What Are We Organizing Today 2023
#51
I enjoy reading everyone’s organization questions, answers, and ideas.
I, too, have been trying to organize scraps. My problem is I used to bring home leftovers from 2 different groups and many of those were less than 5” wide. I do have them sorted by color but just tossed in their color bin. 🤦🏼♀️
My goal is to go through my flannel scraps. I did make a crib quilt top from flannel this weekend. However, when I started looking for flannel borders, I decided to dump out the 2 bins one at a time and look for larger pieces. I was successful but ‘oh my’ do I have a sorting job in front of me! Strips, squares, small irregular shaped pieces, etc. 🤷♀️
Wish me luck!
I, too, have been trying to organize scraps. My problem is I used to bring home leftovers from 2 different groups and many of those were less than 5” wide. I do have them sorted by color but just tossed in their color bin. 🤦🏼♀️
My goal is to go through my flannel scraps. I did make a crib quilt top from flannel this weekend. However, when I started looking for flannel borders, I decided to dump out the 2 bins one at a time and look for larger pieces. I was successful but ‘oh my’ do I have a sorting job in front of me! Strips, squares, small irregular shaped pieces, etc. 🤷♀️
Wish me luck!
Most of my scraps had been cut into 4.5" squares but I had some strips and some 2.5 x 4.5" bricks. I tried to place pleasing colors together but it was quite the puzzle and ended up with 21 tops. When I had enough squares, I made disappearing 9 patch units to disburse the colors better. Here is one picture of a 29" square top, prior to sandwiching with it's 41" sq. backing.
#54
I used flannel yardage, some that I had and others that I bought, but calculated carefully so I wouldn't have any scraps LOL
#56
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
Emilia's Nana- great job using up those flannels- and especially managing to calculate everything so you didn't end up with scraps!
I've managed to excavate some of the horizontal surfaces in my quilting studio, so am looking forward to a day of working on my Sunshine Illusions WIP and also a UFO after I spend 15 minutes finding things to put in the donate bin.
Rob
I've managed to excavate some of the horizontal surfaces in my quilting studio, so am looking forward to a day of working on my Sunshine Illusions WIP and also a UFO after I spend 15 minutes finding things to put in the donate bin.
Rob
#57
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cottage Grove, MN
Posts: 2,809
EmiliasNana: Thank you for answering my question.
WMUTeach: I definitely need to vacuum after finishing a flannel quilt.
rryder: I donated some applique patterns that were given me through a local Buy Nothing group. I also gave some fabric I wasn’t interested in anymore. It’s a good feeling to let some things go.
WMUTeach: I definitely need to vacuum after finishing a flannel quilt.
rryder: I donated some applique patterns that were given me through a local Buy Nothing group. I also gave some fabric I wasn’t interested in anymore. It’s a good feeling to let some things go.
#58
Reading here is so inspiring. It’s enlightening hearing about not only other methods of organizing, but other mindsets as well. Really helps me look at things differently!
I’m a bit of an organization zealot, one of those who finds it difficult to focus on a project if my “stuff” is in chaos. On the other hand, I can let “analysis paralysis” take over and end up spending too much time organizing and not enough time quilting! I’ve had to really work on reaching a level of organization that keeps me from that hopeless feeling, but that still lets myself have the freedom to be able to work without having to account for every scrap being in the “right” spot.
Utilizing a standard scrap organization system has been really helpful. After I’m done with a project, I cut scraps into the largest pieces I can: 10” squares, 5” squares, 4.5” strips, then progressively smaller strips until I’m left with just a string for the string-quilt pile.
My struggle is deeming a piece of fabric “small enough” to put it through this treatment. I have a number of rather odd-sized pieces that really should, but I’ll unfold them to start cutting and think, Oh, no, this could be a border for a baby quilt. This could be the binding for something. This could be enough for… And so the odd-sized piece gets re-folded and put right back on the shelf. Then no doubt, when I’m looking for a baby quilt border or a binding, I’m looking at my yardage anyway…
The push to get all the yardage folded with a uniform method—that was well worth it. All facing out where I can see them, making “shopping the stash” fun and easy.
I’m pretty good at getting newly purchased yardage folded properly and put on the shelves, and I’ve forced myself to be good about “cleaning up” after I’m done with a project rather than leap into the next one while untidy scraps of the previous project sit glaring at me balefully from where they’ve shoved aside in the corners of every working space in the house!
I’m a bit of an organization zealot, one of those who finds it difficult to focus on a project if my “stuff” is in chaos. On the other hand, I can let “analysis paralysis” take over and end up spending too much time organizing and not enough time quilting! I’ve had to really work on reaching a level of organization that keeps me from that hopeless feeling, but that still lets myself have the freedom to be able to work without having to account for every scrap being in the “right” spot.
Utilizing a standard scrap organization system has been really helpful. After I’m done with a project, I cut scraps into the largest pieces I can: 10” squares, 5” squares, 4.5” strips, then progressively smaller strips until I’m left with just a string for the string-quilt pile.
My struggle is deeming a piece of fabric “small enough” to put it through this treatment. I have a number of rather odd-sized pieces that really should, but I’ll unfold them to start cutting and think, Oh, no, this could be a border for a baby quilt. This could be the binding for something. This could be enough for… And so the odd-sized piece gets re-folded and put right back on the shelf. Then no doubt, when I’m looking for a baby quilt border or a binding, I’m looking at my yardage anyway…
The push to get all the yardage folded with a uniform method—that was well worth it. All facing out where I can see them, making “shopping the stash” fun and easy.
I’m pretty good at getting newly purchased yardage folded properly and put on the shelves, and I’ve forced myself to be good about “cleaning up” after I’m done with a project rather than leap into the next one while untidy scraps of the previous project sit glaring at me balefully from where they’ve shoved aside in the corners of every working space in the house!
#59
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
Reading here is so inspiring. It’s enlightening hearing about not only other methods of organizing, but other mindsets as well. Really helps me look at things differently!
....
My struggle is deeming a piece of fabric “small enough” to put it through this treatment. I have a number of rather odd-sized pieces that really should, but I’ll unfold them to start cutting and think, Oh, no, this could be a border for a baby quilt. This could be the binding for something. This could be enough for… And so the odd-sized piece gets re-folded and put right back on the shelf. Then no doubt, when I’m looking for a baby quilt border or a binding, I’m looking at my yardage anyway…
!
....
My struggle is deeming a piece of fabric “small enough” to put it through this treatment. I have a number of rather odd-sized pieces that really should, but I’ll unfold them to start cutting and think, Oh, no, this could be a border for a baby quilt. This could be the binding for something. This could be enough for… And so the odd-sized piece gets re-folded and put right back on the shelf. Then no doubt, when I’m looking for a baby quilt border or a binding, I’m looking at my yardage anyway…
!
Rob
#60
Yes! This is pretty much what I do, but I think I need to be a little more brutal about cutting down those odd pieces! I like your criteria: smaller than a fat quarter or less than a regular quarter yard.