I don't seem to through anything out, always make use of the left overs. I even have 3 draws, for left overs,2 have packets in them and they are colour coded, and the 3rd is for silk, satins and fancy fabrics. So when I'm doing applique work or small projects (eg dolls things) I don't have to search for bits of fabric. Hugs Yvonne

Yvonne, this is just the best tip!!! I am alway in the need to be better organized. I am just setting up a sewing and crafts room in an upstairs spare bedroom so, I need lots of help and tips just like this one. As I read below, I read even more tips - it was great!!!!! Thank you!!!*

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by castelyn 11 Oct 2009

Glad it was of help to you

I did the same with all my buttons and I have a lot of buttons, first I sorted them by color then the same together and did every sort in a tiny little plastic selfclosing plastic bag. Then I did all the little bags of w colour together into a bigger bag and the are all in a box. The same with scraps of WSS, I do this with all my scraps and bits and pieces. Very handy.

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by castelyn 11 Oct 2009

Carla, yes my buttons are also colour coded, and I have a draw for my WSS. and plastic bags to put the different ones together. Hugs Yvonne

Thanks so much for all the feed-back. I have now donated 2 bags of off cuts, to my GD pre-school , they use it for the kids to do projects(eg .stitcking them onto outlined drawings)

Hugs Yvonne

I recently spent three nights moving all my fabrics into another chest of drawers, so I made the most of it by organising my materials and scraps so I can find things more easily. I also keep the tiniest pieces of fabrics and trims, leathers, vinyls etc as I have many dolls still to make and many more that still need clothes.

I'm really hoping my new Grandbaby will be another girl so (hopefully) in the future one of my GD's will enjoy inheriting my beautiful vintage fabrics and laces.

Now, if only I had another cupboard, I could empty the materials from my blanket box into it and organise that lot!!! LOL!!

hugs n roses, Meganne

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Megs it never ends , always have to re organise - Hugs yvonne

Tks Yvonne, the other cuties must see your sewing room. This lady is very organized.

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Elize, thanks so much, sometimes I wonder, I need a bigger room

You DO know if you throw it away today, you'll need it tomorrow? Try to tell my hubby that, but I don't think he' buying it!

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by meganne 09 Oct 2009

My Hubby tells me the same thing about the "STUFF" in his garage. LOL!!!
We make a terrible pair of hoarders.!!
HNR, M

by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

I don't think any of them do Gerry

You are a very smart lady, living the green life, we all need to take advice from you. I just can't seem to get that organized. I save pieces and stick them wherever then have to hunt for them later. I need organization. Think there is any help for me. I moved almost 2 yrs ago and now have a closet in spare room for my sewing stuff and crafts, so I need to bet better organized. Sara

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Just set your mind at it, and put 1 day a week a side to organize- do one thing in your closet every week, and you will get there - Hugs Yvonne

I have a huge clear bin for my scraps. The problem with that is I keep digging through it to find what I need. Unfortunately the time it takes to organize it would take away from my computer and sewing time. But then so does the digging:-D

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Just do something each week and you can get organized - Hugs yvonne

Great idea, I'm starting to organize in those wonderful boxes you get from the Schwan's man, after you eat the goodies inside. Schwan's is a food company that comes to your house in a truck, with wonderful frozen food and ice cream. The boxes are perfect to paint, cover with decorative paper or fabric, and they are strong enough to stack. I'm color-coding scraps into these boxes, and color-coding the boxes as well, so I'll know at a glance what's in it. It's a work in progress right now. Do any of us ever throw anything out related to sewing? I mean, gee, some digitizers even have designs to use up thread clips! I sometimes wonder why I even have a waste basket in the sewing room, hee hee hee. Great idea, Yvonne, thanks for sharing! Hugs, Marji

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by debleerl 08 Oct 2009

Wonderful idea Marji. Since I've actually seen your sewing room, I challenge you to finish it. Of course I'm the "pot calling the kettle black" LOL, since you've seen my sewing "room" too:-) I prefer the clear boxes so I can see what's inside, but then again I'd have to keep the stuff in them.

by marjialexa 08 Oct 2009

Your sewing room is bigger than mine, you have more room to spread your junk, er, stuff out!! Hee hee hee, I found a tip for folding those darn fabric scrap pieces. Hugs, M

by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Well I also have a clear plastic container, next to my machines, for my clips, don't know yet what I will do with it

I don't throw anything away, either. But there is no organization here. I have one drawer that has it all in there. The darn thing is overflowing, so your idea is wonderful! Maybe I can start using some of those scraps for something.

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Colleen, give it a go, start using some of those scraps - Hugs yvonne

Great ideas! Thanks all.
*4 all!

I iron all my scraps and place in boxes with same colour coding so They are there if I need them I am a real hoarder I went to a shop a couple of days ago and they were selling bags of tiny scraps some only 1 inch square and was selling them for $15 a kilogram and so I don't feel so bad for keeping mine

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Reals, thanks for that, I have not ironed by scraps yet, but that would be much neater

I too never throw anything away. The smallest scrap can turn into stuffing if nothing else Silly huh?

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

So true

Yvone you are a smart lady when I want something I can never remember where I put it I have been searching for a CD for buz edit for days and can not find where I put it.
hugs Lenamae

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

I have a CD rack and CD files for all mine
- this helps

you are well organized! compliments.I don't throw it away but they are all in one bag.

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

I try my best to be, Gerry

at what point do we admit we need professional help!?! i have a large bin that is overflowing with scraps. it just has to be an obsession of some kind.

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Well Jenny, I think we all need some help sometimes.

Great idea Yvonne. I also have two boxes full of offcuts, and they come in so handy for applique as well as quilting. I even have been using the tiniest pieces (kept in a big plastic container with a lid) for my quilt applique.

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by castelyn 09 Oct 2009

Well done

Great idea. Thank-you.

I have a bin next to me....I do alot of baby appliques and they work just great for that little bitty piece you just need......

Yvonne that is exactley what I do, not as neat as you but throw nothing away, one day it will come in handy!!

Great idea. I too can't throw out the leftovers.