How do you organize your projects?

[Eileen K.]

I have gotten so scattered in the past few days, I can't even think straight. I'm not going to blame it on the fibro either.
I have a new project, the Shakespeare in the Park wallhanging I want to do. But my sewing area is piled high with half finished or nearly finished stuff. Oh yeah, let's not forget the just begun stuff. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How do you organize/prioritize your projects? How do you keep everything for each one together? Do you have a special or certain way you store them so they don't get forgotten?
I am open to any and all suggestions here, my quilty friends.

eileenkny ops:

[Frances L.]

Ellen, Do you have shelf space available? My DH built me a sewing table that is like two bookshelves pushed together back to back, so I have the cutting surface with shelves on both sides. All the fabric for one project is in a box on the shelf. When I run out of boxes, I use bags. That's how I know I have too many projects, I run out of boxes to put them in.
Frances in Austin

[Margo C.]

I, too, use boxes! The cheapo Sterlite sweater boxes from the Dollar Store or Big Lots work great and are stackable. EVERYTHING for a project goes into the box so I don't accidently use a crucial fabric for something else! They are opaque, and I slip some kind of label in one end so I can see at a glance what each box holds. I try not to leave stuff in the plastic boxes for over a year. If I haven't finished the project by then, I take everything out and it all gets sorted back into my stash. And I don't buy any more boxes!!!

[Margo C.]

I wish I could follow Margo's example and not buy anymore boxes. That would sure help me pare down my wips(works in progress). I have my projects in the drawers of my Koala cabinets, 2 footlocker size plastic bins and in three scrapbooking units that have 6 drawers each. I keep the pattern and fabrics together. I have to keep the thread seperate in its own plastic containers as it is used in any and all projects. I have a bin of scissors/rotary cutters/blades and another of marking pens/pencils. I keep a log on my computer of all my projects with dates started/finished and what stage they are in currently. That helps me keep them all in mind and gives me a boost when I slide one into the DONE list. Sally in NE Ohio

[Eileen K.]

Wow, Margo. You are so organized!! I've basically gotten everything into one general area, but that's about it. I really don't have the room for a lot of shelves.
I was using pizza boxes for projects but I didn't label them and they got out of hand.
Here's another one for you all-do you kind of stick with one thing at a time or do you have several projects going at once?
I think I'm going to have to go back to one at a time; I get too confused.
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

For the longest time I did one at a time, but lately it seems like I'll start one thing and then another comes up with a different priority date. All of sudden I've got six projects at different stages of construction. I've got to finish all these before starting anything else cuz I've got no room! :?
Sherry

[Cheryl K.]

Wow! You all sound really organized. I am going to have to admit that what was weighing down on my inspiration was all my backed up projects. After 20+ years of teaching basic quilting classes and trying to make every Christmas gift a handmade item, I gave up. Most UFOs were tops made for classes I taught and some projects for Christmas, etc. that just got set aside because I ran out of time.

Last year when the clutter got to be too much for me, I looked at all the projects and realized the original project no longer inspired me. Some of the old projects have been sewn up in order to practice my machine quilting. Some I have "re-invented" by using additional fabrics or changing blocks and others I have simply surrendered the fabrics to other projects. As I did this I began to see that most of these projects were initially started for someone else's inspiration (class model or to go in someone else's house). I no longer do that. Finally, odds & ends leftover scraps were cut up into 2 1/2" squares. I patched them together with odd & ends muslin pieces (also cut into 2 1/2" squares) and I am now working on a HUUUGE patchwork quilt for my bed that measures 120" x 120". It's been since January but I am about half finished with my machine quilting. It's not fancy but Iove it because I will finally have a new quilt on my bed AND I now have more space in my sewing room. Plus, this project has helped me to improve my straight line quilting by freehand so even if it is not perfect, it's served many purposes.

I no longer organize. I now focus and finish. I have 2 small little quilts left out where I can see them. They will be tackled after I finish my current project. One top has the backing and thread picked and one little top does not but I will focus on that when I get there.

The rest of my projects I have thrown in another closet to get out of my sight so I feel like I have room to breathe. When I tackle my closet again, I will just see what I feel like then. But when I get there, I now look at it with an feeling of, "How can I make it better?" or "Can I step it up a notch?" That way, an old UFO begins to take on a new life.

I know this wasn't your original question but I got on a roll. ops: However, I read an earlier post where we were trying to get back enthusiasm for quilting and this has really helped me.

[Cheryl K.]

I try not to have too many things going at once, but when something has moved from "dream" to "project" I use zipper-plastic bags to contain everything--gallon-size works for hand-work, easy to transport, and the GIANT ones work for a full-size quilt. Every now & then something will live in a plastic bag for a long, long while--including the very first top I pieced, which is supposed to be a quilt for ME, and I still haven't quilted it, but it's there, with it's backing & binding, waiting.... waiting... waiting...

