Ready to cry over my quilting clutter!
03-03-2011, 10:11 AM
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ashtabula County, Ohio NE Corner
Posts: 377
Hey I just found a Quilting Book that I had gotten from Paperback Swap... and I was just going to order that book from another site... See what digging around in a Sewing/Quilting room will do... I have been watching at Auctions for shelves to stack the tubs on...
I have old wood picnic baskets with some of my hand crocheted stuff in like edgings and dresser scarves etc.. Think outside the Box when looking at Containers for smaller items... Old Canisters, Bread boxes, Tupperware, Cleaned out Plastic jars ( peanut Butter etc) with lids for really small items.....peg board for some hang up items and I have my sissors in A Large Mug....
I have old wood picnic baskets with some of my hand crocheted stuff in like edgings and dresser scarves etc.. Think outside the Box when looking at Containers for smaller items... Old Canisters, Bread boxes, Tupperware, Cleaned out Plastic jars ( peanut Butter etc) with lids for really small items.....peg board for some hang up items and I have my sissors in A Large Mug....
03-03-2011, 10:34 AM
#102
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 292
Been there....it's not easy getting organized! I had to move to a smaller place w/no sewing room and I had baskets and containers with different quilt projects everywhere. Get some clear plastic boxes to start. Some thing can go in regular marked boxes...flannels, backing, finished tops, colors, etc. Find a group that makes quilts for charity and give them the excess (and there will be some). The biggest thing that got me interested enough to actually follow thru was the crazy people using selvages in their quilts. I had to go thru everything to find those and stated a crazy scrap quilt. I guarantee you will have great freedom when you have finished! Gives you a whole new outlook and you will be surprised to find things you forgot you even had! Good luck!
03-03-2011, 10:36 AM
#103
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
I get picky about keeping my work area cleaned up. After each project I take the time to clean up my sewing room, including stashing all leftover fabrics in their right place, picking up all the stray clippings, scraps, threads, etc. and putting all my tools in their places. It takes about 15 minutes, maybe, to get all that done. Then I start with a clean work area for my next project.
My DH, on the other hand.....well, he's a different story. Like his habit of leaving stuff laying all over the house, he leaves his scraps and extra fabrics heaped on the work table, and scraps all over the floor. I had to tell him he can't work in the sewing room if he leaves stuff laying around, and he has to pick up as he goes. He didn't like it, but he's been picking up after himself now for a while.
My DH, on the other hand.....well, he's a different story. Like his habit of leaving stuff laying all over the house, he leaves his scraps and extra fabrics heaped on the work table, and scraps all over the floor. I had to tell him he can't work in the sewing room if he leaves stuff laying around, and he has to pick up as he goes. He didn't like it, but he's been picking up after himself now for a while.
03-03-2011, 10:50 AM
#104
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: sticks
Posts: 72
Don't cry, toss.
About 2 months ago. I made a New Year's Resolution to get my sewing area cleaned up.
Over a 3-day weekend, I took absolutely everything last thing out of the room and piled it in the dining room---fabric on one side, notions on the other, patterns over there, jewelry-making under the table, projects half-done in a big box, granddaughter's toy box out back. NOBODY dared help me.
I let the room (and I) breathe for the whole morning. I sat in an empty room, drank coffee and dreamed about what I would do in there and how it should look. I took all the pictures down.
First, I put the sewing machine back where I wanted it, then stopped and walked around. I moved it a couple of times, and then the ironing table, since I sew, press, sew, press. I decided fabric inspired me and it should be out in the open and not boxed away, so I stacked it- Neatly-like colors together-in open shelves, only full yards. Scraps went in clear boxes by color. I put up a 36 X 36 cork bulletin board on the wall behind my machine for pictures and stray items.
I didn't buy a single thing to use to sort or hold anything and ended up removing a table and a small cabinet.
To make a long story short, I ended up with a well-organized room and could find a pair of scissors (I had 12 pairs) in the dark, and a dozen or more stacks and boxes left in the dining room.
I went through every single scrap while watching tv with the family, putting like with like until I had enough in the room. When I got to 10 crochet hooks, I gave 8 away. Kept 2, since I might crochet and teach again.
Nothing was returned to the room without being sorted and folded and mostly discarded.
Three giant garbage bags full of scraps (mostly non-cotton) and notions, seam tape and doo dads went to a local quilt group. 40 spools of thread! I do not collect thread. I quilt with white/cream thread. Don't you?
I had 5 pincushions. Why does one need 5? I do not collect pincushions, do you?
I quilt. Don't you?
I picked my fave 2 and gave the rest away. I threw away stained, smelly, broken stuff and had 2 big bags to the compost heap or trash.(Cotton recycles in the garden and the birds love it for nesting.) Old thread rots--don't use it.
Now, I can go sit right down and sew, and not have to dig for 20 minutes to get started.
I know what my next 5 projects are going to be---since they are in the que in neat, zippered bags, in a small, wire cabinet beside my iron table, waiting.
A clear plastic shoe box that has pins, scissors, thimbles, beeswax, and a couple of spools of thread is portable to sew with while watching tv, then back it goes in the sewing room at night.
When I want a break from sewing, I iron rumpled fabric for the next project.
It took me less than 2 1/2 days to get my LIFE sorted out. I even have a spot cleared off for my laptop computer and writing supplies, since I write, too.
You deserve it, so spend the time on yourself, and anyone who comes to bother you, put them to work sorting. They will disappear.
Watch "Enough Already!" on OWN for inspiration.Good luck! :P
About 2 months ago. I made a New Year's Resolution to get my sewing area cleaned up.
