Organizing hundreds of 4,5 inch patchwork squares
 

Hi everyone!

I've researched "organize" in all the threads and came up with dozens of mentions of organizing fat quarters and fabric rolls and scraps but I'm specifically looking for how to organize my squares.

I have hundreds of them in about 40 patterns in a box for the time being. But they're all mixed up, and when I organize them in stacks, they take up too much space.

Should I look for pullout plastic boxes, or a custom-built shelf? (we have a school so I have a carpenter on hand)

I want to organize them by color. I have reds, pinks, blues, greens, and neutrals.

here is a picture of my squares for the moment. I feel so disorganized. If that has been answered before, please forgive me and I'd love the link to the previous forum post.

Here is a picture of my squares in their crappy box:

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Thanks!!

Vandamme.

Since I've been here, I've cut hundreds of scraps into 8" to 5" squares. I have literally 1000's of squares now. I don't have them sorted by color (yet). I have them sorted by sizes and I found that plastic boxes of my answer. I have 2 old 3 -shelve bookshelves in my sewing room and have 3-4 of the boxes for each size square. It's not perfect...nothing is outside of God, but it is working for me.

Before I started cutting the squares, I had the scraps crammed into a couple of dozen cardboard boxes, large totes, and plastic bins. Now I am down to 4 large piles. I am not a very organized person, but I'm getting there. :)

I keep my charm squares in plastic containers - they're tall and vertical with a lid and are intended for food storage. I also use the plastic containers that my dishwasher tablets come in. I think that cd/dvd storage cases would work if you want to stack the squares on end - I've seen them really cheap at thrift stores.

Here is how much space they take when I lay them out. I have about ten patterns missing from this photo. But it's a real headache to have them stacked up and ready for production as I'm making dozens of cushions and want to pull from the stacks as I design.

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Thanks SillySusan, I'll look into plastic boxes. We don't have great amounts of choice here (in Congo) but I'll see whats available.

Thanks for both of those options! Unfortunately we don't have thrift stores here, but I'll look in the market and see if there are shelves like the ones you talk about.

sandwich size ziplock plastic bags might work for holding each pattern - and then the bags could be stored in boxes.

I think ziplock bags are the answer to so many storage problems in the sewing room and this is certainly one of those things. Bags of each print or type is the start. Then, you can organize the bags in groups you plan to use and have flexibility to change your mind on a whim.

Your squares are so colorful!

Ziplock type bags sounds the most practical way for you right now, in my thinking. Your pillow covers are so busy with pattern, even just reach into box and take whatever wouldn't make much difference......have you condidered adding solids occasionally?
Oh, tell us about the Congo!! Why are you there, how long, doing what, etc.......

sounds like you want to keep the individual patterns separate and stored in a manner where you can easily choose the exact fabric. If you do have a carpenter at your disposal, I think I would have a bookshelf made. I would make it about 6" deep, so 1 square would fit but there is a bit of room so the stack doesn't fall off when you select a patch from the stack. I would make the shelves about 6"-7" apart. You want enough space to get your hand in there. I'd cut up some of your cardboard boxes & mock up the sizes to see how it would work.

Genius!!!!!!!!!! Thats what I'm going to do!!!!

Thank.You.So.Much!

I might do a combination of your idea and @bearisgray's idea because...um...we have bugs in Congo and I couldn't leave the squares unattended. Unless they were in an airconditioned room, moths will find a way. Thank you for the dimensions!

Thank you!! I need pops of color. My business model is to bring joy into every home with an explosion of African Wax print patchwork cushion! I'll post pictures when my product is finalized. I'm working with two tailors right now, one of whom is teaching me how to sew.

it's HARD to sew straight!

I really hadn't thought of adding solids! You think it would look good?

It's my first foray into patchworking.

Congo is the love of my life. I'm 40 and my parents moved here when I was 4, so it's all I've ever known except for studies and stints that were pretty miserable in both France and the US. The people were never as warm and funny and the weather was never as good and I was never as happy as when I was in Congo so five years ago I moved back permanently.

