Sunday afternoon I spent some time organizing my purchases from the 2 Tote Bag Sales I went to on Saturday. I've been thinking about how to organize pending projects. I decided to make kits with the pattern and fabrics together. First up, Lincoln - a Schnibbles pattern. It's my first of these patterns. It's all here. Binding, backing, and 2 charm packs. I labeled the containers too.
Next is the cover pattern from Simply Charming. I thought this would be a good quilt to give to one of my nieces, Ava. Her favorite color is Pink!
But then I got to thinking that there are other patterns in that book that I might want to make and I might not be able to find the book. So I copied the pattern and that's what I'm storing in the kit. The pattern book is going back on the shelf so I can find it easily.
My last project is another Go Green Shopper. I won this turnover at our last Moda Maniacs meeting. I already had the pattern as I've made one before. So all I needed was a bit of binding and fabric to line the tote. For this one, the lining and binding will be made out of the same fabric.
I can see how it would just be easier in the moment to throw things in the closet or stack the fabric up and move on. It would also take less time. On Sunday, by the time I put things away and straightened up a couple of other things an hour had quickly passed. I could have been doing something fun!I'm trying to organize in a manner that counterbalances my misplacing things and forgetting what things are for. In my professional life, it's rare that I forget anything. I'm on time, organized and prepared for meetings. I get things done early. Sometimes I use lists, sometimes not. At home, I HAVE to have a list. I forget where I put things or what I need to buy. I misplace the cable remote regularly. I have visions of finding a pile of fabric that is obviously for a project and having absolutely no recollection what pattern it was intended for. So we'll see if this type of organizing works for me. I sure hope it does. I'm trying it with stitching projects too. Though with stitching I'm afraid that I'm going to end up with 20 skeins of one color floss. I'll need to work on curbing my instincts to just throw everything in the closet or a drawer! That's going to be a real challenge!
How do you organize your projects? What have you found works for you or does not work for you? I'd love to hear your experiences!
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23 comments:
I have sometimes gotten all sizes of zip-loc bags (including some HUGE ones). I will put all the components of a project in a bag (or sometimes a small box) and also write on a slip of paper the PROJECT for which it's intended...with info on what book the pattern is in...and put that paper IN with the project components. I put the baggies and boxes in a drawer or a bin and I have a master sheet I do on the computer that tells me where each project "baggie" can be found. It seems to work as I can pull the list and see which projects I have "bagged" or "boxed" and also know right where to get them.
I think project boxes are the way to go, however, i haven't always been good about putting the pattern with the project, so kudos to you for being good and doing that. You've got some gorgeous fabric there, can't wait to see them when complete.
That's great organization, Jackie! I need to be organized, but I'm not. I just hope for the best. :D
Your projects look very organized to me! The fabrics look beautiful together.
Once in awhile I get my stitching things very organized. Every piece of linen is in a container, every thread in a labeled bag (DMC series #'s) and all charts in a plastic sleeve in binders. Then I go haywire and toss everything in a closet when I finish looking at it! When I get a stitching room I hope that will help me keep things organized.
wow, Jacke, I am totally impressed by your organisation skills. A great idea, to add the pattern to your purchases! Makes life so much easier!
Love the projects you are going to make. I know you will have lots of fun making the Lincoln Schnibbles!
In my mind I'm totally organized, it just never seems to quite happen in real life!
I really envy your dedication to organizing. I'm the most disorganized person around. But I only do one or two projects at a time and don't buy a lot in advance. You are amazing!
I recently went out out bought 4 of the containers you are using. I don't normally have things organized though. I keep seeing patterns and thinking Oooh! That is a project I need to make and then proceed to forget all about it. I usually buy fabric as I need it so there isn't too much piling up (at least that's what I keep telling myself)
I too try to put the magazine with the fabric for a project. In doing so , I have had other patterns from the same book/magazine and not remembered where I put it. A working copy in with each one is a good idea.I do that with my stitcing, just never thougth to do it with quilting, go figure. When I am cutting out a quilt, I use a lot of the organizing things that Pat said she uses. Works well for me. These are great patterns and fabrics by the way!
