Sewing Room: Time management, organization, projects, and lots of fabric scraps!

      Yes, we are going to talk about the scraps of fabric leftover when we finish a project!  What do you do?  Do you cut them up in certain sizes so they can be stored nice and neat, or do you throw them or stuff them somewhere to deal with later?

      I’m a stuffer!! Okay, Okay.  I have never done anything to organize my scraps in over 20 years!  I don’t even know what all I have…until now!  I’m trying to declutter and organize my sewing room and these scraps were getting on my nerves.  I have some good ones as you can see so I went in search of some projects to create with them and at least decide how to cut and store them! Are you inspired yet?  First, I need to start at the beginning.

      It’s a new year and that’s always a good time to start new things, change old habits, and start new ones.  I decided I needed to block out certain time spots to concentrate on just one thing at a time instead of trying to multitask everything, all the time.  I wasn’t getting anything done that I wanted to do. I just had a bazillion things started.  In January I blocked out time to do those things I needed to do and wanted to do each week.  It has really helped me organize and make better use of my time!

      I blocked out time everyday to work on my sewing projects.  I was able to finish the top to my houndstooth quilt and get all the blocks finished to my Sew by Row quilt.  I also did a few little projects in between too!

      I also spent just 15 minutes most days working in my sewing room to declutter and organize it better.  That’s when I came across all the bags and containers of scraps!  I knew then I needed to contact the “Queen of Scraps” aka. my cousin, Kathy!  She loves them and has made many beautiful quilts, all out of scraps!  She had a block that takes some larger size pieces and I started with that.  I then ran across The Fat Quarter’s Shop’s, Brick House 2022 scrap quilt! I decided to do this free pattern and make all my houses certain colors. I will make this a BOM (block of the month) so I can easily fit it in on the quilts that will take a year to finish.

     I also started a free BOM by Sherri McConnel, of A Quilting Life.  There are two sizes, 12- and 6-inch blocks.  I think I will try to do them both!  I’m using Love Note by Lella Boutique on the large block and Shimmering Frost on the smaller one. I found it in my stash, and it didn’t give the fabric designer.                                                       

 Then I have some UFO’s (unfinished objects) or WIP’s (works in progress) …this is the term I think I prefer!  I have a plan to finish these which I will discuss in week 4 of this month, so come back to see my tips!

     Next week will be our “Sew Along”.  The project I picked is Cloth Napkins!  Most projects I pick for this sew along will be quick easy sewing projects, that aren’t quilts, that I love making, and finish up quicker.  I will explain next week why I want to make these for myself and family members.  Need a gift for someone coming up?  These make a great one! 

These are the things you will want to have ready, and I will go over how to make the napkins step by step with pictures.  I used a 16” square and a 9” square.  The napkins can really be any size.  It’s a personal preference.  I’ll be showing how to make the one ply napkin with mitered corners pictured on the bottom.  Use some of your scraps here if they provide a size you would use.  I have three different ways to create wonderful cloth napkins that are fun and easy to complete.  See you next week!