I see all of the wonderful shots of peoples stashes. All nice and neat. How are you folding your fatquaters and other lenghts to get them to nice and neat?

Also when you buy fat quarters are you prewashing them?

Thanks!

G

I don't usually buy fat quarters. I used to wash all fabric, but now I don't. I have all my fabric folded into 4ths lengthwise and then folded up to fit into my pattern cabinet drawers.

I don't wash mine. The fat quarters are folded like they come from the store. Other fabric- try to keep like colors together folded neatly in squares.

I wash mine in a mesh bag then fold in half twice then thirds in the other direction so they fit in the dollar store baskets that I use to hold them.
I have nine baskets full so far and need to get to Dollartree to get more.
They are clear plastic with handles and they come in different colors so you can color coordinate with the fabrics. Of course there is not enough colors of baskets but it works for the basics. Since you can see thru them the fabric is easy to see.

I do w

Sorry - hit the wrong key, try again...!

I do wash mine and fold them in thirds both ways then I have them in colours propped up on their ends in baskets, so I can see everything at a glance.

k x

Here is the way to get perfect neat folds in yardage. It's amazing how much space you'll save no matter if you use bins, shelves or drawers for your fabric.

Look at the folded fabric here:

http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?cat=20

then go here to get the instructions.

http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?p=124

That is a great link and it works for me.

Thank you BellaBoo!


Currently my left overs are just folded sort of and placed in is storage bind. I would love for it to be neat enough to see what is in there.

Another question for you fabriholics.

I tend to round up and buy at least an extra half yard and if I realy like it more.
Do you leave the left overs intact or cut it down into fat quarters?

Thanks everyone and thank you Bellaboo!

G

I usually buy one yard of fabric unless it's a good sale and then I buy 2 yards if I really like it. I usually cut my fabric in 1/2 yard cuts and store it that way. Then if I need a fat quarter I can cut a fat quarter from that and have a fat quarter left already to fold and store. When I buy fabric to use for backing I buy only what's on sale that matches the quilt top. I don't like spending that much money for that many yards of the same fabric. :?

This is the way I fold mine and it is fantastic. I am about 1/3 thru 2000+ yards and it is condensing very nicely.

Linda D

I didn't mean 1/2 yard cuts as normal. I cut down the middle of the fabric fold line giving one selvage edge per piece. This way I get true fat quarter cuts.

Wow Linda, am I reading you right? You have 2000 yards of fabric?! :shock:

Can I come stay? :D

K x

I wash mine and the unwashed never gets close to the others until it's washed. I buy the really large plastic storage totes and fold an place in them by either color range, theme, flannel, floral, etc... then I know which one to pull out when I want a certain palette of colors. I have about 15 of those babies stored under my sewing and cutting tables.
I have two 6 foot table I bought from Costco that I use.

Very seldom do I purchase FQ's. Seems like everytime I want to make something a FQ isn't enough fabric.

2000 YARDS??? :shock:

my mountain suddenly looks like a molehill. :lol: :lol: :lol:

i use a method similar to the one described at the link BellaBoo shared with us. the only differences are that:

1. i fold in in half again lengthwise so i'm rolling up 11" or so widths onto my ruler. that can be a major hassle if i'm working with lots of yardage, but it's worth it to me in the end because my folded fabs then fit perfectly into my clearish plastic drawers.

2. i use an 8.5" ruler. (a piece of the cardboard that comes in sheet sets works well, too.)

Yes I sell scraps4less lol. Going to cut fq's to fill orders for morning. $60 for 100 and that includes priorty shipping.

Went to a couple of fabric auctions and made a sweet deal.

Linda

The easiest way for me was to get a core from an empty bolt (fabric shops, even Joann, are usually very happy to give them to you), cover it with a very slippery fabric (doesn't have to be neat, just wrap and staple). Then, I just roll the fabric onto the bolt core, slide the core out and fold the fabric once.

I don't have a pic of my current stash, but I've been doing this for a long time and you can see a pic of my older, much smaller!, stash in the sewing room webshots album. I'm still using the white wire cubbies, from Target. You can just add cubes as needed.

Don't wash mine til I use it. I leave the fat quarters folded like in the store.