OMG...that bolt! - Again

Remember when I showed you that bolt? -

And that tie? -

WELL -

I forgot to show you -

THIS!!

You KNOW that there was absolutely no way -

I could NOT buy this -

As soon as I saw it!! ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Studio Organization & Fabric Storage Tips

You ever come across a site/blog -

Doing something -

That you ALREADY did??

Well -

The other day -

I ran across a new section at The Quilting Gallery -

Called The Learning Center - hosted by Pat Sloan.

Welcome to the newest section of the Quilting Gallery site, The Learning Center, hosted by Pat Sloan. Starting in February, we’ll be touching on all aspects of quilt making including project storage, exploring various quilting techniques and options of finishing up your quilts, and hearing about new products from Quilt Market.


When I got to the part that said -

A Space of your Own - Share your “before” photos

I read it wrong - and linked up photos of my sewing room -

I'm #8 -

But I guess it’s OK -

The photos are from 2009 -

So that’s BEFORE now - right?

Anyway -

When I got to the part about Fabric Storage Tips -

Fabric Storage Tips and Share your stash to Win!

It said -

How to Enter: Create a NEW blog post on your own blog, take a photo or several photos of your stash for your blog post. Link back to this post, or to the Learning Center main page – there are graphics you can use, telling your readers that you’re sharing your stash for a chance to Win!. Come back to this page and add your post to our Link Party below.
Link directly to your blog post.

I didn’t want to do all of that -

Because I ALREADY did -

So I left a comment instead -

Response #7 -
A Left-Handed Quilter says:
February 21, 2012 at 3:24 pm

I have several OLD posts on my blog telling how I fold and manage my stash – if anyone is interested. Basically I organize by color – type – theme – and works in progress. I pre-wash the fabric – press it – and fold it around a 6″ ruler as if the ruler were a “bolt”. Then – depending on how thick it is – either lay it flat on a shelf – or fold it in half and put it on the shelf like a book. If I were to stack them one on top of the other – I would always want the one on the bottom! ;))

The OLD posts that I was referring to are listed on my page - Left-Handed Quilting -

But - just because it says - Left-Handed Quilting -

Doesn’t mean that the info may not apply to you if you are right-handed -

If it is directional - you can just reverse it - ;))

Anyway -

To make it easier for you -

My dear readers -

To find the info -

I made TWO new pages -

At the top of my blog -

Studio Organization
My Sewing Room

LHQ - Sewing Room #1 - My Happy Place
LHQ - Sewing Room #2
LHQ - Sewing Room #3
LHQ - Sewing Room #4

And

Fabric Storage Tips
Fabric Stash and Scrap Management

LHQ - Scrap Management
LHQ - Scrap Dilemma
LHQ - Fabric Folding
LHQ - Fabric Stash Management
LHQ - Fabric Stash Room

Check them out -

You might find something you can use - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

OMG...that bolt!

The other day - when I posted a photo of this bolt -

Katie left me a comment -

My mom has that same fabric in her stash! Just keep sewing...just keep sewing...just keep sewing...

And then -

Karen M. said -

OMG...that bolt! I have that fabric (Love it) in some of my projects. We have the same taste. I still love that print. Would love to see it reissued.

I told Karen -

That fabric and bolt has a great story - and is perfect for a post all it's own - I just need to take the photos - thanks for the idea, Karen!!  ;))
===

THAT fabric and bolt does have quite a story -

Back in 1993 - I made a quilt that I called "Tax Season 1993" -
The quilt has it’s own story - and I’ll tell you that one when I get to it in my Quilt Journal -
but for now I want to tell you about the fabric -

In "Tax Season 1993" I used a darker blue version of this print for the border -

I absolutely LOVED that print - still do -
It was my FAVORITE fabric at the time -
And I used most of what I had in the quilt -

When I went to get more of it at the fabric store -
(It wasn’t called a “Quilt” store back then) -
They didn’t have the darker blue version - only the medium blue -
I REALLY wanted the darker blue - but I settled for the medium blue -
And bought the entire bolt -
And I have been SAVING it - all of these years - for something special -
Like ORCA BAY - YAY!!

But that’s not the BEST PART of the story -

That Christmas (1993) -

I found a TIE in the darker blue version of the fabric!!

I couldn’t resist - and I bought it for My Other Half -

We laughed and called it his “Quilt Tie” -

But he loved it - it went with EVERY shirt he owned!!

Because it had so many colors in it - it always looked different -

Depending on what shirt he wore with it -

And every time he wore THAT tie -

Someone at work would comment on his NEW tie and how nice it was!!

They did that for YEARS!!  Never realizing that it was the SAME tie!!

So - when it got old - and dirty - and faded - and just plain worn out -

I got him another one just like it!! ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

LHQ - Scrap Dilemma

LHQ - Scrap Dilemma

My 100th POST the other day was all about my Fabric Stash Room.

