Where do you keep your blocks?

I am working on a quilt for my boys with blocks about 10 inches big.

I am finding that they are slightly too big to put very many in a gallon ziplock bag without having to press flat every time!

Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep the parts of your quilt nice when you are not needing them for a week at a time or so?

I cannot just leave them out and scattered about and my hubby will not go for hanging a large piece of fleece on the wall on which to attach them-- no, I do not have my own studio either!

The project for 2 twin quilts is in a small manageable shelf size box in our kitchen for now!

My blocks usually end up under my cat...he loves quilts in whatever stage of processing they are in! You have a good question there, I will be checking in to see what good ideas are posted.

You can buy jumbo (2 gallon I believe) ziplock bags at WalMart that are 14x16 inches. You could also go to the dollar store and find a plastic box large enough to store your blocks. I've heard of quilters getting new pizza boxes for storing their blocks. I keep mine in a drawer before they are sewn into rows. :)

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Originally Posted by Bubby

You can buy jumbo (2 gallon I believe) ziplock bags at WalMart that are 14x16 inches. You could also go to the dollar store and find a plastic box large enough to store your blocks. I've heard of quilters getting new pizza boxes for storing their blocks. I keep mine in a drawer before they are sewn into rows. :)

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I was going to suggest the very same thing. 2 gallon bags are the most versitile, but they cost more and aren't as easy to find everywhere.

I just leave mine around the house. Not the most practical thing to do. : )

Scrapbooking boxes are a good size for keeping blocks - they are designed for 12 x 12 scrapbooking pages.

Leonie

I have two off these boxes too organize projects. I get them when they are on sale at JoAnn's. I've also heard about getting new clean boxes from your local pizza shop; but they would only be good short term as they are not acid free.

Well I was going to add a photo of the plastic box with handle but it won't let me, sorry.

I often either hang them in the closet on pant hangers with the pattern attached if it is something I'm putting away for a little while or a clean pizza box if it is one that I'm going to keep working on.

Well Lisa it looks like we have the same storage system. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I keep my (too-many-to-count) UFO blocks in 2 gallon bags in huge baskets in the 'sewing room'. What a mess I have! Two large baskets full of projects. One would wonder why I'm on the computer and not at the sewing machine!!! Horder? Addicted? Doctor, doctor can you help??????

Becki.... Most of us need a separate closet just for our UFO's!! You became a member of the right group!! :)

Your local crafting stores like JoAnns will carry the scrapbook storage bins. The ones I buy are from www.artbin.com I get at stores though. They are the perfect size. I have 3 different projects going right now and I just put the blocks in one of these as I finish them. The ones I have hold up to 12x12 papers so they are perfect and also stackable!

I have gone to our local Dominos Pizza and they gave me a few brand new pizza boxes for free. I don´t have any drawer space and limited shelf space, so these are perfect for me.

I'm like Nancy - while the pizza boxes are the right size, easy to store, etc., I don't like the fact that they are not acid free. I catch the scrapbook bins on sale at Michaels (found they are cheaper than the ones at JoAnns). If it is something I am working on currently I put the blocks in Zip-lock bags with holes punched in the top so they will fit in a 3-ring binder with the pattern. That works especially well if I'm working on a BOM with a different pattern for each month and precut my fabrics (like for setting blocks), as each month's pieces go in a separate bag.

you know those bags that have zippers in them,,,,,,they come with sheets inside,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yuppers,,,,save them,,,,,,recycle,,,reuse,,,im trying to remember others,,,but drawing a blank,,,,,:)))seems to happen more often, than not, lol

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These boxes are 11x14 at wally world for just over $3.00. I pick up a couple each visit so I can tame MY other boxes

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If it's a project I'm working on, I keep the blocks sorted by color in zip lock bags in a stacking basket that came from Joann's. The basket sits on the sewing table beside my machine. If the blocks are not going to be used for a while, I keep them in zip lock bags sorted by color or project in drawers in an antique cabinet. I mark the bags with the name of the project.

Right now I don't have that many and I love looking at them, so I have them hanging in order on skirt hangers, right above my sewing machine! It also reminds me I have to get going on the next block :-).

Once my blocks start growing I'm sure I'll be using the JoAnn's containers.

[I often either hang them in the closet on pant hangers with the pattern attached if it is something I'm putting away for a little while... ]

Oh wow, what a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

I have a separate room for making my quilts, so I just put them on my design board until they are ready to sew together. I don't start another project until the current top is made. I usually put the finished top on the quilt frame with the batting and backing and quilt a little, then work on the next quilt top a little, and so forth. I was going to suggest the two gallon bags, too, but I see a couple of others beat me to that.