Eek! It has been a bit since I updated out challenge, hasn't it? I have still been posting videos each week, but I have dropped the ball on the blog. My apologies. I don't even have a very good excuse. I mean, I am busy, but we are all busy. Without further ado, here is where we are at with this challenge:
Week 6: UFOs and WIPs
During this week's challenge, we worked on UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and WIPs (Works in Progress). I have so many UFOs and WIPs. How about you? Do you struggle with this, too?
In this week's video, we talk about how to clean out and organize your UFOs and WIPs. What can we get rid of? What should we finish?
This week's video: https://youtu.be/1z8bblZdJnA
Here are your tasks for this week:
1. Go through your UFOs. Clean out the ones you don’t want to work on anymore. Make three piles: Donate, repurpose, or trash.
Donate: Do it! Donate them!
Trash: Do it! Trash them!
Repurpose: Do it! Repurpose them!
2. For those you keep: Make a list. Why did you stop working on it? What do you need to finish it? What is your plan of attack on this project? Give yourself a deadline. Display them. Set reminders on your phone. Put it in your journal.
3. Organize them. Is everything you need together? Add a list of what you need to finish them right to the bag.
4. Commit to finishing them. Maybe it is one a month? One a week? Have a plan. Just do it!
Fun Task: Look through the projects you HAVE finished. Doesn’t it feel good?
Week 7: Scraps!
We all have them. Well, most of us have them, right? This week we worked on sorting, organizing, tossing, and donating scrap fabrics.
This week's video: https://youtu.be/iLdcfC1Z1Uc
Here are your tasks for this week:
1. Gather all your scraps into one place and sort! Make piles: donate/sell, keep, and toss
2. Do something with your piles
With the scraps you are keeping: Containerize using whatever system makes sense to you. You can even cut them up into usable pieces, if you would like.
Scraps you are recycling: Recycle them! Make pet beds, full pillows, or take to the recycling center.
Scraps you are donating/sell: Donate and/or sell them!
3. Have a plan for future scraps:
Scrap bin that you sort weekly, monthly, whatever!
Get in the habit of putting scraps away
4. For Fun:
Plan a scrap project! Get inspired from books, magazines, patterns, friends, Pinterest, whatever!
Week 8: Precuts
This week, we focused on precuts. I also included fat quarters to this list because fat quarter bundles are becoming more and more popular, too!
First, let's talk about precuts:
Fat Quarters
18" x 22" piece of fabric or a quarter of a yard at the fat part of the fabric. Think about cutting a rectangle into quarters. That's how we get a fat quarter.
Other Precuts:
Jelly Rolls: 2.5” Strips
Charm Packs: 5” Squares
Layer Cakes: 10” Squares
Honey Buns: 1.5” Strips
Mini Charms: 2.5” squares
Link to this week's video: https://youtu.be/RfRadwSBkoU
Pros and Cons of Precuts
Here are the positive aspects, at least in my opinion. :)
1. You are at least one of each fabric in a fabric line
This is a great way to see, feel, and play with new fabric lines. How fun is that?
2. Everything “goes” together
There is no guessing, matching, or stressing. Everything goes together. Everything works.
3. Lots of patterns for precuts
You don't have to look far for patterns that work with precuts. They are everywhere!
Here are a few negative things about precuts (again, in my opinion).
1. Pinked edges UGH. This is the most frustrating part of precuts. Those pinked edges! Do you measure from the top of the pink? The "valley" of the pink? What do you do? Well, unfortunately, it depends on the company, the cut, and sometimes just luck. The best thing to do is to measure. Unfortunately, sometimes you lose fabric because of this.
2. Price Let's face it. Precuts are convenient, but you pay for it. So, think about it: a yard of fabric is about $12.00 (on average) and a yard of fabric is 36" x 44." This means you can get 30 (10") squares out of a yard of fabric, putting the cost at .40 each. However, a layer cake (40 ten inch squares) costs on average $40.00 a bundle, making each square $1.00, more than double the cost. Following me? Lots of math, but hopefully this makes sense.
3. Focus Cutting Issues Since precuts are cut by machine, you may or may not have centered motifs, or even the motif at all with larger scale fabric. Of course, your odds increase when you buy larger pieces (charm pack vs. fat quarter bundle).
Here are your tasks for this week:
1. Evaluate your precuts Do you have a lot? Organize them. Make plans for them.
2. Evaluate your fat quarters: Do you have a lot or a little? Do you know what you have? Fold them and get them organized and in one place. As you are cleaning up your scraps, cut fat quarters to grow your collection.
3. For Fun: Plan a precut project!
Week 9: Yardage
As quilters, our palette is fabric and yardage, although a bit easier to store, it a staple for our craft. Personally, I fold my fabric onto comic book boards, but there are many ways to organize your yardage. We will explore yardage storage this week!
Link to this week's video: https://youtu.be/yxnjUdr66Lk
Here are your tasks for this week:
1. Sort: Gather all your yardage together and sort it into piles: keep, donate/give away, and repurpose.
2. Fabric You Are Keeping: Fold Your Fabric Either stack it or wrap it on board or something; seeing what you have helps.
3. Fabric You Are Donating: Donate it! Many places will take fabric like local guilds, charity quilt organization, or even thrift shops. You can also send them to your quilty friends!
4. Fabric You Are Repurposing: Consider making pet beds to donate to local animal shelters or using the unwanted fabric on the backs of quilt or even as foundations for foundation piecing! Challenge yourself to create something out of the fabric.
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