Carrie: I have a question about wrapping the fabric around a 6X24" ruler and then stacking it on a shelf. The idea sounds great in keeping things organized instead of rummaging through tubs and bags. But what do you do with irregular shapped pieces; those that you have already used part of it and they don't cooperate very well with the wrapping. Do you have a method for keeping them with the same color family? Do you do this for large pieces of fabric also, like those pieces with 2 or 3 yards? Sara

Thanks for all the ideas. Working with fat quarters is nice, but I have managed to store up extra yardage of material I like a lot (and have plans for).

I suppose it depends on what you want to use it for. For the Hawaiian quilt panels a couple of fat quarters would suffice, but I feel compelled to buy at least a half-yard and add the remains to the stash. I'm planning 'my' quilt for last and that is going to be a patchwork containing all the fabrics I've used on everyone else’s. It should be a nice little pile by that time.

String is another thing. For the Hawaiian quilting I need so little to appliqué the piece on and they're unusual colors. At least the spools fit nicely in a little box (thus far). Leslee was kind enough to offer string enough for the pieces, which should help curb the need to buy it. Only white quilting thread is going to be a constant and I've already learned that lesson: buy large spools!

Okay, I must have missed something in my lessons with Leslie. What do I need string for?

You have already got some great hints for buying fabric that you love, and I agree. Never buy less that 4-5 yards of a fabric you absolutely love. There is no greater dissapointment, than not to have enough fabric when that perfect pattern or idea comes around.

Most of us have UFO's, WIP's, and PIGS. A UFO (UnFinished Object) can remain such for years. There is no expiration date on fabric. A WIP (Work in Progress) can become a UFO or not. PIGS on the other hand are Projects in Grocery Sacks that have not been started and may infact become something else as time goes on. Some ideas just need time to ferment. I have more PIGS than anything else. Quality quilt fabric is only available for a limited time, so I buy what I love and can afford with a certain project in mind or not. A few years from now, it may decide to be something completely different.

As I am sure you have learned by now, Steve, we are not big on rules. Relax, enjoy the process and be prepared to have more fabric, patterns and quilt books than you have life expectancy. In a few years, you may want to concider adding an addendum to your will. :lol:

A male arraignment perspective (non-binding)...

I see the pattern in a book or magazine. I figure out if it works for me and will it look good in this place (or as I envision a room should look in this place if it's ever fixed up). If it's a go, I figure out how to take that pattern and make it into a queen size quilt (that doesn't make me a size queen quilter). I then wander into the fabric store and start looking for things that resonate with the chosen pattern. This might take one or two fabric stores, a quilt shop or three, and maybe order a fabric from the net.

Take all said fabric, hot wash, warm dry, then press it. Fold up and put into these neat wine shipping boxes I get from my ex (who is the business manager for a small local winery). Make a copy of the plan from the book, or just throw the magazine into the top of the box. Stack box with all the other boxes. Label box with instruction of what to do in case of my untimely demise.

I do have a small pile of fabric I collected to do the BoTM blocks with, they have no porpoise except to make whatever block comes up and fit in with all the other BoTMs. Of course I have been too busy with my other projects to get many of them done.


And then there are fabrics I see sitting there and I wonder... what the heck was I thinking of? I plan on sending all them to Patrice (probably when I am mad at her).

tim in san jose

Careful there Tim.....it might not be your toe she holds for ransom next time. :D Figure the method that works for you and your place, Steve, and then go from there...It will all work itself out in the long run. Chances are ...as you contimue to develop, so will your method of storing your quilt items.

I meant thread. Trying to find the color to match, or go one shade darker on the applique when I'm starting from scratch thus far has entailed buying a spool for each piece. She said that she could give me enough of whatever she had available for the job. I think starting my own collection is a wise thing though.

It's funny how everyone else seems to have lots of projects planned as well. Quite comforting...

"Last"? LAST? GASP!!! :shock:

There is no such thing as the "last" quilt. the closest any quilter will ever get to "the last" is the one she/he was working on when called to the Big Quilt Guild Meeting in the sky.

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Tim, Dear ... don't wait 'til you're mad at me. As if you could ever get mad at sweet, wonderful me. Silly Boy. SEND THEM NOW!!!!! :P

Sara--I have two rolling plastic cabinets with four drawers each. I use the different drawers for fat quarters, blocks for quilts [ufos] and odd size fabric [under a yard]. I fold as best I can and tag with approximate measurements. Try to keep like colors together. I keep plastic shoe boxes for small scraps. Being a new quilter, I haven't graduate to tubs yet. Will need to rethink as I go along.

Dearest sweet wonderful Patrice. If I ever send you any of these fabrics, you should take it as a sign of aggression. Declaration of WW II 1/2. These really are "What the heck was I thinking?" patterns. And you know my taste... If I say that, what MUST they look like? You couldn't make a dog quilt out of most of it, the dog would leave home.

tim

Gosh, now wishing tough patterns on people, look out.

Patrice, I meant last in the sense of last planned in the immediate future. You know one for this person, one for that, etc. I certainly plan this a life long hobby. Then too, hobby sounds rather trite for this obsession.
:D