You love sewing but you tell yourself you really don’t have time for it? You want to sew your wardrobe and don’t know where to start to the point that you feel paralyzed?

We are all very busy with work, family life, ... however, by deciding to get organized and especially to organize your sewing projects, it is possible to succeed!

In this article, I decided to share with you my tips and tricks gathered over the years, from sewing projects and mistakes... that have helped me save time. Let’s go!

The pre-project

To save time in sewing, it is necessary to prepare your projects well. Let me explain. 

1. Define your priority projects

And yes, if you spend your time on Instagram or Pinterest hesitating between 36 models, not knowing what to choose or constantly changing your mind between several options... well, you will never start any project! It’s true that Instagram and Pinterest are sources of inspiration, but these two sites should not distract you from your goal!

 My advice

• or create a moodboard (it’s an inspiration board where you will paste/pin images that inspire you). It will help you channel your ideas, your favorite colors, your style, but above all to coherently define the pieces of your future wardrobe. 
• or define the pieces of your wardrobe (or those of your loved ones) that you really need. For example, you have seen 14 dress models, but what your closet lacks most are pants... so focus on pants models 😊 and choose your keywords carefully so you don’t stray too far...
• either work by impulse. This is a technique I often use and it’s simple. I see a pattern I like, I choose that one and I don’t look at other models until I have finished my project. 
• Choose a project that is realistic with your current skills (even if the lace sheath dress really tempts you...). Nothing is more discouraging than choosing a project that is too complicated and ending up abandoning it, perhaps wrongly thinking that sewing is not for you...

Below you will find the Artesane masterclass led by Charlotte Joubert, which clearly explains the usefulness of a moodboard. 

2. Organize your workshop / your space

To save time, it is important to have an organized sewing space that will allow you to easily find your basic tools and supplies. 

Having practical and consistent storage for your supplies will also save time when buying the materials needed for your project. Indeed, you will see if you have the necessary thread in the right color, the bias tape, the zipper... before going to the haberdashery or online and possibly making an unnecessary trip and/or purchase. 

My advice

• For my part, I always keep my basic equipment (pins, scissors, rulers...) within reach, stored in the same place. This prevents me from constantly searching for them. If you don't have a dedicated space, try to have a storage box: a sewing box, a sewing kit where you keep your "everyday" materials.
• Dedicate boxes to store your buttons, your bias tape, your bobbins, your needles, your canettes... so that all your stock of the same type of item is in one place. It will be much easier to see the status of your supplies 😊
  For my part, I use compartmentalized craft boxes to store my buttons by color; this allows me to quickly see if I have the supplies for my project. 

Once you have chosen your project and organized your space

3. Equipment

Now that your workshop is super well organized 😊, you will be able to check that you have all the supplies and equipment needed for your project.

Often it's quite easy to buy the supplies because the list is noted on the pattern, but have you thought about the matching thread, the jersey needle, or the pattern paper... because often it's Sunday at 2 p.m. when you start that you realize you don't have the invisible zipper essential to continue the project!

My advice

• Make a list of the project supplies, not forgetting the matching thread but also embellishment supplies like, for example, a finish with bias tape, a lace trim not necessarily included in the pattern but that you would like to add to your model.
• Check that you have the necessary materials for the different steps by viewing them. For my part, I always check if I have enough pattern paper, the right needle, the serger thread cones, the interfacing, ... if something is missing, I add it to my shopping list.

4. Plan the steps

As the saying goes, "to eat an elephant, you have to do it one bite at a time," well for your project, I advise you to do the same; that is, break the different steps into time units... Let me explain 😊 

In every project, you will more or less always have the same types of steps like:

- preparing the pattern

- the toile

- cutting the pieces

- overlocking/edging and preparing pieces (notches, clips...)

- assembly and sewing proper

- finishing touches: attaching bias tape, placing buttons, hems...

My advice

• Assign a duration to each step of your project, schedule it in your week/month as an important task. For me, once or twice a week, I reserve 1 to 1.5 hours after dinner to do a step of a project. This still leaves me time to enjoy my evening with my partner but also to make progress on my project. I decide that this time is for me and for my passion. 
• Don’t rush! One step at a time 😊 It’s better to plan 5 small steps in the week than to have to add quick-fix steps that will annoy you and erase the joy of having moved forward in your sewing.
• Celebrate the small steps. I mean, without playing "mom positivity," change your mindset... Instead of saying: "I’m not making progress on my project," say "Today, I cut all my pieces and tomorrow I’ll tackle the overlocking." 
  This change of perspective is really important for you and even those around you. 

5. Challenge yourself 

What can help you organize your time and project is also setting a deadline. For example:

- I sew my swimsuit to go on vacation

- I sew my dress for Christmas

- I sew my son’s pajamas so he can wear them at scout camp...

This can give you the push if you tend to procrastinate on a project. 

My advice 

• Set realistic, specific, and time-bound goals.
  I’ll give you a concrete goal example: Having sewn the sweatshirt from model XY for my daughter so she can wear it for the start of school in September 2022. 
  What not to do: I sew a garment for my daughter, or I would like to sew a garment for my daughter... that will never happen...

During the project 

6. Need help with steps

It can happen during a project that you need to look for information for a step where you hesitate about the technique. For example, to sew your first zipper fly, or make a bound buttonhole...

Choose reliable references! YouTube is great but... sometimes I see tutorials that make me raise my eyebrows... 

My advice 

• Invest in a reference book according to your level
• You can browse YouTube, but choose carefully the people you watch. There are tutorials from independent pattern brands made by pattern makers that are very well done. I have a much harder time when I see a tutorial made by someone who says they’ve been sewing for 6 months...
• Take one or more courses to do the steps of your project that scare you. Why not sew the fly zipper with a sewing teacher?

7. Watch out for traps

Sometimes you have "great ideas" during a project... it would be so much better if I added a ruffle here,... if I modified the sleeve... and there you go, you start trying to change your pattern, looking for tutorials, and often... messing up your final piece. 

Better is the enemy of good. If you want to modify your pattern, do tests but not on the final piece because the risk is high, especially if you are new to sewing. 

My advice 

• Anticipate the changes you want to make to the base pattern 
• Make a toile before you start
• And if the idea comes to you during the project, it’s better to finish the project and save the idea for a second project. Draw it or write it down in a small notebook dedicated to sewing. It will become inspiration for later. 

And if that’s not enough...

Get help.

One way to organize your sewing time is also through sewing courses/workshops, sewing cafés... this not only gives you a rhythm but also sharing, good cheer, advice, and sometimes even leads to new friendships! The courses are led by professionals who will advise you on your project and guide the other participants. I learned a lot myself during these exchanges because everyone brings their project, and the advice applies to everyone. 

Sewing cafés and sewing labs are places for sharing and advice. It's fun to be able to exchange with enthusiasts. They are often inexpensive and allow you to use the equipment provided by the organizing association.  By exchanging, you will often save time... for example, when looking for a pattern of a certain type, you will surely have the teacher or classmates who can recommend patterns or techniques to you...

I hope this article has given you some keys to better organize yourself in sewing and, above all, to move your projects forward... Now all that's left is to get started!

Get your needles ready!