I’ve been busy working on my Pineapple Crazy blocks. Â I have to say..for me, it’s a messy project. Â I’m digging through scraps and things can easily get messy in a hurry when I’m doing that. Â Last week it was just horrible. Â I worked on the blocks in the evening then when it’s time for bed I spent time cleaning the mess up. Â It’s never good for me to be cleaning when I’d rather be sewing.
I knew I needed a better system so while I sewed I tried to think of something that might work a little better. Â I came up with this. Â See the white plastic drawers. Â Well those were something I used at the farm house but didn’t need here. Â I didn’t want to give them away knowing I could likely use them somehow with childcare. Â The drawers ended up getting stashed down in the basement waiting for a purpose.
Now I am using them to keep my scraps sorted. Â In the top drawer are the papers for the blocks.
Each of the drawers has a different part of the block in it. Â The drawer below is full of large triangles. Â One part is whites…the other colored ones. Â All of these are the last triangles that get sewn on the blocks.
This drawer is for the longer-bigger last strips that get sewn on the blocks.
When my blocks get to the stage that then need a specific piece I just pull out the drawer and grab the type and size of strip I need. Â This has worked so well for me. Â I really like the system. Â Had I not already had the drawers, I’d have been tempted to go out and purchase some. Â I think I save lots and lots of time having things organized to make the block building happen more efficiently..and best yet, clean up time is almost not needed anymore. Â I just push the drawers shut and it’s clean!
I’m on a mission to finish more blocks…so I’m off. Â I’m hoping to get a few pieces sewn before the childcare kiddos get here….
This is a great idea! I use my scraps to make paper pieced 6″ log cabin blocks, and I totally ‘get’ the mess part. Sorry to say, I will have to purchase the drawers but it will be worth it.
Thanks!
what size squares are these? I did one that looks a lot like this – totally scrappy 6.5 inch blocks, I got tired of paper piecing and quilt at a wall hanging size, I would love to try for a bigger one one day but the smaller blocks did me in. I might try 12 inch blocks some time.
Good for you !!!! Can’t believe you are making THAT quilt during a move !!! You are energetic… but isn’t it fun ??? I finished mine, and it’s spectacular, and I love it… get ready, though, cause it weighs a TON !!!! I used a very thin Thermore batting and it still weighs a ton !
That’s a great idea! Glad it’s working so good for you. Sure looks like you are really rockin on those blocks! They’re beautiful!