22 June, 2017

Quilting By The Numbers

After~ Pantographs, arranged numerically with accompanying directory on top.
As I mentioned in yesterday's post I chose to use a specific pantograph for quilting the "Red Hot Summer" quilt that is currently loaded onto Snowbird.
Before~
That very action: searching for and locating the chosen pantograph was a completely frustrating and time-wasting activity task chore. Up until yesterday the pantographs were arranged in the unorganized jumble as pictured above. The method for selection was haphazard at best; pulling rolls out of the repurposed, expandable wine rack that is housed in the bottom section of the sewing machine cabinet, until I got lucky and found what I was looking for. "There has to be a better way", I thought.  I already had a computer file listing all of  the pantographs that I own, created for potential quilting customers a few years ago. I decided to print it out, assign a number to each entry, and subsequently create matching numbers to attach to each paper pantograph roll. The whole project took me approximately two hours; it will pay for itself, time-wise, in short order. The feeling of accomplishment in taming this jumble is, to me, priceless! Keeping the directory up to date on looseleaf pages allows for future entries to be logged in and added, page by page, over time. It's a good system.

Meanwhile, that Waterworld quilting is coming along quite nicely.

Life is Good!

12 comments:

Paula, the quilter said...

Now that is some creative thinking. Both on the organizing the pantos and re-purposing the wine rack.

Needled Mom said...

Sometimes we just need to bite the bullet and get it done!!! Yes, it will pay off time wise down the road. I use a wine rack for my stabilizers and it works great.

Elita@Busy Needle Quilting said...

Oh, that's a very clever system! I have mine in a notebook with the designs drawn on page protectors so that they can spread out for clients to see how it would look on their quilts. The rolls themselves are in long Ikea drawers. I love seeing what others do to organise!

jude's page said...

Looks like a great system, I had them in books years ago, but not the number system. Now they are all on computer, too many for a book, although it would be easier for customers to see.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Bravo! I've wondered why long armers who use pantos don't take the time to better organize them. Seems they all just let them stay in a jumble.

AnnieO said...

A job well done! Organization isn't very fun, but so useful once the T's are crossed and i's dotted :)

Janet O. said...

Very smart! I love the repurposing of the wine rack, too. I can see many applications for that.

cityquilter grace said...

great idea! anything that makes more time for sewing is a winner...

Little Penpen said...

Very smart!! It's so frustrating not to find something you are looking for...I do that often!! Lol

Maria said...

Loving those blocks !!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

That is a great way to organize your pantos so you can find them again. Hope it saves you loads of time.

harada57 said...
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