it depends where it was stored and what method you used when you posted it.

Christine...love it. I've been considering getting one of these, too.

Connie....good for you in tackling the linen closet. I dreaded sorting and packing mine and used my old sheets to wrap around my quilts to move and store them. I ended up cutting my sheets to place a small piece in between my stacked heirloom quilts in the curio quilt display. I remember reading somewhere that it keeps from transferring quilt colors. Not sure if true but it doesn't hurt to try, I guess.

Teen: Great ideas for using your old sheets.

I was so glad to get the huge tub of sheets, etc, emptied and the tub out of my closet. However, I may need to repurpose the tub to hold the gifts from my ‘Grandma’ baby shower that I am receiving from special ed teachers and paras at one of the schools where I sub. I am so blessed by this group of friends.

The home stretch! I found new homes for the 3 huge cabinets yesterday, and today I sadly parted with my sewing cabinet, my machine just barely fit and my room was feeling chaotic, but I feel good that the sewing cabinet went to a 16 year old young lady that loves to sew! Now perhaps another week of rearranging and finding places for small stuff and I should be ready to call it done! I’m seriously thinking of getting rid of my Accuquilt, I have rarely used it in the 8 years I’ve had it and the dies take up a lot of room.....hmmmmm, we shall see.

Now that you have more room you may find using your Accuquilt is a true advantage. I love mine Accuquilt but in the beginning getting it out and setting it up was a pain - but now i have the storage boxes, they are organized and ready to go. Also, I have the GO easier to grab and use.

Congratulations, tallchick! It’s great that a 16 year old young lady got the sewing cabinet.

My great niece sews and she is in her middle twenties. It’s fun to see her quilts. She is more adventurous than I am because she quilts them (straight lines) and sews on the bindings. I have only completed a few like that because I’m spoiled that my church group will finish the tops I give them. I do have some quilts I’m working on that are from sewing classes that I will need to quilt and bind eventually.

Can't wait to see photos, Tallchick! I find it's always easier to let things go if you know they're going to someone who will use and enjoy them- congratulations on passing the tall cabinets and sewing cabinet on and sticking with your goals. I agree with Quiltingcandy, you may find that now that you've got more space you will want to use the Accuquilt. Nothing wrong with keeping it for a while to see if that happens.

Rob

I laid out a one yard piece of fabric and then laid scraps side by side on top to measure quantity.

Lo and behold, it took 6 repetitions! Six yards of scraps! All were less than 11” wide but only a few were small like candies. Mainly decent strips, charms and chunks. For the record, 3yds of scraps (stuffed but not ironed) fits a gallon size ziploc bag.

I very recently joined a sewing group (not a guild) that makes charity quilts using 11” squares or 11” wide scraps, so I put that size in a separate bag to donate to them.

i also have my sewing closet 95% done.

Way to go, zozee!

That's awesome, Zozee!

Tallchick....as much as I love furniture, it does take up a lot of space so identifying and getting rid of space hoggers (not to mention clutter campgrounds) is a great way to build function. Love that you found someone to make good use of it.

I grabbed a ziplock full of scraps that I keep in a scrap container and whacked and sliced to usable sizes. More ziplocks to go but feel good I started project. A bit at a time...

It is amazing how much yardage there is in scraps! I got the small table cleaned off in the family room; now the Grands have a place to draw, etc. It had become a landing spot for my "stuff" as I sorted. Again I am amazed at how many bags/sacks/small containers I have emptied as I have been organizing...There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanks to all for sharing your tips.

Tall chick, Those containers are perfect sizes. I like that the corners are more square shaped to store fabrics or FQ. Thanks!

Teen, Your hutch is pretty. You are making progress too.

Good idea with the sheets. There are so many things that you can do with old sheets. I use mine to make cloths to strain things in in the kitchen, facial cloths and makeshift bandages in the bathroom, pillow inserts for my decor in the living room and small bags to store my quilting projects in the sewing room.


