Organizing crafting supplies

There are lots of reasons why you might want to organize your crafting supplies. Maybe they take up too much space in your home, space that you could use for something else. Maybe you would save money if you didn’t end up buying the same things multiple times because you couldn’t find them when you needed them. Or maybe being less frustrated with your supplies would increase your enjoyment when you craft, making it more likely that you would complete your projects. The reason decluttering them gets tricky is that, by their very nature, crafting supplies spark joy!

How to choose what to declutter

First, get real about what you do. Is this a case of fantasy self, where you imagine a version of you scrapbooking, but in reality, you know you’ll never actually sit down and do it? Do you have enough supplies to sew several quilts, but really, you’ll never get around to making even one? Did you start a project that you are no longer excited about and don’t want to continue? It’s fine to let go of those supplies that can still be useful if YOU won’t use them. (I can also help find good homes for those items so they don’t end up in a landfill – I’ll give you some ideas below.) This helps make room for the supplies you will actually use!

Second, look at the leftovers from previous projects. If you have a yard of fabric left and really love it, it’s reasonable to think you will find a way to use it! But if all you have left are a few scraps, or less thread on your spool than it takes to fill a bobbin, please let it go. These items can be recycled responsibly, and getting rid of them will free up so much space! On the off chance that you then need to purchase something again, I guarantee you that the 20 minutes or $20 you spend doing it will be worth the extra space you’ll have after decluttering.

If there is anything clearly expired or unusable, like dried up paint, frayed or stained fabric, or paper with water damage, please let it go without guilt.

You can also assign yourself a specific project with a deadline. For example, if you love love making greeting cards and gift tags with odds and ends from various projects, gather ALL your scrap supplies and schedule a time to use them. Whatever is left over after that date goes – and then remember to actually use the cards!

Finally, you know which items were pleasant to work with and which were low-quality and made the experience frustrating. Recycle all those unreliable items and keep only the best, most useful ones.

How to store your crafting supplies

I always say that your things should be easily accessible. It may not be feasible to leave your sewing machine set up on a table at all times, but it can’t be stored away too far either, or you’ll get overwhelmed by the mere thought of setting it up!

A spare dresser is usually a great way to keep things accessible, but not in plain sight all the time. If you want to use labels, you can put them on the lip of the drawers so that they are only visible when the drawer is open – this will reduce visual clutter. You can also use stackable plastic drawers, or add an over-the-door storage rack in a closet or craft room.

Location is important as well. I love knitting, and I pretty much only knit when I’m in front of the television. So for me, it doesn’t make any sense to store my knitting supplies in a separate room – I store them in the living room, where they are easily accessible when I use them. That also limits how much I can own at any given time, because I don’t want the space to look messy!

Where to donate your discards

If the item can still be useful to crafters, you have several options. You could donate your supplies to schools or scout troops. You can also post them for free on Nextdoor or a local Facebook group.

In San Antonio, we have a second-hand store called Spare Parts which accepts donations of arts and craft supplies. If you want to find a good home for your discards while supporting a non-profit, this is a great place!

If you have a project that is unfinished due to disability or a loved one’s death, consider Loose Ends, which can match you up with a volunteer who will finish the project for you.

March may be National Craft Month, but it is always a good time to organize crafting supplies!