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Storing larger pieces of fabric

Storing larger pieces of fabric

Old 02-24-2017, 08:57 AM
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Default Storing larger pieces of fabric

I've ended up with lots of quilting fabric, most of which was purchased at estate sales. Between my purchases online, at stores and the estate sale fabric, I probably have 200 yards of fabric. I also have a a couple of jelly rolls, some fat quarters, charm packs, I spy squares and quilt kits. Most of the fabric is yardage, however ( a good percentage between 3 and 5 yard pieces).

At present, I have most everything stored in plastic totes. Obviously, I don't have a clue what's in them. Most of the fabric was bought when I was working on my first quilt, so I didn't have a clue what I would need in the future. Fortunately, most of the yardage I chose at estate sales is a small scale print that could be used as a blender or is a bright primary colored fabric suitable for a child's quilt.

There's a conflict here. If I put it out where I can see it (on shelves, for instance), it will be subject to dirt, dust and fading. On the other hand, if I can't see it, I probably won't include it in the plans for my next quilt.

Then, there's the way to keep it and sort it. I just pulled out a tote to see what was in it and found a 6 yd X 12" strip of calico. Then, there was a blue calico fabric that consists of a 5 yd piece, a 1 1/2 yd piece and a 3/4 piece. I bought a ton of gingham a while back and just looked at one piece, which is a 2 yd piece folded around some large scraps. I probably have 15 or 20 yards of gingham in various sizes and colors. (So, do you sort by color or would you put all the calico together, all the gingham together and all the I spy (my favorite fabric) together. But then the dots and stripes don't get grouped.

As far as I can tell, none of the fabric from the estate sales has been washed. Lots of it is older and has that "super starched" feel. Washing and ironing 100+ yards of fabric sounds daunting, but you really need to know what you have before you put it in a quilt.

I've watched some youtube videos, but they usually have 1 yard pieces of fabric that they store. They don't seem to show what they do with the parts that don't fit, but are too big to go the the scraps box.

This is so daunting that I just stare and it don't do anything with it.

Any suggestions on getting this to a usable/findable situation would be appreciated.

bkay
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:07 AM
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First of all...yay for you! Lots of choices then!

But, even though daunting....I would wash what you have. Some materials just aren't "feeling good" in a quilt. But that is just my opinion. I wouldn't bother ironing until ready to use it, unless it comes out of the dryer exceptionally wrinkled.

Wash what you have. Buy foam boards (or get unused cardboard things from the quilt store or Joann's) and place them on the bolts. Get some heavy duty shelves and put them on there. If you are worried about dust, try a shower curtain on a rod to cover. Will help with sun-fading as well.

Personally, if I can't see the fabric I have....it's out of sight out of mind.

I would do it by color with the exception of holiday fabric. All my Christmas stuff stays in a group because I don't want surprise santas showing up in a quilt for the middle of summer just because it happen to have the right color red LOL

It WILL be a LOT of work. Do you have a quilting friend that could maybe come and help you? Have an organizing/folding party?

I'd help....but you'd have to have diet coke on hand
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:21 AM
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I store fabric in a metal cabinet/pantry with shelves and doors.......can see it readily and keeps dust etc. away.
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:25 AM
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I sort by size because I can see color and print but not size.
* greater than 5 yds goes on boards that jo anns and quilt shops throws out.
* between 1-5 yards, I wrap them on comic book archivial cards (about 8 x 11")
* less than 1 yard, I wrap them on fat qtr boards (cut down from comic book cards)
* strips & strings are sorted into 2 tubs: lights and darks (grocery bag brown is the dividing color line between lt&dk)
* scraps are cut and sorted into either 5" squares or 2.5" squares and sorted into "those already swapped", and those "waiting to be swapped". This organizes all my fabric and I find it most useful, and obviously, you can sort the fat qtr boards and the comic book boards into what you like:
color, fabric type (batiks, civil war, brights, solids etc), collection, etc.
I wash, test for bleeding, and starch as I use them before cutting to size. Hope this helps you. Work at it a little at a time, and eventually you will have easy access to all your fabric. Jane
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Old 02-24-2017, 09:33 AM
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I sort by some categories first: baby/child; Christmas; fall(includes Halloween) then do general fabric by color. Your gingham might be more useful sorted by color with other fabrics as you probably wouldn't be looking specifically for gingham so much as color and then find that the gingham will work in your project. I have some fabric in a glass door cabinet and was able to place it in the room so it never gets any sun light on it.
Having said all this, I must admit that right now my fabric is in great confusion and has been that way for quite awhile since we moved many months ago. The trick to organizing is slow but sure. Carve out some time every week to arrange and sort and eventually it will be done(at least I always hope so, lol).

