2023 Final Countdown, Task Two
Posted on December 30, 2023 by prairiemoonquilts in The Final CountdownHow did you do yesterday? I see from the comments that we’re all in different stages of the stash organization game!
But you have great ideas for handling it!
And we’re already moving on to Task #2. This is a big one for me. I could assign myself this one every single week, and it would still be a trial for me to get it done.
Clean off your main work surface
I love this one, tho, because if you do manage to get your main work area cleared to begin the new year, it really does feel like a super fresh start. So I’m gonna give it a really good try. How about you?
I know some of you keep your surfaces clean every day, and I marvel at that, and admire you for it, but for some reason, it’s one of the most difficult things for me to do.
I have done better over the last couple years because I am limiting myself to how many projects I can keep out on it at any moment in time, but I still have quite a mess. I think I need even lower limits — haha! Here is the state of my cutting table as of this morning:
Shameful! Part of my problem is that I always think I can work my way through the piles as I clean them up, but that has turned out to be waaaayyyy too slow for keeping it cleared off. And I have a tendency to let random things languish where they shouldn’t.
So here’s how I intend to tackle this task:
• Put away all the random items that are just there for no reason. Tools back in the caddy, scraps in the scrap basket, stray fabric back in the bins, all the pieces of each project gathered up together, etc. Then there’s the paper clips, chapstick, scratch paper and sticky notes, plastic bags, a coaster, receipts, and who knows what else. Why???
• Take stock of the projects that are out. Determine which ones I need to work on the soonest, keep maybe 3-5 of them out, and find a place to put the rest of them away.
• Go through my tool caddies and make sure all the things in there are needed at the cutting table.
• Clean off the table, turn my mats over for a clean side to cut on, and change my rotary cutter blade.
If I get all that done, I will feel so good. How about you?
Will this give you a good start on the new year?
If you already have this done, remember: you can pick from the past tasks HERE to find something that you DO need to do this time.
I’d love to hear about the most random thing you find on your main work surface while you’re doing this task — we might get some good laughs!
I normally keep my surfaces in pretty good shape. But I have one ongoing project, and 2 recently completed where the leftover fabric is stacked on the cutting table. The most random item on my sewing table is the hanging tab from my grandson’s Christmas stocking that I forgot to reattach when I repaired it before Christmas LAST year. I’m saving it…
This task has been completed!
Currently I do have things on my cutting/iron table but I’m working the project on the table.
Recently changed blade.
With your help I have be able to keep it clean after each project because you remind us.
I have a tower that holds projects bins where I keep UFOs close to my cutting table.
I went back and picked a task from 2012. Am going to make something for myself. I’m thinking a couple of placemats. What fun. Will start sometime next week. Thanks for the inspirations
My cutting table is not too bad right now. I cleaned it before Christmas and didn’t do much while getting ready for guests for Christmas. Today I am getting started on my projects again and already scraps are starting to accumulate. I will try not to let it get out of hand!
yes, my main table has turned out to be my ironing board, which has not seen the iron in quite some time. Yes I am doing this…
Except for a two bolts of cloth and a very mini vacuum that is great for cleaning up lint (think about 3 or 4 inches square for use on desks), I don’t have anything on my cutting table. Those two bolts of cloth I am cutting into this afternoon…they are part of a project. The ironing board is holding the parts for the current project, plus parts for a small project…I want to make jar grippers for myself and for gifts. I have a new blade in the cutter, so I am going to work on that scrappy quilt project and see how much of the yardage I can use up today. 🙂
My cutting table is a fold up card table and has to be cleared away to the closet pretty often. Sometimes I use our dining table and that has to be cleared off. So. My big challenge is the stuff hiding in boxes in drawers and closet. I am trying. There are a few old things that I wonder if I need. I have one basket that always went with me to sewing get togethers. COVID shutdown eliminated most of that for me. Oh, and old age and old husband? But I am not suffering much. I was identified as an introvert ages ago. Had to talk to others for most of work 50 years. Now I can stay in happy. Has given me time to clear away a lot!!
Have finished half of yesterday’s task, now to clearing space. Have put & reorganized some but need to keep clearing & putting away. Progress to move forward.
this is one I definitely need to do before starting anothrr project. Hoping by this time tomorrow that’s been accomplished. If it is then some of yesterday’s done too!
Yeah i finished straightening & putting away! Still need to do trimming scraps (task #1).
my main area is pretty clean. it’s my ironing board that has projects on it that need to be ironed before I can continue on.
My cutting/work table was in a little better shape than usual as I have just finished a very tough project, so in addition to the leftover fabric, etc., I only had a small overhead lamp plugged in there to better see the colors I was matching…so as with task one, I needed to put the leftover fabric where it belongs as well as unplug the lamp and put it back where I can grab it again when needed. That was after I spent a few hours putting away Christmas stuff and gathering items in the basement to take to the thrift store…WHEW!
It was already on my tomorrow’s todo list. It’s not that bad. I’ll put everything back into the project tote for the BOM I’m working on. Some leftover Christmas items and a few pieces of new fabric I haven’t put up should about do it. Oh, yes! Change that rotary blade. A lot of cutting coming up in the new year.
this one is always on my list too and it would only take me about 30 minutes to clean it off!
I got fabric folded and put away today. That pretty much cleared my main and secondary work areas. Still have overflowing scraps to deal with.
I will work on my ironing surface tomorrow. It’s covered with Christmas project boxes I need to review and see if I still want to make. I have two lower shelves in a cabinet that I intend for all my Christmas projects and fabrics to live. Had to quit today because my brain got tired of making decisions. A fresh start tomorrow!
I really like your pineapple block on the table! I’ve got to make one of those…I have one cut out…somewhere.
