I know. This looks like a complete mess, but actually shows a method that keeps me organized.
When I am making a compex block with multiple units, I have to keep myself organized so the components of the block don't get all mixed up. What I have used for years is plastic baggies to hold the various small block parts. I use a black Sharpie pen to label the bags with the dimension of the pieces and a number or letter of the alphabet to identify the individual unit.
Victory Star has a lot of pieces in each block. I think I started with Unit A and got up to Unit G!
I think the most complicated block I have made is the Pineapple Block, where I had what seemed like a dozen baggies with various size strips in them. This one really gave me a headache. Surely there must be a better way?
There are lots of ways to organize your block units. Some people use muffin tins to hold the various block parts. What do you do? This is such an individual choice when it comes to keeping your block units straight, but I bet there are lots of us who would love to know your method if you have a new idea. Share?
51 responses to “Organizing Block Units”
For my log cabin blcoks, I have the cut strips in stacks on my batting covered block boards; one board for the lights and one for the darks. In her log cabin quilt book, Judy Martin suggests using a plastic cutlery tray, one of those drawer inserts you can buy at Target or Walmart. I think that’s a good suggestion and may pick one up this weekend. I’ve used the labeled zip-lock bag method before on other projects. It is especially good if you need to put your project away for a time.
For my log cabin blcoks, I have the cut strips in stacks on my batting covered block boards; one board for the lights and one for the darks. In her log cabin quilt book, Judy Martin suggests using a plastic cutlery tray, one of those drawer inserts you can buy at Target or Walmart. I think that’s a good suggestion and may pick one up this weekend. I’ve used the labeled zip-lock bag method before on other projects. It is especially good if you need to put your project away for a time.
For my log cabin blcoks, I have the cut strips in stacks on my batting covered block boards; one board for the lights and one for the darks. In her log cabin quilt book, Judy Martin suggests using a plastic cutlery tray, one of those drawer inserts you can buy at Target or Walmart. I think that’s a good suggestion and may pick one up this weekend. I’ve used the labeled zip-lock bag method before on other projects. It is especially good if you need to put your project away for a time.
I am waiting to see comments and hope to find a better method than my usual one – chaos!
Mary
I am waiting to see comments and hope to find a better method than my usual one – chaos!
Mary
I am waiting to see comments and hope to find a better method than my usual one – chaos!
Mary
I have shallow, open top boxes and use scrap paper to add paper-clipped notes as to what block part each box contains. These boxes are about the size of a large Christmas card box and can be stacked if space is tight.
My very small HSTs are in zip-lock bags by size.
I, too, look forward to reading about the systems others use for this purpose.
Hugs!
I have shallow, open top boxes and use scrap paper to add paper-clipped notes as to what block part each box contains. These boxes are about the size of a large Christmas card box and can be stacked if space is tight.
My very small HSTs are in zip-lock bags by size.
I, too, look forward to reading about the systems others use for this purpose.
Hugs!
I have shallow, open top boxes and use scrap paper to add paper-clipped notes as to what block part each box contains. These boxes are about the size of a large Christmas card box and can be stacked if space is tight.
My very small HSTs are in zip-lock bags by size.
I, too, look forward to reading about the systems others use for this purpose.
Hugs!
I’m afraid my system is pretty much the same. I just took some plastic fruit boxes (washed after eating the fruit) that will replace some baggies because they are harder and will stack better. But I have to separate the parts when I am making a Bonnie Hunter quilt. 🙂
I’m afraid my system is pretty much the same. I just took some plastic fruit boxes (washed after eating the fruit) that will replace some baggies because they are harder and will stack better. But I have to separate the parts when I am making a Bonnie Hunter quilt. 🙂
I’m afraid my system is pretty much the same. I just took some plastic fruit boxes (washed after eating the fruit) that will replace some baggies because they are harder and will stack better. But I have to separate the parts when I am making a Bonnie Hunter quilt. 🙂
I use silverware racks( not shaped)when working with multiple sizes and colors.
I pick them up at thrift stores and yard sales and can easily stack them when more then one are needed for a project.
I use silverware racks( not shaped)when working with multiple sizes and colors.
I pick them up at thrift stores and yard sales and can easily stack them when more then one are needed for a project.
I use silverware racks( not shaped)when working with multiple sizes and colors.
I pick them up at thrift stores and yard sales and can easily stack them when more then one are needed for a project.
I’m afraid I’m a baggie lady too. 🙂
I’m afraid I’m a baggie lady too. 🙂
I’m afraid I’m a baggie lady too. 🙂
I label the block diagram with letters then stack the fabric pieces with matching letters on Post-it notes. I talk out loud when I check & double-check myself so it would appear the crazy quilting lady is in my sewing room! Now that I read this…perhaps she IS!!!
I label the block diagram with letters then stack the fabric pieces with matching letters on Post-it notes. I talk out loud when I check & double-check myself so it would appear the crazy quilting lady is in my sewing room! Now that I read this…perhaps she IS!!!
