Comic Boards
 

Hi Ladies and gents. I'm new to the board and am enjoying seeing how everyone organizes their stashes. Needless to say, I have lots of fabric to organize.:D The comic boards interest me as a means of standardizing my fabric storage. Most of my fabrics are 3-5 yard pieces. (long story probable the same or similar to that of everyone else with large pieces :D:D). My question is -- how much yardage can I reasonably put on a comic board without it turning into a donut or an orb? Thank you so much (in advance) for any help you can give me. This is a great forum; I'm so glad to have found it. Joyce and her pack of beagles

Hi, and welcome! I just wrapped 3 yards of fabric on a comic board, and it didn't bend or warp. I think the boards are sturdy enough to hold 5 yards easily. The main thing is to not pull fabric tightly around the board. I've been really happy with the results using the boards. I got mine from Amazon for about $13 for 100, well worth it!

Joyce, I use Polar notions, they are VERY STURDY, and I can get 5 or more yards on each one

Nice to know. Everyone has so much information to share!!

I have done up to 5 yards with success. Have fun with your organization. I do wish that I had labeled each one with the exact yardage as I wrapped.

great tip!!!

I have cut the cardboard that fabric comes on to the Joann's store. they give them away free so they don't have to haul out to the dumpster. I cut each one into 4 sections same size and some have 10 yds on and they stand up so nice. I can pull one out and not worry about the others falling down either. Best of all they are Free. I have a whole cupboard setup this way so far and some in totes that I need to get another cabinet that opens with 2 large doors. I want to put them on casters so that I can move them if necessary. Will do that this summer when DD # 4 is home on vacation. She is the only one who helps and doesn't tell me I should start getting rid of my stash, so they don't have too. I don't plan on dying soon and hope to be around after I retire in a couple of years. Would retire now and take disability, but I need the health ins benefits I get from work.

I recently spent three months wrapping my stash around comic boards. For those longer lengths (4 or more yds) I bought some foam core boards from U-Line. There are two benefits from buying some of the stronger boards. One, you can wrap those longer lengths, and two, the stronger boards when filled act as braces when you store your fabric on shelves like books. These two ideas have made knowing what I have and shopping in my stash pleasurable and not frustrating. I highly recommend this idea and yes, I found out about it from this board!

I love using the comic boards. I have a max of about 4 yds on a board but as I read here I see that I could go up to 5 on a board. Usually if I buy 5 or more it is used right away for some reason. I guess for my stash I don't usually buy in larger quantities. Using the boards has made a real difference for me in my sewing room. I love walking up to the shelves and selecting instead of rummaging through tons of stuff.

I use the boards and 5 yards should be fine.

I was lucky enough to find a comic book store 20 minutes away and he gave me a really good price - $30/300. I'm a happy camper....um quilter!
And no, it wasn't enough. I have to go back for more.....

If you do decide to use the foam board for some of your larger pieces, you can buy it at the $ stores & cut yourself. I use a rotary cutter & use an old blade that is no longer sharp enough for fabric. Works really well. You will have fun rediscovering what you have.

Thanks for posting this thread. I have been wondering what to use and where to get them. Love this board.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really need to do this also!

What size board do you use..I noticed that there are different sizes..

I have 6 yards on one board. 3 pieces but still 6 yards. I found that the board stabilizes the fabric. It's not going anywhere. All the fabric around each other helps to hold it up. I my boards at the comic book shop for $9.95/100. The mgr. says a lot of quilters pick them up. I have some upholstery fabrics and I use the cardboard rolls from the foil for grilling and adhesive back for freezer wrap.

Thank you everyone for all of your great information and ideas. I'm hoping to get organized enough to easily see what I have. 5 yds isn't too much of an investment until I find a second (or third) 5yd piece. At least I know I must really like that fabric. Now for the UFOs.

After wrapping more than 1000 pieces of fabric on comic book boards, I can say that I have done 5+ yards, but not 6. I'm still wrapping and still putting stuff back into the room. I LOVE the comic boards. The fabric is so neat and I can see all of it! I kind of feel like King Midas, "Fabric, fabric, and it's all mine!" LOL

I have been organizing my fabric on the comic book boards and it is making a big difference (although I am returning the fabric to plastic containers until I purchase cabinets). The idea came from this Board! I just put 6 yards on one and it worked great. I do hope to get my sewing area organized by the end of summer ... we will see!! The c.b. boards are a great way to organize the fabric so you can see what you have.

I've done the same and it works for me, too. I can now see what I have.

I have done 5 yds easily - decided that my bigger pieces would be used mostly for backs so I have those just folded.

We are measuring ours as we wrap - I punched a hole near the corner and got merchandise tags (I think that is what they are called little squares with string through them) and put the yardage on it in pencil so we can change it as we use.

I have started wrapping my fabric onto the boards. I have 10 18 gallon tubs stuffed full. My husband & oldest son are making me bookcases for my fabric. Big job but am excited to be able to actually see my fabric.
I buy my boards from M.I. Late who is a member of this quilting forum. Great service and nice looking boards.

Chris

What are comic boards?

My DH has torn the old porch off the house now and is in the process of cleaning up the mess he made. I am hoping that I can get a cement foundation poured here in the near future and then we can start building my addition. DH says that 12 X 26 should be big enough for me. I have a nice new roll of carpet that I bought for the house--not used that will go for 22 ft. Can get a small piece of lino for the entry door from the outside if needed. I have a door and we have a Menards and Lowes in Minot where we can get the door/jamb that I want and the two windows. Have plenty of shop lights (flourescent kind) to hang in the ceiling.
Comic boards are what comics are packed in. You can go to Joanns and get the cardboard they throw away and cut your own. They are FREE.