I have projects all at various stages and feel like it's all pretty haphazard. Once finished top is folded and shoved into a gallon size zip bag. I have two stackable wire mesh baskets with two different projects in it but all the various pieces are mixed together in each project. I have fabrics separated for specific quilts in tied grocery bags and then stuffed into my scrap boxes.

I hate the chaos!

For example, I have a pinwheel top in progress. Most of the blocks have been assembled, but some are still HSTs that haven't been cut yet. Or have been cut but not assembled into blocks. I spend half an hour sorting it all out before I can even get started.

I need some organizational help! What works for you? I'm terrified of starting a quilt with lots of pieces for fear of mixing everything up!

We MUST be related. I do the same thing.

I had a baby a couple of years ago, and many of the things I received for him came in those clear vinyl bags. You know the kind you get sheets and comforters in, with the zippers? A lot of times they even have a little pocket in them, where they put a picture of the sheet or comforter on a bed so you can see what it looks like. I keep projects together in them-fabric, completed blocks, etc. and in the little pocket I keep the pattern, thread, etc. Hope I explained that clearly. They aren't as bulky as boxes, clear so you can easily see the project, and they keep things clean. I don't think they should be used for long term storage, though.

I get larger size rubbermaid or some such storage boxes and store my WIPs in them, keeping cut pieces sorted in them in quart-size zip-loc bags. We travel in an RV and it makes it easy to take a project or two with to work on.

I use plastric containers like rubbermaid for my UFO's(WIP's). My quilt tops waiting to be quilted are on a clothes rack on hangers.

I have a few of the clear plastic boxes approx 4" deep with handles and keep my current projects in them, I sew with a friend once a week so it makes for easy travel, just close the box, grab the handle and hi ho hi ho it's off to quilt I go!

I buy one or two gallon zip loc bags and store my WIPs in them. I leave the last inch open so there is air circulating - having read somewhere that it is not good to store fabric in plastic bags for too long. Some of my WIPs have been around a while - in fact, I just recently made myself complete my very first applique project started in 2003! Yippeee!

I use see-thru colored ArtBins that i bought at Jo-anns. they hold up to 12 inch blocks nicely and they have a carrying handle. I got different colors so I can tell what WIP is in there as well. I got them for about $8-$9 on sale or with a 50% off coupon.. I love them.. Keeps me organized..

Also I saw a post on here about how someone uses the clear containers they get with food- clear fruit containers, See thru to-go containers, etc.. A good way to recycle and get free storage containers..

Use 2 gallon baggies, I can see for the reminder that it's still waiting ;) and fold the content for stacking, they are sometimes tough to find, have bought most at big purple 99 cent store 5-6 sometimes 10 pack.
Happy Quilting :)

I use the clear plastic shoe boxes. They stack nicely and I can see what is in them. Kroger's had them 10 for $10.00 your dollar stores have them too. They hold alot so you can put a big quilt in them in pieces. For my 12" blocks from swaps that I haven't gotten to yet I went to Joann's in the scrapbook section and found some clear plastic boxes for $4.99 before the 40% off that were made to hold your 12 x 12 paper, they work perfect. Again they are clear so it is quick and easy to see what is inside.

I love my Artbins and I always buy a couple when they are on sale. They are perfect for WIPs.

I use a lot of boxes you get in the scrapbook section They can hold a lot of fabric and also 12 1/2 inch blocks I pick them up on sale at Michaels.they stack well. Smaller projects usually go into the zipper bags

These plastic bags are exactly what I use, and I love 'em! Yes, often they have inner compartments which helps with the organization of things. The big bonuses are - they only take up the amount of space of your WIP's and they are clear!

I use card board shoe boxes, store card board bottoms of boxes that the canned fruits and vegetables come in. Hang my quilt tops on hangers. Also zip lock plastic bags leaving a small opening at top of bag. I kind of have my fabric stacked on shelves in my walk in closet by colors.

Some are in plastic shoe boxes, some are in ziplocs, some are stacked in bins. Just depends. Others I have on my design wall----BEGGING to be finished. :oops:

All of the above.

LOL :D :D or the living room floor double checking block layout :-D

I also use the art bins that have a plastic frame to store them in and now I also use one of the fabric drawers hubby bought me for the storage system in my sewing room post. It is nice to have some organizaton while you work on many at a time. It makes the whole experiance more pleasent.

I use a combo of things. For the current project and all the fabric I put everything in a 4" deep plastic box. For all the projects I just "have" to do I put in a tote in the order I wish to do them. I also have the see through art boxes from JoAnns for blocks that we are making in our quilts qroup for each others birthdays. We do a Birthday block swap. So those get stored there. I use Zip lock bags labeled with the size of each piece cut out and store it with the quilt it belongs to. I also like to use the paper bags with handles that you get at some of the stores to haul my things around in when I am going back and forth with my material or to sort it into groupings for the next planned quilt.

