January Studio Organizing Challenge
Posted on January 21, 2026 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeI’m about to let the month get away from me! I’ve just been working away and not paying any attention to what day it is. I’m trying to stay in as much as possible, since it’s winter.
But I’m all ready with this month’s challenge:
Get rid of one thing a day
By the time of the next challenge, you’ll have rid yourself of nearly 30 items you no longer need or want. Think of all the space that will clear up!
I’m going to be getting rid of worn out tools or notions, magazines or books I’m done with, fabric I no longer love or want to use, even possibly a random UFO I decide not to finish! The possibilities are endless. You can even carry this over to the rest of your house as well. If your studio is in pristine condition (haha!), I’m sure we all have at least one kitchen drawer that could use a good purging, right?
Then we’ll all have less to organize in the future . . . or it’ll make room for us to bring in more stuff. Time will tell.
hey Bettina h…hard last name joined my local guild said she knew you
I went through books that I don’t need or want anymore. I’m taking them (8 in all) to my sewing group tomorrow, if nobody wants them, then they will be taken to a charity shop – one of the ladies works there so all sorted! More room! Frankenbatting has been made for a charity quilt so that has created a nice gap too. Not quite 30 items yet!
Gosh I feel like this was last months challenge – so many boxes …. Better stuff for Cancer Society, good stuff for pets in need, random stuff to Good Will. Not to mention the 4 boxes I’ve taken to my sister!
I can find more, I noticed a lot of multiple duplicates in my sewing area. Not parting with any multiple seam ripper!
This has been such an encouraging assignment! I’ve eliminated one box of velour for pet beds? some corduroy for the same. a deep breath or two remembering the little suit made of cowboy print for our son! sometimes fabric stash is a long trip down memory lane….and doesn’t accomplish much except happy smiles and changing to new tubs…and maybe the use of a hanky!
This is going to be a great challenge for me. I’m a pack rat who hates to get rid of stuff. Since the local Project Linus coordinator is retiring I’ll use this challenge as incentive to get everything done.
Think I will focus on one book or magazine per day. I have some dating back to the 70’s, so it’s time to declutter them. Thanks for the push to get it done.
Yes! I really need to do this and have been working on it this month. But it is so hard! I’ve eliminated 2 large notebooks filled with saved patterns from magazines and internet, a stack of magazines, and a few rulers I don’t use. I just went through all my “kits”. I eliminated a few, maybe 8? However, I’ve just torn them down into fabric that I plan on putting back into stash and a few “ collections” of fabric. That’s where the problem comes…It’s so hard for me to part with fabric that could become something. I like having my “store”! My fabric shelves are at capacity. I have a rolling cart I want to eliminate to better access my bookshelves. That alone probably holds 800 FQs ( candy) and then there are the bins of fabric on the floor 😱. The floor needs to be cleared and that is going to happen. I can’t be tripping and I need to be able to clean easily.
I keep thinking I can sew it up fast and get out of this hole, but I’m just kidding myself. I have 30 projects that need quilting and I don’t make time to do them. And…the whole house needs another round of purging. It’s amazing the creep that’s happened since my last declutter. I need a nap! It’s been good writing it all down here in black and white, the truth becomes apparent. Hope I can keep my resolve when I head back into the sewing room!🤞
Several years ago I set a 365 Goal. Meaning, get rid of 365 things in a year. I kept a tally. Some things were small, and some were large, but never missed any of them. (Nor, unfortunately, could I really tell a difference.)
Sounds like a good idea and may include both sewing area and the rest of the house to remove at least 30 items from each. This weather should make it more plausible. Give my love to Tucker.