quiltingcotton

I am working on a quilt now, that has a lot of blocks. Normally I would just cut the pieces and keep the pieces in separate piles and grab them as I piece them -- ie. one from the first pile, then grab one from the second pile and attach or I would just sew the same piece to the next piece for all the blocks in chain fashion.

But with this quilt. I need cuts from the same fabric (different size cuts) and multiple cuts of a different fabric (different size cuts) and cuts from a third fabric (multi cuts of different sizes).

There are multiple fabrics throughout the quilt blocks with no blocks being the same fabrics, The same size cuts throughout, but not the same fabric colors/designs.

I'm looking for a way to keep all of these separate so that I can do all of my cutting, then move to do all of the piecing and making of the blocks.

I've tried putting pieces of copy/letter size paper between each of the set of cuts for each block, but it is so flimsy and I'm having a hard time keeping the count straight. There are 120 blocks on this quilt.

I'm debating on getting some heavy card stock paper to put between each cut set for each block. But, I don't want to buy it, if it isn't going to work.

I'm looking for ideas - what do you do to keep cut sets separate if you need to keep different sets for each block?

EasyPeezy

I have a set of 100 ziploc bags which I marked 1 to 100.
This helps me stay organized and I can keep re-using these bags
for other projects.

Onebyone

I have used paper plates to hold one block pieces at a time. They stack neatly.

quiltingcotton

I thought about Ziploc bags, but I'm thinking that they would be sliding all over the place, unless I put them in a basket or something.

I'm really liking the idea of putting them on paper plates, I have some thick paper plates and then stacking them for each row of blocks.

cashs_mom

I use Ziplocs also.

bearisgray

If you have a touch of OCD - put each block pieces in a zip-loc bag, and then stack the bags in/on the paper (or plastic) plates that will keep the plastic bags from sliding off.

Probably number the bags - so if you have a fumble - which I am prone to do - you won't have pieces all over the place.

quiltingcotton

I liked the holiday paper plates from Chinet that I used last year for Thanksgiving and I had a couple of them left - actually they are the 12" x 10" platters. They are the heavy fiberboard/compostable ones. They are not slippery, totally hold their flatness, even when picked up one handed and they have a rim to keep things contained. I just placed an order for more of them.

Thanks Onebyone, for the idea for using plates. The thought of using them never occurred to me. They will also stack nicely even with the amount of fabric needed for each block in them. Also they will be easy to count when needed, so no need to write on them. Definitely something that can be used over and over again.

QuiltE

Another one for Ziplock bags.

Green painters tape can be a friend, if you are labelling those bags. I find it easier to read any notes I make, than putting them on the bag itself. Plus, it pulls off easily without any damage.

Set the bags on something solid, with sides. Deals with your fear of them slip-sliding away while keeping all together and organized. A plastic bin can work well, as then you also have a lid if you want to set the project aside. Label it with green tape too, for easy ID!

LGJARN52

I've used heacy duty paper plates before to keep everything separate.

QuiltE

Another helpful for me to keep things organized are ...
Clothespins ... regular sized or super sized.

Let's me keep the pieces of fabric together, with or without a piece of paper for notes.
Easy enough to to open and take out pieces as I want.

Fairly easy to move the stack around while clipped together.
Gives a bit of weight to hold all stable.
If you're regularly coding your piles as 1-2-3 or A-B-C, write that right on the clothespin.
(I have a set of Jan thru Dec in the office, for sorting papers!)

Works, so long as the bulk does not exceed the clothespin's ability.
Otherwise .... ooops, it all comes apart!!