Katie M. left a comment on that post "LHQ - Fabric Stash Room":

Well, if you're ever in AZ, come see me, I have a job for you :-) I tried organizing my fabric once - then I had to find something - end of organization!!! In theory, I think about taking my scraps, pressing and cutting and catgorizing. Then I think "If I cut this scrap into 2½" square, what if I find I can use it as a 4½" square???" Oh well a vicious circle - but I love your 'fabric' room!

After reading her comment – I just had to respond.

I had the EXACT SAME DILEMMA when I was working with my scraps!!


What would I do if I cut a scrap really small and realized later that I should have left it larger?  How do I decide how big to cut it?  Do I cut it into strips or squares?
 
So – this is what I did – and what I told Katie M. -

Katie M -

Glad you like my room!  I knew you would!  I had the same 2-1/2" vs 4-1/2" square dilemma that you did.  What I did was - start with the biggest cuts - the yardage - setting everything else aside for the time being.  Washed - pressed - folded them.  The bigger cuts just seemed to make the piles go down faster.  Then I tackled the smaller cuts - the one yard and half yard cuts.  Then I got to the quarter yard cuts and the fat quarters.

When I got to the smaller cuts - I cut the largest strip I could from it - so I cut 4-1/2" strips from anything big enough.  Then 3-1/2" - then 2-1/2" - then 2" - then 1-1/2" just working myself down to the smallest pieces.  Strips less than 1-1/2" wide went in the "strings" bin.  I didn't cut many squares after I realized that I could always cut them later from the strips.  Duh!  Anything odd ball shaped or just plain "left-over" went into a "crumbs" bin.  Then "bits and pieces".

Anyway - I love playing with my fabric!  I had a great time!  I also realized that I had much more muslin than I realized - simply because I kept buying it when I couldn't find the stuff I already had!

And thanks - this email is the start of another post!  We can't be the only ones with this dilemma!

^..^




Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

LHQ - Fabric Stash Room

MY 100TH POST –
 
LHQ - FABRIC STASH ROOM

MY SECOND HAPPY PLACE

FABRIC STASH ROOM - VIEW FROM DOOR

The door to my Fabric Stash Room is on the left side of the room, so as you open the door, you see the right wall first.  I wanted to see my FABRIC first - not my unfinished projects!  The light is on really bright for this photo - but it's usually off and the window and door are usually closed - just like a huge closet - so I'm not worried about the fabric fading or getting dusty. 

The box on the top shelf in the left corner holds my fake flowers - I have two sets - red and yellow - the red ones come out for the holidays (when the pictures were taken) so when I switch them for the yellow ones in the spring, the box will have all of the red flowers - I LOVE COLOR!

The "shoe cubbies" are from Target - 24" wide x 11" deep. They are the perfect size for my "fat quarters" - I bunch them in sets and can see what I have without digging through drawers and boxes - button jars are on top.  The drawer units under the "cubbies" (also from Target ) stack nicely and hold my odd-ball stuff - fur, fleece, felt, etc.

In the bottom left corner of the picture you can see part of the bookcases in the center of the room.

The wall hanging is one of my best - hand-quilted (8-9 stitches/inch) - a couple of blue ribbons.
It is the source of the photo at the top of my sidebar.

BOOKCASE AND BINS
This bookcase holds my larger pieces - it's five shelves - 24" wide x 12" deep.  I originally planned to have one shelf each for my reds, yellow/oranges, greens, blues, and purples - but I had to modify that to accommodate my orientals, batiks, florals, Christmas, and some solids.

BOOKCASE AND BINS OF SCRAPS TO BE PROCESSED
Scraps from previous projects are in bins waiting to be "processed" - cut into standard-sized strips and squares or put back in my "stash" - if large enough.  That part is all done now - I used Bonnie K. Hunter's "Scrap User's System" - www.quiltville.com - it's incredible and soooooooooo easy!!  The closet doors are on the right - same wall as the door to the room.

FLAT FOLDS AND BOLTS
In the center of the room, we put three short and narrow (24" wide x 9" deep) bookcases back to back to serve as a work surface and to hold my "flat folds" and "bolts".  The boxes on the floor went back out in the garage after I had emptied them.  The chaise against the window was the original owner of this room - she has kindly agreed to watch over my "stash".  I spent a lot of time organizing - pre-washing, pressing, and folding my fabric - from all over the house, in the garage and in storage - now it's all in one place!!  (I showed you how I folded it in a previous post.)

PROJECT BINS AND SCRAPS TO BE PROCESSED
The left wall has various project bins, pre-cut strips, "jelly rolls", and more scraps to be "processed" - sewing machines (older but still working) are on the bottom shelf on the right.

