Book Review

Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter by Carolyn Woods

C&T Publishing 2011  ISBN 978-1-60705-196-1

You know me, always looking for ways to get organized. I've yet to actually manage it, but it's always fun to try. This book seemed to have promise, so I brought it home from the library and admired the cover for several days before actually opening it. After all, it's so much simpler to think about doing than to actually do!

The book is well laid out, has a logical progression from assessing your current set up, what you need to consider, how you can work with even the smallest of spaces without spending a tonne of money. There is no push for you to dash out and buy some shelving system, or structure. Instead, Woods recommends you think seriously about what you do in your studio, what you need in order to accomplish what you do and how you can go about making it all work.

It's well written, clearly thought through, and inspiring. I loved it! Perhaps the most instructive part for me, was the discussion on ideal heights for cutting and sewing. It turns out, that my sewing machine was about 5 inches below the optimum height for me. To figure out what you should have, she tells you to sit in your chair, feet flat on the floor then bend your arms 90 degrees at the elbow. Measure from the floor to your elbow, then add 5.5-7 inches to determine what height you need.

I did it, found out that my machine was too low, raised the machine and I do believe that it's making a difference! Of course, it's still early in the game, but, I'm hopeful.

She goes on to talk about ways of folding fabric, how to sort it onto shelves or bins, how to develop the most efficient traffic patterns, how to store thread. Again, rather than recommending a "system" she suggests rooting around in your home to find baskets, or jars or tins that might do the trick. After all, why spend money on storage, when you can spend that same money on fabric and thread?

This is a practical book, easy to read, filled with good ideas and is written by a quilter. She knows of what she writes!