5 reasons why you should organize your quilt fabric

Wow! Thank you soo much for all your comments and happy Bday wishes on my last video. I felt like it was my birthday all week! The giveaway was won by....... (drum roll)
* * * Stephanie Löffler * * *
Congrats! We will get in touch so the little fish will soon be on it's way to you.
Now for this weeks video we are going to get organized. Or at least, I'm getting my fabrics organized while you're watching. But maybe it will inspire you a little bit to do some (re)organizing yourself.
Happy quilting!
xo Irene
Check out last weeks video • Quilted Mug Rug Patter...
and download your FREE Little Fish Block pattern on my blog:
www.sugaridoo.com/gooood-vibes...
S U G A R I D O O ~ S A M P L E R
www.sugaridoo.com/product/ebo...
This is my first book, a massive bundle of paper piecing patterns, my sugaridoo baby, was published in Dutch and has already sold out, it is still available as e-book in EN and NL and will be published in English someday (I dream big!). If you are or know anyone who wants to publish it in feel free to let me know!
T R E E ~ T R E E ~ H O U S E ~ P A T T E R N
www.sugaridoo.com/product/tre...
Order your quilt kit here:
www.sugaridoo.com/product/tre...
and here:
www.sugaridoo.com/product/tre...
- Where to find Sugaridoo -
Website: www.sugaridoo.com/
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Sugaridoo
Insta: / sugaridoo
Facebook: / sugaridoo
- Sugaridoo Sampler -
Order your copy of the Sugaridoo Sampler over here: www.sugaridoo.com/product/sug...
The Sugaridoo Sampler e-book is a huge collection of paper piecing patterns.
- Credits -
Music credits to Bensound: www.bensound.com/
I received a fabric bundle, this video doesn't include pay
- Business inquiries -
Would you like to work together with Sugaridoo? Feel free to contact me at [e-mail]

[@kankerdoodleb9149]

I organize,make a mess and repeat...for 40 years...love the video!

[@HRHDMKYT]

You are SO right, Irene! It *does* make me happier to see everything organized by colour... and inspiring. It's time to get off my couch, get to the container store, and get myself a number of clear storage bins... so I can unpack all of my cardboard boxes from all of my online fabric shopping acquisition expeditions, combine them all and sort by colour. I have to remember to take lots of "before" and "after" pictures, so I can see my progress and get even more a feeling of satisfaction. Thanks for the inspiration!! ~Diana

[@anthonymoscato3365]

As always, timely and inspirational advice, Irena. And you look great! I was just thinking this morning, "Tomorrow, I HAVE to straighten my stash!" It gets stagnant, and needs to be "fluffed". 😃 One way I like to organize is by project box. I have some vintage fabrics that don't "play well with" the others, but I hope to use them, so I group them into a "family", along with an idea or pattern into one box. Then, I can just pull out that box and get to work. This idea has helped me get over "quilters block" when I feel overwhelmed. Thank you for your encouragement. It always lifts my spirit. Lilly

[@Sugaridoo]

Ah that sounds like a really nice system Lilly! Thanks for sharing, Irene💕

[@melniee2551]

After seeing all yourfabric nicely sorted in containers, can't wait to start my own organizing!

[@maplelassuk]

I'm messy as I sew, but I love organising my stash and scraps! I used to use containers but now I fold and stack in fat Quarters, Yardage and just love to look at it-JOY! Sometimes I lose something like a scissor top or piece of fabric so I pull out fabrics, and re-organise my shelves again! I work in a small room so need to keep at it, tidy after each main project, ready for next time! Wonderful hobby-collecting fabrics- and sewing them is the other hobby😂😂

[@Sugaridoo]

Sometimes I think sewing in a smaller room is great since you have to be more organized! I need to be careful not to flood my studio with stuff 😅

[@Teresasblaze]

Your organised stash looks so inviting. I tend to work in a way that looks chaotic, but on occasions I will have a major tidy up, I just have to be in the right mindset to get started on organisation. Am addicted to your videos

[@shebeesstitchyworld]

We bought a couple of large cabinets and I have all of my fabric stash organized by color and by holidays. I use a lot of holiday fabrics to make pillows for my cross stitch projects. Love reorganizing.