I use anything with a lid; old hat boxes, Oatmeal containers, shoe boxes, plastic totes of all sizes, all sizes of zip lock bags including the huge ones made for pillows, blankets etc. I also use the grocery store totes for WIP's. I use cottage cheese containers for scraps, one for each color. It's not fancy but it works and it is cheap.

Mine are stored in plastic zip lock bags. One tote for things that need quilted and another for quilts in progress. It works for me.

I guess I'm 'way behind all you other quilters...my WIP has to be finished before I can start another...because of space. But while I am working on the current piece, I am planning the next one in my head..when I have a moment, I will go thru my stash and see what I have to work with. Really I do envy you gals with lots of space, however next weekend I will be on the way to my own little sewing corner.

Last week I had to clear up my sewing/guest room for visit from DS#3 and family. I put all my big WIP into those bags from the supermarket and Joann's that are meant to replace using plastic bags for your orders. Remains of projects are kept in big plastic baggies until I have a chance to go through them and return large pieces of fabrics to my stash and smaller ones to my scrap boxes. May in Jersey

I went to the business store and bought the clear plastic expandable large evelope that have the string that closes them. Everything for that project, fabric, thread, pattern etc. go in one and then they go into a plastic tote. That way when I'm looking for something to do I can go to the tote and look through it and see what's in each envelope with out opening it and pick. Then I don't have to look for the thread etc. It's already in there.

gmaybee-
What size are those envelopes? I think that's a great idea. Will have to go and shop, soon.
thanks!

Mostly I use the boxes you can get for scrapbooking. They have a handle and the top swings up. They hold a 12" block flat. Then I put my fabics and pattern in it. They also coincedentally fit perfectly in a cabinet i have in my sewing room. I look for them on sale or use a coupon.

I use these too, but I get them from Michaels. You can find them on sale quite often for $4.99. They start out at $8 there.

I use the same type of rectangle plastic boxes. I bought the size of tub where I can lay out a 12x12 block in it. They are about 4" deep.
I keep my pattern/directions, all of the material I bought for that project and the receipts for the material in case I have to go back and look for the same material. I have about 4 or 5 of these boxes and it is very easy to grap the project I'm working on and take it to which ever room I need to use it.

OK. Here's the thing. I don't have any WIPs (or finished ones for that matter!). I have some scraps from things that I have sewn, but nothing quilty. I've ordered small quilt kits for my DGDs from Hancock. THEN I will have A WIP! Maybe then I can start to catch up with all of you :cry:

I love ArtBin totes and they are acid free.

I have 5 cardboard boxes, similar to Pizza Boxes, that I keep my WIP's in. I limit myself to only 5 boxes so I don't ever have too many WIP's!

Mine are all in plastic totes. I have them marked on the outside so I know what is in them.

Yeah, Join in the WIP fun, May in Jersey

I use the cardboard photo boxes. lable in the front slots. looks pretty on shelf. also have a friend that owns a pizza shop so access to any size they have and usually any pizza place will give them free or very cheap.

I hate the idea of having more than one project going at a time, so my chaos is limited. I do have 3 tops that need backing and binding. I just fold them and put them in a bag in a corner of my room until I figure out how to back & bind. :shock:

I have mostly 11 1/2x 10. I think they come in bigger sizes also. I wouldn't be able to put all the things for large quilt in one this size, but I usually finish a quilt completly, so it's smaller projects that are in these.

I use plastic totes 68L with labels on them, I go them at Walmart for $5 each. Try the clear bags that you can vacume seal and then you can put many in 1 tote, jut make sure you label your totes or you my have to go through all of them again. lol! If you have blocks you can by scrapbooking containers to store them in, Walmart sells those as well for $8.99 for the clear 12.5 by 12.5 container.

All these ideas are great……. I want to share my 2 cents….. I have a file system I keep my WIP all separated and label in Zip lock bags……… 2 keep the bulk down I remove all the air in the bags and then label each one then place them like files in container…… . 2 remove the air I place the items in the bag then lay bag on flat surface…. Place a soda straw in the end of the top corner of the bag and close bag to the straw…. Hold your fingers on the straw where straw and bag cross…. Suck all the air out of the bag and quickly pinch down on the straw and at the same time pull the straw out as you pinch the zipper close. Walla vacuum packed bags …. File by bag sizes. S M L or separate with file folders. Use one container for all or place them by size of bags. What ever works for U

Just had something delivered in a wonderful small box...this will be saved for when I DO have some little quilt pieces...thanks for all the ideas.

Love the straw idea! Gives new meaning to vacuum bags!