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How do you store your fabric?

suellen_delawares

16 years ago

I got some great suggestions when I asked about storing patterns and that is why I am now asking about storing fabric.

I store my fabric in a couple of these:

{{!gwi}}

and have the fabric sorted by color. Because it has wheels I can take it any where.

Suellen

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Comments (11)

damascusannie
16 years ago
I store my small yardages (anything under 2 yards) in sweater boxes. I fold the fabric so that it will fit in the box index-card fashion and then "file" them in the correct color or theme box. This way I can see what I have at a glance and easily pull the fabric I wish to use without having to dig through a whole pile. Large yardages are either stored on the bolt (backings) or in copier paper boxes, but again folded and "filed" for easy access.

Annie
suellen_delawares
Original Author
16 years ago
I also fold my fabric so that it fits in the drawers like index cards. I can see all my fabric at once without digging. Suellen
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I don't want to hijack Elizabeth's thread, but I am going through the same, only have a much worse problem. My projects get really big, and I realize that in the past the boxes or baskets I have used haven't been deep enough. I was a The Old Time Pottery last weekend, - they've got a number of stores in Atlanta and I don't know if they are elsewhere. They were selling "lingerie chests" with drawers that are about the size needed for 8.5 x 11 papers, or folded legal size paper. So I bought the only 2 they had (one was their floor sample, already assembled!) and have started sticking projects in that. I have already realized I'll probably need paperweights to keep the larger piles from getting out of control and sticking so the drawers can't open. The chest is about 45" high, and the drawers look square - I would say about 14" x 14". I am planning on using these drawers and maybe if I need them some boxes. I've tried baskets before, and realize that one reason they don't work for me is that they are so heavily textured that the papers get caught by the woven strips, or it's uncomfortable for me to stick my hands in. So far, I've scoooped up the project piles on my morning room table, which serves as a desk. As long as the drawers remain easy to open (i.e., good, lasting construction of cheap furniture, as well as controlling the piles by dividing into sub-projects, if needed), this might work for me.
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mrseldoo
16 years ago
What a great idea to "file" fabric! I will be using this tip:)
mary_c_gw
16 years ago
Mine is in roll-around carts, too. Filed, eh, not so much, LOL. I have five roll-arounds with three drawers each. Three of these are devoted to fabrics. Two drawers are for scraps only, and they aren't sorted in any way at all. The other drawers have folded fabric, but not always sorted.

The other two units are for other sewing stuff - upholstery weight threads, embroidery stabilizers and hoops, specialty rulers, tools specific to the long-arm machine.
calliope
16 years ago
OMGosh. I have so much fabric I need dumpsters with wheels. I buy the biggest plastic see-through containers you can get and have them stacked four high in several rows. rofl. I was into sewing before quilting and also make rugs. That means I have been collecting major yardages for decades. Each large bin is labeled with things like cotton/wool/lightweight/etc.
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
Sueellen,my fat quarters would fill that up.LOL

I store mine in the closet,2 closets as a matter of fact.

My DS several years ago put floor to almost the ceiling shelves in the master bedroom closet.The room is my sewing room and i moved the MBR to another room I also have one of those unpainted double closets that you can get at home depot,full as well.I've sewn for over 50 years and spent 10 years working in a quilt/craft store..I've been thinning it out lately selling and giving it away.
Kathi
svanessa
16 years ago
I store mine in a 40' cargo container in 15-gal bins...2 or 3 bins for each color or type of fabric (hand-dyed, etc.). Yes, I know, I'm a fabricoholic.
Sue
cannahavana
16 years ago
Anywhere I can find a spot! I am seriously considering the pantry on the shelf that I keep the snack foods. You know, replace the snack foods with fabric, yeah, that will help me loose weight! Or maybe the fridge...
nanajayne
16 years ago
I try to keep mine (mostly 1/4 & 1/2yrs) in 16x11/6" boxes by color, holidays, type(gold/slver,strips,plaids,dots, etc), hand dyed, period, solids, flannel,etc,etc. I store most of it stacked 3 high on industral shelves. I fold and file like index cards. On the bottom shelf I keep a laundry basket with my batts and covered shoeboxes with scraps cut to useable size sqs. Unfortunately I also have too many, some folded and others just in baskets on my cutting table. I am ashamed of my stash but like the boxes to store as they are easy to see and access. I lable with index cards facing out. Jayne
suellen_delawares
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't know about anyone else but I'm getting some really good ideas. I am also glad to know that there are other people out there with more fabric than they could probably use in their life time. LOL

Suellen
mayme
16 years ago
I have book shelves in the closet stacked with fabric.
Most of it is color sorted. I have some in totes, some in trunks, and more in the wire pull out baskets.I'm trying to stash bust.
Mayme

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