[@bntautoplus1831]

Love all your video's! I just did this to my sewing room. Scraps, fat quarters, one yard and over a yard goes on a board that stands up on the shelf. Yes, I found fabric I forgot about...lol plus there was some I just wasn't into anymore and it went to my sewing bee for disaster quilts that we do. It feels so good to have everything organized and I diffidently get lots of new ideas. thanks for sharing. Teresa

[@1angelofthelight2]

Ooo I enjoyed that! Felt like you were organising mine - I wish. I only sort my sewing room out when visitors are coming - it's in my sitting room lol. Thank you Irene.

[@joane8651]

Thanks for the reminder to organize my stash (again), one thing I discovered was realizing what colors I prefer. I have a ton of greens and blue fabrics and didn't see that until I was done ;) Now on to quilt!

[@villagesteader3552]

Thank you, I do have a lot of yardage. I will use your idea of making a mini bolt of fabric. I just realized when you showed how you did it that I have the perfect place to store/display them! I can’t wait to get started.♥️😎

[@elisagalery1598]

I also need to do some organizing on my fabric stash! Thanks for the tips! 👍

[@dcinrb8538]

Organized my non-fabric sewing supplies (ric rac, piping, binding, buttons, elastic, ribbon, zippers, pom-poms, etc). Grouping into clear totes & drawers will be a great help in keeping them clean too. Plastic bags & cardboard boxes just collect dust in back of closets. Next, I will use your method to get my stash organized. Thanks for your video. 😎🐱🌵

[@virginiawarren167]

Lori Holts from Its So Emma has some wonderful patterns that use scraps, patchwork blocks. Also on Blog as Bee in My Bonnet! Good luck!

[@mary-lynnmcconnell5656]

I’m definitely a super organized quilter. Everything gets put away when I’m done with it👍😊🥰

[@lizmiller6507]

Hi I have finished organising my material, and yes, was all the 5 things you mentioned. Love it.

[@juliemccall8366]

I love the idea to use cardboard to wrap yardage in. It makes them into mini fabric bolts and easy to display. I am such a visual person that if I pack fabric away and cannot see it, I forget about it 😁. Thank you for your channel. I love it from Grand Rapids, Michigan 🇺🇸

[@suzannegiancoli300]

Thank you for the reminder to organise!...I organise exactly the way you do...when I do it...lived ur video. Thanks

[@marcigitler3187]

I still somewhat new to Sugaridoo so I am catching up on older videos. Thanks so much for showing how to organize. I am like you, having a lot of messy piles of fabric after a project. I have been meaning to get reorganized but keep putting it off. You just motivated me to get on it. I am doing the QAL so want to be all neat and clean in my sewing space before we start! 🙂

[@naseemahallyson5003]

Hi .. i just found your channel.. i truly appreciate this video as i am busy making up my sewing room .. thank you for your great ideas and keeping it real .. lotsa love from Johannesburg South Africa xxx

[@joycescheeren]

You have a nice collection of fabrics:) I love organising my stash, looking at all the colours, especially when I have sorted them in order, makes me happy :D

[@madelonsarti9520]

I have been trying to organize by ironing scraps and cutting them into the biggest size possible then sorting by size and color. Long process but finding some things that can I haven’t seen in years. Great memories too

[@petro3441]

Wow this looks great fun to organise material like that

[@dorindagouw2822]

I typical keep my fabric organized, but during a project chaos happens. I love the the idea of separating in warm and cool colors! I usually through everything in one bind, then into colors/size. Then into project piles. Love to do scrappy quilts. Thanks for your video.

[@annphilbeck5174]

Pretty Awesome video. Ive been taking my stash and cutting it up with my accuquilt into squares and flying geese and half triangles, and I love your idea for bigger pieces.

[@lauriee348]

I absolutely love your videos!!!! Very inspiring!!!!

[@pamelachiles2778]

You have inspired me to sew a quilt at 77 yrs old.

[@justhinkinaboutit]

Thank you! I have to do this over and over. Looking forward to your next video. 😊

[@jeancox4235]

You are such a pleasant person💕. I love your videos.

[@denisek5208]

I am definitely a messy quilter. Keeping out the fabrics I'm using for a current project ... then putting it away when done. Thanks for sharing the idea of wrapping yardage around cardboard. All of my scraps are sorted by color in photo boxes. My goal is to shop my stash before I buy new fabric & only buy the minimum amount to complete the project. Thanks for sharing!

[@lucy7b]

I definitely need to reorganise my material. I have lots of hand block prints from India as well as ‘normal’ material. Consequently I can’t just sort by colour or size. I must not procrastinate, I’ve been making journals and soap instead of tidying. I love your infectious smile.

[@terridunning3450]

Thanks that was a great video...i would love your stash, you have such lovely colours of fabric...happy quilting.

