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

We are all very busy with work, family life, ... nevertheless by deciding to get organized and especially 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... which have allowed me to save time. Let’s go!

The pre-project

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

1. Define your priority projects

And yes, if you spend your time on Instagram or Pinterest hesitating between 36 models, not knowing how 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 must not distract you from your goal!

 My advice

• or create yourself a moodboard (it is an inspiration board where you will stick/pin the 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 the most is pants... so focus on the pants models 😊 and choose the keywords well so as not to stray too far...
• either work by crush. It is a technique I often use and it is simple. I see a pattern that I like, I choose that one and I don’t look at the other models until I have finished my project. 
• Choose a project that is realistic with your current abilities (even if the lace sheath dress really tempts you...). Nothing is more discouraging than choosing a project that is too complicated that you will end up abandoning, 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 materials and supplies. 

Having practical and coherent 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 maybe making an unnecessary trip and/or purchase. 

My advice

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

Once you have chosen your project and organized your space

3. Materials

Since your workshop is now super well organized 😊, you will be able to check that you have all the supplies and the necessary materials for your project.

Often it is 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 is on Sunday at 2 pm 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 such as a finish with bias tape, a lace trim not necessarily planned 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 visualizing them. For my part, I always check if I have enough pattern paper, the suitable needle, overlocker thread cones, 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 to break down the different steps into time units... Let me explain 😊 

In each project, you will more or less always have the same type of steps such as:

- pattern preparation

- muslin

- cutting pieces

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

- assembly and sewing proper

- finishing: 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 my part, 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 advance 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 rip-it-up steps that will make you angry and erase the joy of having progressed in your sewing.
• Celebrate the small steps. I mean this without playing "mother positivity" change your mindset... Instead of saying: "I'm not progressing in my project" say "today, I cut all my pieces and tomorrow I tackle the overlocking" 
  This change of perspective is really important for you and even your surroundings. 

5. Challenge yourself 

What can help you organize your time and project is also to set 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 give you a concrete goal example: Having sewn the sweatshirt of pattern XY for my daughter so she can wear it at the start of the school year 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 fly, or make a bound buttonhole...

Choose reliable references! YouTube is great but... sometimes I see tutorials that make me open my eyes wide... 

My advice 

• Invest in a reference book according to your level
• You can browse YouTube but choose well the people you watch. There are tutorials from independent pattern brands made by pattern makers that are very well done. I have much more trouble 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 assemble the fly with a sewing teacher?

7. Beware of traps

Sometimes we have "great ideas" during the 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 modify your pattern, looking for tutorials, and often... making mistakes on your final piece. 

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

My advice 

• Anticipate the modifications you want to make on the base pattern 
• Make a muslin before starting
• And if the idea comes to you during the project, it's better to finish the project and keep 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 allows you not only to have a rhythm but also sharing, good humor, advice, and sometimes it even leads to new friendships! The courses are led by professionals who will advise you on your project and advise the other people present. I learned a lot myself during these exchanges because everyone brings their project and the advice is valid for everyone. 

Sewing cafés and sewing labs are places for exchange and advice. It's fun to be able to share with enthusiasts. They are often inexpensive and allow you to use the equipment provided by the association organizing them.  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 have patterns to recommend to you or techniques...

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

To your needles!