diff --git a/examples/sorting.html b/examples/sorting.html
index 8ea3678..00dd684 100644
--- a/examples/sorting.html
+++ b/examples/sorting.html
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@
 
 <script src="../item.js"></script>
 <script src="../isotope.js"></script>
+<script src="../layout-mode.js"></script>
 <script src="../layout-modes/fit-rows.js"></script>
 
 <script>
diff --git a/isotope.js b/isotope.js
index 5c15e3f..de2bd01 100644
--- a/isotope.js
+++ b/isotope.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector, Item ) {
     this.modes = {};
     // create from registered layout modes
     for ( var name in Isotope.layoutModes ) {
-      this._createLayoutMode( name );
+      this._initLayoutMode( name );
     }
     // keep of track of sortBys
     this.sortHistory = [ 'original-order' ];
@@ -61,10 +61,9 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector, Item ) {
 
   // -------------------------- layout -------------------------- //
 
-  Isotope.prototype._createLayoutMode = function( name ) {
+  Isotope.prototype._initLayoutMode = function( name ) {
     var LayoutMode = Isotope.layoutModes[ name ];
-    var options = this.options[ name ];
-    this.modes[ name ] = new LayoutMode( this, options );
+    this.modes[ name ] = new LayoutMode( this );
   };
 
   Isotope.prototype._mode = function() {
diff --git a/layout-mode.js b/layout-mode.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe05e6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/layout-mode.js
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+( function( window ) {
+
+'use strict';
+
+// --------------------------  -------------------------- //
+
+var Isotope = window.Isotope;
+var Outlayer = window.Outlayer;
+
+function LayoutMode( isotope ) {
+  this.isotope = isotope;
+  // link options to isotope.options
+  this.options = isotope && isotope.options[ this.namespace ];
+}
+
+// default methods just defer to Isotope
+LayoutMode.prototype._resetLayout = function() {
+  Outlayer.prototype._resetLayout.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
+};
+
+LayoutMode.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition = function() {
+  return Outlayer.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
+};
+
+LayoutMode.prototype._manageStamp = function() {
+  Outlayer.prototype._manageStamp.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
+};
+
+LayoutMode.prototype._getContainerSize = function() {
+  return Outlayer.prototype._getContainerSize.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
+};
+
+// -------------------------- create -------------------------- //
+
+LayoutMode.create = function( namespace, options ) {
+  // subclass LayoutMode
+  function Mode() {
+    LayoutMode.apply( this, arguments );
+  }
+  Mode.prototype = new LayoutMode();
+  Mode.prototype.namespace = namespace;
+  // set default options
+  Isotope.prototype.options[ namespace ] = options || {};
+  // register in Isotope
+  Isotope.layoutModes[ namespace ] = Mode;
+  return Mode;
+};
+
+Isotope.LayoutMode = LayoutMode;
+
+})( window );
diff --git a/layout-modes/fit-rows.js b/layout-modes/fit-rows.js
index 237a00f..548d5bc 100644
--- a/layout-modes/fit-rows.js
+++ b/layout-modes/fit-rows.js
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@
 
 var Isotope = window.Isotope;
 var Outlayer = window.Outlayer;
-
-function FitRows( isotope, options ) {
-  this.isotope = isotope;
-  this.options = options;
-}
+var FitRows = Isotope.LayoutMode.create( 'fitRows', {
+  foo: 'bar'
+});
 
 FitRows.prototype._resetLayout = function() {
   Outlayer.prototype._resetLayout.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
@@ -37,14 +35,8 @@ FitRows.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition = function( item ) {
   return position;
 };
 
-FitRows.prototype._manageStamp = function() {
-  Outlayer.prototype._manageStamp.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
-};
-
 FitRows.prototype._getContainerSize = function() {
   return { height: this.maxY };
 };
 
-Isotope.layoutModes.fitRows = FitRows;
-
 })( window );
diff --git a/notes.md b/notes.md
index ff37c86..c264b32 100644
--- a/notes.md
+++ b/notes.md
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ filter
 
 filter on init doesn't do transition
 
+sortAscending
+
+sortAscending for object