[@JackieDannenberg]

Thank you. You’ve inspired me ! I will get on it this week !

[@patblood6384]

I have been watching your videos now for a couple of months and so look forward to getting an email that a new video has been posted. Your smile is infectious! I find myself smiling back at you all the time! Keep p the good work and if you ever make it to the U.S. would love to see you in Michigan!

[@Sugaridoo]

Than you soo much Pat! 💕

[@jenniferhoffman3143]

Great inspiration to help me get my fabrics organized....thanks!....& your 'stash' is enviable!! Lol!

[@pabeolig8755]

I like your sewing room. It is so colorful and inviting to stay there for hours and hours.

[@needleworknut7792]

Having a day of folding, getting reacquainted with ones fabric, is like a day at the beach!! Pat-South Padre Island, Texas

[@Sugaridoo]

Yes it truly is!

[@naomiashcraft1780]

I have my fabric in large totes they are not clear and I have lots if yardage and much of it has flowers animals things like that. I have tried organizing but because I have so much I have to store it outside in my shed so I wish it was simple as I can't seem to get organized. I do love your plan and I love your voice. You are such a happy sounding person.

[@Apairoffluffysocks]

Just come across your channel and thoroughly enjoyed this video. You have an awesome fabric stash. I am generally very organised in my sewing room as I work better that way.

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

I organize by color and I love my scraps! Thank you for posting this video!!

[@tammerabeverage8725]

Great video. I like to cut my smaller scraps into 2.5 strips and squares. They are stored near my sewing machine and I sew a light and dark together as leader and enders. That way when I make a quilt I am as also making a scrap quilt at the same time.

[@celinevukson8754]

Just Get It Done Quilts also recommends sewing these stash up the same way, fast, easy, efficient and effective.

[@kloostertuintje]

Netjes allemaal hoor. Ik ben jaloers op je. Ik begin nog maar net en zie zoveel mooie lapjes voorbij komen. Ik wacht weer af, wat je er van gaat maken.

[@janellbuscemi9903]

Recently moved across the country - (I have more fabric than clothes) Trying to get the new sewing room organized. Thank you for the GREAT idea. i am overwhelmed at what I have and am missing some tools so getting organized should help me enjoy my stash again and prevent me from buying something I already own.

[@mirriammbaloyi9956]

These are awesome guys

[@sandyklaus2093]

I love your idea It woke me up to what i really have. thank you

[@MadebyaBEAutifulqueenBea]

Organize by size is my spot. Lol I like to make from crumb quilts to the jelly roll race quilts to rag quilts. Lol great video 💙🐝💙

[@denisepineda1788]

Thanks for the great organizational tips!

[@emiliegoethals3769]

I'm totally messey. I really like looking through my fabrics.

[@mendyelliott9495]

Great video! I needed a push to get this done.

[@debbieweibley3899]

I'm starting to organize my sewing room. It takes lots of time

[@maryannscanlon7042]

I am a bit of both Irene. I have IKEA CD shelves which perfectly hold folded fat quarters or fat 8ths and they are sorted in color order. But I also have other shelves with larger pieces wrapped around comic boards . And finally several huge bags of scraps. I need to get those organized. I have always wanted to make a ‘Scrap Vomit’ quilt that Katy Jones of ‘ I am a Ginger Monkey’ made many years ago. I always liked it because it used lots of print scraps and some solids too.

[@jenmckitrick]

Love this video. I'm inspired to go organize my stash now. I've been making a lot of scrappy quilts lately. Bonnie Hunter's scrappy trip is a good one, great for leftover strips. Little houses and crumb blocks are my other recommendations.

[@Sugaridoo]

Great! Thanks fo rthe ideas :D

[@JacquelineAutumn]

Great video, thanks for the tips and inspiration!!

[@bjjordan6141]

Enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing.

[@sonyakoresky]

YEAY!!! I'm so happy you have so many new subscribers!! I have shared links to your channel with different quilting groups I am involved in, on some quilting Facebook groups and also on Reddit in the sub r/quilting which has so many great quilters! I love your show so much!

[@Sugaridoo]

Thank you soo much for sharing Sonya! It's growing and growing!

[@janemcnabb5637]

Pleas keep up the videos. I love them!

[@deejcarter2003]

I so want to rummage through your scraps💕💕 I tend to be more of an organized quilter. Even when I’m working on a project I can’t leave a most for longer than a week😫 I’m less productive in a mess.