My parents for the last 25 years have had a private school and I love working in education instead of oil, which is the only industry here. It's sick. So much money and corruption, and so many vices going along with it. I'm so shielded from all that dark stuff because I"m around kids all day.

I speak the language, Munukutuba, which is beautiful and sounds singsongy, no hard consonants, no r's just works like maboko (hand) nguba (peanut) mankondi (banana) ndeke (bird) yimbwa (dog) niao (cat) which is basically an onomatopeia of meow! Lol.

I take pictures:

https://www.instagram.com/congostylephotography/

That's about it!

BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL!!!!!

I have my I Spy squares sorted by size or theme in bags - and the bags are in a larger plastic tote. It's easier to sort through 50 pieces than to sort through 500!

https://www.instagram.com/congostylephotography/
Your photos are lovely.

Thank you!

I am not sure but maybe pin them onto a cork board? I would also love to see a picture of the quilt that is on the wall. all I can see are the appliqued feet but my interest is peaked. LOL

Great photos.

Nice suggestion @Annaquilts! I have saved one patchwork square (is that the correct term?) of every fabric I've ever bought since I started buying fabrics a couple of months ago, and I want to make a "Memory Quilt" or some other type of ongoing art to remember all the fabrics. I think I might install a turquoise-painted corkboard on one of my room walls, and pin the squares to it one by one.

Here are some pictures of that quilt on the wall. It was made by South African women, my father bought for me as a gift for my first semester in college, 23 years ago. If my memory serves me right, it was made by women suffering from HIV/AIDS as a part of an NGO's project to provide them with income. It's one of my most tresured possessions and has followed me the last 23 years in every country I've lived in on three continents:

The quilt was made by a woman named M. Mapuranga (I think, or Mapurango)

And the captions (in the handwritten note photographed, which is folded and tucked into the quilt block marked ** where the woman is pounding) read:

Work by Women:

1. They are carrying sack of maize
2. They are claypots
3. She is doing the washing
4. They are baskets on their heads
5. She is drying the clothes
6. They are carrying fire-wood
7. She is pounding **
8. They going for a walk
9. They are approaching


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I would treasure that quilt of women for a lifetime, too. What a work of art! Thanks for sharing a photo of it.

Yes, you may need to just use ziplocks, if available, due to also the climate if humid you definitely want to keep them air tight.

What a wonderful quilt that represents the daily task of women there, and some women here complain if they have to take out the garbage. Their art is very similar to some of the primitive folk art we see here in Louisiana. Our however is always painted, Beautiful work.
Best of luck on your organization.

Sorting those squares would be a good sorting project for kids.

Thank you for sharing your quilt.

Your photos are interesting...combination of 3rd world living conditions and modern, as we know it!
wishing you good luck in your endeavor, stay with us, you will learn much......about sewing a straight line....put several layers of painters tape ( sort of a masking tape) on right side of machine body before the needle, where you want the edge of your fabric to be....this will help keep you straight....as you lead fabric to needle....check out YouTube for many how to ttutes!

Your gifted quilt is amazing and definitely an heirloom. Your photos really show your love for your country and the people who share it with you. Keep posting your progress in the sewing world.

Welcome to The Quilting Board from Texas. I don't have any other suggestions for organizing your squares for your pillows but have seen some good ideas for you. If it were me, I think I would go with the zip lock plastic bags for storage & if you are afraid the bugs might eat through them you could then store the bags in plastic boxes.
I absolutely love your quilt gifted from your father during your college time. He could not have selected a better gift for you to cherish for your lifetime.
As I was reading your previous posts on the board about your pillow cases I have only one suggestion. If you are going to close them with a zipper you don't need a serger to finish off the raw edge along the inside of the zipper. You could use your zigzag stitch on your sewing machine & finish off the seam with the zigzag so the seam won't ravel.
Wishing you the best of luck with your new venture & thank you for your willingness to help your community learn new skills & allow them to earn more money for their families. This is a good thing you are doing.