[Margo C.]

OK...I'm really stepping out on a limb here. I've actually posted photos of my stash storage on my profile. :shock:
(This shows about 95% of my fabric...there are 3 more boxes on top of another cabinet, but that cabinet doesn't have fabric in it.)
I really like the new way I've found to fold my fabrics so that they fit neatly into the cabinets and I can see at a glance where things are, and because I don't do well with clutter, the white cabinets are very soothing to my mental state!
I work in an unfinished basement and the boxes go up to the rafters, so I won't buy any more!

[karen f.]

Oh my gosh, Margo! That is all so neat. I have THREE white cabinets just like that and I recently removed 5 big black bags of fabric from them and they still don't look anything like yours. I keep trying for more neaterness. One of these days.

Karen

[Cheryl K.]

:shock: O'MGOSH!!! You are definitely the right person to be helping us organize! Very nice indeed. Before my big patchwork quilt, my little 1/8 and quarter yard pieces would have taken about 1/2 the cabinet!

I can see how having the little pieces in the see through baskets helps you see colors. And this may be changing the subject a LITTLE BIT but what do you do when the baskets get full? Is you next project one that is meant to use them? I noticed from your profile that you had both applique and pieces quilts. Do you make it a point to use a percentage of your stash in each new project?

[Damaris E.]

Margo, if I send you a picture of my STUFF/STASH, can you photoshop/organize it for me!! Hee-hee!!

[Margo C.]

:shock: O'MGOSH!!! You are definitely the right person to be helping us organize! Very nice indeed. Before my big patchwork quilt, my little 1/8 and quarter yard pieces would have taken about 1/2 the cabinet!

I can see how having the little pieces in the see through baskets helps you see colors. And this may be changing the subject a LITTLE BIT but what do you do when the baskets get full? Is you next project one that is meant to use them? I noticed from your profile that you had both applique and pieces quilts. Do you make it a point to use a percentage of your stash in each new project?

I've been quilting for about 17 years and now I usually try to just buy fabric for specific projects that I know I'll use, but because I like scrappy quilts, both pieced and appliqued, it's nice to have a good selection of colors, even if they are just little pieces. You can see that some of the baskets have fabric just stacked on top. That means, I don't NEED to get more of those colors. I really make an effort to keep everything in these two cabinets, and make myself stop shopping until I've used up some of it.
And BOOKS??? I try to do the same thing. I do have a LOT of books, but when the cabinet gets full, I donate some to quiling friends (especially to new quilters) or to the local guild or to the library in order to make room for new ones. I don't see the need to hang on to books that I've had for years and never even look at any more. There are some that I've worn the covers ragged that I'll probably keep forever, but I think that as we grow our taste changes, and we can share the wealth!

[Lynn K.]

I've usually not had more than one or two UFOs at the same time, but NOW I DO!

I purchased a little set of plastic stackable boxes that snap together and stack....but also can be taken apart to take with me to a bee or a retreat, etc. It keeps my projects separate and keeps me from using the fabric, etc. in each box for other projects. Then I found them online and added 3 boxes to the original set I had bought at Target when they had them for Christmas ornament storage. (They don't have them anymore at Target so I have provided a website)

The cover on the top has a carrying handle which is nice for take-along. Otherwise it just sits in my closet, ready for me to move on to the next project. it's a nice way to keep my Dear Jane and Quilting the Psalms projects stored while I'm working on other things.........as well as my grandson's quilt which patiently waits while I work on the Block of the Month!

If I were at home, I'd snap a pic for you......but here's the website.
Lynn
http://www.snapware.com//product_buy...ept%5Fid=10005

[Annette R.]

Lowes carried the boxes that Lynn described at Christmas time and for a while afterwards. I bought a bunch as I use them for beading and silk ribbon or brazilian embroidery as well as for quilting projects. They are especially helpful when I am teaching a series of classes on a technique because they are ready to go from week to week and can be set out of the way in my sewing studio. Also they are really great when I have to transport all of the materials for a class to the recreation hall. I can stack up about eight and carry them easily or put them on the library cart I use for hauling my things into the hall. Saves my back and many steps. Lowes also had larger units on wheels that I have set up with specific projects in the drawers and with notions, scissors, cutting tools etc. in one place. These can be easily moved around the room in my studio so can be near either sewing machine and are a god send in the motor home no more packing and unpacking small boxes just transfer the stack from one house to the other and in the motorhome they store away easily in the back bathroom when we are traveling (that bathroom is not accessible unless we put out the bedroom slide so is only used when we are set up in a campground. Sewing machines, rolling cupboards, extra fans, the bread machine my thread box and other sundry items end up there on travel days. Takes a few minutes at set up and take down to move them but everything stays in its place. Will try to do a blog later today showing some of the pictures of how I adapt in the motor home but these units work in any small space.

Ann - not the most organized quilter but one with a lot of determination to get organized in some lifetime.