What about including a "special bag" for every hero in their inventory at the start of a new game.
This special bag is on it's own your "crafting" window wherein you can/have :
1) different tabs (OR: a sorting menu!) : like Arne wrote is a possibility ... a tab for alchemy, tailoring, blacksmithing or weapon-making (in general), scholar/scribe, ALL ITEMS
2) you can also repair all your gear in this special bag window (if you've a repair hammer).
3) you can identify all gear also (if you've an identify glass).
4) a "search" function ?
5) ... maybe more ideas or possibilities ... ?
OR maybe the window wherein you've your Journal/Secrets/Recipes/etc ... also a tab for Crafting ?
Just some tips