Hello! It’s Tuesday and the second week of my Quilt your Stash series! I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how the small changes I’ve made already have really been helping me stay more organized!
Last week I presented just three steps to take to get going: first, clean off all of
your sewing/quilting work spaces; second, make a list of works in progress, and third, make a list of projects you might want to make this year. This week there will also be three new tasks (three seems like a manageable number for each week, so I’ll stick to that unless there is a really big task).
So…for this week:
- First, decide when you are going to spend time on organizing each day/week. I really feel like having a set plan for when I’m going to organize has helped already. I’ve picked Saturday mornings for weekly organizing, and last Saturday morning I knew that I needed to do at least an hour of organizing before I could start sewing for the day. I’ve also decided that I will pick up and clear off all of my flat work spaces when I’m done sewing each day that I’m in the sewing room.
- Second, decide on a weekly or monthly organizing task. I picked just one organizing project for January because it’s kind of a big task I’ve needed to do for awhile. I’m going to organize and label all of my notions. I have notions in a lot of different plastic bins and drawers without labels.
- Third, pick a project to start and finish this quarter…using your stash! You have a few options for this task–you can start something from your works in progress list you made last week (since everything for that project should be in your stash) or you can start a new project from your “want to make list” if you have fabric on hand for it. Finally, you might want to consider a scrap project. My goal this year is to make a scrap quilt every quarter that isn’t already a work in progress.
Organizing photos aren’t always glamorous, but here is a little bit of what I did on Saturday. The cupboard above was an absolute mess of papers and notions and patterns. I took everything out and decided the bottom shelf would be perfect for some fabric bins I have. I labeled each bin and stacked them neatly. The top shelf holds notions also labeled: I have a couple of jars of zippers, a basket with assorted trims, and some plastic containers with completed hexies, needles, pins, covered button supplies, and extra rotary cutters. Everything is labeled now, making it so much easier when I’m looking for something.
While I had my label maker out I labeled a bunch of plastic bins that I have in my sewing room. I really do plan on cutting up the fabrics in these bins into squares and strips this year, but it’s good to have them labeled for now. The label tape peels off easily from the plastic containers, and I feel a lot better having everything labeled.
I still have several more notion bins and drawers I need to organize and label before the end of the month. I’ll be sure to share my progress with that.
Finally…about my idea for the first quarter scrap project. I’ve decided on my project and will share my idea and a round-up of other scrap quilt ideas in a “coming soon” post.
Thanks so much for stopping by! As always…please leave your thoughts and suggestions on this weeks organizing ideas in the comments section of this post. Last week’s post had some terrific ideas in the comments…thank you!
Laura Tucker says
I love clear storage boxes of all sizes. I can see what is in them and they stay stacked so neatly. Mine all sit on the floor, no cabinets here. Have a good supply of loose scraps that need to be cut and put into those clear storage boxes. If time permits I will cut my leftovers when a project is complete.
Hildy says
I put the finished blocks for my Farmer's Wife quilts in clear documents pouches. It's the perfect size for it (or other quilt alongs) and I don't need a extra (and too big) box. And I add a sheet with the name of the project and some notes to this pouch … so I'll know what I've planed to do;-)
Cindy England says
Such a great series, Sherri – thanks for sharing! I'm following along with you and posting my progress on my blog; got my 2016 list written up over the weekend and am pondering today's new tasks. Can't wait for next Tuesday now. 🙂
Melissa Milos says
I am so happy you are doing this. I followed last week and have a whopping 94 started projects. I have put my own spin on the tasks and made a draw bag with the numbers that correspond to my list and have to do at least one small thing to the item I draw for that day. if I want to continue to work on it until done thats great. If I don't wish to keep working on it I pack it up and return its # to the draw bag. Thankyou for the motivation. I have recently become even more disabled that I was so the organization will be so supportive to moving forward. It is almost like the clouds of clutter are parting and letting in the emotional sunshine.
dagmar.eu says
I'm having a huge tidy this month as I am having a sewing machine table delivered next week so need all the bins out that are currently stashed and stacked under my desk where my sewing machine is at the moment. I'm so excited but I also know that I from now on have to be really organised as I will have less storage so will take a long hard look at the fabrics in the bins and decide what to keep and what to give away. Thanks for sharing your ideas
cityquilter grace says
looks great….anything one can do to make things easier to corral and then find later is terrific! will be watching your progress!
Little Quiltsong says
Love your tidy shelves! I too have the white baskets as shown on the left side of your first picture. Love them – especially as they are stackable. I use 9 to store the basic colors in and then many others for the different fabric lines. I'm always reorganizing or rearranging my sewing room though. I struggle to keep a clean workplace, but then being surrounded by fabric and patterns is part of the fun, right :)!
Kathy H. says
I love using Evernote to track my projects. I have folders for patterns, projects ready to start, in progress, fabric on hand, etc. I can attach photos, so when I buy fabric, I take a photo at the store and identify the pattern and plans so I don't forget them. I take photos of the front and back of patterns I have so that when I find fabrics that would suit, I know how much to get for the pattern. Much better than my old hand-written lists!
Kathy H. says
I love using Evernote to track my projects. I have folders for patterns, projects ready to start, in progress, fabric on hand, etc. I can attach photos, so when I buy fabric, I take a photo at the store and identify the pattern and plans so I don't forget them. I take photos of the front and back of patterns I have so that when I find fabrics that would suit, I know how much to get for the pattern. Much better than my old hand-written lists!