soozieq2

[Don't get too much stuff in the first place! says the person that did![/QUOTE]

NOW, you tell me!!! : )

soozieq2

I reuse perscription pill bottles to put dull needles in. I write on the lid "dull needles." I have an endless supply...[/QUOTE]

I hoard my used sewing machine needles and use them to hang pictures, etc on the wall. They make very small holes but are very strong.

oksewglad

I hoard my used sewing machine needles and use them to hang pictures, etc on the wall. They make very small holes but are very strong.[/QUOTE]

I pierce a small hole in the cap of the pill bottle. Never have to open the bottle to put the needle in. And yes, old needles make great picture hangers.

Onetomatoplant

Yes! I love project boxes, and they make it very easy to stay organized while working on multiple quilts (something I swore as a beginner I’d never do &#129315.

Onetomatoplant

I recently organized about 6 grocery bags of scraps, and I learned several things while doing it.

1) Don’t “keep everything” as I was advised to do. I had scraps that were too small to be of any use, so I tossed them.

2) Don’t start a scrap bin and you won’t have bags and bags (or bins and bins) of scraps to eventually organize. Now after each project, part of my clean-up is putting the scraps into their respective color-coordinated bins. I don’t cut mine down into precut sizes because I’m a paper-piecer and wonky pieces work as well as squares for me.

And 3) I might get beat for this, but it’s ok to get rid of scraps you don’t like. You can save them to donate or you can (gasp!) just throw them away. If it makes you cringe, make it go away.

I’ve found I use my scraps a lot more now that they’re color coded and accessible.

Also, if you’re new to quilting (I’m going to get beat again), consider buying for projects rather than collecting fabric.

I love reading posts about organizing!

w1613s

I have multiple machines and seem to create bits and bits of thread, fabric, and other all over the place. My trick is to carefully wash the next used plastic container with plastic top (like for yogurt) and cut an X-marks-the-spot in the top, using the closed container for bits and pieces as well as pointy stuff and sharp stuff (blades). I do differentiate between bloody stuff and non-bloody stuff - two different containers. 😄

This seems to work for me. There's also the joy of being able to get different sized containers. I am a warfarin eater and before I started using the above idea, I used to wonder if I was going to leak to death. And then there were thise dratted blood spots.

Hope this helps. And I thank all of you for your suggestions. I don't think there is anything about sewing I don't appreciate. My special favorite is those who do it.

Pat

sewbeadit

This is so true. I have so much stuff and now worry about how I am going to get rid of it before I die! I couldn't use it all in two life times. I have a 24 x 26 sewing studio and another bedroom full. duh.

mrsg730

In addition to storing (filing) my fabrics in a file cabinet, I stopped saving every little scrap. I realized that most of my mess was caused by all the scrap bins I tried to save. Since I stopped, I have one little basket with usable scraps that I sometimes use to try blocks I’ve never made before I make them for my quilts but that’s it! No more teeny tiny scraps for me.

Ms Morgan

Since I'm pretty new to this, and my first full completed project. I'm left with a lot of little scraps, that I don't feel I can throw away. I'm thinking about making bins. I like the idea of drawers on a wire mesh stand that I saw on pinterest. But any suggestions about bin sizes for scraps? TIA

zozee

I like clear shoeboxes with white lids. Easy to stack, easy to label, easy to see through. I started out combining certain colors (brown and black, pink and red, green and blue) until I had enough to give most colors their own box. I've been able to pretty well limit my scraps to this size. At one point I tried keeping a deep fabric cube by my desk and would drop all scraps into it and process all my scraps every couple months. Ack! Not something I'd advise. Found out I didn't enjoy pressing, cutting, and sorting for six hours at a pop. Now I process them as I go.