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-   -   Organizing Without Plastic (https://www.quiltingboard.com/mission-organization-f23/organizing-without-plastic-t312049.html)

tropit 09-03-2020 04:14 AM

Here's another item from IDEA that I like. However, there is some recycled polyester in it. Still, all of the sizes look very stylishand functional for storing my stash: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/rabbla-...ents-90348124/

~ C

amyjo 09-03-2020 09:47 AM

I just purchased some colorful baskets from Michaels had a sale plus 20% off whole bill I have some rose baskets n kids from Joann’s that I’m storing my precuts in plus what my sisters are going to cut for me also have some Tupperware that I got from my daughter that 5” charms fit in perfectly trying to shape up my stash n watching for those little critters that r trying to move in for the winter

tropit 09-09-2020 11:45 AM

I know all that I've said about plastic and I still hold to that, but I'm on a tight budget right now, so I'm giving into a little plastic. I've been using those plastic bins that salad mix comes in to store my current projects. They're about the size of a shoebox and they're very practical. I can see through them, stack them and I'm up-cycling them too. I can easily toss them when I'm done with my project, or when I can afford my, "no plastic," storage.

Iceblossom 09-09-2020 12:44 PM

I've been in the fabric moratorium thread for a couple years now. I really try to not buy fabric but I still want to. Anyway, last couple of days I've been discussing my next organization push and just today, I bought a nice set of banker boxes from Costco. Going to set up a major sorting/organizing/reboxing project in the hallway after my trip next week. There's more about the process and a link to the boxes in this post:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/8416771-post944.html

Those plastic salad bins certainly have many desirable qualities and I've used them as temporary project boxes before to keep stuff together while in process.

Jingle 09-17-2020 04:20 PM

I have stored fabric in big clear plastic tubs and it worked fine. Easy to see what colors are in there. Now I have wire shelves in a closet actually two closets. No sun or dust, I keep the doors shut when I don't need fabric.

I don't like some things because most are designed to hold a few items, anymore and they collapse.

Use what you can afford and don't worry about anything else.

ccthomas 09-17-2020 04:44 PM

I use office "wood" and "wire" paper in/out type trays. They easily stack, can move easily from one location to close sewing machine area. I also have found vintage swimming wire locker trays. I have various sizes. These are great for fabric. I use the "vintage" wood coke, pepsi, etc. pop boxes. Vintage crates are good to stack for books, pattern folders, magazines. I use cafeteria trays to layout fabric blocks and easily take to the ironing board location as well as my sewing station. These trays can be stacked. Cloth bins are another alternative to plastic. Making "storage boxes from diaper or cereal boxes" are another option I have seen others make.

quiltingshorttimer 09-18-2020 04:51 PM

I found an art deco china cabinet that I can hide those weird things like template plastic, stabilizers, etc in the lower part and sort fabrics by type/color on the shelves. I like that it's possible to keep clean with the glass doors. I also use an old 5 drawer chest for other fabrics (drawer of panels; patterns; etc. I really like being able to keep it dust free, but easy access.

tropit 09-19-2020 06:37 AM


Originally Posted by ccthomas (Post 8418786)
I use office "wood" and "wire" paper in/out type trays. They easily stack, can move easily from one location to close sewing machine area. I also have found vintage swimming wire locker trays. I have various sizes. These are great for fabric. I use the "vintage" wood coke, pepsi, etc. pop boxes. Vintage crates are good to stack for books, pattern folders, magazines. I use cafeteria trays to layout fabric blocks and easily take to the ironing board location as well as my sewing station. These trays can be stacked. Cloth bins are another alternative to plastic. Making "storage boxes from diaper or cereal boxes" are another option I have seen others make.

That reminds me. I just started using an antique cookie/candy tin to store my cut pieces while I'm working on a quilt. They fit nice and neat in there and when I'm done working I close the lid and it becomes a pretty piece of home decor.

tropit 09-25-2020 09:15 AM


Originally Posted by tropit (Post 8415035)
IKEA is another place that I love when it comes to great, storage ideas. I found this little, wooden, storage unit for only $19.99: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/moppe-m...wood-40216357/

I already have the magazine holders that match it, so I'm getting this for my office area of my loft. I may experiment with it as a quilting projects holder.

~ C

Update:

I received this storage unit yesterday. My sewing area is part of my office and I was planning on using it to store things such as computer checks, envelopes, pens, etc. However, The drawers are just a tad too shallow, front to back, for many of these things to fit. Grrrr...I should have measured carefully first. I also ordered some pretty, printed, cardboard boxes and the same thing...most standard items just don't quite fit. It must be the difference between US and European sizes. Everything is just a little smaller over there. That being said, everything looks cute on my desk and I'm sure I'll eventually find things to fit into all of my new, little, storage spaces.

Wood Sprite 09-28-2020 07:38 AM

I went to the local copy center (Kinkos or similar) and asked for empty copy paper boxes they were going to toss. They are similar to banker boxes but had held reams of paper. They gave them to me for free. I did reinforce the ends with packaging tape though. If you wanted them to look better, you could cover them with fabric or maybe modge podge something pretty on them.

I didn't get any (but should) but I know copy centers also have smaller boxes that use to hold envelopes, stationary, business cards, etc. They would work well for storing smaller items or as project boxes.

I have a friend that works at our local book store. When I needed cardboard put on the ground to kill some weeds in a garden project, she said I could come get some from their recycling bin. Most of them are the same standard size which would also work for storing sewing supplies if you label the outsides. Unfortunately they have flap tops instead of removable tops.


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