Top 15 Tips for Quilting/Sewing in Small Spaces

If you need some ideas for making the most of your small quilting and/or sewing space, then this video is for you! In this video, I present 15 tips for small space quilting and sewing!
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[@dianekraemer5989]

I don't have a great tip, but one thing I learned was to do your best to have a dedicated spot, no matter how small. When I lived in a one bedroom apartment and tried to sew, I had the cutting table in the bedroom, the ironing board in the hallway and the machine in the living room. I spent more time running back and forth. Not to mention, while I was sewing, the house was a mess and I had to clean up everything when I was done. I'm fortunate, those days are behind me now.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks so much for sharing!!! That is such a good point!!

[@roseannbradley3724]

But the time you spent running back and forth was good exercise! 👏😁 No gym membership needed! 🤪😉🥰

[@jackielam6284]

I live in a travel trailer on my daughters farm. Quilting is a challenge. We built a shed beside the trailer and I have some storage there. I use my bed for cutting. I use a folding cardboard sewing mat and place my rotorary mat on that. Not ideal but it gets the job done. So enjoy your videos.

[@elainejudd4892]

Great way to make use of your space! Quilt on!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SaraMc-ez2mv]

I live in a house with an open great room concept….I made a space for my sewing area right in the middle between the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Centre of the universe! For my design wall I put skirt hangers on a piece of batting and some push pins in the wall above the French doors to our office space, hang the hangers on the pins and voila! Design wall

[@thesimplequilter7499]

That's a great idea!

[@elainejudd4892]

Very good tips! As an empty nester I have a lot of space for sewing, but I have found that everything I really NEED to make a quilt fits quite nicely into a scrapbooking tote on wheels that I bought used for $20. The side pockets hold an inexpensive WalMart mini iron, and there are pockets for pins and clips keep stored in Altoids tins. A big flap that folds down holds everything from scissors to rotary cutters to rulers, and it has loads of space for marking tools. The inside is roomy and holds my small sewing machine, extension cord, foot pedal, water bottle or sprays, and fabric. I have one of those combination ironing mat and cutting boards you displayed and that tucks into the side pocket or carries easily with its handle. If this is all I own and have space for, I can quilt! If it works for a retreat, it will work for everyday life. In fact, as I accumulate more and more stuff I have to ask myself “Why?” Easier, more efficient, etc., but more to manage, too. As we age we sometimes have to think that the future could involve a significant downsize in living space. If that ever happens I guess my retreat rolling cart will be just stuff enough to keep me quilting. I might need to tuck my LED floor lamp under my arm on the way out the door. 😅

[@christinekirkpatrick5400]

I love these ideas!! Less is more!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Lol! You are so right!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@carolgoff4317]

I think about my beginning sewing days where my mom and I shared a machine in a tiny sewing cabinet. We never had a sewing room just a sewing area. I bought a sewing machine with saved up baby sitting money when I was 17. Set up a little sewing area in my bedroom. You really can make do and I really miss those days of starting a project and seeing it to the end! Simple and it always works! I've been sewing for close to 60 years and yes I do appreciate my larger sewing room but smaller areas make great quilts too. A great video, lots of great ideas and thank you again!!

[@beckyezra1]

i used to have a super small space for sewing, i changed all the table pows to drawers, used the small space between the table to the wall to store my cutting mat, and used the top of the table shelves as well as lights.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@sandracedar368]

You always have such wonderful ideas and tips. I think the ideas you shared here would work even in a spacious area to keep everything organized. I always look forward to you. Thank you.❤

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you Sandra!

[@donnaborg5636]

Excellent ideas Michelle. I raised my boys in a 745 sq ft home, so I know all about small spaces, and your tips were spot on.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you so much!

[@marywilson2843]

I am just getting my sewing room redone. Tool box from harbor freight, storage cabinet and another cabinet going in tomorrow. Whoopee! Thank you for the tool box idea

[@thesimplequilter7499]

That is awesome! Please share photos when you are done! You can share them on my facebook group "The Simple Quilter's Community Showcase" I would love to see them!

[@lorifontaine]

Hi Michelle. Thanks for the tips! I repurpose cookie tins to store my completed blocks and use other tins to store fabric scraps and other projects. I use old pottery mustard jars for storing scissors and seam rippers. Mason jars hold buttons and embellishments. When I find an old tin without rust at a thrift shop, I'm over the moon!!! Small things can bring such joy. Hugs from Canada.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing! It is so exciting your are from Canada!!! I have actually been to Canada. Just for a few hours as a young girl! We were at Glacier National Park and visited then!

