Block #37 - Dreamy by Sherri McConnell
Sherri's large 18x18 block certainly makes a statement and is totally dreamy in any color combination. I love the red/tan/navy version for my quilt, done in my new KT Favorites III fabric collection (more on that soon) with a bit of On Meadowlark Pond thrown in for good measure. Find Sherri's blog and block instructions
HERE. Do you follow Sherri's blog? I love her Saturday Seven posts with lots of links to informative and cool stuff happening on the internet.
KT Giveaway
Amid the whirl of holiday activities that we're all obligated to host, attend, visit and plan, take some time for yourself to finish an older project and start something new. I'd like to help inspire you with a Mystery Box of scraps. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm working slowly, but surely to sort and purge scraps from finished projects. The contractor is fighting the early winter weather but making progress on my new studio addition. So many boxes to pack and move from my sewing area at the building. I'm not taking it all with me. Comment here about your best organizing tip to help me out. I'll select a winner randomly next week.
My best is to sort into like sizes and shapes. Put in zipplock bags and label.
ReplyDeleteI now try to keep the fabric together that is for a project rather than just putting fabric away that is the same color or line. It keeps me from using a fabric for a project that it was not intended for. This has happened in the past and has caused me problems when I go to start a new project.
ReplyDeleteI have limited storage space so after a project anything less than 3" I save in a basket then give away to a friend who loves to make small scrappy quilts.
ReplyDeleteI cut after a project very small leftovers in rectangles 2x3,5 and in squares 2x2 and put them apart in a box. When the box is filled I sew them together in a scrap quilt
ReplyDeleteI sort my scraps as I finish a project. I don't save anything smaller than 1 1/2" and store them in quart or gallon size bags. When I neeneedd, I can pull out the size bag and work from it.
ReplyDeleteSandy A
My comment is something everyone already knows, but it took me years to figure out -- one does not have to save everything one has acquired over the years! It is good to assess and determine which pieces of fabric I will never use again, and purge. Now to find the time to do that! Moving into a new space is very motivational : )
ReplyDeleteI try to sort and organise scraps by size and then colour. I wold love a bag of your scraps!! Merry Christmas to all
ReplyDeleteI love reading everyone's tips. Hopefully my resolution for the New Year can be to apply them. I need to get better organized. Scraps are a challenge as my mother always taught me to be frugal and not throw anything useable away. I do think keeping them sorted by color is the best way. Thank you for an opportunity to win some of your scraps. I truly love your style and colors.
ReplyDeleteOrganization can get as complex and fancy as you like but for me, the basic premise is this: put like things together in designated places and return each thing back in its place when its use is complete.
ReplyDeleteNow if I can only take my own advise!
My fabric stash is not huge (I’m still working on it), so I store my scraps in gallon bags, sorted by color. When I'm not looking, all the scraps migrate to one bag. After Blockheads 2 is finished, I hope to start a Crumb quilt. Your fabric is my favorite; it goes so well with my décor!
ReplyDeleteI use Rubbermaid shoeboxes-sort by color & all scraps cut in usable sizes all the way down to 1" strips-I would love a box of your scraps as I make mainly scrappy quilts-I probably have 4 scrappy quilts that are WIP
ReplyDeleteIf it is smaller than a fat quarter I cut it down into strips. Starting larger to smaller, leaving the last piece for my "string" bin. 5", 3 1/2", 2 1/2", 2", string. Those are my basic sizes I need in quilts..and I usually go scrappy. But I can always go thru those bins if I need something in those sizes and grab from there. I just cut strips from the scraps and place them in the bins. Before I touch my yardage...I try to use from my scraps.
ReplyDeleteI sort all my smaller pieces by color in see-thru totes. Larger pieces are neatly folded and stored flat in cabinets.
ReplyDeleteI have those stackable 3drawer plastic bins for my scrap strips, from 1&1/4 inch to 2&21/2 inch. Each with their own drawer. I also have squares organized by size. Odd shaped scraps are in a couple of baskets.
