How to declutter and organise your crafting supplies
The rainbow of sewing thread. Image credit: West Plum Studio©
Trying to craft in chaos
Picture this: the stars align, not only do you have a window of time to do some crafting but you’re also in the mood to work on one of your projects. Fantastic!
Then you try to find your project. You have some of the supplies, but you can’t find the pattern. Was it a digital one or paper one?
Or perhaps you’re in between projects and you’re trying to decide what to do next? There’s so many gorgeous options to choose from that you can’t make up your mind. You struggle to decide.
Before you know it, both your time and inclination to craft have vanished and you’re left feeling overwhelmed, fed up and guilty.
I know this all too well. This often happens to me. So what can we do about it?
Top tips from an expert
I’m thrilled to be collaborating on this blog post with Cher Casey, PhD, from The Mindful Organiser. She’s an expert in all things decluttering and organising, and she has a particular passion for helping people sort their craft supplies. More about Cher below.
Craft supplies have a way of multiplying, and, without effective storage, they can quickly become chaotic. Here are Cher’s top 3 tips for decluttering and organising your crafting supplies so that you can spend more time enjoying them.
Self Reflection
Get really clear on what type of crafting you love and want to do moving forwards. Our craft supplies can often reflect unrealistic projects (time, energy, ability), but we hold on to them in the hopes of using them ‘someday’. Try to ignore the supplies you already have, and let go of any guilty thoughts saying you ‘should’ use this or that. Listen to your heart and think about what you truly enjoy.
Decluttering
Review your supplies and let go of things that you no longer need, use, and love. Make sure you only keep supplies that align with the crafts you love to make. Less is often more with crafts. Letting go of unnecessary supplies creates space (physical and mental) for projects that feed your soul. Remember, many supplies can be passed on. Look out for things like ‘destash’ events which can be either face-to-face or online. You could also ask local crafting groups if they accept donations.
Categorising
Categorise your remaining supplies, and store like with like. This makes it easy to find what you need when you need it. Should you stop mid-project, you’ll be able to easily pick up where you left off. Categories will look different for each person. For example, you may choose to keep all fabric together, or it might make more sense to store quilting fabric separate from garment-making fabric. You might choose to group ‘projects in progress’ or patterns, equipment and materials so that you can ‘grab and go’ the next time you have a crafting window. Find categories and storage that work for you, and watch your creativity thrive.
Start small
Overwhelm is real, no matter what the decluttering project, but crafts can be especially overwhelming because of sheer volume of supplies. If you’re feeling overwhelmed after reading this, please know you’re not alone.
To get started, Cher recommends:
Start small, pick one basket, shelf, bag to work through at a time.
Use sorting boxes for each category. This will make it easier to stop and start decluttering and organising a big project
Remember to get the decluttered items out of your house so you can really feel the benefit of your hard work.
About Cher
Cher Casey, PhD, The Mindful Organiser. Image credit: Anna Miree Photography
Cher Casey, PhD, is the founder of The Mindful Organiser, a professional decluttering and organising business based in York, England. Cher helps people in-person and virtually to simplify their homes and lives to reclaim space, find their calm, and thrive without the overwhelm of constant clutter and chaos.
As a busy mum herself, Cher understands firsthand the toll that clutter and disorganisation can take on a home, and an individual's well-being.
Cher is a member of APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers) and has shared her insights on podcasts and in publications including Ideal Home, The Yorkshire Post, and The Declutter Hub.
When she’s not helping clients create homes they love, you’ll find Cher exploring Yorkshire with her Golden Retriever, Rory, or enjoying family adventures.
The Mindful Organiser
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