PROJECT BINS AND SCRAPS TO BE PROCESSED
Some of my UFO's (unfinished objects) are each in its own little bin - just like a "file room".
If I clear my "desk" at night, I can choose whichever "project" I want to work on each day.

Sounds good in theory, huh?

Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

LHQ - Fabric Stash Management

LHQ – FABRIC STASH MANAGEMENT

Soon I will reach my 100th post!

A VERY special day for me!

On that day I want to post photos of My Second Happy Place.  Photos of what I see every time I open the door and turn on the light in my "Fabric Stash Room".

Photos of my STASH.

I have been collecting my stash for years and years and years.

It was all part of my "retirement plan".

I am a certified fabricaholic and the staff at the local quilt shop would often tease me that I only worked to support my "habit".  They were right - I bought fabric and I "saved" it.

Now that I am retired - I'm having a lot of fun "using" it.

And I LOVE FABRIC!

My sister rewrote a quote for me once -

Fabric is God's way of saying - "Sorry for all the sh!t!!" 

=====

A couple of years ago – it became obvious that my Fabric Stash was getting the best of me –

and that it needed Management.  Serious Management.

My various projects were spilling out from my sewing room onto the dining room table and surrounding areas.  I had fabric in the house - in the garage - and even some in storage!!

I needed more "room" - or fewer projects - yeah, right!

I searched the internet and found this wonderful video – by Marilyn Bohn –

REDUCE CLUTTER BY ORGANIZING YOUR FABRICS
http://www.marilynbohn.com/media-center/page-3

Marilyn had some really good ideas – but it just wasn’t my style. 

It would need some modification – to suit me and my style.

I needed to accommodate –

• ·    fabric specific to a certain project - in a bin
• ·    yardage over 2 yds - folded flat -
• ·    yardage - 1/2 yard to 2 yards -
• ·    fat quarters
• ·    scraps

So I thought about it – a LOT –

and since any "guests" who visit us usually stay at one of the nearby hotels -

we decided to convert the spare room into a "fabric storage/project planning room".

I LOVE to play with my fabric - it's good therapy and cheaper than a shrink!!



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

LHQ - Fabric Folding

LEFT-HANDED QUILTING - Fabric Folding

============
Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.  If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
============

Right about the time I discovered-

Bonnie Hunter's site (Quiltville.com) and her fabulous "Scrap User's System"

I was looking for other ways to organize my FABRIC STASH.  I needed serious help!!

I came across this video on how to fold your fabric.  I tried it - and then came up with my own variation.  Thanks, Marilyn!!

Here's a quick lesson on FABRIC FOLDING - This Is How I Do It.

FAT QUARTERS (FQ) - 18" x 22"

First, I press the FQ -

after pre-washing, of course!  All of my long-term stash is pre-washed. pressed and folded.  But I don't pre-wash pre-cuts - 5" charm squares - 10" layer cakes - honey buns, etc.

And I don't use starch - that's just my personal preference.  I hear starch attracts bugs - and I don't want to worry about bugs in my fabric stash.  If you like to use starch - you can always starch your fabric right before you cut it.

Flip it over and fold it in half - wrong sides together - the FQ is now 18" x 11" -
(I'm still a flippin' lefty!!)

Turn it sideways so it is 11" x 18" - with the fold on the left side - raw edge on the right

Fold it up - again - in half - to make it 11" x 9"

Flip it again so that the raw edge is closest to you - with the fold on the left side - raw edge on the right

Roll it up - away from you

Now it's a nice little roll and it's 11" wide - perfect fit for a 12" shelf

I usually press a whole stack of fat quarters at one time

and fold them one right after the other

HALF YARDS - can also be folded like FAT QUARTERS - with just one extra step -
first fold the half yard in half - so it's the size of a FAT QUARTER - 18" x 22" - then do the steps above.

YARDAGE - anything over half a yard

Press it - selvage to selvage - with the fold on your left  - and the excess going off the top of your ironing board -

(I have a basket I put under my ironing board to catch the fabric and to keep it off the floor)

Starting about 5" from the bottom - lay a 6" x 24" ruler across the fabric

Fold the bottom of the fabric up over the ruler

Roll the ruler - away from you - like it is the fabric "bolt" at the quilt store

When you get to the end - fold the top down a bit to tuck in the raw edges - and then fold the fabric down over the ruler (I don't think Marilyn folds the raw edge to the inside.)

Slip the ruler out and fold the fabric in half

See - 6" wide and 11" long

FAT QUARTERS and YARDAGE - all nice and neat - ready to be added to my FABRIC STASH

If the yardage is too "fat" to fold in half neatly - just keep it flat - and put it on the shelf that way.

As an added bonus - this method makes it is really easy to tell how much fabric you have in each "pack".  Since each fold is 6" - 6 folds equals 6 x 6" or 36" or 1 yard.  Just count the folds - 6 folds for every yard.  Easy - peasy!!



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -