One of the biggest things I did when I decided to get organized was color co-ordinate my material and have it all in one spot. When I know which quilt I'm going to make, I can immediately go to my material cupboard and pick my material. It saves so much time.
I have two folding tables. This is my cutting table which sits in my living room. I don't have a choice has to where it goes, I just don't have any other space. It can be folded up if I need the room for company. I keep very little on it so that when I'm ready to cut I don't have to clean it up. I also use this table for pinning the quilt tops when they are ready to be quilted.
My sewing machine table sits in a small corner, again in my living room. I keep this table clean. When I'm finished quilting, I put everything away. Again, it means that I'm not having to move stuff continually when I have time to quilt. I also keep it clean because it's in the living room. The neat thing about this is that my sewing machine is always set up. I don't have to take the time to set it up everytime I want to quilt. I keep a couple bobbins filled with thread too so that I don't have to thread the bobbins all the time. (Right now I only have one bobbin filled because I broke a couple. I have to order more.) You'll also save time if you basically use only one or two colors of thread. Always have thread on hand, saves you having to run to the store to purchase more.
I bought this little cabinet at the Bibles for Missions Thrift Store in our city. All my scraps are strored in it. I know exactly where to go to find my scrappy pieces.
Here is where I save the most time. I take one day and cut. The strips and square in this picture will become a toddler's quilt. Because we learnt there was another quilting store in our city yesterday, I didn't get all the strips cut. I'll finish those today. The bottom picture are 6 and 5 inch squares. I know which quilt I'll be making, so while I was cutting the strips above, I cut the squares as well. I normally have 2 or 3 quilt tops cut and ready to sew at any one time. You'll save tons of time doing this. It's one of the best things I learnt years ago. I also found making simple quilt patterns saves me a whole lot of time.
Let me finish by saying something about the internet (and tv which we don't own). You can spend hours and hours on the internet especially going from one site to another. Hours where you could be quilting. We spend no more than one hour per day on the internet (I share my computer with hubby). Friday at 10:00 a.m. our computer goes off and it doesn't go back on until Mon. morning unless there is a challenge that I'm participating in that takes place on a Sat. Of all the things I've done to organize so I can make more quilts (and spend more time with my family) this has got to be the ABSOLUTE BEST!! No doubt about it.
6 comments:
You make me want to get out and organzie. I think I read your part one and did get in there and change things around.
You sound so organised today and so enthusiastic about your tidiness. I agree that it saves a lot of time to be tidy and the TV is a definite no no, isn't it. Like you, I leave my sewing machine set up. I haven't mastered cutting out yet, but I keep trying. The result of not being able to do it properly is that I end up with what can only be described as an abstract design!!
Love that you bought you little drawer unit at a thrift store. Whatever did we do without those places?
You are organized and I think that must make a huge difference. That is something I am working on yet. Not much organization here at all. Prioritizing your time is another thing that you have hit upon and I do that. I try to do what is important first and then move on to other things...you know I love to read and that always comes at the end of the day for me. Thank you for sharing your wonderful tips. It looks like your next quilt is going to be another beautiful one!
G'day. I organized my sewing cupboard some time ago and it is so much better. I do love the idea about turning the computer off for a few days. I will try that, as I tend to spend way too much time on it when I could be doing many other things, including sewing. Take care. Liz...
I like being able to keep my quilting and cutting table set up at all times. It helps when I want to sew to have everything ready.
We do watch some TV in the evening but I am usually doing hand work at the same time. Can't stand not having something to do. Sometimes I read during commercials or do a game like Mah Jong if i don't have sewing to do.
Mama Bear
it does make sense what you are doing, I need to take some tips from you,
Gill
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