QuilterMomma

This only one section. I have much more on other side in cupboards. How best to tackle this so it is not so overwhelming.

Country1

Just jump in!LOL My DH says just send it all to us for safe keeping.

drivingsusan

W e l l.....first you can get pants hangers for your hanging quilt tops.....many tops will hang on just 1 hanger & at Walmart they are 2 for $2 something!!
That is the easy part....but a good start!!
I would start separate piles for all that fabric....one pile for each color. This is going to take time so do it is small bunches of time!! Just piles, sorted will give you such a great idea of what you really have!!!
Then.....fold each pile neatly (I ruler fold all my larger pcs,). Now you have stacks of fabric where the piles were!!! Accomplishment feels soooo good at every step!!!!
You can then store them according to color or style in tubs,dresser drawer, bookcases or what I have done is watch craigslist for curio cabinets and as my stash grows I squeeze in another cabinet!!!! (have totally run out of space for another!!!)
Good luck with your organization...mine took about 3 weeks 3 years ago and I am so happy I did it!!!

Tartan

I too like the hangers with little clips for WIP and small completed things like place mats and table runners. I would start with putting my fabric on mini bolts. If you prefer ruler folding, then organize your fabric into colour piles. ( I do leave collections together though. ) Once you have a good size pile of 1 colour, fold that up and then you can say, " the blues are done". Take a break and do another colour later and/or do another colour tomorrow and so on. You can do this, get cracking!

AUQuilter

I would take a deep breath and then set the timer for 30 minutes after getting these items. Some items I would need are the following: 2 Gallon and 1 Gallon ZipLock bags, clear shoe boxes, velvet flocked pant hangers (I use a flocked 4 pant hanger for completed tops waiting to go to quilter), index cards, pens or pencils and a few larger totes or even brown paper bags (I like sorting in them because they stand on their own and even if you leave them out- they still look organized if labeled). Once done with the paper bags, fold flat and use for patterns or another sorting session. Next hang all finished tops with binding/backing on a hanger. The flocked hangers or even wooden pant hangers are strong enough to hold the top and binding fabric. Label index card and poke hole so you can put on top of the hanger. Next stand up a few brown paper bags and label "scraps", "patterns", "misc", "quilt for XXX", "DONATE or SHARE" ... Then empty just one of your bag/box and sort (if you need to label more brown paper bags, do so). Do this until timer goes off then take a 10 minute break and head back in for another 30 minute session. For fabric pieces, I ruler fold and sort by color, batiks, or by holiday/civil war/1930s and even by line. Over the course of a few weeks, you can conquer this. Please keep us posted.

tessagin

What clear containers you already have scraps/material in set off to the side. Use an industrial marker to label contents. I see batting, fold, roll, and use sticky notes or scraps of paper to label type of batting and approx. size. If any empty cardboard boxes toss aside. Any quilted material like in the upper left corner on the pile, put that in a separate pile. You can use one of the empty cardboard boxes (if big enough) to throw your books and magazines in (mark it mags & books). Another thing mark the boxes so you can read it! You can start by making piles, 1 for novelty, containers for holidays, then separate colors. Don't just toss to this pile and that pile. Fold as you go. Also TAKE A BREAK! You don't have to do this all in one day, That would be nerve racking. Watching some of the YouTube videos may help on organization. You don't have to spend a lot of money on organization just be sure you are able to see what you have. A friend of mine uses shoebags to hang on her door. She keeps many of her quilting patterns in them. Any dresser drawers you don't use are good for what you don't use too often. Good luck!

tessagin

You can also go through some of the past video on organization on the board and see what works for you.

sewmom

Just tackle one thing at a time. When my girls were little, their room looked like this. Yikes! I would start by throwing all the clothes on a made bed.then made piles of toys, stuffed toys etc, in your room, i would sort by colors, then sub- sort(is that a word?) into scraps, yardage, FQ etc. then you could finish one color at a time. Have containers nearby for different things, hang everything you can. Break it up into smaller jobs and it won't seem so overwhelming. Good luck.

zozee

Oh, QuilterMomma, I would LOVE to be there to help you. I really like to organize things, especially sewing rooms! You asked how to start.

First, get a big glass of water and then set a timer for 15 minutes.

Looking at just that area pictured, take everything out and put it in the hall or spare bed --somewhere close that you're not tripping over and it. Don't try to organize anything, just pull it out and empty that space for now. Seeing a huge expanse of free space will make you SMILE and start helping you feel NOT overwhelmed. It will also force you not to keep anything/put anything back that you don't need or love.

After 15 minutes, set your timer for 5 minutes and gather 4 things: 1 BIG trash can , biggest you can find. 1 for giveaway/sell, 1 for keep, 1 for CAN'T decide (unless you are very decisive). The idea is to make quick decisions, don't overthink.

Set your timer for 25 more minutes. Sort your fabrics into color piles. Do it FAST. Don't pet your fabric, don't wax nostalgic, don't plan your next quilt, don't overthink, don't grab fabric from the other side of the room. Focus on this area we see in the picture, It's enough for now. Just sort fabric by color as fast as you can.

In the time remaining, fold in a ROYGBIV'ly way. Reds, Oranges, Yellows, etc. I love the ruler method I saw on youtube. Makes everything look as neat as quilt shop stash> . When you hear the timer, stop! Breathe. Take another big drink of water. Admire your progress.

That was 45 minutes. I am only good for 45 when I'm overwhelme
d. I can ruler fold fabric in front the of the TV because it's mindless. But if you find you're just moving piles around and not getting rid of anything, you need to stop.

Think how much fun we, your QB friends, will have looking at your progress (DO take pictures as you go!) and then at shopping your stash when (not if) you decide to offer it up to us!!

You can do this. 45 minutes. 4 Boxes. Attitude and clothes on. GO!

zozee

I meant your "giveaway/sell" pile as "stash" for us