[@lisaalexander5731]

Thank you for this video!!!!

[@ioanasantos6614]

Thank you! We’re interested in seeing how you fold them.😘

[@barbierussell2838]

Like your video. Hope to see you again love your sewing room.

[@Albertwildhorseshoer]

You asked for ideas of how to use scraps. An Irish chain quilt would be a good way to use small scraps of material. You can look up Jenny Doan's Missouri Star Quilt way of making strips for 9 square blocks. I made a big quilt with this method and it was an excellent, beautiful, and quick method of creating a quilt. I just found you and subscribed. I look forward to learning a lot from your perspective.

[@Sugaridoo]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm going to look those up, they sound fun!

[@kimberleytramper8966]

Thanks for the inspiration!

[@Vintage_Recreations]

What an adorable, teeny, tiny stash.

[@patblood6384]

P.S. Your hint on folding large pieces of fabric around cardboard is genius! Will definitely be saving up some cardboard.....

[@deniseroberts130]

Good job reorganizing! Some sort of a system does help cut down on buying similar fabrics, I can see what I already have.

[@Maria_O]

I just recently organized my stash too. Such a great feeling of relief and definitely joy. I organize by color and size. Yardage in one stack. Less than half a yard folded into bins. Small scraps folded and itty bitty pieces also by color. Everything is in clear or open containers so I can easily see what I have. If I have all the fabric I need for a project, but I don't have time at the moment to make the quilt, that fabric goes in it's own separate bin.

[@urielgrant2563]

I guess Im asking the wrong place but does someone know a way to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any help you can give me!

[@isaacmarcellus3328]

@Uriel Grant Instablaster ;)

[@urielgrant2563]

@Isaac Marcellus i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@urielgrant2563]

@Isaac Marcellus it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my ass!

[@isaacmarcellus3328]

@Uriel Grant happy to help xD

[@monicamaus5990]

Thanks. Very helpful 😊

[@nanflaherty3053]

I like to organize my fabrics in bins and then take a picture of my bins to keep track for when I’m shopping

[@Sugaridoo]

That is so smart!

[@DestinyGPlus3]

Genius !!!

[@juliemccall8366]

I usually just bring the fabric I need an accent for to the store. For the life of me, I can’t take a color matching photo and have bought more fabric that doesn’t match...so of course, then I need more fabric...! 😂

[@jennyjohnson255]

I truly enjoy all your videos, and I recently went through my stash and organized by color and size. I am not a big FPP person, but have used some smaller fabric scraps to EPP. I also followed the blog 'Crazy Mom Quilts', by Amanda Jean Nyberg. She wrote a book about scrap quilts called "No scrap left behind'. I thought of her when you said, "nothing left behind!" Amanda has many tutorials on her blog, although she is no longer blogging, her site is still up as a resource. I look forward to your next video!

[@Sugaridoo]

Ooh that sounds like a book I would love! :D

[@sheilacarroll7143]

I have fabric stored in plastic bins in my basement and can't seem to get to them now that my daughter moved in and stored a lot of her stuff in the basement as well. We have to go on a "fabric hunt" in the basement very soon! Lol 💕😊🌹

[@laikagonzalez9879]

I love to organize all of my things people laugh at me but it looks so nice organized!

[@mary-annz.reynolds7778]

I'm messy while sewing. But then, like you, I need to organize. Lol

[@Sugaridoo]

Haha 😄 Great to get organized once in a while

[@jayamilapersson4030]

on good days my patchworkable fabrics are organised and I have one box for each colour like red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, brown, black to white and mixed when its too hard to Identify one single color or scenery fabrics like . But I also have a box for Christmas fabrics. and in every box I have fabrics that are from the size of a fatquater or more then I have one box for smaller scraps and those are organised by both colour and size in big bags.

[@mirriammbaloyi9956]

I’m wishing to have a where l could have a place to this work like you.you are doing amazing job

[@ailelanastormbow9694]

I'm almost exclusively a paper-piecer. I sort first into categories, then into bins EXCEPT for brand new fat quarters, which are lined up in drawers by color. Most of my stuff is small pieces so I sort those by color and use gallon ziploc bags. I then store the bags, by color again, into drawers in the storage space. Everything else is sorted by size or season...yardage, almost yardage and holiday. I have a TRUE MESS...I'm going to find time to try your way!

[@msdreamz6068]

I definitely need to reorganize my stash....again 🧺

[@jayamilapersson4030]

said every quilter ever.

