January Studio Organizing, Task Two
Posted on January 24, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeBefore we get to the organizing task, a couple notes regarding my last post about my grandmother’s little Singer sewing machine. So many of you had wonderful stories about your own vintage machines. I know they’re popular, and most of you remark on how well they sew. I went back and updated the post with the actual links that readers provided on how to look up your machine’s birthday. Both of those sites have a wealth of information on vintage machines.
And . . . I decided that my little machine needed a name, so I’m announcing right here that her name is Lucille! My grandmother’s middle name was Lucille, so she is named after my grandmother, as she should be.
And now on to some more studio organizing!
Did you get all your stray fabric put away? I did not, but I did make a dent in it.
I started with the piles that were the most bothersome. Piles of fabric from finished tops that were still laying out on my cutting table. And I found a bit more to put away, too, and that led to working on sorting scraps — squirrel! However, there are still at least two boxes I have not gotten to yet, but I will eventually. And as I go through the piles I have sitting around here, I may find even more — who knows?
But now it’s already time for another task, and since I kind of got a start on this one, I’m going to make it our task this time and see if I can just get it done:
Clean off your main work surface
It’s time. We haven’t done this one for a while, but it needs revisiting often, at least in my studio. How about yours?
Here’s the state of mine as of this morning:
I must say I have a larger working area than I normally leave myself, but I really want it all cleared off because it’s really calming to walk into my studio and see it nice and clear. I’m gonna try to keep only my 3 most current projects on the table. We’ll see how that goes. Right now, I think there are about 8 projects scattered around on there.
I’m really, really concentrating on working on my old UFOs. I’ve been trying to choose the ones closest to done, and finish them up quickly, just to get the numbers down and get them off my list (even tho they only move to the to-be-quilted list, but still).
Here’s my current one:
This is an old Kaffe Fassett pattern from his book, Passionate Patchwork, called, appropriately, Red Courthouse Steps. This was a many-years-ago Sister Project — one that my sister and I were each going to do. Hers has been finished for years, and . . . well . . . you can see where mine is! I still love it so much, tho. Red is my favorite color. I only have 16 more blocks to make, so I’m hoping to finish it up soon. Then I can move on to the next one!
So . . . how’s your work surface? Do you need to take a project inventory and clear some stuff out so you have more working space? I’m reasonably certain that I’m never all alone on this task . . . so ‘fess up!
My work surface is small so it gets cluttered quickly. I try and tidy it after every project or I wouldn’t have any place to cut. I don’t always succeed! 😅
My workspace is fairly clear. Machine is out getting serviced again, so been going through and purging items. Many items for guild free table, and raffle tables at both guilds I belong to. Writing down all of my ufos and wip.
Now that my peg board is cleaned up and all the random rulers stored away….I have no idea what I was looking for to begin with! Ok, I can clear off the work area….maybe it will come to me! You are doing really great on your WIP! I have only attempted to do one, that right I thought I might have a small tri rex ruler!!!
Thank you for the memory prod!
It’s getting there. I got side-tracked with some sewing! I need to get it all in order because my quilty ladies want to see me actually quilting! Yikes!
wow. red is my favorite color. I do not use it enough. Since my floor often becomes my extended work area I will work on clearing that.
My two main workspaces are pretty clear. A quilt I need to repair a seam is on the cutting table along with UFO blocks I’m putting up on the design wall as my in progress quilt. On my sewing table extension there is something hiding under the baby quilt I have there for my cat to lay on…I can’t for the life of me remember what’s under there.. gives good credence to that old saying “out of sight out of mind”😂😂😂
I’m leaving for Arizona in less than a week.😱 I’m hoping to get that quilt mended and the UFO blocks sewn, or organized, so I can remember how they go when I get back. I’ve given up on the idea that I can finish it before then.
Beautiful red courthouse steps! There is a lot of sewing in any type of log cabin block or variation I’ve learned. My Christmas log cabin is still a UFO as is the pineapple quilt I cut. Oh my! I need to intersperse quick sews in between those easy but time consuming blocks.
I have actually been working on that today! I made a new ironing board cover for it and got a new cutting mat, the BIG version. I almost wore out the last one I had and then, it experienced an unfortunate “accident” when I moved almost 3 years ago! I wanted to buy until my daughter made my workstation. Soooo . . . it was time to feed the kitties, so left it with about 1/2 hour of folding yardage and scraps. Then, the felt pad and cover goes on and the new mat goes down. Then, time to do the cutting for the new mystery quilt I’m starting. My goal is to clean up and put away after the cutting is done. Will see how that goes!!
After finishing two quilts before Christmas I was left with a lot of fabric on my cutting table. Instead of putting them away I’ve used them to make a throw and a lap quilt. Still need to quilt them but at least the tops are done. I’ve moved on to another project. Cutting all scraps into 2 1/2” and making my own jelly rolls. To that you sew a white strip. I’ll let you know how this scrap quilt turns out
Since I had to move my work space to a different part of my basement, and clean out the old space, I have a little more to do on the table. After clearing off the table it will be time to move onto the WIPs. That is my goal this year. I have tops finished, but need to be put together and quilted. Hope to finish my valentine quilt before Valentines.
I do try and keep this area clean. I am still working on cutting all my scraps in to squares and such. I think I may almost be done and then in a bag they go and pull them out one buy one to sew in to scrap quilts
Well…yesterday it was clear. Does that count? Today it’s a disaster as I’m starting to cut fabric for a patterned version of Denys Schmidt”s Woven. I have the fabric pull but figuring out which fabric to put where is breaking my brain. This too shall pass and order will be restored.
By the way, my longarm is called Betty after my mum.
My work surface is clean, but I have not put away fabric from finished projects. I have been working hard on backings for the end of year projects that go to my Longarmer. I took 5 early in week but have one more backing to make. Then I’m good for six months at least.
Love your red quilt
Happy piecing.
My work space needs cleaning. Still working on the memory quilts so i still have that mess and need to clean up earlier projects.
My work surface normally is pretty clean. But I just completed a FPP block that had lots of little pieces so the table has the leftover snips laying around. I started to clear it off yesterday but didn’t get it completed. Maybe today. Thanks for the prompt.
My work surfaces are cluttered. It just seems that any flat surface attracts things and sometimes it is the oddest things. This pack rat is off to clean. Wish me luck!
I have not gotten my fabric piles cleaned up, only added to as I am STILL!!! costuming a play. The performances are this coming week, so I will definitely be done. SO, maybe I will accomplish both the piles and the table(s) before the next challenge comes out. And then, a quilt or two.