Congratulation everyone. Today, we are officially halfway through the challenge. I know that we have made many trips to the recycling and garbage and probably have a nice pile of stuff ready to donate.
Today’s challenge is about your cutting and ironing stations. And the question is still:
Do I use this item HERE?
At our cutting station, we have already covered rotary cutters on Day 8. So today, it’s about cutting mats and rulers. Our cutting mats deteriorate with use. No matter how great your technique, the more you cut, the more permanent the grooves. So it’s time to take a good look at them. If you have deep gouges, you might be able to last a bit longer by marking them and cutting in a different section, but put on your brain dump to grab another when you find it on sale.
And How many do you have? How many do you need? Do they have the markings that you use? Storage is a big consideration for cutting mats as they need to lie or stand flat plus not be near any heat source. I have made a video about cutting mats and how to care for them. Check it out here.
We need our rulers for accurate cutting. But we can quickly accumulate way more than our space can handle. And because of the variety of shapes and sizes, you might need them stored in several different spaces.
If you have been sewing for more than 5 years, you have probably tested out your fair share of rulers and the various brands. And, most likely, the ones that you started with are not the same that you are using now. Because our hands are different shapes and strengths, we might also differ in our selection of favourites.
No matter which ones you have, it is critical that they remain in good shape as our accuracy in our piecing depends on them. So take a look at your rulers and ask yourself:
Are these broken or damaged?
Are numbers and increments still legible?
Are the corners still sharp enough to use?
You might also have duplicates. For example, I found I had a duplicate 9” ruler which I transferred to my travel kit. I also found I had an 8” and 2 ½” version of the same triangle ruler. Since neither are used very often, I’ll donate one.
And then there are the specialty rulers. Many of them are from workshops. Most are unique shapes and sometimes more of a template than ruler. Take a deep breath and add the ones you'll never use again to the donation pile.
And there are quilting rulers. I have moved mine to the studio where my long arm is. Even though I have only had my longarm for 4 years, I can see that there are some I might never use again.
And there are other types of rulers like measuring tapes and steel edged rulers. Last year, I decluttered some dressmaking ones and several that I used to make maps back in my university days.
Now let’s take a look at your ironing station. I don’t know why, but many quilters hang on to their iron long after they have moved on to another brand. Let the old one go. If you have ones that leak, watch my video on leaking irons. If those tips don’t work, let it go.
How many wool mats do you have? Lastly, look around at those ironing accessories. The starch, the hams, the lint removers and clappers. Based on the type of sewing you do, which ones do you actually need?
This was an easy day for me as i am ruthless during the year to keep these two areas clutter free. Which was nice since I found yesterday exhausting.
So what did you find today? We are halfway done and already your spaces are looking great. Don’t forget to share your photos online, in the Facebook Group and on Instagram. #declutterchallenge2025
Take care and I will see you tomorrow for Day 12.