Follow these easy steps to first organize your patterns and fabric and then easily assemble projects that you can take with you anywhere.

Begin by setting up your ScrapRack in an accessible area of your quilting room. You will want to be able to flip through the rack, remove spinders, and add and remove patterns, fabrics, and projects.

Setting up TheScrapRack for Quilting
Consider using the 4 Section System style of organization - Themes and Calendar Year for patterns, Rainbow for fabric.

Step 1 – Storing your Quilting Patterns
Use one or more Spinders™ to store all of your Quilting Patterns. Simply slip them into a storage page of appropriate size, “8 ½ by 11” or the larger 12’X12” size for big patterns. We like the SideLoader Singles because of the ease of access. Use the 4 Section Themes and Calendar year for your patterns.

Add your saved magazine ideas or scribbled notes that you made in a class or talking to your quilting friends.

Step 2 – Sorting your Fat Quarters and Pre-Cut Squares
If you buy fabric in Fat Quarters (of course you do) or pre-cut squares, or shapes use our SuperSized Single Pocket Page, Double X-L Pocket Page, or Fabulous Four Pocket Pages to sort and store your fabric by color or style. We love the Fabulous Four for fat quarters, and then add other storage pages for different sizes and shapes. Use the 4 Section Rainbow for fabric.

When you buy large pieces of fabric, cut a small sample(s), label it with information about how much you bought or have left in your stash, where it is stored, and why you bought it if it is for a particular idea. Then add the sample(s) to your ScrapRack in the appropriate color or theme section.

Yes, it is okay to have fabric in both your Rainbow and Themes/Calendar Year sections. Or put a sample of a particular fabric in both (EX: Cute bluebirds on a yellow background might be in Spring, Birds and Animals, and in Blue and Yellow.) You usually know where to place the fabric by what you see when you look at it - do you see yellow or blue in the example?

You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to use your stash when you can flip through your collection. Remember you rack can hold 7 full spinders and you can add additional wingless racks to have as many spinders as you need. Just imagine how fun it will be to have a "book" of all your quilting patterns, ideas, and fabrics right at your fingertips!

Assembling A Project

One of the great things about quilting by hand is that you can work on it anywhere you have decent light. Prepare your projects for easy travel, by keeping a ScrapRack TravelPack Plus™ packed and ready to go.

Here’s How to get a project started:

• Choose a pattern, put it into a storage page and put the page onto a Spinder.

• Choose the fabric you will use from what you have in your “stash” at home. Place it in storage pages.
  
  
• Check your thread and add coordinating thread to your TravelPack Plus™.
  
  
• Take the TravelPack with you when you go to the fabric store to purchase the remainder of your supplies (extra fabric, thread, embellishments, etc.).
  
  
• When you get home from shopping, place any fabric you bought “just because” into the storage pages on your rack. Keep the fabric for this project out and get ready to work on your project.

Get your TravelPack Plus ready for work. It’s perfect for on the go quilting or classes or just to carry from room to room.

1. Gather together all the tools you need and put them into your TravelPack Plus™.
   
   
   • Scissors
   • Thimbles
   • Rulers
   • Roller Cutter
   • Measuring Tape
   • Plastic Templates
   • Invisible Marker
   • Small Cutting Pad
   • 14” Lap Quilting Loop - or smaller
   • Pins – Use a flat “business card style” magnet to keep your pins contained.
   • Pre-thread your needles and store them on a magnet as well.
   • Glasses
   • Magnifier
   • Mini-Iron
   • Anything else you need
2. Wash and press the fabric.
3. Cut your pieces.
4. Gather the pieces for each square, assemble the squares in the order you want to piece them.
5. Put the fabric in the appropriate size storage pages - one or more squares can be stored in each page.
6. Put the storage pages onto the Spinder and put the Spinder into your TravelPack Plus™.

1. If you like to “Quilt as you Go” be sure to include backing and batting in your Travelpack Plus™.
2. Store completed squares in the 12x12 pocket pages to keep them clean and flat.
   
   
3. If you have some squares that need a bit of finish work, include a note in the pocket page with the square so you’ll remember what needs to be done before assembly.
4. When you are ready to “layout” your quilt for assembly, leave the completed squares in the pocket pages. This will keep them free of carpet lint, dirt, and pet hair while you have them laid out on the floor.
5. As you finalize our quilt layout, number the pocket pages with a permanent marker or by simply slipping a numbered scrap of paper into the pocket page with your completed square.
6. Keep a small note pad and pen in your TravelPack. If you run out of something, you can jot down a quick note that you’ll be sure to have with you the next time you’re in the fabric store.
7. While youare working, you can use the TravelPack Plus as a “lapdesk/pin cushion.”
8. For airline travel, be sure you have only round tipped scissors in you TravelPack Plus™.