OCTOBER NOTES

I love the cool nights and warm days that come with autumn, October in particular.  I need to think about getting the fall and winter clothing out of storage.  And, along with that, comes one of the two times each year that I think about getting organized!  As I go through my closet and pull out the clothes that need to be put away until next spring and summer, I vow to get rid of articles seldom or never worn that just seem to take up room season after season.

You've probably heard that if you haven't worn it in a year, you should get rid of it.  Well, I've tried to live by that -- occasionally bending the rule a bit.  I examine each article of clothing as I take it out and ask myself several questions:

1. Did I wear it during the past season?
2. Does it fit?
3. Does it still look nice?

If the answer to at least 2 of these questions is "No," then I seriously consider getting rid of it.  If I have answered "No" to all three - then it's definite!  Out it goes!  I must say that I have never gotten rid of anything that I've later regretted.

OK, so what does all this have to do with sewing and quilting?  Well, I also have a need to organize my fabric stash.  I know that "She who dies with the most fabric wins," but I'm over that - I'm not in the running any more.  My greater need is to know what I've got and be able to use it. 

I am moving my fabric stash from plastic bins (plastic isn't good to store fabric in anyway) to open shelving in the closet.  I bought some easily installed shelving and had my DH install it in one of the upstairs closets.  I'm sorting ALL my fabric and dividing it up into categories.  I've always stored my fabric by color and I will continue to do that; but I'm also now creating a fat quarter stash and a scraps bin.

As I'm going through all this fabric, I'm discovering fabric that I didn't know I even had!  I'm also re-discovering fabric that I bought a while ago (not saying how long) and forgot I had!  And then there's the fabric that says "What was I thinking when I bought this?!"

So now I'm asking myself several other questions:

1. Do I have a specific use for this fabric? 
   
   • Perhaps it was bought for a pattern or kit that I just haven't gotten around to making. 
   • Is it realistic that I might use this in a project in the future?  Let's face it, some of the fabrics just aren't my "style" any more!
2. Is there even enough to bother saving? 
   
   • Now, I know that there are some people out there who don't throw away even the tiniest of scraps.  I'm not one of them.  But if I really like the fabric, I will save the small scraps and throw them in a bin in case I'm searching for a small piece for an applique or something.
   • Sometimes, I'll even go ahead and cut a 4" square and put it in a container for a future scrap or charm quilt.  I also have a container of 2" wide strips.  Not sure when I'm going to use them, but...........
3. Do I like it?  If I don't care for the fabric, out it goes!

There are several organizations in my area that are always asking for donated fabric.  I'm filling at least one storage container with fabric that is still usable but I know that I won't have a need for it.

I am anticipating that my stash will be considerably reduced by the time I'm done.  And that's OK.  At least I will have easy access to what's left and be able to see at a glance what's there.  I'm also folding everything somewhat uniformly, with the folded side out, to make it easy to see. 

I've got several photo boxes that are just perfect for my new fat quarter collection.  If I have the equivalent of a fat quarter, I trim it up and fold it like the quilt shops do and put it in a photo box for easy viewing.  When it's time for a fat quarter exchange, a gift for a quilter, or just looking for a small piece of fabric, all my fat quarters will be easily viewed and accessible and I won't have to guess at how much is there!

As I buy new fabric, I'll fold it and put it away in the appropriate stack - either by color or type.  I don't anticipate that my stash will get smaller over time, but I'm hoping to control it a bit better.  Before I make a trip to the fabric store or quilt shop, I'll first "shop" in my closet to see if perhaps I've got something that will work.  If not, then by all means an emergency trip to the quilt shop is in order!

I also keep some notions and supplies in clear plastic bins.  One is full of elastic and velcro.  Another holds gadgets such as bias bars and yet another holds trims and ribbons.  I even purge my pattern boxes from time to time.  Going through them and being realistic about whether I'm ever going to use a pattern helps to keep their numbers manageable!

I'm going to take some photos when I'm done and show you in my next newsletter!  Stay tuned.......

FALL RETREAT!

I'm so excited - Fall Quilt Retreat is just around the corner - I will be heading off to Blue Licks Battlefield State Park just south of Maysville, KY, along with 70 other quilters for three days of non-stop quilting!  It is a wonderful time for fellowship and learning. 

HAPPY QUILTING!

Pam