ReplyDeleteMy best organizing advice is....sort immediately after each project is finished and put everything in its place before beginning again!
ReplyDeletePlastic bins (large, medium, small, see-through whatever you need!), a roll of masking tape and black sharpee marker are all you need. Cut a tape label slap it on the bin and put your stuff in it..so simple! If you change the contents of the bin just pull off the old tape label and make a new one. I have all my basement stuff in bins, my "quilt room" stuff in bins, my pattern collections in bins...works great. And the bins of the same type are stackable to get vertical space. Hope this helps someone...it certainly made my world easier to manage and enjoy. I also number (the tape label on the bin would read Q1 Quilt Kits) and list the contents of each bin and keep the master lists on my computer (just word docs). Makes it so easy to find stuff!
ReplyDeleteI sort my fabric by type, then color: ie my Civil War fabric is all together then sorted by colors. I hope to get more organized this new year, and have enjoyed reading everyone's tips! I love your fabrics-- they find their way into all my current scrap projects!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Lynn! This is a gorgeous block and I'd love to win some of your scraps!! Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteI use stackable 12x12 plastic boxes to keep everything I need for a quilt together. As I complete various units, they go in a ziplock and back into the box. Being organized means I can easily grab something to work on even if time is limited.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been using my Sew Sampler boxes from fat quarter shop to organize my scraps and miscellaneous items. They are sturdy, free, and look nice.
ReplyDeleteI covered cardboard boxes with fabric. They fit perfectly on my shelf-covered wall. I have sorted scraps by color. The color of the scraps match the color of the box. Thank you for the giveaway. I would so love to win your scraps!!
ReplyDeleteKeep the chaos down by always cutting scraps into usable size pieces right after finishing a project.
ReplyDeleteI sort large pieces (fat 1/4’s and larger) by color in plastic storage bins. I cut scraps down to their largest useable size and store in shoe-sized totes according to size. Good luck with your purge and reorganizing. Seems to be a never ending project for me. Love your fabrics! A mystery box of your scraps would be a great holiday gift.
ReplyDeleteI try to organize mostly by color but I do keep my fabric line bundles together as they coordinate so well. Good luck with the move.
ReplyDeleteI sort by color and size. I try really hard to cut my leftover scraps from a project at the completion of said project. I find cutting into 5" squares and 2 1/2" squares is very helpful. Then I sort those by color.
ReplyDeleteI love using the large stackable storage containers. I put everything I need for the project in them, including fabrics and the finished blocks. I can store several of these on top of each other to save space.
ReplyDeleteMy best organizational tip is don't look at the whole process because that can be too overwhelming. Instead just do a smaller section at a time. Don't quit! Then before you know it everything is organized the way you want it to be. I sort my fabric by color. I also keep a huge binder with all my different patterns in it sorted by designers.
ReplyDeleteI took an old high-boy dresser that has 3 thinner drawers that are behind 2 doors and then 2 2 large drawers. In the 3 thinner drawers, I put my fat quarters and other precuts. Then one larger drawer has all of my solids, and the other batiks. My regular cotton yardage is all in cabinets. My scraps are in rolling clear plastic cabinets so that I can see what I have Oh, it is so much fine to put out the drawer with the fat quarters and just see them all lined up!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give you an organization tip. I am in desperate need of organization myself and will be reading all the tips here. I did purchase a wall of IKEA cubbys for my fabric, but that is a hot mess right now...at least it is off of the floor and out of plastic bags.
ReplyDeleteMy stash and sewing space is not very big and I like to keep organized and uncluttered by tidying up after each project. Small scraps go into a small container and larger ones..fat quarter and larger..go back into my stash. I have started cutting up my small scraps into usable sizes. I am always looking for new ways to organize.
ReplyDeleteIf my scraps are in colors I normally don't sew with, I give them to our charity committee to make our charity quilts for children and older teens. I cut them in sizes we can use and sometimes start putting them together for that charity quilt.