Sounds like you have a joyful and rewarding life there in Congo. Makes me want to visit!

My first thought was also ziplock bags. Depending on how many you'd like to handle, choose either the sandwich size or the quart size, but be consistent. When containers are all the same and shape, it just feels better organized.

After reading about the bug problem, I agree that putting those bags inside of clear shoeboxes (or similar box with lid) is smart. Of course, you could have your carpenter build a hinged box that closes tightly, but only you know what the critters are likely to do. If he can make a box for you, I'd suggest one that you can carry easily and fit the squares of bags inside, in a way that they lie flat (don't want to have to re-iron them. Label everything with easy-to-read lettering.

If you only have a few of each color, the sandwich size bags are adequate.

If you have quite a few, go with the quart size bags.

I agree with zozee - be consistent - it looks neater

I'm happy you have joined us here on the quilting board. I'm not familiar with the lifestyle in Congo, but it looks to be a beautiful place with happy people. Your photographs are stunning and I loved the waxed fabric ones. Good luck with your organizing the squares and keep us updated on your progress with the pillows. If you have access to solid color fabrics, that would add some more pop to the pillows and save the beautiful prints for more pillows. Thank you for sharing. Is that you in the classroom photo? Great picture!

Welcome!! I agree with others that zip lock bags would work great, easy to label as well. Good idea to have students help organize. Glad to know you have saved some of each fabric you have purchased, will make a great quilt. Remember when you have your blocks organized and start to store them make sure you keep them out of the direct sunlight in the room you store them, because sun will cause them to fade over time, keep them in a dark area of the room if possible. Please share photos of your cushions or whatever you make. T help sew a straight line, you can u a piece of tape and line it up on the right side of the needle on your machine for the width of the seam you are sewing as a guide, so the seam edge of your fabric runs along the edge of the tape. I hope this makes sense.

I keep charms in a "fat quarter totes. MSQC and Amazon sells them. [ATTACH=CONFIG]595781[/ATTACH]

Another thing you might want to do to keep your squares organized is to take all the ones of a pattern and tie them together with one big stitch in the middle. Tie the ends of the thread into a bow or knot to keep it from falling apart and make them easy to get at. Then you can put similar colors in the same bag and use fewer bags.

Welcome to the quilting board! This is a wonderful place where you will learn so much. I am an old lady, I have sewn all my life and been quilting for about 25 years and everyday I learn something new on this site. Just look at all I learned today about storing fabric and the Congo too! I don't get much done because I am always sifting through the pictures and posts here. Do you have access to youtube? Can you order from amazon.com Now you have another task. You must write to us everyday to let us know what is going on in your school, your village or town, your project, neighborhood gossip, how you are feeling/doing etc. You have a whole colony of new friends here from all over the US and eventually the world!

Well said maryellen2u! Our interest has definitely been taken and we will want to know how things are going for you! I love your bright colors and it's true that adding some solids will change the look a lot. Here are 2 photos of quilts I made with very bright fabric prints, one with solids and one without. You can see what a difference it makes:[ATTACH=CONFIG]595789[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]595790[/ATTACH]

Scrap quilts are not my thing, so most of the time I just give them away. By now, I'd be buried alive under scraps if I didn't.

Vandamme how marvelous that you have found a place and a life that you love. The fabric that you have shown is wonderful. I am another that would like to see your cushions when you have made them. Perhaps this will grow into a cottage industry. I love the idea that you have saved a piece of each fabric, the quilt you make from all your pieces that you have saved will be incredible. It has been very interesting to hear about your life, please keep us in touch with your progress. This is a very good place to find help, you can ask any question, someone will have an answer.

Gorgeous fabrics, quilts and love your photos!!! So are you in DRC or Republic of Congo? I suspect Republic of Congo because I have never heard of DRC being full of oil but one never knows....

Ok. One of your photos says "Mboukou" and when I looked that up, Republic of Congo it is! So what do the folks in the RoC call the DRC?

Great to meet you!!