Portable Sewing Kit Ideas: 5 Storage Solutions That Actually Work

This post is a follow-up to Week 7 of Making Space to Make, where we talked about creating portable sewing systems for shared spaces.

In last week's Making Space to Make video, we talked about creating an easy-to-access kit of all the items you use for most of your sewing projects. The idea is simple: having everything you need every single time in one portable container makes setup and cleanup so much faster, especially in shared spaces.

Today I'd like to show you some specific container options I've found that would work well for creating that portable kit. I've discovered there's a limited number of truly useful sewing-specific storage options out there, so what I like to do is think about what the mainstream version of this type of storage would be. With that approach in mind, here's what I came across.

Craft & First Aid Storage Boxes

1. 3-Layer Dividing Storage Box & Craft Organizer
If you remember Caboodles, this one will look familiar! Unlike the original Caboodles though, it has an extra tier of storage and moveable dividers inside the top tiers to give you more flexibility with what you're storing. This gives you multiple compartments for different categories — pins in one section, measuring tools in another, small scissors in a third.

2. 2-Layer Dividing Clear Storage Box
This box is nice because it's completely clear so you can easily see what's inside. It comes with moveable dividers for both the top and bottom sections, but it is on the smaller side so it's best for people who keep a more minimal set of essentials in their portable kit.

3. 4-Tier Medicine Organizer
Aside from the fact that it has no internal dividers, this portable medicine box checks all the boxes for a sewing kit. It has a large bottom container for oversized items like large spools of thread or even small pieces of fabric, and two top trays for smaller items like scissors, measuring and marking tools, pins, and notions.

Plano 1364 4-By Rack System 3650 Size Tackle Box

When thinking about other hobbies that require lots of organized, portable storage, fishing immediately came to mind. This tackle box is highly rated across multiple sites because of how modular and sturdy it is. I saw quite a few people using it for embroidery and craft storage and I can absolutely see why.

It has a larger top container for oversized items, but what really caught my attention is what's underneath. Each of these storage boxes lifts out completely and includes tons of organizers to really customize the interiors. I love that you can remove just the smaller bin you need to fully access the contents, and you can also purchase additional storage boxes in case you need to swap them out for different projects.

This case is just really smartly designed for people who need serious organization.

Prym Wooden Sewing Box

Last but not least, we have a traditional-style sewing box. This type of box is made from wood and swings out from the center to reveal different compartments. If you really want a vintage vibe with your sewing storage, these boxes are perfect.

One thing I don't love about them is that you can't see the full contents of each compartment at a glance, but this style of box has been around for decades so  it must be doing something right!

Remember the Key Points

As I mentioned in Week 7, the most important thing is deciding what you need first, then finding storage to fit those items. Storage should fit the items, not the other way around.

Think about your portable kit essentials:

• Scissors
• Rotary cutter and blades
• Pins and needles
• Tape measure
• Seam ripper
• Seam gauge
• Etc.

Consider keeping thread and bobbins in a separate container since thread has a way of tangling everything together!

What works for your portable sewing kit? I'd love to hear about your storage solutions in the comments below.

Related Post: Watch Week 7: Multi-Purpose Space Management
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