Back in the late spring and early summer, I did a thorough excavation of my stash. I picked up every piece of fabric that was a fat quarter or larger. Those prints that I still wanted to use went back in my storage drawers; those that didn’t were sold on FeelGood Fibers. (To date, I’ve sold more than $400 of fabric to the FGF community!)
I thought I was done. After all, I moved out a bunch of material that was no longer working for me, making the space and earning the money to buy quilting cotton that excited me. Then FGF launched its Declutter to Destash initiative, and I realized I still had work to do.
This challenge is all about getting rid of—by selling, donating, or trashing—what you don’t need and organizing what you want to hold on to. I started small and evaluated my notions. I consolidated my needles, tossed old seam rippers and marking tools at the end of their lives, and set aside duplicate items or notions I don’t use. The whole process took less than an hour.
Then I moved on to my scraps, which lived in resealable bags that I stored in a big plastic bin. Everything was already sorted by color, so really, what more did I have to do?
So much more.
I started by pulling scraps and cutting them for two projects: Plaid-ish by Erica Jackman and Brightly by Allison Harris. Then I went back through each bag. Fabrics that I had no interest in using were set aside for selling on FGF (see my popup shop here). Pieces smaller than 2.5 inches went in the recycling pile (my town recycles textiles). Larger pieces were ironed and placed in a new scrap drawer. The stuff in between was cut into hundreds of 2.5-inch squares (see picture at the top of the post). I have my eyes set on Jessie Fincham’s Scrappy Irish Chain tutorial, which requires almost a thousand 2.5-inch squares, to use up that collection.
The survey of my scraps took a good week and a half. It consumed all my crafty time (I did no sewing while I worked on it), and I found the process overwhelming at times. I employed the use of my AccuQuilt Go! to transform oddly shaped scraps into pretty 2.5-inch squares. Doing so made the process go faster.
Now I have a humble collection of notions—what’s pictured below as well as items that didn’t make it in the shot—that I’d love to pass on to someone who will use them. If that someone is you and you live in the United States, let me know in the comments below, and the lot is all yours. (If you’re a no-reply blogger, please leave your email address; otherwise, I have no way of contacting you.) First come, first served! This collection of notions has already been sent to its new owner. : )
Follow Me On ...
The pageant rules are simple:
- Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
- Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
- Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.
How kind of you to give away these things you don't need! I love those varigated threads and the other goodies, and I would give them a good home! And thanks for your post about how you went about excavating your stash. I need to pass some fabric on too, and you are inspiring me.
ReplyDeletePlease don't consider me for the goodies Michelle - I just want to say how amazing it is to have gotten all of this work done. So inspiring! I have way too much in my sewing room and hopefully - some day - I will get it organized in a similar manner. I did take my holiday scraps and cut them into 3" and 5" squares with the AccuQuilt. But that is as far as I got. It is a very big job and you did it!!!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've been doing the same thing...My quilt "stuff" is in a very small room..so having everything organized is a must. It's a process as what to keep and what to give away. Would love to give your notions a new home. Have a great day!
I'd absolutely love to house your humble orphan notions! I'm always searching for the perfect thread colors and those pictured are a few not in my stash. Needles are useful too!
ReplyDeleteduchick at gmail dot com
You're lucky to have odd shaped scraps big enough to make 2.5" squares. My odds are usually smaller than that. Sometimes I really think I should those small pieces go. But if when sewn up, the surface area is bigger than an inch, I keep them. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteSo good Michelle! I have been organizing and destashing a bit too and it does take away from my sewing time. This problem definitely makes me wish I had less stuff. As of today, i have three big boxes of stuff- two to hopefully destash online and one to sell for a bargain on Craigslist or the like.
ReplyDeleteI missed the spring cleaning bug this year but I am going through everything in my house this fall! I just got back from donating to Salvation Army and have a feeling my sewing room is up on the review list next, so I totally understand how good it feels to lighten the load. I am sure these notions are going to find the perfect new home. :)
ReplyDeletejust discovered your blog but wow well done! It is so hard to part with fabric. I know I have some I don't like anymore but somehow I still find it hard to let go... well done!
ReplyDeleteWow, you really got serious about destashing and taming your scraps and stash. Awesome! I didn't get quite that far. Had to winterize our home for the coming season (snow expected tonight).
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a few years since my big destash and clean up. It felt fantastic to donate fabric that didn’t thrill me anymore and the trunkload out of my sewing room was so freeing. Last year I organized my sewing room again. It’s amazing what you find, sometimes more than one of that you misplaced. Thanks so much for giving us a peek.
ReplyDeleteLove those threads and that needle keeper! Mumbird3atgmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! What a fabulous and inspiring post. Ugg. Just the thought of straightening and organizing our fabrics into keep-worthy piles is daunting enough. Not only do you deserve a "good job, buddy" as my great-nephew, Dominic, would say BUT just look at those cute piles. Those are inspiration enough to get started on a new project, making more room for new fabrics. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteGood for you to be tackling the big project of getting your leftover fabric pieces and notions organized! I can imagine that it's a daunting task. Though I've done this twice in the past eight years, I'm due for another overhaul. I definitely want to make another Plaidish quilt, and more Scrap Snap quilt blocks. I don't have any finishes to share, and please don't enter me in your giveaway. Just wanted to pop in and say hi. Enjoy your newly-organized sewing area!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteYou’ve inspired me to organize my scraps and cut them into different sizes. Love all your quilts. I would like to enter your giveaway and thank you. Stay well.
Catherine
august1375.c@aol.com