I label the block diagram with letters then stack the fabric pieces with matching letters on Post-it notes. I talk out loud when I check & double-check myself so it would appear the crazy quilting lady is in my sewing room! Now that I read this…perhaps she IS!!!
I have 3 little kids and a full time job… I don’t sew much of anything that requires that kind of organization. Ha! So sad, huh? But these days, with amazing, simple, beautiful, modern patterns out by the likes of Camille Roskelley and others, I can make pretty things that don’t require a ton of organization. However, I was in AZ over the weekend, I peeked through a window into a classroom and saw, are you ready for it, CARRIE NELSON! Just– there she was?! Right in front of me!! I was starstruck. And in a hurry. So I didn’t get to stick around and talk to her but I bought one of her more complicated patterns. That’s going to require some serious baggies, let me just tell you. And one or two summer vacations, to boot 😉 Thanks for sharing so many great ideas!
I have 3 little kids and a full time job… I don’t sew much of anything that requires that kind of organization. Ha! So sad, huh? But these days, with amazing, simple, beautiful, modern patterns out by the likes of Camille Roskelley and others, I can make pretty things that don’t require a ton of organization. However, I was in AZ over the weekend, I peeked through a window into a classroom and saw, are you ready for it, CARRIE NELSON! Just– there she was?! Right in front of me!! I was starstruck. And in a hurry. So I didn’t get to stick around and talk to her but I bought one of her more complicated patterns. That’s going to require some serious baggies, let me just tell you. And one or two summer vacations, to boot 😉 Thanks for sharing so many great ideas!
I have 3 little kids and a full time job… I don’t sew much of anything that requires that kind of organization. Ha! So sad, huh? But these days, with amazing, simple, beautiful, modern patterns out by the likes of Camille Roskelley and others, I can make pretty things that don’t require a ton of organization. However, I was in AZ over the weekend, I peeked through a window into a classroom and saw, are you ready for it, CARRIE NELSON! Just– there she was?! Right in front of me!! I was starstruck. And in a hurry. So I didn’t get to stick around and talk to her but I bought one of her more complicated patterns. That’s going to require some serious baggies, let me just tell you. And one or two summer vacations, to boot 😉 Thanks for sharing so many great ideas!
As I cut & lay out my pieces on my large table in front of my ironing board I add a post a note to each stack with the letter & measurements. With everything laid out in front of me like this it makes it very easy to keep track of all my pieces for the quilt.
As I cut & lay out my pieces on my large table in front of my ironing board I add a post a note to each stack with the letter & measurements. With everything laid out in front of me like this it makes it very easy to keep track of all my pieces for the quilt.
As I cut & lay out my pieces on my large table in front of my ironing board I add a post a note to each stack with the letter & measurements. With everything laid out in front of me like this it makes it very easy to keep track of all my pieces for the quilt.
Nothing very creative here – just the ever-useful Ziplock bags! And it works…
Nothing very creative here – just the ever-useful Ziplock bags! And it works…
Nothing very creative here – just the ever-useful Ziplock bags! And it works…
I use inexpensive paper plates to organize pieces. I might put the pieces for each block on a separate plate and stack them up to save room, or use a plate for all of the same size piece. Sometimes I put more than one size piece on the same plate and I write the size of the pieces above them with a pencil. I keep reusing the plates and erase the sizes if I’ve written on the plates. It’s easy to carry the whole stack or an individual plate if I need to move them around.
I use inexpensive paper plates to organize pieces. I might put the pieces for each block on a separate plate and stack them up to save room, or use a plate for all of the same size piece. Sometimes I put more than one size piece on the same plate and I write the size of the pieces above them with a pencil. I keep reusing the plates and erase the sizes if I’ve written on the plates. It’s easy to carry the whole stack or an individual plate if I need to move them around.
I use inexpensive paper plates to organize pieces. I might put the pieces for each block on a separate plate and stack them up to save room, or use a plate for all of the same size piece. Sometimes I put more than one size piece on the same plate and I write the size of the pieces above them with a pencil. I keep reusing the plates and erase the sizes if I’ve written on the plates. It’s easy to carry the whole stack or an individual plate if I need to move them around.
I use a variety of plastic bins from the dollar store. I pin units together and add labels with scraps of fabric. Your method looks like it works too.
I use a variety of plastic bins from the dollar store. I pin units together and add labels with scraps of fabric. Your method looks like it works too.
I use a variety of plastic bins from the dollar store. I pin units together and add labels with scraps of fabric. Your method looks like it works too.
I really like the wonder clips or the Barrett clips with a tab of paper marking which is which. Then when the components are sewing into sections of e block I use the same clip to keep,them together till final assembly.
I really like the wonder clips or the Barrett clips with a tab of paper marking which is which. Then when the components are sewing into sections of e block I use the same clip to keep,them together till final assembly.
I really like the wonder clips or the Barrett clips with a tab of paper marking which is which. Then when the components are sewing into sections of e block I use the same clip to keep,them together till final assembly.