~ C

I went through my Accuquilt Dies and only kept 12 of them and the cutter. I added the ones I selected to my sell pile and got every last item listed this past weekend! I’ve spent a hour or so each night going through all my electronic/PDF Patterns and renaming them as they should be, and deleting the ones that no longer interest me, I should be done tonight! This weekend my goal is going through my books and thinning those out, and organizing my peg board where I have all my rulers. While I didn’t meet my goal of being totally done by the end of January, I can say that I’m 95% done and I’m really looking forward to spending more time sewing.

Tropit....Great ideas, too. I especially like the pillow form/insert idea. I make a lot of pillows and buy forms all the time. I'm going to do this! Thank you!

tallchick....you are so the organizing queen. Amazing all you have accomplished. Super proud of you and very impressed...

I organized my painting supplies today. They were a jumbled mess after the move and I Was continually digging through and pulling out and putting back what I needed with no thought. With Spring around the corner, I have some projects I want to do so now...I know what I need and what I Don't need. Hubbie organized a corner in our garage shelves for me to store my supplies, too. Bring on the Spring!

Starting tomorrow I am going to spend 15 minutes each day undecorating the Christmas tree. My goal is to have everything put away by Valentines Day. Not sure if that counts as organizing, but there it is. LOL

Rob

Teen- you have me intrigued by your mention of painting supplies, you’re an amazing quilter would love to see some of your other work!

rryder- I don’t think this this category is limited to just quilting or sewing! I think it covers anything and everything! I love Christmas decorations but not in my home, too much work, and it’s just me.

I went through all my books and parted ways with 30 of them! I got all my magazines into holders and sorted by publication, and dates and the holders marked accordingly, at some point I will go trough each one and get rid of ones that have no patterns I like in them. I’m still on the fence about how to do all my books, author, title or subject, any suggestions?? I’ll mull that over this weekend. I got my ex hubby coming this week to redo my lighting for the second time 🤪, there is still not enough light, and I hope this time I’m happy with it. Then maybe I can get some painters in here soon, but I can say I’m finally done!
This entire process was really a wake up call as to how much fabric, sewing paraphernalia, books, etc. I really have and how much I definitely don’t need to buy any more! I’m really thankful for the free section in Craigslist, it really helped the process go quicker to get big items out of the way! Most items were gone the same day.

Not sewing but essential. I organized a new file for our essential papers. It took me all week because my brain just refused to stay with it. So I quilted a while, filed, cleaned some on the house, filed end. But today I finished. My husband will shred the old papers and we will be done for another year.

I am really working on organizing my sewing room and have made lots of progress. Bins are better organized and everything looks better. The starting point for me was donating a huge mountain of things and identifying other things to give away. I have also worked on using up small scraps and cleaning off a table. It may take a few more months, but I am feeling optimistic about having a clean, organized and presentable sewing space.

Totally agree.
Starting point for me is donating. I can see this progress and it motivates me to keep going. We stayed at a house that was a hoarders dream. Things might be very valuable but when they put current activity in jeaporady, they're just a nuicance.

Exactly. The more I get rid of, the easier it seems to be to find things that are in my way and also need to go. My biggest sticking points are still books and things that others have given me (sentimental attachments). However, the more organized I get my spaces, the more creative I feel and it is amazing how much easier it is to tidy up the craftermath of a day spent in the studio.

Today I'm anxiously awaiting delivery of a new Arrow Suzi storage unit. I have one already sitting next to my PC420. It holds stuff that belongs with the PC420 along with my fat quarters. The new one will sit next to my PQ1500s and one drawer will hold all the stuff that goes with that machine, including the felting attachment which now resides on the other side of the room in a hard to access location. I haven't decided which of the myriad other things that need a home will go in the other drawers, but there is plenty of stuff floating around in the studio to fill them :D. I also may spend a few minutes getting the lights off the Christmas tree if the Suzi unit doesn't show up first.

Rob

Got the new Suzi cabinet all put together and my sewing room looks so much better. It holds an amazing amount of stuff and now all my PQ1500s attachments (felting, feet,etc.) are located next to the machine, but not laying on my work surfaces!

