When the new year arrives, the cleaning and organizing bug seems to hit everyone. Something about a new year starting makes people want to start things in their life with a “clean slate”. Staying organized while quilting is a good thing too! I have some habits that I have developed and I thought I’d share them with you. I think these tips have helped me enjoy quilting more. Try some out and see if they do the same for you!
Tip #1
Make it a New Year’s resolution to organize your fabric stash. That way you can “shop” your stash when you are beginning a new project before heading to the quilt shop. Although, I really, really never turn down a trip to the quilt shop! I have come home with a piece fabric thinking it was “unique” only to find it in one of my bins. Organization should keep that from happening. I use 16 quart Sterilite tubs to store most of my fabric that are fat 1/4s, quarter yards and 1/2 yards. Larger pieces (yards and up) are folded and stored on shelves in a cupboard.
I label the front with the fabric size and color and then store those in the tub. These tubs are stack-able and fit well in closets and cupboards. I also use these tubs to store strips. I like to save 1 1/2 and 2 1/2″ strips because I use them so much in scrap quilting.
Tip #2
When cutting out a project, use painter’s tape or masking tape to label a stack of fabric. Most patterns, mine included, label the pieces you are cutting out with numbers or letters. That way they can refer to the pieces by that labeling in the pattern. Instead of repeating “2 1 /2″ purple print square” every time they use that piece, they can say “piece A”.
Tip #3
Storing a project you have cut out is another organizational tip that comes in handy. We all wish we could whip up that project as soon as its cut out… but we live in the real world! For smaller projects, I use the zipper pouches that sheet sets or shower curtains come in. I have saved many of them over the years and they come in really handy!
I also use them when I have picked out fabric for a project but have not had time to cut it out yet. It’s a great way to store the fabric I’ve chosen with the pattern. That way I won’t accidentally use the fabric for another project.
For larger projects, I use a container like below because it’s big enough to store finished blocks in it as I go.
You can find bins like these in your local craft store or stores like JoAnn Fabrics or Micheal’s craft stores.
Tip #4
To speed up piecing of a project, I use design boards that keep pieces of a block organized.
I made these design boards using 13 x 13″ pieces of cardboard covered with scrap batting. I secured it on the back with a glue stick. Make a stack of these and you use it like this:
Once you have a whole stack of these, you can carry them to your sewing machine and piece several blocks in one sitting. No stopping to layout the next block!
So there you have it. Some tips for being organized so you can have fun stitching your next project. Leave me a comment below with some of the things you do to keep yourself organized. You will be entered into a drawing for my book Blooming Patchwork!
The drawing will be on Monday, January 27th so you have two weeks to enter! We have a winner! Congrats, Toni Anne Potter!
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
I organize pretty much the same way you do. On shelves I organize my yardage by colors. One shelf has oriental and Australian fabrics another batiks. Fat quarters I organize by colors but some by types… dots … batiks… children in their own containers. Fall…Christmas…red white and blues have their own. Small pieces are separated by colors stored in their own containers. I have alot of containers but it makes finding things easier. Each box is labeled. I have one container full of snippets… because I applique alot. The unusable snippets go into dog beds.
I like that use for the small snippets. I heard about donating them to people who make these beds.
Shelves and bins are my favourite tools for storing my stash. I store by colour in bins. Full yardage and fat quarters in same bin. My shelves are hidden behind a wall of curtains to avoid fabric fading as they are stored on the shelves. Right now, I use styrofoam boards for holding my pieces for sewing, but I will have to try your idea instead. Heavens, we all have lots of batting scraps!
Glad you like my design board idea!
I try to store everything in clear containers – bags, boxes or drawers. Because “Out of sight, out of mind”. And I try to label everything. Sometimes I use a cute sticky label, sometimes an index card inside the container that is visible through the container.
My stash is still totally out of control. But this is a great time to tackle it again.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Yes it is. I came up with this fabric storage system because my stash was definitely out of control and I would come home with fabric I already had quite often.
