I have to say that I keep seeing some amazing pictures of sewing rooms - big, spacious, organized, decluttered... You can see the floor and can physically get to the closet without needing mountain climbing gadgets...

Then there's mine.......
My room is 11' squared pretty much - and it is overflowing and unmanageable for the most part. It has more big furniture in there than it is suppose to have and is set up like a maze just so you can get to the closet.

I have cleaned partially then gone in there, searching for something and then get it all destroyed again. Yes, I know... I need to clean it COMPLETELY and then keep up with it. That has been my problem... not getting it completely cleaned. This summer, once I get caught up on everything, I need to get in there for a few days and get it done.....


I can't be the only one... can I?
I'm not sure if I am brave enough to post pictures of it. It doesn't have heaping piles in there, okay, maybe one but that's because I was actually piecing yesterday and pushed a bunch of material in to a pile. That was my fault completely. I'll fix that today - I swear it :D

No, you're not the only one, but if anyone else asks,I'm denying it.

Good luck with the "fix" it today. I would say that you are the only one with this problem. but we all know that is not so. I know my room will make your look like some show room. I to have been working on getting my in better shape but it is not gone as well as I would like [to much stuff,no place for it.] so now what do I do.OOOO wish for lots of money and a build for my all my stuff. owell I will keep wishing for money and space. GOOD LUCK

Be brave post a picture of your room. Maybe someone will have a brilliant idea for you.

This is the reason that I don't have one-if I sew in the livingroom or diningroom, I know that I have to clean up because someone might show up to visit. While I admire so many that I see here, I know that a room dedicated to sewing would be a disaster for me!!

Maybe one way of cleaning the room would be to remove everything but the large furniture, put the removed stuff into a room you are not using. Before taking it back, go thru it and decide does it really need to go back.
Make a place to fold fabric - cutting table and take a few pieces in at a time, fold and put them away before bringing in any more.
I put the books back into the room first after the big removal. Then the fabric and put it away.

Haha. I'm working on my room--and thought of pictures, etc. No way. Total reorganization, or maybe just partial as I want to get back to sewing...

But had the kids help me bring up two cabinets that have shelves in them for help in organization. I think I'm getting rid of some things from the room as well (probably not mostly fabric, though) and will probably find a new place for patterns as I just don't have enough room. I was hoping to find enough room to set up my older Pfaff machine so I could have both set up at the same time. Not sure if the room is big enough,though...

You aren't the only one...rest assured.

If you're like me you don't have a place to put fabric and other necessary things therefore they have to go into a pile.
I am getting cabinets, hopefuly this afternoon.
I will post a picture if you will.

You are not alone. Mine gets out of wack when I totally into the creative end of the process. When the unit is complete, I like to put away those materials, clean of the work tables, and then pull out everything need for the next project.

You're not alone! I try to maintain a clear path from the door to my computer and the cutting board and iron, but the rest...well, sometimes the path is not so easy to find!

I think frau is right: try to find space to move everything you can, out of the room; then you can put it back in something like a sensible arrangement. Just need to find time between projects to do it!

I actually am one step ahead of frau about the take everything out of the room process. I did that last summer - and took nearly everything out of the room, vacuumed and then moved things around until I could get the best layout possible with the floor plan. I'm really happy with the way it is set up right now. I will say that if I don't make friends with the quilting frame and machine by the end of summer, it will go - and that will clear up a TON of space however I'll lose a lot of storage space lol.

I know how to organize it - I just don't have time to do it at the moment. It is loads better than it was this time last year and that is a huge improvement. Just using stuff will help out tremendously. I intend to do that this summer - lots of stuff will be made & hopefully quilted.. I have a huge to do list that isn't getting smaller just by looking at it lol. Now that my foot is healing up after surgery I will be able to start sewing again. I was in there for a few hours yesterday and it wasn't pleasant on my foot that's for sure. I'm going to sew again this weekend with a friend - and make sure I've got everything cut and ready to go

I thought it would be fun to open up a thread for those of us that have rooms that are not so picture worthy so that we could come out of our shame closet and say hey, mine is a disaster zone & should be cordoned off ;)

My sewing room is my bedroom, which is only about 11 x 12.....Double bed, two chest-of-drawers, one large storage cabinet, one small storage cabinet, sewing table, sewing machine, cutting table and my TV....:) ..Oh, forgot, and a rocking chair.....The good news is, a third bedroom will be turned into my sewing/guest room...Picking out the paint on Wednesday.....Can hardly wait to get started on the room.....