Today I'm organizing a bunch of papers that I use for collage. Somehow or other I ended up with paper in about six different places spread between my art studio and some storage organizers in the hallway between my bedroom. I found some of the exact same papers in all those places. Don't know what I was thinking. Trying to stick with the mantra- "like things go together"

What are y'all working on today?

Rob

Got a purchase of fabric washed, pressed, folded and put away. , a project that was in the way on the design wall, dropped to the floor for several months is back on the design wall and looking much better. Since the floor is picked up, I'll vacumn.

Rryder- Is the cabinet you got just a storage cabinet? Or is it also a sewing cabinet? It sounds wonderful 😊

I had a painter come today to give me a estimate on painting my sewing room ceiling, crown molding, fireplace mantel and doors. Figured I’d also have him quote some exterior work for the spring /summer as well. I really want to just get it all over with so I don’t have to interrupt my sewing time anymore that this organizational project already has.

Well done, everyone! Rob...Your mantra has now become my mantra. I have a habit of sticking interface everywhere... It's now in one place, too! Thank you!

I had a couple of small boxes of misc craft supplies that I knew what was in them but just stuck in my quilt closet to unpack "later". I finally went through them and created a craft center in my closet, threw stuff out not needed anymore, and gave my knitting neighbor skiens of yarn I will never use. Going to tackle my gardening supplies this weekend. They are all in one place but a bit messy....Spring around the corner so I need to get that under control. I bought bulbs for planting....something that was a hit and miss in Calif. for me but not here. Very excited about that!

Lisa....fresh painting will feel wonderful...everything fresh and clean. I always see that as a blank canvas though room painting is a pain because of the dismantling of household requirement. But, it is worth it. How exciting!

Hey tallchick, it’s just a storage cabinet. It’s pretty small, but well designed so it holds a lot.

Teen- glad I could be of help LOL!

Rob

Everyone is getting in the mood to keep it together!

Today I am playing in fabrics...color to be exact. I have a guild presentation on Monday on the topic. Last month we discussed neutrals. This month...Hue/tints/shades/tones. Challenge is to find these in your fabrics. Will have a third topic next month.

I bought a new batch of comic book boards and made a template of the correct size to hold 1-2.5 yard cuts in my plastic drawer units. Then I cut them down to the correct size and began redoing my yardage drawers. By making a template first I was able to cut them the right height so they fit in the drawers without being too tall when the larger pieces are wrapped around them. Some of my yardage was wrapped around old boards that I’d originally cut shorter to accommodate the bulk of larger cuts of fabric. As the larger cuts of fabric got used, the boards got repurposed for anything smaller than 3 yards. But that meant that the fabric was wrapped more times around them than if they were taller. By cutting the new boards so they are taller for these smaller lengths of fabric, they are less bulky when wrapped and stood on their long edges in my drawers. Less bulky and reaching to the top of the drawers means I can fit all my fabric in without having to double stack which was getting to be a pain.

I got two drawers redone yesterday and the fabric fits much better without being so tightly jammed in that it’s hard to get out. Today I’m going to tackle my drawer that has white black and other neutrals and maybe the drawers that hold less than one yard cuts. Those got way out of control last year when I got behind on dealing with my larger than a Fat quarter, but smaller than a yard scraps. I’ll post some pics when I get done.

If I get really ambitious, I may try to clear up the mess cluttering up my jeweler’s bench.

what are y’all working on today?

Rob

Well, I didn't get done, but here are some pics of one drawer showing how I store my yardage and also a pic showing what I mean about needing different size boards to allow for the fabric wrapping around.

The drawer units are the cheap plastic ones on wheels that you can get at Target. Each drawer can hold about 25 yards of fabric. So each unit will hold about 75 yards total. The units live under the table that holds my VX560 and the extension wings on my Sweet 16.

Rob

Rob: Congratulations on getting so much accomplished. Nice way to store the fabric. Thanks for the pictures.

I rearranged the area for my sewing machines. I tried it this way last summer but didn’t care for it but decided to try again. I switched my smaller sewing machine with my serger table/desk so I will see if that will make a difference. My serger has been upstairs before. At least the areas around/under the furniture got a good cleaning. Lol!

