kit stays together in one zippered, portable package. Take it to the fabric store when shopping for a new project, bring it to classes for reference, or keep it at your cutting table for easy access to all your patterns and notes. The zippered closure ensures nothing falls out, making this a genuinely grab-and-go solution for your sewing reference library.

Smaller pouches work beautifully alongside your larger project bags and quilt storage bags, keeping the small essentials organized within the bigger system. Use them to protect your fabrics from sharp objects like scissors, seam rippers, or rotary cutters, or to corral small notions like bobbins, thread spools, needles, pins, and buttons that would otherwise scatter throughout a large bag.

The Madam Sew Rotary Cutter Case is specifically designed to safely store your rotary cutter and extra blades, but it holds much more than that. Add tweezers, small scissors, a seam ripper, and a sewing stiletto or add a second rotary cutter. It holds all your cutting and precision tools in one protected case. Toss it into your project bag or quilt storage bag, and you'll always know where your sharp tools are.

The Madam Sew Small Accessories Bag is another great organization solution for sewists who like everything visible and accessible. This compact roll-up bag (12" x 5" x 0.5") features 11 zippered transparent pockets in various sizes, perfect for storing scissors, seam rippers, thread spools, bobbins, needles, marking tools, and other small notions. The clear pockets let you see exactly what you have at a glance, and the roll-up design keeps everything secure while saving space.

Think of these smaller pouches as your organization-within-organization system. They prevent the frustrating "dumping everything loose into a big bag" problem while keeping related items grouped together for easy access.

Organization isn't one-size-fits-all, the right approach depends on how many projects you typically juggle, what type of sewing you do, how much storage space you have, and how you prefer to work. Start small and expand. You don't need to purchase 15 project bags and 10 quilt storage bags immediately. Start with 2-3 project bags and see how you use them. Add more as you identify specific needs. Get one quilt storage bag and decide whether you prefer that style of storage before investing in more. Begin with a single binder system and expand only if you find yourself wanting more specialized organization.

The key to successful project organization is choosing tools that match your actual sewing life, not some idealized version of it. Start with what frustrates you most. Is it losing pieces from projects? Get a few project bags. Is it damaged quilts pulled from storage? Invest in quilt storage bags.

Build the habit gradually. When you finish a project, put the now-empty bag away until you start something new. When you cut fabric for a project, immediately store it in a bag with the pattern. When you print a new pattern, grab a binder pocket and add it to your binder right away. These small habits, built consistently, maintain your system without requiring marathon organization sessions.

The goal isn't perfection, it's creating a system that reduces stress and supports your creativity. If your system helps you find what you need, protects your projects, and makes sewing more enjoyable, it's working.

Because you deserve to spend your time sewing, not searching!

An
Blogging for Madam Sew