By the way, I measure fabric as I sort and write the amount on a selvage with a fine point permanent marker(put paper behind selvage). If there is no noticeable selvage I pin a small paper to the edge of fabric with a brass pin(no rusting).

Last edited by selm; 02-24-2017 at 09:37 AM.
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Old 02-24-2017, 10:14 AM
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​I store all my yardage on mini bolts in a cupboard with doors. They are in colour groupings on the shelves.
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Old 02-24-2017, 10:20 AM
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I store yardage over hangers in the closet. I color group it to make it easier to find things. Smaller pieces are stored on shelves on the wall in plastic boxes. By being on the wall, it leaves me more floor space. The downside is that I do have to use a small step stool to reach the upper boxes. I color/theme sort those to make it easier to find what I need and all boxes are clearly marked using mailing labels and a sharpie. I also have the shelves away from the windows and light so there is no fading.

As far as washing goes, it might be best to wash it. You could do a load every time you wash regular clothes or whenever you have time. I wouldn't bother starching and ironing until you're ready to use it. When I buy new fabric, I usually don't wash it, but I do a lot of wearable art jackets that won't ever be washed so I'm not worried about shrinkage or fading
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Old 02-24-2017, 11:40 AM
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I think it's important to get rid of fabrics that don't feel good or are just not your style. I was gifted a friend's mom's stash. It contained lots of thin polyester blends from the 80's. Pretty colors, just not the quality I wanted today. If I were in your shoes. I would go thru one tote at a time. Look at each piece in the tote and determine if it is your style or not. Then organize by color or type. To me if I want a blue background I like to go to the blue tote. Larger pieces that are good for backs go to the bottom of my bins. I wouldn't worry about washing unless you think it's polyester and you want to check.
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Old 02-24-2017, 12:36 PM
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I store all my fabric, even yardage, in those plastic drawer units that Target and Walmart sell. I use comic book boards that I cut down so they fit in the drawer units. I have different drawers for different lengths. So one drawer holds anything over two yards, including backing fabric. One drawer holds cuts that are between 1 and 2 yards, another drawer holds scraps that are larger than a fat quarter and another drawer holds fat quarters. All are wrapped around comic book boards that I cut down to fit into the units and are stored on end with the folded side up with a label showing size pinned on. these are arranged from dark to light in the drawers. These are great because I can pull a drawer out and take it to my cutting table when I want to audition a bunch of different fabrics. That means that any that don't get used get put back in the proper drawer immediately which helps keep the clutter down (a little LOL). The drawers keep dust off and fit under my work tables in my sewing area which is great since I don't have wall space to put up shelves.

Rob
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Old 02-24-2017, 02:55 PM
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My fabric is on boards made out of corrigated plastic or foam board purchased at Dollar Tree then cut down to size. I don't wash my fabrics. I am always on the lookout for Lawyers Cabinets (they have glass fronts) and currently have 4 big ones that hold my bigger fabrics, 2 small and 1 med one that hold my FQ's. I sort my fabrics by type, w/w, creams, pinks etc. EXCEPT for kids, holidays, special like CW or 30's. Confused yet???
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