I like the Ziploc bag method. Keeps everything organized. Even if you don’t get back to it for a while. And it’s pet-proof — cats cannot lay on it, play with it, or get fur on it.
I like the Ziploc bag method. Keeps everything organized. Even if you don’t get back to it for a while. And it’s pet-proof — cats cannot lay on it, play with it, or get fur on it.
I like the Ziploc bag method. Keeps everything organized. Even if you don’t get back to it for a while. And it’s pet-proof — cats cannot lay on it, play with it, or get fur on it.
I use safety pins — the kind used to sandwich a quilt as they have that little curve to them.
I picked up this idea from Bonnie of Quiltville during one of her mystery quilts. She recommended pinning strips or completed blocks in groups of 10 or so (whatever size works best for the project).. Sometimes I use a straight pin if I run out of safety pins.
I use the project cases to store everything during the process which I picked up from you years ago. Thank you! It’s been a lifesaver to keeping things organized for me.
When assembling the finished blocks I take a picture of my layout. Usually I can keep the blocks on the floor as I’m assembling, but if not I can refer to my photograph to remember what I chose to do.
But there are always exceptions to how I work though — E.g.
I’m working on a snowball quilt now and the 2″ blocks were a bit too small to pin so I did pick up a smaller project case to hold those little squares.
And I made several project boards that Lori Holt created to keep blocks with lots of pieces together. Like the great granny quilt.
Pics of these ideas are in this Flickr album
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hereslucy/sets/72157628851291923/
I use safety pins — the kind used to sandwich a quilt as they have that little curve to them.
I picked up this idea from Bonnie of Quiltville during one of her mystery quilts. She recommended pinning strips or completed blocks in groups of 10 or so (whatever size works best for the project).. Sometimes I use a straight pin if I run out of safety pins.
I use the project cases to store everything during the process which I picked up from you years ago. Thank you! It’s been a lifesaver to keeping things organized for me.
When assembling the finished blocks I take a picture of my layout. Usually I can keep the blocks on the floor as I’m assembling, but if not I can refer to my photograph to remember what I chose to do.
But there are always exceptions to how I work though — E.g.
I’m working on a snowball quilt now and the 2″ blocks were a bit too small to pin so I did pick up a smaller project case to hold those little squares.
And I made several project boards that Lori Holt created to keep blocks with lots of pieces together. Like the great granny quilt.
Pics of these ideas are in this Flickr album
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hereslucy/sets/72157628851291923/
I use safety pins — the kind used to sandwich a quilt as they have that little curve to them.
I picked up this idea from Bonnie of Quiltville during one of her mystery quilts. She recommended pinning strips or completed blocks in groups of 10 or so (whatever size works best for the project).. Sometimes I use a straight pin if I run out of safety pins.
I use the project cases to store everything during the process which I picked up from you years ago. Thank you! It’s been a lifesaver to keeping things organized for me.
When assembling the finished blocks I take a picture of my layout. Usually I can keep the blocks on the floor as I’m assembling, but if not I can refer to my photograph to remember what I chose to do.
But there are always exceptions to how I work though — E.g.
I’m working on a snowball quilt now and the 2″ blocks were a bit too small to pin so I did pick up a smaller project case to hold those little squares.
And I made several project boards that Lori Holt created to keep blocks with lots of pieces together. Like the great granny quilt.
Pics of these ideas are in this Flickr album
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hereslucy/sets/72157628851291923/
I don’t know about keeping organized, but I love the red and white pineapple block!
I don’t know about keeping organized, but I love the red and white pineapple block!
I don’t know about keeping organized, but I love the red and white pineapple block!
I don’t use baggies except to store UFO parts in (so maybe they have a bad connotation for me!.
I use plastic trays that I think are designed to hold papers in for my current projects. If one overflows I use 2. I use little dollar store bins to hold parts or just put them in stacks. I’ve used basting pins before too and now my wonder clips to hold subunits or blocks.
For complex scrappy projects I’m more of a cut in sessions as I go person so keep that in mind! I like being able to alter my mix of fabrics if I’m not happy with my first choices.
I don’t use baggies except to store UFO parts in (so maybe they have a bad connotation for me!.
I use plastic trays that I think are designed to hold papers in for my current projects. If one overflows I use 2. I use little dollar store bins to hold parts or just put them in stacks. I’ve used basting pins before too and now my wonder clips to hold subunits or blocks.
For complex scrappy projects I’m more of a cut in sessions as I go person so keep that in mind! I like being able to alter my mix of fabrics if I’m not happy with my first choices.
I don’t use baggies except to store UFO parts in (so maybe they have a bad connotation for me!.
I use plastic trays that I think are designed to hold papers in for my current projects. If one overflows I use 2. I use little dollar store bins to hold parts or just put them in stacks. I’ve used basting pins before too and now my wonder clips to hold subunits or blocks.
For complex scrappy projects I’m more of a cut in sessions as I go person so keep that in mind! I like being able to alter my mix of fabrics if I’m not happy with my first choices.