December Studio Organizing
Posted on December 16, 2022 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeHere we go! This is our last organizing task before The Final Countdown! It’ll give us a small head start.
I like all of your ideas for the areas you planned to work on for the last challenge. I’ve continued to improve on my new handwork area, moving some things closer because that’s where I’ll use them, going through boxes and sorting projects, etc. It’s left a few empty spots in the sewing room, which I’ll have no problem filling up right away!
I’m making this task fairly easy (at least it will be for me, since we’ve done it before):
I finally got a folder made on my computer for all the PDF files I’ve purchased. When I use one, I print out only the pages I need to take to my cutting table and sewing machine, mark on them while sewing if I need to, then toss them in the recycle when I’m done. If I need that pattern again, I’ll just repeat that same process, but I know where to find it on my computer, and it doesn’t take up space.
All of my printed patterns fit in the stool for my sewing machine. The lid lifts up for storage, so I stick them all in there.
When the stool gets too full, I know it’s time to go through and purge a few, or decide what I’m gonna do with them. Sometimes a few non-pattern items make their way into that area as well — I can already see some things that need to go elsewhere. Why is there fabric in there??? It’s time to reorganize it once more, in order to keep the lid fitting on my sewing stool!
I’ve heard some of you say before that you keep your patterns in binders, and someday I may move to a system like that. It sounds so organized. If that’s you, then maybe it’s time to look through the binders and clean them out to make room for more!
Or if you have yours stored somewhere similar to mine, just sort through them and get them organized. Otherwise, how will we know what we have, or be able to find one when we need it?
While doing this, I’m gonna try really hard not to take one out and start a new quilt right away — I still have things I’d like to finish before the end of the year, and starting something new won’t help right now!
Hi Shelly,
Year end already it sure has flown by!
I do keep my patterns in binders – That is an awesome idea to go through them and purge. I usually just add another binder! (so maybe not so organized, hahaha)
I had to laugh at that. You sound just like me!
I’ve done that – add another binder. My magazine patterns are in binders; my individual pattern purchases go in see through boxes. I’ve just added another box, too.
Randy
Where did my first message go??? I use the program “books’ on my Mac laptop. I can drag digital patterns in there and save them. It is pretty easy.
That’s the first thing I thought when I saw the picture. What’s that fabric doing in there, and that hanger or whatever it is?
Who wants to quit sewing long enough to sort/purge/etc. patterns? Yes, that creates another problem which you mentioned – pulling out one or more patterns that I need to start on right away.
Thanks for giving us organizing tasks every month again.
I think my patterns are pretty well where they are supposed to be with the exception of a few I bought during the All Missouri Shop Hop. I think I have them all corralled in one container with the fabric I had purchased during the Hop. I’ve been trying to get odds and ends done before the end of the year to have a handle on things.
Ha! Organize? Moving………planning to shut down production this week-end and hope I can find the necessities when I get ready to set up again. That should count as organization, right? 🙂
I need to go thru mine but have them covered so little granddaughters won’t get into them. Maybe after they leave – recycle bin could fill up!
Will have to pass on patterns, that is a task for next year. This year, I am finishing up sorting my huge book and magazine collection (not just quilting related). This is a one and done deal. Look at it, decide where it is going and/or to whom, and move on. This is the last move-in project in my living room.
For the previous challenge, it pushed me to figure out a way I could have a design wall again. I had to move some things around, but I have one up now. Hopefully this will help with completing some UFO’s.
As for patterns, I did a huge purging this year of all my paper patterns and donated over 100. They took up so much space. Now I just have a filing bin of tutorials and a few baskets of paper patterns.
All these decluttering challenges have helped me so much. I’m really looking forward to the Final Countdown. Thank you for all you do for us!
My paper patterns are in reasonably good shape. I really need to organize my long arm patterns on my tablet and in my binder.
I did some cleaning on a couple of catch all spaces. I should do it more often as I feel better afterwards. I need to clean upstairs where I keep my fabric. That will be for another time.
I am putting lots and lots of scraps together to get them out of here. I have made 8 quilt tops in the last 3 months and there are 4 others all ready to send to my sister to be quilted.
I am also going through all the envelopes and drawers that have stuff in them. I throw away a bit of it and the more I find the more I think I can just give it away. I bought sticky paper and quilt piece patterns from heavy plastic. I thought that was the way to go years ago. Now most of this is easier in the modern world. My total fabric in bins is now smaller amount. Another year like this one and the stash will be quite a bit smaller. I am using up thread that is sorta odd colors when doing scrappy quilt tops. By this time next year I hope I can really see a dent in all of this.
I don’t have many finished quilt tops at a quilter or ready to go. That is also a report that I am trying to make the stash smaller. 22 quilts or wall hangings were finished this year and there were also 14 table runner gifts for Christmas finished.