Over a 3-day weekend, I took absolutely everything last thing out of the room and piled it in the dining room---fabric on one side, notions on the other, patterns over there, jewelry-making under the table, projects half-done in a big box, granddaughter's toy box out back. NOBODY dared help me.
I let the room (and I) breathe for the whole morning. I sat in an empty room, drank coffee and dreamed about what I would do in there and how it should look. I took all the pictures down.
First, I put the sewing machine back where I wanted it, then stopped and walked around. I moved it a couple of times, and then the ironing table, since I sew, press, sew, press. I decided fabric inspired me and it should be out in the open and not boxed away, so I stacked it- Neatly-like colors together-in open shelves, only full yards. Scraps went in clear boxes by color. I put up a 36 X 36 cork bulletin board on the wall behind my machine for pictures and stray items.
I didn't buy a single thing to use to sort or hold anything and ended up removing a table and a small cabinet.
To make a long story short, I ended up with a well-organized room and could find a pair of scissors (I had 12 pairs) in the dark, and a dozen or more stacks and boxes left in the dining room.
I went through every single scrap while watching tv with the family, putting like with like until I had enough in the room. When I got to 10 crochet hooks, I gave 8 away. Kept 2, since I might crochet and teach again.
Nothing was returned to the room without being sorted and folded and mostly discarded.
Three giant garbage bags full of scraps (mostly non-cotton) and notions, seam tape and doo dads went to a local quilt group. 40 spools of thread! I do not collect thread. I quilt with white/cream thread. Don't you?
I had 5 pincushions. Why does one need 5? I do not collect pincushions, do you?
I quilt. Don't you?
I picked my fave 2 and gave the rest away. I threw away stained, smelly, broken stuff and had 2 big bags to the compost heap or trash.(Cotton recycles in the garden and the birds love it for nesting.) Old thread rots--don't use it.
Now, I can go sit right down and sew, and not have to dig for 20 minutes to get started.
I know what my next 5 projects are going to be---since they are in the que in neat, zippered bags, in a small, wire cabinet beside my iron table, waiting.
A clear plastic shoe box that has pins, scissors, thimbles, beeswax, and a couple of spools of thread is portable to sew with while watching tv, then back it goes in the sewing room at night.
When I want a break from sewing, I iron rumpled fabric for the next project.
It took me less than 2 1/2 days to get my LIFE sorted out. I even have a spot cleared off for my laptop computer and writing supplies, since I write, too.
You deserve it, so spend the time on yourself, and anyone who comes to bother you, put them to work sorting. They will disappear.
Watch "Enough Already!" on OWN for inspiration.Good luck! :P
03-03-2011, 11:21 AM
#106
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Merced, CA
Posts: 4,188
My mom was a stay-at-home mom, so she just doesn't understand how hard it is to juggle everything I do. She tells me to clean instead of quilt, but I quilt to de-stress. However, lately, the clutter is actually causing more stress.
I better get back to my laundry room and keep cleaning. Wah![/quote]
--------------------
Sounds like you had better get online and go to FLYLADY.com
She has a system just for you...and me, and our other sisters-under-the-sewing-mad-label. There's hope yet, and remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.
I have no idea of why people keep saying that, I'm not interested in building Rome, I wanna know how to keep my mess cleaned up.
I better get back to my laundry room and keep cleaning. Wah![/quote]
--------------------
Sounds like you had better get online and go to FLYLADY.com
She has a system just for you...and me, and our other sisters-under-the-sewing-mad-label. There's hope yet, and remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.
I have no idea of why people keep saying that, I'm not interested in building Rome, I wanna know how to keep my mess cleaned up.
03-03-2011, 11:53 AM
#107
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ft. Wayne
Posts: 640
[quote=MistyMarie] My dh is deployed, I have two young kids, I am a full-time middle school teacher, and I am currently taking 15 hours of graduate classes, so when I find a few minutes here and there to quilt, I hate using it to organize.
My question is, when do you have time to eat and sleep? :) Seriously, have you tried pulling out the things you need for one project and forgetting about the rest of the quilting "stuff"? When school is out, you may have more time to be concerned with organizing.
My question is, when do you have time to eat and sleep? :) Seriously, have you tried pulling out the things you need for one project and forgetting about the rest of the quilting "stuff"? When school is out, you may have more time to be concerned with organizing.
03-03-2011, 12:13 PM
#109
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 70
Just take a day to get organized...I do that annually. Sort all your fabrics by color and put them into the plastic storage boxes available for about $5 each. These can then be stacked. I have my color sorted fabrics in 2 boxes, my flannels & fllece backing in another couple of boxes, and my scraps (also color sorted in another box) for making scrappy quilts or when needed to finish another quilt. There are small plastic boxes for a dollar each for thread, bobbins, & other supplies. You can give away things you don't need, too! Good luck.
03-03-2011, 12:58 PM
#110
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 387
Maybe you can find some help with the flylady?
http://flylady.net/pages/welcome_main.asp
First thing to remember, it did not get cluttered in a day, and doesn't have to get tidied in a day either... 15 mins a day is how I start on clutter.. Setting a timer and actually keep busy that 15 minutes.. Baby steps and it will be done before you know it!
http://flylady.net/pages/welcome_main.asp
First thing to remember, it did not get cluttered in a day, and doesn't have to get tidied in a day either... 15 mins a day is how I start on clutter.. Setting a timer and actually keep busy that 15 minutes.. Baby steps and it will be done before you know it!
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