organizing fabric, help please
 

I have looked at most of the post on this subject and seen a lot use the comic book boards, also I seen some use the cardboard that the fabric comes on from the store.
I was wondering how many yards the comic book boards will hold?

My sister works at JoannAnn's and I'm sure she could get me the cardboard from the fabric bolts, Which do you think would be better?

Most of my fabric is 3 yards and up, I do have some that is smaller too, but most is larger

I'm one of the people that if I see a pretty fabric I like without any plans for it I buy the hold bolt or at least 5 yards of it. I always think that I will find something to make out of it and not have enough fabric, thats why I buy so much, I think it is a sickness...LOL

anyway just wondering which way would be best to go with.. I really have to do something as I'm starting to go into the spare bedroom closet with my fabric as the sewing room closet is full.. I don't want hubby to see how much I really have. I think it would be great to be able to see all of it so I don't go out and buy more when I have the fabric but can't find it..LOL...Thanks for your input on this....

Hi-I get my empty cardboards from Joann's-they are HAPPY to get rid of them! I have my fabrics of over a yard all on those bolts now. The fabrics I have purchased in the last few months to make purses (and several from my stash) are all on those bolts now, and in front of my sewing table on a rack, standing on end like in the fabric shops, and I can see them clearly. It keeps them from having those fold lines that are hard to get out if the fabric is folded for a long time before using, and so convenient when you just want to cut off a piece without having to un-fold the whole piece. Go for it-and it's free!!

My personal feeling is that the big cardboard bolts from the fabric store take up too much room. Some people say that they're not acid free, not meant to hold fabric for a long period of time. I just fold my fabric around a 8.5"x24" ruler. It's nice and neat and doesn't take up any extra room that way. However it won't stand on end, so if that's what you want try the comic book boards. They come in a couple of different sizes and will easily hold 3 yards or more.

I find the comic book ones good for up to about 3 yards. For more than that, I have used one on each end and folded up towards the middle. They get full though and it's not as easy to cut a piece off. But generally I don't buy more than a yard or two of any one fabric unless I expect to use it as a backing for a specific quilt.

I like the comic book size. It fits well on a bookshelf. And I love sorting mine by color. And it is very easy to see what I have! The fabric bolts from a fabric store would be too big for me though. But if you have a large amount of big pieces, maybe you could do some of each?

I'm going to try the comic book boards. I only use the bolt boards for 5.5 yards or more. It indicates to me that it is enough for a backing for at least a twin quilt. Otherwise, the bolt boards do take up too much space.

All my fabric is 4" ruler folded, then put into drawers according to background color, and I can see at a glance all the fabrics without scrounging through the drawers. This way there's no sun damage and if I'm looking for a particular background color, I know exactly what drawer to look.

I use the comic boards and love them, my fabric looks nice and neat sitting all together on my table.

I use the "bolt boards", cut in half and put fabrics 1 yd or more on them. I cut anything less than 1 yd into FQ's or strips and separate the strips by width. Smaller scraps get put into a bin to be used for applique etc. Check out Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville website, she has great ideas. I patterned my sewing room using her ideas and it is so nice to be organized.

~ Fqs are folded and left in sqs sorted buy color
~ half yards to 2 yards is ruler folded and sorted by theme (1930, Civil war, asian, kids & Novelty, by colors etc, )
~ 3+ yards I use the bolt boards- they are free-and I can see at a glance What I have..

I use the comic boards for up to two yards. Much more weight and the boards can't support it unless you use two. Anything over 2 yards I fold selvage to selvage and wrap it around my 6x24 ruler, then remove ruler and fold in half. That tells me how much I have and it's easy to store and see. I have a note on that shelf that tells me how many folds equal 4 yards, so I can tell how much I have without unfolding the entire piece.