MENDING MY SEWING STUDIO ｜ A good practice to start 2026

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January 4, 2026

Ariane Brunet-Juteau – Editor

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In my studio…

The drawers are overflowing with denim scraps.
The repair basket is full.
The sewing machine drawer is in complete disarray.
The ironing board is torn.
And my sewing machine begging for mercy.

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Five years ago, Max, my life partner, and I bought a small country house. Cute, full of charm… but a bit wonky. Little storage, lots to fix. Every time we want to organize something, we first have to design and build it. Everything is a process. A slow process.

Downstairs, my studio awaited.

My studio space when we just moved in.

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I imagined a large central cutting table with plenty of storage underneath, a shelf for fabrics, another for books and treasures, and one for threads.

I built it all myself, learning to use a drill along the way.

My sewing studio now, view from the right angle:)

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I love my studio. But it’s still very much a work in progress—because, really, what isn’t? Many small details remain to be organized:

• The thread shelf doesn’t work as well as I hoped.
• The ironing corner is in the way.
• The “getto” corner hides the water pump.

My sewing studio now, view from the wrong angle:(

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Some projects for 2026 🙂

Meanwhile, small unfinished tasks weighed on my mind. Starting the year carrying them felt heavy. So I got to work—slowly, deliberately—finding joy in every small step… just as denim upcycling has taught me.

Here’s what I actually did:

Denim scrap drawers:
Emptied, sorted, and ironed the scraps. I let go of those I knew I wouldn’t use this year.

Sewing machine drawer:
Cleared out everything unnecessary, keeping only the essentials.

Sewing machine maintenance:
Changed the needle and dusted the machine.

Repair basket:
Cleaned it and made a realistic list of projects, keeping only the ones that mattered and were doable.

Ironing board:
Removed the old fabric and replaced it with cotton canvas I already had.

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Organizing my studio turned out to be exactly that, not a chore, not an obligation, but an extension of my creative practice.

A form of care.
Care for the material.
Care for the space.
Care for the slow rhythm.

A small act of resistance against the frantic race of productivity and the chaos of modern life. Making my space more livable, kinder, more supportive. Without rushing, without buying anything new, simply by immersing myself in the desire to care for my environment… and myself.

I’m so excited for the stories we’ll share in 2026! Until then, I wish you a year full of slow, gentle discoveries and mindful care—for yourself and your surroundings… a true year of living as a denim upcycler.

I’d also love to hear about your sewing space organization projects. Reply in comments! I always enjoy reading your updates!

Warmly,

Ariane xo 💙

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