Rob...that looks great! Don't you just love rolling around in all that pretty stuff? You can send me that whole drawer....lol!

Great job, Connie! A friend is giving me her daughter's brand new serger and I've been thinking of where to put it. I don't have a clue how it works...never sewn garments but, if I stick in a closet, I likely won't ever try it.

Today, I purchased a mattress set for guest room. My new iron bed arrives soon. The room is decorated, the quilt made, and new sheets washed. Bring on the visitors!!! Woohoo!

Wonderful weather the next couple of days so, tomorrow, I'm organizing and burning brush/tree limb piles outside and setting them ablaze! Can't wait to get those unsightly piles gone...

I have been trying to organize & use up my batting scraps, interfacing and some misc scraps, especially black and white. Things are looking much better! The process is, overall, going slower than I thought it would, but I am beginning to at least see a difference. I plan to work all year, on and off, on cleaning and organizing something in my sewing room: a bookshelf, bins, piles a hanging wall "organizer."

Everyone is making so much progress. I had a friend come over two weeks ago and she helped me to really make a dent in sorting my sewing room. I now just have a large trestle table to clear. My sister promised me a shelf when she re did her kitchen. I'm hoping my husband will put it up today when I'm out so I can finish off the tidying. I've de cluttered quite a lot but most of my cupboards and containers need to be organised but I needed to just get everything tidied away. Hopefully I can then go through each drawer and cupboard over the next month or so and be finally organised. It's inspirational reading all your stories. I find I just get overwhelmed by mess and can't seem to do anything to sort it hence my very good friend supporting me.

Teen: I go through stages of using my serger. If I plan to wash yardage, I will serge the cut ends of the fabric to keep them from fraying and tangling. I had my DMIL’s very old serger to begin with but I just couldn’t keep the tension correct on it. I also use a serger on burp cloths, receiving blankets, and flannel quilts/play mats. (Two pieces of flannel with batting in the middle.).

Claire and cannyquilter: Great starts to organization!

Claire and Cannyquilter -sounds like you are both off to a great start!

Teen- yes, part of the fun of organizing my stash is getting to roll around in all that lusciousness :D

Today I want to organize another one of my fabric drawers. Then I need to block my most recent finish so I can free up my design wall.

Who's doing what today?

Rob:sew::sew::sew:

Rob, it seems you are making great strides...I’m sure it feels good to have a new cabinet to keep your pretty fabric organized.

Cannyquilter, I think it is great to have a friend help organize...they keep you on task. : )

Connie...thanks for the ideas for the serger. The lady who gave me the machine makes her quilts using a serger...never heard anyone using serger for piecing... Don't think I'll do that but I can totally see using your suggestions. I need to make a couple of bed pillow covers to protect pillows so I may try this simple project and get the hang of it. I think I need special thread, too, for a serger, yes? Going to have to read up on it...

no organizing today....just sewing!! Yea! Oh...wait...I did organize something. I had all of our DVD's still boxed up so I placed them in the DVD stands....and, put our small flat screen and DVD player in sewing room so I can watch movies while I sew. Not sure how long that will last since I prefer rock and roll!! Lol..

Teen: I knew some people used their sergers for piecing because I found some strips serged in donations. However, like you, it isn’t something I was interested in trying. Also, I usually do some straight line quilting on my baby items to stabilize the centers. I use cone thread designed for sergers. I just do basic serging but I know there are different kinds of thread and different attachments available.

I decided to start using a timer again for cleaning/organizing in my sewing area. I get easily distracted otherwise. 10 minutes of cleaning, sorting/cutting, etc. I set it twice today so I was able to get a few things done.

Great plan, Connie. I clean my sewing room after every project....but I, also, straighten up each evening when I'm done for the day. I know I know...totally anal...but it works for me.

Today, I cut up the quilt trimmings of 2 quilts from LA'r. I chose a different binding instead of using the trims from backing. I, also,made another fabric basket. I just have one more to do...pink... Although, I may make one for patriotics. I have large scraps and FQ's from QOV's... Thought I'd share a group picture..