Well, it has taken me the better part of January to make order from my chaos of all my scrap fabric.
I have sort, folded, cut, containerized, labeled all almost all of my fabrics and scraps!!!
PROOF is in the pictures…..My “stash” is organized in bins by color…and labeled; the scrap table now has containers that are labeled and all the bits are cut into usable dimensions. The cutting table is nearly cleared off; and some inspiration pieces are on the design wall. Directly above the cutting table is a list to remind me of what sizes the scraps can / should be cut into!!! Even the Works – In – Progress bin is labeled!! I have found the quilt that was on the work table again…..maybe I will finish pinning the borders on!
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- BEFORE – The Scrap table; piled high with all sorts of containers and assorted stuff!!! Pants that need mending; folded fabric for projects; my stack of African Waxed Fabric; etc.
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- The shelving unit the bins belong on; the batting is out of control and will get resolved another day!
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- Odd shapes left from making a sun dress – cut into strips and squares!
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- This is the table I usually use when I pin a border on…wait; there is a quilt top on it with a pinned border; hidden by by bins of fabric I am sorting; and my strips I have been cutting from the scraps.
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- A little more order to the shelf! I need a few more bins, but need to MEASURE fr that middle width…hard to get 3 across!! (I really should get busy mending all that stuff on the side on hangers.)
The cutting table and the ironing station and my design wall. Since I have not got a current project, I have some inspiration on the wall…FMQ practice pieces and some ongoing hexi’s along with a couple of items I took to Houston for classes on binding. (Note the 2 space heaters trying to keep me warm!) Above my cutting table is my “scraps to usable dimension” reminder. Someday I plan for a pegboard on that wall to hold the rulers and rotary cutters etc. For now, a file sorter holds the rulers and baskets to contain some of the cutters.
That is a very FULL waste basket with all the odd bits that didn’t “make the cut”.
Today, I need to cut fabric for my Quilt Guild retreat coming up ! I can do that now that Order has returned to the Quilt room.
Happy Sewing!!!
Stitching Grandma 
Congratulations – you’ve done a wonderful job. I’ve gone through two large bags of scraps, but that’s it. I have a lot more to do.
Lillian
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Thanks Lillian…it does take a lot of time!! I think the standing and cutting is wearing! If I was to start over, I would get one of those cushioned mats to stand on at the cutting table! I have had a good time playing with the bits. Anything too odd, I toss to the side for HEXI’s…and have filled a small ziplock with those pieces. Thanks for stopping in. Good luck with your stash.
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Wow – you’ve done a great job but I’m laughing because you have more fabric in three bins than I have in all my bins. I just finished cleaning the garage – not near as much fun. Stay warm and happy quilting.
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Hi Judy…thanks for stopping in ! I’ve gone a bit nuts buying fabric, and am now trying to hold the pocketbook tightly !! My personal goal is to stop buying fabric uness it is to coordinate on a project with existing fabric in the stash. I realized just yesterday that I really didn’t start buying until 2011…and I stock piled quite a bit right before I retired…I think I have enought to last a bit!!
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Wow!! What a big job. Where was Aunt Carolyn when you needed her?? The queen of organization!
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That’s what I was thinking…really Carolyn spurred me to ACTION. She came home from the IQF in Houston, and immediately started to organize her sewing space. She got rid of the PLAID sleeper sofa, got new tables for cutting and pressing and started folding her “stash”. She has her rulers in a rack on the wall etc. Now, as far as her guest room goes, I think anybody who visits is going to be on an aero bed on the patio! The guest room is GONE !! 🙂
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my scrap drawer was trying to ooze out onto the floor this weekend…discovered hubby had been in there getting pieces to practice on! Love how you’ve done your room. I don’t see that happening real soon here, but it could. It could.
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Thank you. It is really a huge space above the garage, and I want my “section” to be organized. I am by nature a clutter – bug! But, I am big on bins and labels. (Helps to keep the clutter contained I think!) Nice of you to share your bit with your hubby! What is he working on??
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He was figuring out how to sew around something circular. Did a pretty good job of figuring it out, too. 😆
I’m not sure what he has in mind to sew though.
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It will be interesting to see what he comes up with. I did “curves” once in a class…we only got 1 full block done in a 3 hour class…too many pins for me. I bought a “curved piecing foot” at IQF – Houston, but haven’t used it yet. Remind him a girl needs all the “right tools” to do the best work!! 🙂
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SAAAYYY….what a good idea! And I could also point out that GUYS need all the right tools too, if they’re gonna participate in the sewing experience. 😆
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Wow! What a difference you have made 🙂 I hope you can find everything now that it is so organised 😉
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I actually got a bit of work done today. Cut 88 strips for a project I start on Wednesday at a quilt retreat. Nice feeling to not feel cluttered.
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Good job. I have been taking my unusable scraps (and pieces of old clothes) and filling a pillowcase half full with them. Then the pillowcase is donated to the local animal shelter.
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What a great suggestion! Thank you for sharing the idea.
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It looks nice. Lots of work goes into sorting fabric.
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Like any hobby, sometimes you have to stop and clean up! Thanks for stopping in to read the post.
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What a major effort and a great job! Any time you want to tackle mine I’ll let you,
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Karen it was an effort for sure. I put a book in the player while I worked. A friend hanging out could have made it go faster, team effort! If I was near by I would come armed with my rotary cutter.
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You really did organize your scraps. It looks very nice. You almost got me wanting to get inside of my office and get something done.
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😉 now I should be able to move on to fun!! My list from January did not diminish. ..it is still waiting and growing. I did take time while organizing to think about the order on the list, and will do some prioritizing.
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🙂 I hope you are able to soon!!
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Wow!! I just got a chance to explore and found this post. What a great job! If you think my scraps are folded…well, delusion is a comforting state. My scraps are tossed willy-nilly in the bins labeled by color, one for each color and require digging to find what I want, but still a much better system than overflowing ziplocs.
I admire your determination to use what you have and only buying what you need. Let me know how that works out for you. 😉
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Glad you found my post! I have been using my 2 1/2″ scraps as Leader/Enders for most of the sewing I have been doing the last 2 weeks. Really just joining a light and dark together at this point, then into a baggie they have been going. When I have a few minutes, I am going to press open the pairs I have done, and then turn them into 4 patches. Everything I consider scraps gets cut into “usable dimensions” after I have cut my project pieces. We shall see if I can keep it going. I have only bought 1 yard of fabric recently….but do need to grab some fat quarters (or cut my own) for our bee next week.
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