Well about buying the same fabric all Ivan say is at least you were consistent! I do this a lot with magazines! It is really irritating!
This last year I started wrapping my 1/2 – 3 yard pieces on comic book boards and filing them by color like books on a shelf. This makes it so easy to pull out a fabric to use without creating an avalanche :). I keep my 1/4 to 1/2 yard pieces much like you – sorted by genre and color
The comic book boards are a great idea.
merci pour ces conseils, et je fais comme vous! tous mes tissus sont classés par couleur ou par genre: fleurs, batik,liberty, les pois ,les carreaux….dans des boites transparente et le tout dans un placard!!! une boite plate pour chaque ouvrage avec sa notice et ses tissus et ses fils!!!! je suis assez organisée et je range au fur et à mesure car j’ai horreur de chercher quelque chose, donc je range!! c’est une question d’habitude!
je n’ai pas la planche de désign, je vais vite en fabriquer quelques unes!!!! quelle est la dimension idéale ??? merci pour vos articles j’aime beaucoup!!! Dany
I think the ideal size is 13 x 13″ since the majority of the blocks I make for a project are finished 12 x 12″ or less.
This year I started by putting all of my patterns in containers ,and mark on them ,now I can grab whatever one I want in no time ,no more looking around .I also started to cut the patterns out ,having them ready to go when I want one ,putting everything together in one container ,so just grab and start when I want .Been using up alot of scraps this way ,I find that sometimes I have so much stuff laying around in every room and I couldn’t bring myself to finish one project .So this year ,I finished two of my last year projects and I’m keeping up with others too .Thank you for all your helpful tips
I love all your organizational ideas, especially the bin you used for larger projects. I am going to check out that container size the next time I am in Joanne’s. I also would like to know if you can give me more information about the quilt block you show as an example on your design board – block name, pattern/ book . Thanks
Hi! That quilt block is from one of the patterns in my book. It’s a wall hanging called Open Windows.
https://shop.snugglesquilts.com/collections/books/products/blooming-patchwork
Here’s a link to a photo of the quilt:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14euNcccX2erw1fPn_8eh7bpVASuuLx4K/view?usp=sharing
I also save my zip bags from bedding etc as they are very useful.
You have great organization tips, so thank you for posting them. Right now I am cutting out pieces for a double wedding ring quilt. I have small baggies for the actual pieces. Then I put them into gallon freezer bags to keep track of colors. I also keep the leftover of each fabric with the pieces because I used to put it all away after I finished cutting everything. But usually there will be some sort of mishap where I will need an extra piece so I have learned to keep them all together.
I use hair clips and zip lock bags to organize myself while working on a project. I love the idea of the design boards and plan on making some since I have a bunch or cardboard from Christmas shopping.
I keep a list of everything in progress. I mark them off as I finish. I also pack all of the fabric for the project, including the pattern, in a box and label it on the outside with the project name.
I use many of the tips you use but making the small design boards is still on my list of things to do. I’ve always cut little pieces of paper to label each part of a project but I like the tape one you use so I’m going to do that. My little paper piece have a tendency to fly away when moved.
I use the Art Bin boxes, but I also take the Green Painters tape and with a sharpie label what it is, put it by the handle. Kit is all together
I organize very much like you. I use plastic (shoe box size) bins or larger and sort fat quarters by color. Larger cuts of fabric are stored by type, such as Stonehenge, florals, etc. I make charity baby quilts and keep these fabrics in wire pullout drawers (found at Menards and Ikea) so they are in easy reach. Projects/future projects I put in the ArtBin boxes (I love these), so I don’t accidentally use the fabrics for something else. All totes, drawers, boxes are labeled and stored on large wire shelving units.
I use the same things you do for storing fabrics and projects. For my fat quarters (and pieces that are generally close in size) I use a dresser that has deep drawers. The fabrics are folded and placed on their sides. I have colors sorted by color in each drawer.