ReplyDeleteI keep all of the supplies for a project together in a stackable plastic bin or the large two gallon zip lock bags. Managing scraps is my biggest challenge. I have labeled plastic containers and am slowly cutting up scraps into usable strips and squares. I also store fat quarters and large scraps by fabric type-reproductiion, Christmas, etc. I also really love my tiered rolling cart from IKEA for easy access to sewing notions and basic supplies.
ReplyDeleteOrganizing the rulers I've collected (and inherited) over the years is like herding cats!! To help combat the problem I use clip hangers (like for hanging pants). I clip the rulers along with any instructions that might have accompanied them to the hanger and it's easy to hang in a closet. You can easily see what you have, avoid getting them getting broken and keep any instructions with the ruler. For those "odd" sized ones I keep those standing up in a plastic shoe box along with their instructions. Love your fabrics ... so versatile, in my color way and design preference and can often incorporate with others to make an interesting quilt. Keep up the good work!! Linda H
ReplyDeleteI have two totes full of Kansas Troubles. End of story.
ReplyDeleteWould love to have your mystery scraps because the way I organize is still a mystery to me!!
ReplyDeleteI love scraps and keep most scraps 2" or larger. I sort scraps by color and keep them in tubs from the dollar store. It is so easy to find what I want that way.
ReplyDeleteI use Bonnie Hunter's scrap saver system mainly...I have found that to be the most useful for me. I think organizing is such a personal thing because it depends on the kind of projects you do and how you work too!
ReplyDeleteI'm not good at organizing : (
ReplyDeleteeverything smaller than a fat 1/8 goes into my (huge)
scrap basket...
When I start a project, (like Blockheads II) I put all the fabrics I plan to use in a tub or project box. I have the printed patterns in a 3-ring binder in sheet protectors. When making the block, I cut strips of the sizes I need and save the rest of the strip with the main piece to use the next time that size is required. I am using mainly KT fabrics and would love to have a mystery box of your scraps to supplement the fabrics I'm using for my Blockhead blocks.
ReplyDeleteI keep my fabric in bins downstairs sorted by colors-a different bin for each color. Some colors require several bins each.
ReplyDeleteI "try" and cut any scraps into 2.1/2" squares anything less I pass on to charity, I use to save everything but have realised I would need to live to be 200 years old to use it all. Then I keep them all in plastic boxes that stack one on top of the other.
ReplyDeleteMy best tip is to keep everything in containers that you can see through so that you know exactly what you have and where it is. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use the Bonnie Hunter Scrap Saving System. I use clear plastic containers for the scraps. I also like to have leader and ender projects in progress to help use scraps. Right now I like to cut scraps into 2-inch squares and use two colored fabrics and two background to make 4-patches and then alternate them with 3-1/2 inch background squares and make charity baby quilts. I find I get more accomplished in a year if I make projects into blocks of the month. So I have shipping boxes labeled with masking tape so I can change the name each year for the blocks of the month (or week like Block Heads or Mystery Quilts). I choose boxes that will stack on each other.
ReplyDeleteI'm very organized--until I start a project and then my sewing room is pure chaos. I do keep bins by color--large ones for larger pieces and small ones for scraps. And for fabrics from designers (like Kansas Troubles) that I use often, I tend to keep them together regardless of color because I know they'll go together in any project I do.
ReplyDeleteI use 3-ring binders and page protectors. I have 2 books of patterns with dividers by type or designer. I also use them for all of my ruler and tool instructions as well as sew a long project block patterns. I also cut the item list apart on my receipt for my online fabric purchases. I pin the item description to the piece of fabric once I receive it. This way if I need more, I know where I got it and what it is. I also print a receipt and write on each line item what project it is for. Once all the fabric is in, I put it all in a large Zip-Loc bag, or a bin, along with a copy of the pattern. I keep the original pattern in the binder and add a sticky note that I have the fabric, what the line is, and where the project bin/bag is stored. Good luck organizing your studio and addition Lynne!