Mine is a mess too. I need to remove things and rearrange. I have baskets on the floor filled with folded fabrics because I have no room on my shelves for it. I have a closet but it is in another room and a huge wardrobe empty becouse it is in another room too. If I put things away I can never find them again. That is my big problem. I have to have some solution soon.

JUst be glad it is all in one room, and that it is your sewing room! My machine is in my bedroom, my books, fabric, and supplies are in the guest room closet and under the bed. Once upon a time, the guest room was "my room". I had a desk and chest with big deep drawers, a big closet, my sewing machine, a comfortable chair and a TV, and a ironing board that hung on the back of the closet door. Before I knew it, hubby and the kids were sitting in there watching TV instead of in the family room downstairs. Since there was only one chair and the trunk I stored fabric in to sit on, HUbby decided we needed a couch in there. And soon my sewing room became the family den! Now it is back to being a guest bedroom. So, if your room is small, if it is cluttered, so what? Take out the big furniture and then put signs on the door that say "keep out", and enjoy your quiet and your mess.LOL

About 3 weeks ago I posted pics of my disaster room :) and I got TONS of good advice!!!
I'm almost finished with it. I've been outside a lot weeding etc but it's looking promising :D
I was so overwhelmed I thought I'd go crazy! I was so embarrassed to show pics but now I'm glad I did. Everyone was so helpful!!

I think refolding my fabric was the best thing I could do. It took me a long time to do it but I do the ruler fold method and that tamed my fabric stash tremendously.

I am *almost* contained to the craft room - almost. My yarn got exiled for the most part - it isn't fully gone yet because I haven't finished moving it over. I think once the yarn is completely out of there and in to my personal closet - hubby and I both have our own walk ins - then I'll be better off in the sewing room. I am very grateful to have that room all to my self. It was a prerequisite when we moved here... I had to have my own sewing room :D

HEck, I sew in the dining room and it looks like a fabric bomb exploded in there. Like they say, if you want to visit me come right over, if you want to visit my house, I need a week's notice (but a month would be much better). We have a few big parties a year, so it does get cleaned periodically.

I also made a bedroom into a sewing room, about your size. It was so pretty in the beginning ... lol. I have scraps of fabric everywhere, piles of magazines, design wall, iron and board, cutting table, sewing machine, etc. It is really amazing how much stuff can be crammed into a small room. It looks lived in.

You sound like me! Mine is my bedroom with a queen sized bed! I dedicated a small closet in my bedroom to fabric/sewing/shoes.....tight quarters, but am thankful that I can just sew at my machine and then literally fall from chair right into the bed! There's an upside to everything! I too had the sewing room/guest room for awhile, then my youngest son wanted to move in...so it's his bedroom, but he didn't move in all the way- just his stuff! So I'm still stuck in my bedroom...oh well! It's a great guest room though!
Blessings,
MaryAnna

I am not posting pictures either because my "stuff" is in 3 different rooms. Machine, cutting table, small ironing area and one book case full of stash takes up 1/2 my bedroom. I have 2 tall book shelves in the garage with patterns and big pieces of fabric along with a bin full of my wounded warrior blocks and fabrics and some stuff I don't use in bins in the storage shed in the back yard! I also have the last bolt of batting for the soldier quilts stored in the tub of the spare bath room. Believe me, you do not want pictures!

No, you are not the only one. Mine is 10 x 10 and I have a 3x5 desk and a 3x5 cutting table in there!!!

I, on occasion, work at cleaning it... I am sure you can wander thru my old posts and find the last time I took it on....It of course, won...and I need to do it again...

I am right up there with no time to organize. My son threatens to call in hoarders team. Parts that r organized r in great shape but can no longer get to that part.

More fun to sew than organize,

AHHHHH SUGAR - you are NOT alone! For many m any years i sewing, make quilts etc in a HALLWAY with machine etc in a bi-fold door closet! YUP sat in the hall to get at it.

One thing a friend did I thought was about the b est idea ever - was to totally empty her sewing room - period. Then begin to slect what pieces of furniture she could use from the stuff she tool ouyt, and continued from there. I do remember she swapped a piece from the sewing room for someting in a bedroom .. thinking it was a dresser she wanted. Becasue she always used a dresser as her cutting table, with mats of course.

