in regards to storing fabrics in or on shelves, clear containers out and about in a room where they are exposed to light on a daily basis..
doesn't accumulated light fade the edges exposed to the light so much ??

Yes it does cause fading. The sunlight doesn't get on my fabrics unless they are on my machine desk.

Yes, light will fade fabrics quickly. I keep mine in a closet on shelves and in totes. I never open the window blinds unless the closet doors doors are closed.

I believe I've heard the same thing. I think in plastic containers the fabric would have more protection. However, on a shelve even in indirect light I was told the fabric would fade. All my fabric is kept in oak cabinets. Most of the fabric stores here have tinted windows to keep out the light.

I use the colored plastic totes. Black or dark blue.

All my fabrics on on shelves and no direct sunlight.I have one window and there and I sit in front of it so I can look at while I sew. Since you go to Joann's so much, ROFL, you could use the 40% coupons on the colored plastic containers, I love them for projects too. ♥

I also keep mine in a closet with the door closed. I've seen the damage the sun can do to furniture, draperies, rugs, etc. and I now protect all my things as much as possible. (Although I'd really, really like to have a day full of sunshine about right now!)

mine are all behind sealed units; but I see so many pics posted where you know they are in the light exposure all the time.

Iam always concerned , even the manmade light will fade fabrics. I put sheets over my open shelves.... but its a bit of a pain ... but I think worth it.

I once bought a pack of fat quarters that had been near the window in a quilt shop. The edges were all faded and they couldn't be used. The shop happily exchanged them and didn't put fabric there anymore.

i'm always so surprised when people let their fabric get exposed to the sun - we all know how much money goes into our stash - why on earth would you do that.

i have a walk in closet that is floor to ceiling shelves and i keep everything in the closet.

even my design wall is behind curtains so that my WIP doesn't get exposed to the sun. i open the curtains when i'm working and close them when i'm done for the day.

Just keep it out of direct sunlight, and it will be fine. Incandescent light does a slight amount, but not nearly as much as sunlight.

Fabric can even air fade, I had a friend who had no sunlight or even light bulbs in her fabric storage area and many fabrics, especially dark bkues, blacks, greens faded where the folds were exposed to the air.

If any of you have low E windows that helps a great deal if things are left out. I know my sofa and drapes don't have nay fade marks on them since we got our new window.

I have two windows in my room, but no sunlight. Haven't had a problem yet, but will keep an eye on it. We do live in the woods on a lake.

My fabrics are all stored in frosted clear boxes out of direct sunlight, but in an open studio with windows on two sides. In more than 15 years like that, I have noticed no color fading whatsoever even of the deepest colors.

Once the fabrics are put into quilts, they will not be kept hidden away in dark closets, so I'm just not going to worry about it. Storing them on wooden shevles does far more damage than in clear boxes.

I put sheets over my shelves. I have blinds on the window and I'm planning on making curtains for the window too. I don't really have much light getting there anyway, but it makes me feel better.

THIS IS VERY TRUE...
I had items stored in cases in a storage place for several years; unopened and when I finally got to the stuff there was fading on all the clothing and linens stored there.

Mine are on open bookshelves, but there's only one window facing north and huge pines trees out the window to help. No fabrics--except a quilt hanging on the wall--are near that window. I had the fabrics covered in the other room--facing south and the fabrics directly in the way, but it's too much fun to be able to see them now. I don't want to hide them. The only fabrics I've ever found fad marks on were in a closet where no light got in. Strange.

I've actually seen pics posted on here that were taken with the sun streaming on the fabrics...makes me cringe.

Me too.

Fluorescent lighting is just as bad as sunlight for fading dyes. I really need to make some kind of covers for my plastic bins to keep the light off of them.

I've never stored fabric in sunlight, but I opened up a yard of fabric the other day to turn into bias binding and the top layer was bleached out, in exactly the right area to make the whole piece unusable for the binding. :(

So many of us are using compact fluorescent bulbs, these days - and they're really terrible on art and textiles.

I store mine in closed baskets or in plastic tubs. I have heard the plastic can hurt fabrics over time, but I know some of it has been in there for YEARS waiting to be used and still looks crisp.

can you just get a flat dark sheet and place over the boxes ?

I feel the same way. I just have to walk into my sewing room and see the beautiful stacks of fabric...and I am happy. My creativity just insists on seeing all these projects-in-waiting, along with my bulletin board covered in ideas, photos, etc... It is my happy place!! Most of my fabric is stored away in bins but I have "artfully" placed some fabric in amongst my favorite books, childrens and pets photos, favorite greeting cards from loved ones, that I can't bear to throw out. I also have to have light in my house, the first thing I do in the morning is open all blinds in the house. If I ever build a house, it will have more windows than walls!! One can dream! A faded line in a piece of fabric wouldn't keep me from using a favorite fabric, I would cut that line out and find a pattern to fit it!

Is 'fade' the cause of the light streak down the fold line of fabrics? Sometimes I think I carry it home from the fabric store with this light line. Of course, I never notice it in the store.

I have my fabric stored in open shelving, some near windows, some in clear plastic containers .... but sewing every day doesn't allow much stash
accumulation.

yes it is..
check your fabric when getting home and return if faded.

Well, speaking for myself, I have neither the space nor money for big tubs to hold my stash, so it is on open shelves. I have put curtains on both of the windows in my sewing area and keep them drawn (and the fading of the fabric of the curtains is enough to scare me) but it's just not an option to not let them get exposed to sun. Although I might think about putting a sheet or something over the shelves, I hadn't thought of that.

mine are on shelves but curtain is always shut.I have not had a problem yet.I have had small quilts in rooms where sun hit a lot and they faded after about 5 yrs of daily exposure.gave me a reason to make more,lol

I've heard that the low e helps alot in windows. I don't really know from experience. I have alot of my fabric out in shelves right now....they have always been in bins and I am putting curtains up tomorrow or the next to keep the light out.

Sometimes this line can be caused washing fabric without unfolding it. If it wasn't there before and appeared after washing and drying, that might be it.

I have mine in dark green totes so the only time they get exposed to sunlight is when I'm playing with them.

Yes, they will fade and weaken the fibers at the fold lines. That is why I refold mine every few months. Mine is in closets with bifold doors. And some is stored in metal filing cabinets. Am trying to use up a lot of the older stuff. I only have scraps in plastic bins, on the darker side of my basement. Cotton needs to breathe and shouldn't be in airtight plastic bags or tight lidded plastic containers.

Mine are on shelves, but then I made a cover that covers the shelves. After I read on here that light fades the fabric. Couldn't afford to change the way I stored my fabric. I remember that my gm had her fabric covered, didn't know why she cover them, now I know why

I keep mine in a closet on shelves out in the garage. Nice and dark in there.

I'm certainly guilty of that! I will be sure to unfold the fabric from now on. Thanks

Well, a voice from the other side. I just checked fabrics in my stash, on open shelves, in my utility room. One window with no blinds or curtain, however, there is a carport on that side of the house. I pulled a piece of fabric that I know I have had for at least 6 years and I don't know how long my Mom had it.

There is no fading along the fold line.

I don't have an explanation for this and just don't worry about it.

i keep my fabric in a big antique Pennsylvania Dutch blanket chest which is very deep and holds a great big stash for me.

Steam ironing can cause some damage to the fibers and fade the fabric. Also make sure that the fabric is dry after you use any water or steam on it before you put the fabric back into your totes. I always toss the fabric in the dryer for 5 minutes before putting my fabric back in the totes.