Christmas is almost packed away. Downsized one extra large tub-hall table full of “stuff” for my daughter to go through- then off to a thrift store. My main work table has my husbands t-shirt quilt laying across it – been there since maybe March! Intended to tye it, couldn’t get the needle through. Big stitched one side of one block- which hurt my hand…thank goodness he is not in a hurry for it – I think I started it 2014/15??? I have two other table areas that need a clearing. I will still be a day behind. Pretty sure I can catch up…
This was an easy one.I didn’t have any thing to do. I clean off my work surface every night when I finish sewing. (But I do have one small pile that crept in to a side chair last week that I will tackle.)
Instead of cleaning the main surface, I spent all day updating my “finished” and “to-do” lists. This included tracking down and photographing a few quilt labels that I forgot to take pictures of and prepping the pictures to go to Walgreen’s to be printed.
I keep a photo album of all of my quilts, plus a notebook about each one. I like to make sure I have everything updated at the end of the year. This also tells me what’s left on my to-do list and what stage each one is in.
I’ve decided that in 2024 I will not take on any new projects until I finished FOUR old ones!
Hah! I looked at the ever growing pile on the worktable yesterday before shutting the door on it. Random item(s) – 3 packets of veg seeds – one Italian plum tomatoes, one of onions and one of cauliflower!
Managed to get a lot of cubby shelves tidied and created more space! Ready for the stuff on the table! LOL
xx
Did we do this last year??? I remember making an attempt… My main cutting table is in the basment, piled with stuff and unused still. Instead I cut at the kitchen counter and have been doing that for over a year–so clean up is continuous!!! Will tackle the area in the basement today.
Just went to check for funny objects found on it. How about a brand new tent in it’s carrying case… a plush toy witch, sitting in a large Halloween mug… several old rotary cutters that probably need new blades… Time to go to work!
My table surfaces are okay, as I just cleared them when doing the last step. My surface to clear is my chair and floor. I have a quilt to be sandwiched on my chair and a quilt to sew together on my floor webbed together.
Here is my report: https://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2023/12/31/2023-final-countdown-task-two/
It feels good to start fresh and clean.
Cleaned off cutting/ironing table last night, but need to clean off sewing cabinet and table upstairs, so this is a great task for me today. Then continue working on fabric.
I guess I got this one already. Unless I’m cutting out a project, my space has to be clean or I just can’t think. I also dust/vacuum everything between projects, sometimes during. (I’m not saying I never make messes–when I’m pulling fabrics, it can look like a tornado hit!)
My gate-leg cutting table was buried from all the bits left over from the satisfaction and double the plus quilt tops I’ve made over the last 2-3 months. That’s now all sorted and the useable scraps cut and put away. The rotary cutters have new blades and I am putting a new needle into my sewing machine as soon as I post this. Tasks 1&2 completed!
My cutting table was actually pretty clean because I had cleaned it before Christmas week. I wanted a clean slate to begin the New Year. I did clean off my design wall (another UFO) so I could start a late Christmas gift today. Tomorrow starts the depressing task of counting the UFOs that I’m carrying over into 2024.
I recently wrote that I realized I wasn’t sewing in my quilt room because the layout of the furniture didn’t work for me. So, in reorganizing furniture I cleared off my cutting table. Best part – I no longer use the same place to cut and iron! But I did set up a card table to put stuff on while I moved furniture around. My goal is to finish clearing off that table. YIPES! My random item, a small piece of string and hook from one of my son’s favorite toys- BTW, my son is 37 years old, but I can’t bring myself to give it up.😂😂
My main work table stays pretty clean most of the time. If it wasn’t, I could not create anything!
So, I again picked a previous task for my Task 2 – Eradicate a Pile. I have a small bin on the end of that tidy work table for Table Scraps (stuff from cutting). It has grown a big enough muffin that it fell over and got a second bin. My goal is to empty both of them.
I seem to keep my main work/cutting area and ironing board clear or almost clear. I my issue is temporarily putting projects aside and then can’t fine where I put. them and always the left overs from finishing a quilt. Right now I had to buy a new apron pattern because i can’t find the original pattern I had. I need that pattern as I was cutting information from aprons for special people. It is still in the lost from Early Nov.
I hate clutter as it stresses me out and I am a “clean as you go” cook so apply that also to my table and counters in my sewing space. However, I made a “resolution” to dust the entire house today (something I get very behind on) and I must say my sewing area was the worst! So does this count for today’s task?
Well, I thought I already responded, but I guess not.
My table is good. Tackling a pile in a chair. How does it grow so fast?
Making progress!
I completed this task… than I have to struggle not to contaminate the surface
I managed to get my cutting table cleared off and free up another sewing machine table so I can also cut on it. It always feels so great to get this done!
Cutting table cleaned off …. One more time! Now to tackle the scrap box. Sigh! That one will be a bit tougher. Don’t know if I’ll make it by January 8th but I’m gonna try!
I completed this one this evening and I’m proud to say that I only parts of 5 quilts on my main surface. I did a block count for my Scrappers Delight 1 and 2; 7 blocks needed for SD1 and it depends on how big I want to make 2. I can’t remember how many I need of those little ones. I did start a new project today; another string quilt to help with my strings.
My work surface isn’t great but much better. I still had bits of Christmas wrapping supplies all over it. At least that is gone. I am afraid it will never be perfect, but I can work on it.
Right now I consider my main working service to be my sewing machine. I have a lot of extra stuff on there but at this point a lot less than I used to. Every time I work in there I continue to put more away but I feel like I’ve done this task to completion For now .
Cleaned off the surfaces in the main area and put them away or in boxes by project. It feels good to see the table top!