ReplyDeleteI love scraps and there are some great ideas here on how too keep them organized.
ReplyDeleteI used to be super organized, but no more. I keep my yardage organized by colors but my scraps are out of control. I was keeping strips and squares by project but now I'm sorting them by sizes. Scrap quilts are my favorite though.
ReplyDeleteLabel everything! I used to think I would remember where everything was. Ha! Now I know better. I also keep everything needed for current projects in large Art Bin storage cases. They can hold a lot and stack neatly. I’ve read the other comments, I’m always interested in new ideas for organization.
ReplyDeletevalekort at yahoo dot com
My best advice (which is not very good considering what my sewing area looks like! Hahaha!) is using the plastic tubs to keep projects together. Also use them to store like fabrics together for future projects. Having the tubs organized to choose fabrics is helpful to me.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have any advice that you haven’t gotten, but I do know that when we moved into a new home recently that we had to a lot of decluttering after years of accumulating “stuff”. It was years a Gatling things that wasn’t necessarily junk but things that were not longer used that often. We donated, donated and donated more...huge help to getting organized. After things were organized in the new home we try to keep it that way...clean up is easier and we are more productive.
ReplyDeleteYou will love your new space, it looks great! Let the creativeness flow and enjoy! :)
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ReplyDeleteThis seems to be the year of the string along and I am thinking a KT string quilt would be just the thing. I am in love with IKEA for all thing organizational, but your style might need some antiquing to find storage solutions for your new space.
DeleteI like to keep my fabric on shelves so that I can see what I have, then I am less likely to buy the same fabric again. I try to fold my small pieces and put them in a plastic container that is made to go under a bed, but I do keep it in my sewing room.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep each project in its own drawer or plastic container.
ReplyDeleteI store 1 yd or bigger in drawers by color. Scraps by color in ice cream square plastic buckets. Precuts, batiks, flannels get the own drawers. I love the fabric in the drawer because you can take the drawer out see what you need, put it back out of the way, dust free, fade free. 24Tangent@gmail.com
ReplyDeletemy storage dilemma was patterns and/or books that aren't strong enough to stand on their own. I bought magazine boxes and store the books in those along with larger patterns; smaller patterns are in the filing cabinet now. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Also, I'm looking forward to meeting you at Quiltstock 2019
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win. I organize by color and use my scraps for charity quilts. Thanks again. Janet. Jecagain@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy biggest organizing rule is that my stash all has to fit in my big hutch—that probably sounds too confining to most quilters but it’s a system that works really well for me. Running out of room? Want new fabric? Pick up the pace and make more quilts! Good motivation! (So far this hasn’t included my large-amount-fabric on bolts for backings—or so I tell myself—which is starting to get a little out of hand. Might have to work out a control system for that pretty soon!) My other major rule is my basket system: a cute rolling storage cart that holds 6 wire baskets for current projects (chalk-pen type labels on front of each for project name). Easy to grab everything needed for what I want to work on that day and it keeps me limited to no more than 6 projects at a time (tho I hardly ever have all 6 full). And, the top serves as a mobile ironing surface that I can slide up next to my sewing machine for small/quick piecing.
ReplyDeletePlan little rewards to keep yourself motivated - a bit of chocolate, a new pattern or charm pack, fragrant candle etc. Try to stick with a project all the way to the finish. A few years ago, I was buried under a mountain of UFOs, took me a couple of years to dig myself out! Now I make sure I have 5 or fewer projects on the go. Enough to keep things interesting, but not so many as to overwhelm. I put everything I need for each project into a stackable bin so that when I'm ready start, everything is there and I can get right to the fun part!
ReplyDeleteAll of my scraps go into a rubbermaid tub. A friend and I spend a day making scrappy blocks for charity projects. We have yet to do a flannel scrap quilt. I would love to be the proud owner of your flannel scraps.
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ReplyDeleteClear bins and LABEL, LABEL, LABEL everything.
ReplyDelete