Feeling overwhelmed with piles of patterns, fabrics, trims, books and more in your sewing room? Ready to dump it all and start fresh? Or at least find a way to manage all the things?

We’ll take a look at the popular KonMari Method of tidying and how it applies to sewing and crafting items to help give you a set of guidelines for dealing with the clutter and to free your mind and space for new creative projects.

Show Notes and Mentions

-Marie Kondo’s book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up 

-Kondo’s follow up book: Spark Joy – Read this one, too, as she addresses those questions that come up when reading her Life-Changing Magic book such as keeping tons of books if you love them and tools that don’t necessarily give you joy but make your life easier.

-Read my accompanying blog post on this topic of decluttering. 

-It’s important to refine your vision of what you want your sewing space to look like and how you want it to work for YOU.

-Everything has come into our life for a reason, a purpose, a season. Have appreciation for each item; display, store, use and discard things with gratitude.

-Discard things by either giving away, donating, selling, or tossing into the trash.

-The KonMari categories as I relate them to sewing stuff:

• Clothing: finished items, garments, current and completed projects. These I recommend doing last in the Sentimental category.
• Books: all sewing-related books and publications
• Documents: patterns, pattern papers, magazines, notes, binders, etc.
• Komono/Misc: This should be broken down into subcategories:
  • Fabric: all fabrics, buckram & crinoline, muslin
  • Trims, Lace: braids, tapes, ribbons, flowers/greenery, etc.
  • Notions: Thread, buttons, zippers, hooks/eyes, boning, hoop wire, tapes, needles, pins, interfacings, elastic, yarns, etc.
  • Sewing Tools: scissors, rulers, seam gauges, grommet setter, irons, sewing machines, sewing boxes, glue guns, knitting needles and crochet hooks, etc.
• Sentimental: finished projects and costumes, undergarments, corsets, stockings and shoes, hats & bonnets, specific costume accessories, awards, convention memorabilia, photos, etc.

–Tim Ferriss' interview with Marie Kondo 

–Spark Joy Podcast hosted by KonMari Consultants: Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci. I recommend episode 25 on KonMari Myths and Missteps.

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