[@lorifontaine]

How cool is that?! You were in my neighbourhood!!! An extra hug from the Rockies!!!@@thesimplequilter7499

[@80657]

Wow that's a good idea. Cookie tins how cool. I also never thought about using cookie sheets either. I have used cookie cutters for applique templates before. Thank you for sharing.

[@sisterchicksquilting]

I have the smallest bedroom in our small home for my sewing room so I know how real the struggle is. However, the thought of not saving scraps or buying as much fabric is a very sad thought :( LOL. I did take over my garage for the longarm so I really shouldn't complain. I'm just running between those two rooms all of the time. Thanks for the video, it's nice knowing I'm not alone. Thanks, Michelle!!! BTW, Michelle is my business/quilting partner and daughter, great name :)

[@thesimplequilter7499]

All that running back and forth is good for your health! Lol! You are so lucky to have a longarm quilt machine!!!

[@sisterchicksquilting]

Yes, I’m so thankful for it. Off to my tiny space to quilt, lol

[@80657]

Holy cow....that's super cool...who knew I watched mother and daughter channels. Thank you Di and Michelle for 2 awesome channels 😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

@@80657 I'm confused....mother and daughter channels?

[@kimberlywright6296]

Love these tips. I sew on one side of a guest bedroom that I also share with my granddaughters pack n play and changing spot on the bed.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I’m so glad you like them!!!

[@80657]

I don't have a sewing room. To myself anyway lol. I live in a Mobil home and all 3 rooms are taken. My daughter and I share her room. Half of it is mine for sewing and the other half is her room. But I do sew in my livingroom when I want to spend time with family and watch a movie. When I have to quilt a quilt I have 2 tables I put in the livingroom and another machine I use that I have a walking foot for. I keep all my quilt books and patterns in books in totes in my room and my fabric is in totes in her room. I don't keep scraps unless I can get 2 1/2 strip or piece and I will keep that for scrappy binding. It helps save money to use my scraps for binding. I made a large homemade ironing board and when I'm done ironing I lift it up and I have my cutting mat on the board under the ironing board. I will say I have 2 irons. 1 I keep in her room under my ironing board and a travel iron that I use on all my patchwork. I only use the large iron when I'm completely done with the quilt top and need to press it and when I have to press yardage for another quilt. Other wise I use the travel iron. It also helps to save on electricity when using my travel iron rather than the big iron. Thank you for sharing your tips. I love harbor freight also. I really like the magnetic trays and when I told the cashier I was using it for sewing I got a weird look then I explained. She thought it was cool after that lol.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you for sharing! Happy quilting!!!

[@mavisharris5123]

Happy Valentine's Day!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You too!

[@margaretderen2082]

I loved my Tutto’s for transporting machine & supplies to class (back when I did that). I also have the Tutto rolling pet cases for vet trips for my cats.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

They are pretty nice!!!

[@SewGood1956]

Great tips and ideas. I always enjoy your videos.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you do!

[@susanonealsmith8434]

Great tips, as always!! Loved reading even more in the comments.:) Thanks so much, Michelle!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Susan, You are so welcome!

[@roseannbradley3724]

Yes definitely Susan! 👏😁 I always LOVE Michelle's down-to-earth sensible frugal ideas, and the comments from viewers are icing on the cake!! 🎂😃👍🤗

[@dianehuntley2493]

Great tips Michelle😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks so much!

[@SewingWithLawayne]

I live in a 115 yr old hotel turned into apartments so small space, my bed room is also my living room as i took the front room and made it my kitchen/sewing room. I might make a video about it.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Sounds interesting!

[@roseannbradley3724]

Oh yes, PLEASE DO!! 👏👍😁

[@gretroman8235]

All great tips. I received a rolling sewing machine bag that I used this past weekend to go to a class and it held everything I needed. Ironing and cutting stations were provided but I like my own rotary cutter and tools. I also received an interesting stacking boxes tote on wheels that separated into 4 units. It is a traveling makeup cart and the top compartment has stepped shelves like old fashioned sewing kits. It was amazing. Stagiant-Rolling-Cosmetic-Capacity-Traveling. I use art bins and 2.5 inch strip bins too and many of the items you mentioned. Great video.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks so much for sharing!!! I will have to look up that cart!