THERE IS HOPE. Take courage, be brave and hurl yourself into the fray! Start heaving stuff into the hall etc immiately - no thought, just throw it out of the room!

Of course dinner will have to be oroder out pizza!

Good luck, let us know what happens.

Julie

Craft room (formal bedroom) is 10x10. Then there is the area in the family room behind a couch so I can watch tv and share time with family while I cut fabric is about 6 x 12 - barely room to move sideways. Then the dining room where I actually sew has the fabric explosion. If anyone has a 48 hour day, i could make progress.

If my sewing room does not make me smile every time I walk in then it's not fun to be in. Make it pretty. Line the walls with bookcases, buy pretty storage bins and fill them. Wrap the fabric on flat boards (not bolt) and you can get 45 - 60 on each shelf. Leave some space for decorative items like a basket of thread, or scraps. My sewing room is stuck in a back room, waiting for the other rooms to be remodeled. But I still made it as pretty as I could. Good thing because the remodel is taking forever. I have pics of my temp room in the picture section, I posted some time ago.

You are not alone. At least you have a room, I have a sewing "nook". Nook sounds better than sewing cubby and I try to keep it neat. I have to get my stash better organized but I keep putting it off. The last time I did a major clean, I couldn't find anything.

Must be something in the air! I had foot surgery a month ago and kept thinking of ways to improve my sewing room. Now that I'm walking in the "boot" thing I'm measuring the closet and looking at bookcases to purchase that will make the best use of the space in the closet. I've been doing some research and reading on this site on the boards some of you use to wrap fabric.

Lots of fun doing this!

This winter when we had all the crappy snow and ice-I live in Michigan- I decided now was the time to clean out sewing room. AND I did get it accomplished. I am handi-capped and have trouble walking, and there was only a narrow path from door to sewing machine. I felt such a sense of accomplishment when the procect was finished. AND you know what 17 yr. old grandson said when he saw it all cleaned up, Gee Grandman you can see the floor. It was all I worked on for about 10 days. You just have to tell yourself you're going to do it and do nothing else till room looks great.

I have a big room but it is slipping full. Maybe try to pick up, vacuum and organize once a week. I am not good with decluttering and organizing but when I don't it hampers my creativity. Maybe clean everything away with only your sewing machine standing out. Also it sounds like some of that big furniture has to go. I feel you pain.

My sewing room is in process of becoming the family den. Everyone wants to be in mama's studio especially my big boys. LOL go figure!

My room is train wreck, but i can find anything i want (just takes awile) i hand to much orderly choas in the Marines. Now i can do things my way...lol

I thought I had it all in the 11 x 12 guest bedroom with the queen bed, triple dresser, chest of drawers, nightstand, bird cage-no bird, Arrow sewing cabinet, bird table. Closet and all drawers and under bed full and overflowing-fabric, batting, yarn. I found DD luggage in my fabric closet not going to be able to move those anytime soon. Maybe in fall DH will put them in attic.
2 hall closets have shoe boxes of projects with specific patterns. Study closet can't be opened. Fabric etc. falling almost. A gateway type piece in study will move to sewing room if bed ever moves to DD new home when & if she builds it. Not so messy as scattered, but I know where stuff is and lots of it is labeled.

My room is ok until I want to get in the closet, then I have to move some stuff away from the door and then put it back. I know it can get a mess real easy.

There should be a Serious Sewing Service that we can call. Someone that understands us, and knows the importance of 'Our stuff'...Someone that will come to our home, with a team, and not judge us, but send us to the spa for a day of R&R, and when we come home there is the most beautiful room, with everything put away in their place, but nothing thrown away...everything organized so we can find it on first attempt. This service of course would be free of charge to serious sewers with a minor flaw.....

I just wish I had a dedicated sewing room

Me too. Hopefully soon. I will be taking over the basement bedroom. That knocks one of the kids out of having their own room (then that gives two of them their own room but our youngest son will not sleep in a room by himself) but .... :oops: I can't put all of this in the living room! LOL

This is kind of what I've been doing. I moved a lot into the bathroom across the hall because my DH is out of town for a while, so I can make whatever mess I want to as long as we can move by the time he gets back....

My mom always says, "A messy room is the sign of a creative mind." As a quilter, these are wise words to live by :)

i have a half decent L-Shaped room.. It is an organized chaos!! LOL I can see the floor though, I just have fabrics, projects and WIPS and baby bloomer orders in various "organized" piles!