Today I began sorting my ever-growing bins of scraps that I've cut into strips, mostly 2 1/2" or 1 1/2" and some 5" or 2 1/2" squares. They are all neatly folded and stacked at least, but there was no apparent order. When I'd cut up the leftovers from a project, they went in the bin on top of whatever was in there before. It makes it hard to use them. It's always easier to go through my new, neatly folded and organized fabric, than to dig through my scrap "pre-cuts". I have a monster pile of scraps waiting to be cut up and I want to organize them all by size and color. I think having separate bins for each color family will be a big help. As I cut the pieces, I can put them in stacks of each color, then when I'm done for the day, I'll just pop the stack into the appropriate bin. I'm hoping to tackle this by working an hour or so each day on it till it's done. Maybe at that rate I'll have it done by the end of January so I can make more quilts and generate more scraps!!

My machine needs to be serviced, so I'm taking advantage of the downtime to re-arrange my workspace. Yesterday, I moved my shelves, computer desk, and dresser to what I hope will be more convenient locations. I'm still working on getting everything put away.

I also started sorting the UFO bin and boxes I have in the garage. I want to prune thru and decide what I actually want to finish and what needs to go away.

Rob: Sending a prayer your way for your surgery tomorrow. May you recover quickly.

I am glad others will be joining me in recording yardage used, bought, and donated. I can't take credit for the idea but it was very helpful for me to see that I actually used almost 111 yards. I will need to be better in recording purchases this year. I get donations of smaller pieces and orphan blocks from my church group and, occasionally from individuals. I don't record these but they do add to stash. LOL!

Oksewglad: It is really hard to watch a bb game and sew, cut, sort, etc. Ask me how I know! My favorite college team just won too.

I gave up making lists some time ago since it seems there are never enough hours in the day. For right now I am just cleaning out drawers, but at the end of this month I will be semi retiring, instead of a full time job and a part time job I will only have a part time job and then LET THE ORGANIZING BEGIN. I thought I could get it done before the big day but that was wishful thinking. The place that is supposed to be my studio has been a dumping ground for the household for a good while and I have been sewing at the kitchen table, but as of Feb 1 I will be working on taking back my space.

I've cleaned off the cutting desk in preparation for the measuring of some tops. These tops seem to be Katty whompus. That is crazy talk for not square, not symmetrical or just plain done by someone who doesn't know what they are doing....that would be me.

The main problem is that I can measure something and turn around and forget what the number was. But I finished a panel quilt and the width was fine, but the length was three inches off. How did I do that? Is that even possible? I have no pieced things in it at all. Only thing I can think of is that I stretched some of the borders.

Then BH gives us the reveal. I am so tempted to do that.

Some panels are printed off-grain so finish off the way they shouldn't..

Katie: Congratulations on your new work schedule. Enjoy your extra sewing time!

Battle Axe: I was trying to figure out how many borders and the widths I needed to enlarge a pattern and finally gave up yesterday. Usually I can get it figured out. I will add the first row of borders tomorrow and then retry the math part.

Working a full time job with silly long hours that requires me to be very organised (think lots of lists!) I haven’t got the energy or inclination to be this organised about my sewing - and definitely don’t want lists I want it to be the complete opposite of my work life. I make sure I keep my area tidy by having lots of storage. I don’t have as much space as some of you so that helps. I share a small box room with my husband who uses half for his painting. In my half is my desk with machine. Cutting has to happen in the same spot as my machine (I just move it back when I need to cut) and I have a small ironing board and mini iron next to me.

It is a ‘proper’ desk so the drawers are filled with tools etc. After every single session they are returned to the right drawer and my desk is completely empty. I have a half height cupboard to the side filled with fabric - 2 boxes of fat quarters, a set of plastic drawers of scraps sorted by colour, a shelf of bigger stuff and 2 boxes of charm squares I have either bought or made myself with sizzix machine.

In a room down the hall I have an old single built in wardrobe that is my ‘craftrobe’. I have put in a cheap shoe rack shelving unit and on here is paper/card etc, my sizzix machine and dies, current project boxes (so all fabric and patterns for current big, ongoing projects goes in one of these) and then plastic boxes that have sections in for my buttons and embellishments sorted by colour. Hanging from the rail I have small plastic baskets. One is filled with what I call hardware (zips, bag bits, key rings etc). Another is filled with trims (ribbon, lace etc) and the third is my ‘odd bits’ basket.

above that is a shelf where I keep battings and interfaces.

It took me a day toSet up but by putting everything back after each session (5 mins tops) I am always organised so I dont even have to think about being organised if that makes sense? I avoid lists by keeping it all visual and quite small quantities compared to some of you who seem to have rooms as big as my local shop! Haha

Great set-up, RJLinkletter! Take it from me, large rooms and spaces do not make for better organization every time!! Only allow disorganization all over the place!

Rob, you are smart and amazing to have a list of "to-dos." It's not for me...after teaching 2nd graders for 31+ years (but who's counting), planning has gone by the way-side. It probably would help me to write a list, but I'm resisting. In my mind, I'm planning on cleaning out my Mom's home (she passed in October), and turning it into my business office and also into a quilting space. After that, the schedule's open. Oh, a quilt using the Alaska fabrics that I cought in 2013!!
Keep using and amending your list. You have the hardest part done.