[@peggymalaski4061]

Thank you Michelle!!! I have looked for two evenings for a BOM flimsy that I finished before Christmas. You held up the plastic bin and I had to check mine-there it was! Put it away for safe keeping just forgot where the safe place was 🤷‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️😂

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@roseannbradley3724]

I can SO relate to your comment Peggy! 🤩😬🤪

[@user-lv3sr1fl3x]

I have my machine on one of those Husky tables and another one that I use as a workspace. Since I quilt on my sewing machine I can place the tables to hold the weight of the quilt while I’m quilting. They roll so easily!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I love mine!!!

[@lisaulrich8549]

Great tips! I have my Pink tool box that I got from JCPenney and I use it for all my hobbies not just quilting. I also have an Arrow cutting table which has a half ironing board that can be pulled out. My sewing table is a large Ikea desk that has a shelving unit on one side where I store various organization boxes.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I looked up that table...very nice!!! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@lisaulrich8549]

Correction, my husband remembered that I got the toolbox at Sears about 1998. It is a really sturdy large 2 tier box.

[@monicavalentine8472]

My sewing space is 3ftx5ft small closet, I have a fold tv table that i use for pressing and small 3 tier cart that fits next to table but rolls

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Folding tv tables make great ironing stations!! Thanks for sharing!

[@esperansaloughran693]

Great tips! Thx so much!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@lizreynolds4554]

Right now, we are in progress of some remodeling and possibly moving. I use a small folding table in my living room. YOU gave great tips. I like your storage ideas. I use the table cloth backing idea for a layout place. Thank you for sharing this with us.😊❤🎉🍀

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@wandawalker4191]

Thank you!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You're welcome!

[@sandrawhitman2930]

Good tips! The lights are pricey though!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

The lights are pricey but for me they are worth every penny! It seems like I never have enough light so the two I have are priceless for me! The older I get, the more valuable those lights become.

[@LauraSup]

Thank you for some really great storage options! I’m converting to the ArtBin containers! I love them!❤

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Me too!!

[@roseannbradley3724]

I also have several . . . I bought one or two here and there when they go on sale, usually right after Christmas. 👏👍😃

[@thesimplequilter7499]

@@roseannbradley3724 They are excellent products!

[@tammystrube8908]

Thank you so much for the excellent tips! I will be implementing many of them in my walk-in closet/work room/craft room! ❤

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

Awesome tips. I sew in a small space and these tips will come in handy

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Enjoy!

[@vikkivanveldhuizen2290]

I am in the process of organizing my 8 x 8 sewing space. I think I have some nice containers, I just don’t have the room to organize the containers. Money has been very tight. I have recently found a few carts (kitchen) and also want those storage cubes to put my fabric scraps in-sorted of course. I told my husband that I needed to go “up” and not out and across. We’ll see what it looks like in a couple of weeks.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Oh what fun you will have!!!

[@vikkivanveldhuizen2290]

@@thesimplequilter7499 LOL. I’ve just had knee replacement with the first one being October 17th. You are surely welcome to come to MN and help me??? I have to rely on someone to bring me items to go through. By the way, we moved to our new home three years ago now.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

@@vikkivanveldhuizen2290 Oh wow! That can slow the progress on reorganizing your quilt space. Keep working on your knee rehab! Before long you will be able to go through stuff without any help!

[@annelumsden5775]

Great ideas. I bought a kitchen trolley in ikea with an optional wooden chopping board lid. I can iron small pieces on a small wool mat on the trolley lid.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@SoPatch33]

❤❤

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you!

[@cherylbergeson3858]

Hello Michelle, I have a question for you. My question is what size is your rolling cart cutting table and size cutting mat?

[@thesimplequilter7499]

My table is 23.75" x 46" and my mat is 23.5" x 35.5"

[@MonaDidWhat]

I sew in the L of my living room. It’s wall to wall furniture. I have to move my chair around to get where I need to go

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Sounds like you definitely have to use your space wisely! Thanks for sharing!

[@karenwerts2331]

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you!

[@yvonnemoretti7646]

One tip, dont leave your machine in your car, the cold and hot weather is not a friend to your machine.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!!!