RugosaB

I took advantage of the 'Mirage' fabric that Connecting Threads had on sale, and bought 48 different 1 yd pieces
I had bought a bit of that fabric before, liked it, and wanted to have samples here at home to use. I didn't 'need' them, and I had no immediate plans for them. Then, as I was waiting for them to arrive, I thought, oh no, how am I going to ID them when they come and when I store them?
I don't remember them coming this way before, which may just be my remembering problem, they may do all fabrics like this, but each piece came with a sticker attached, with it's name/number.
So, I cut a 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch piece of each fabric and folded the ID sticker around it. That way, as I use one and find I need more, at least I can identify it.

(I have a son that just got out of the Navy, who was in the nuclear propulsion dept. He really thinks things through, and organizes, and really pays attention to detail, we always call it as 'nuking something.' I think I nuked fabric organization!)

Tartan

Super idea! Now you will know the name of the fabric you are searching for and cannot find.

jeank

You are so clever.

MamaHen

I would also get myself a small notebook of some sort and glue those pieces to pages, that way they won't get lost and are easy to see. I do that with most of my fabric swatches. Great quick reference, specially when I need to go get matching fabric, just take the swatch book with me.

Veronica

Yes, indeed you did nuke fabric organization.

RugosaB

I'm glad you agree! (especially since I'm a Veronica too!)

I like the book idea, beats my 'stuff in a plastic bag' idea

angeltod

I did something similar - except taped my swatch to an index card having the swatch go over the top edge (taped on back) to better compare different fabrics. Using my printer used the postcard setting creating a grid I whipped up and mark where I got it from, how much it cost, where stored, how many pieces, plus length. Sounds complicated but was super easy and visually easy to see/read. I file in 2 index card boxes - one box is by color, 2nd is for my 1/8th inch and below blenders, child fabrics, and non-cotton fabrics.

RugosaB

That does sound like a good system. So good, I expected you to end the post with "I was in the Navy too"

sewbeadit

Great idea, wow if I could only do that.

QuiltE

Or get the multi pocket plastic pages for ring binders that you use to hold business cards, or coins or stamps (whatever size fits) and just slide the fabric swatches in.

They'll be nicely protected and easily seen.