American Patchwork & Quilting

A new year often means making a fresh start. While I don’t make resolutions, I do set goals for myself, including how many of my works in progress I plan to finish in the next 12 months. To that end, I begin the year by doing an overhaul of my sewing room. I start by putting everything in its place and then sort through my projects and supplies to clear out notions I no longer use and projects I likely will never finish. In “Ask the Editors,” page 10, we give you tips for decluttering your fabric stash. This is hard for me! I love fabric of all colors and styles and am inclined to hang on to things “just in case.” I make myself go through my stash regularly, however,…

search: American Patchwork & Quilting @allpeoplequilt STORAGE HACKS Find unexpected ways to use items you already may have in your home. AllPeopleQuilt.com/253 Finish UFOs Make a resolution to complete your unfinished objects (UFOs) in 2023. Join our UFO Challenge to share your progress, get support, and cheer others on. Get the details here: AllPeopleQuilt.com/254. SHOP FOR STORAGE Browse our staff members’ favorite organizational products. AllPeopleQuilt.com/255 More Online VALENTINE’S DAY Sew decor, quilts, and gifts that will demonstrate your love. AllPeopleQuilt.com/256 ORGANIZE FABRIC Discover solutions for sorting and storing your stash. AllPeopleQuilt.com/257 CLEAN YOUR TOOLS Treat your most used sewing supplies to some TLC. AllPeopleQuilt.com/258…

As much as I love exploring new places, I have come to terms with the fact that I am and will always be a homebody at heart. There is just something about the comfort of coming home and changing into comfy clothes, curling up in a worn chair and reading a favorite book that can’t be topped. When I was designing this collection I kept coming back to that feeling and hoped I could make Dwell feel a little like coming home. The beautiful florals in navy and green paired with perfect shades of pink and gray remind me of my favorite chair in my childhood home while the classic ticking stripe and coordinating basics include some elements from my current home. Fabric, Precuts, Patterns and Boxed Kit Coming Soon! Hometown (TB…

After my mother-in-law passed away, I made a quilt from some of her T-shirts. Unfortunately, I could not find a specific shirt I wanted to include. I did, however, have a photo of my husband, his mother, and his siblings all wearing the T-shirt. I transferred the photo to fabric and used it as my label. It added a nice extra memory to the quilt. ANNETTE VINIKConway, South Carolina For more of our favorite reader tips, visit AllPeopleQuilt.com/tips. When preparing to iron appliqué shapes that have sharp or curved edges, I put starch in a small dropper bottle. This way I can apply the starch where I want it and don’t make a mess of my ironing board. LISA FRANKLINEstero, Florida I use a snap-closing eyeglass case to carry handwork project supplies when I’m traveling…

Q I have more fabric than I could ever use. I’d like to get rid of some of it so I feel less overwhelmed when I’m in my sewing room. How do I go about it? Elsie Mason ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA Getting rid of fabric is a paralyzing proposition for many quilters. Break the feeling of powerlessness with our no-fail, step-by-step plan. Ask Us Anything! Submit a question by emailing APQ@dotdashmdp.com. Tough Questions to Ask Yourself DO YOU LOVE IT? You shouldn’t get rid of any fabric you love. You’ll only regret it! WILL YOU USE IT? This is often the hardest question to answer when sorting fabric because it means confronting your expectations for your sewing life and what you’ll realistically sew. IS IT A USEFUL SIZE? Many quilters save fabric scraps, but this is when size matters. If the scrap is…

1 SCHEDULE IT. Put it on your calendar. Block off at least 30 minutes to give yourself enough time to make real progress. Set boundaries with your family so you can concentrate on the task at hand. 2 GET IN THE RIGHT HEADSPACE. If you find sorting fabric stressful or emotional, play some music or listen to an audiobook while you work. Keep a candle lit. Give yourself a break with a favorite snack. If it helps, invite a friend over for support. Approaching the decluttering process with a positive mindset will let you remain open to where it might lead and will keep the experience from draining you. 3 BE PREPARED. To manage your fabric sort, have boxes and/or bags available to hold sorted pieces and a permanent marker and paper to make labels…