You are very organized, thank you for the inspiration!
I have to do that too! All the projects will be very pretty!
Have a nice day!
I organize my projects in the same way as Pat, even with the computer...I call my projects PIGS Projects In Grocery Sacks :)
Your organization looks great, happy stitching your new projects.
I like your method of organizing and putting a copy of the chart in the box with the supplies. I've run into that same problem too recently when I finally resurrected all my stash. I had the fabric labeled but couldn't find the book. Well, the book was in with another project. So I'm going to be a copycat and steal your method. It's a perfect solution.
I am rarely organized like this!! I am so impressed. I do make lots of lists. It would help if I would remember where I put them so that I could see what's next on the list to do! It depends on what I'm doing. Once I get ready to start making 5 Christmas, Easter, Valentine's, etc... outfits, I try to gather what's needed for each one and put them in stacks on top of one another. I work down the stack till there's nothing left to do.
Oh my Jackie - I did not realize you were a neat freak - maybe I'll retract on letting you see inside my "wool room" it is not even controlled chaos! There are all kinds of bags everywhere - gigantic totes full of charts - a closet full of yarn - the only thing even remotely organized is my rug hooking stuff which is "mostly" contained in a huge primitive cabinet. Sorry but I am definitely NOT the one to ask about organizing. However I do think you are very smart to try and keep things marked and projects together with the pattern
Hope you have a fun weekend! Mel
Good luck with the organization! When I was quilting, I had a big cabinet--my husband had his contractor friend install a bunch of kitchen cabinets in the basement for me--and I had fabric organized by color. Books were stacked together. I didn't buy so many patterns. BOMs went together into one tote. That is about as far as it went, but organization isn't really my forte... but it worked for me. I hope yours works for you! I'm still intrigued by those Moda Turnovers...
I love, love, love how you have organized your projects. The fabrics you chose for each one are fabulous! I can't wait to see your progress on each one!
I think your organizing plans look remarkable. Just remember, the time you spend organizing and putting things back in place will save time in the long run, right? Once you get "in the habit" this will go faster and become second nature.
Since I only ever have a few projects at a time (and those are only cross stitch) I just keep them all together in a WIP box. The ones I am actively stitching are in a pile on my desk.
I think these containers are great...I have several and like that they stack nicely and are easy to peak into.
Thanks for visiting my blog and best of luck!
Sandy
good for you trying to keep organized in the sewing room, in the long run it will pay off you won't be searching for that certain fabric or the pattern, great containers!
hopefully tomorrow you can sew !
kathie
I love the way you store your projects in these boxes. I use ziplock bags and I also put everything into the bag - pattern, threads, fabric, needles and scissors. Just like you. So I can start or continue whenever I want to.
I think that's an excellent way to store your projects. And then you know exactly what it's for, and all the pieces and pattern are together. I have found that I buy fabric with an idea of "oh I'll make a 3" border", but then when it comes time to cut my fabric, I have no recollection of what size borders I intended to do. Then I'll afraid to cut my fabric. So keep your notes in there too!! It takes more time up front to organize, but saves you time in the end I think.
If for some reason you don't keep the book w/ the pattern, it gets separated, or you choose not to adopt Jackie's "copy the pattern" method, write the book and page # on the outside container label too.
And there is no organization to my craft stash. Beading is small and limited to rosary making so it fits in a softside briefcase. Scrapbooking materials are in a single big plastic bin. I only need sewing notions for repairs, but all that is in a divided box I got from the organization aisle at the home improvement store. Miscellaneous craft supplies are in a couple plastic shoe box bins. Yarn...we're not going there. I just recently moved it from a stack of shallow bins into a big giant trunk type of bin with cottons in one shallow under-bed bin. Pattern books & magazines are in one small bin. Hooks are in a clamshell container. Short needles are in a big coffee mug. Long needles are in a vase.
Sounds organized but it's in several places in my den. I have to figure out a means of storing that stuff centrally.
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