[@fridabordevik901]

Just want to recommend the wonky houses pattern for your scraps! Lots of paper piecing and lots of fun, i’m currently working on it myself :)

[@Sugaridoo]

Ooh that is a fun one! Thanks for your suggestion :D

[@babysister54]

Just found you on YT; great organizing ideas!

[@gailhudson6578]

loved watching the video

[@sally-3830]

Love!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@tinairwin4878]

Thank you! I know what to do, now

[@sparkle0428]

I love to be organized!

[@sandradummer4726]

I’m a new beginner in the quilting seen, so...I don’t have all of what I wish I could have in Fabric, but...it’s fun to buy but...sure is expensive. So...I’m being careful what I buy. So..,thank you for any advice you can help me with.

[@DH-qz2so]

I store yardage on cardboard like in the shop, I keep 'lines' together,..then cut scraps into 2.5" strips, 1.5" strips, 2.5" squares, and 5" charm squares....I also have color bins of larger pieces...so blue in a bin, green in a bin...etc....but smaller pieces/bits I do make precuts (as mentioned above)...I go through everything once in a while to remind myself what I have. I use clear bins from Walmart...different sizes...and clear, so I can see what is inside.

[@Sugaridoo]

That sounds perfectly organized! Love it

[@darvanaleedesignsstudio]

Thanks for ou tips and tricks ❤

[@annettetry7286]

Great video, how do fold your fabric for the boxes is there a particular way. You made me want to go and reorganise, thank you

[@stephanieloffler8566]

Hi Irene, thanks for the great video. I wouldn't call you a messy quilter at all. Even the messy boxes looked pretty organized to me. And you never saw my stash 😂 That IS messy. But my problem is that I would love to have it more organized, but I like to separate prewashed and newly bought fabric and different textures. But I mainly sew with prewashed fabric and it takes time to prepare. Then I also do not only sew with 100% cotton fabric, I use jersey, leather, false leather, cord, denim etc. And what makes IT even worse: I love upcycling, so I keep jeans, shirts, bed sheets etc. for projects and I get them gifted from friends (as well as fabric). And I did not even speak about the notions. 🙈 So, if you have any great idea to organize this, feel free to share it - PLEASE 😂 xoxo from Germany Stephanie

[@Sugaridoo]

Haha! That sounds like quite a challenge to organize 😅 I see where my stash might looked organized since it all just unwashed quilting cotton.

[@pamelavalley4765]

Most my stash was organized but I did make 35 quilt tops from floaters and left overs last winter to get rid of those spare odd bits. Sometimes it is faster to just use them up....

[@pamelavalley4765]

23 of them are finished quilts so far.

[@mycrazycraftin_official]

I am a relatively new quilter I've made only a few quilts over the past year I LOVE organizing things but I dont have a stash yet to organize

[@melaniehulm]

Thanks for the video. It’s always good to organize your fabric... I did this a couple of months ago so therapeutic. I was wondering where I could find the pattern for the cute cactus pillow in the background? Is it in your sampler book? Thanks

[@heatherr9201]

Scrappy hexagon EPP quilt... I save and cut my smaller scraps into 2.5 inch squares for this...

[@reneejohnson5041]

I do like to keep my fabric and sewing room organized. I don’t have a large stash overall. I get crazy with too much stuff around me. Can you tell us some of your favorite fabric lines? I love the colors and prints you chose. Also wanted to know if you’ve done any tutorials on English paper piecing. Thank you!

[@themightybirdlady2233]

Love your bin storage! What are the dimensions of your fat quarter bins please?

[@newbiecrafter]

Would you please share what size boxes you are using both big and small thank you

[@tammyeaton4791]

I save my small pieces for small machine appliqué ITH(in the hoop.

[@melissadavid3080]

Great video. Congrats on your first book! Your studio looks super organized and I agree, a clean : organized space is so much more inspiring. I try to keep my sewing studio organized but I find it hard to purge, so my stash is getting too big! I’m curious to know, what is the smallest size fabric scraps that you save? When it comes to FPP, even the tiny scraps can be used.

[@Sugaridoo]

I think my smallest scraps are e few inches big. You can indeed save all tiny pieces for fpp!

[@arlene9330]

I’m curious about how you actually folded all that and how you got it all in those cases.. can you show how you folded the pieces please .. great 👍 lesson thanks

[@tinaturull3793]

I would like to see how you fold your fabric

[@TinaReutin]

Irene, dear, from where did you source your storage bins?

[@lindafudge57]

Where do you get your storage bins for fat quarters?