Storing fabric
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 174
That's a tough one, but as mentioned above I would definitely avoid cardboard. Ideally fabrics are able to "breathe" but it sounds like the best bet is plastic totes. Sterilite ones should be archival safe: http://www.sterilite.com/general_info.html, http://takecareofyourstuff.blogspot....ival-from.html, nd this link in particular has some good info about storage and general preparation: http://www.preservesmart.com/baby_cl...eservation.htm
I use Sterilite drawers from Target to store my vintage and antique fabrics. I have stayed with white and clear colors though in case because to me the less extra ingredients (i.e. dyes) the better.
I use Sterilite drawers from Target to store my vintage and antique fabrics. I have stayed with white and clear colors though in case because to me the less extra ingredients (i.e. dyes) the better.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Central Missouri
Posts: 715
Our guild stores donated fabric in plastic bins in a non-heated, non-AC unit and they are fine. We do put a new dryer sheet in each container, but the silicone packets would be great too.
Linda in MO
Linda in MO
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,491
I would not use plastic totes!! My sister had her things in outside storage for 18 months, no A/C, no heat. The plastic totes were stacked several high and they "melted" in that the sides warped and pushed down due to what we think was the extreme heat...When we moved her it was below zero out, and the totes were shattering due to the cold! This was in Minnesota...
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
We live in wet Washington State and I have no trouble storing any of my fabrics in a storage unit all year around, no air conditioning, but we don't get hot for long here and then it is heated to 50 degrees in the winter and my fabrics are A okay. I don't store in cardboard or plastic bags because the cardboard in the damp does draw moisture, which doesn't mean it will ruin it necessarily but may make in smell awful. The big totes have some air getting to it too. Just my thoughts on in. I think plastic bags in the heat will get ruined themselves after very long in that hot of weather.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Make yourself some of these little sachets and place 2-3 in every container you use for storage. I've done this for 20 years and do not have musty odors/bugs in my fabric or packed away quilts/tops/projects. I even used to stick them among the fabric stacks in my shop years ago.
You can buy the little muslin tea bags - which are about 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches - or you can make them by the dozens in cheap muslin. It's like tiny a pillowcase but with the top edge folded and sewn to make a small channel thru which you can run some thin cotton string to tie the top edge closed.
I fill mine using a small spoon. The filling consists of the following:
dried lavendar )I buy mine in bulk online)
cedar shavings (Some is available in pet stores for bedding)
a few cloves or dried rosemary if you wish
Massage the little sachets a bit before placing in the containers to release the lavendar scent.
These make cute little gifts, too, when tied to a present with the ribbons.:)
Wish I had a photo of some of mine, alas....... Maybe this will help.
Jan in VA
You can buy the little muslin tea bags - which are about 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches - or you can make them by the dozens in cheap muslin. It's like tiny a pillowcase but with the top edge folded and sewn to make a small channel thru which you can run some thin cotton string to tie the top edge closed.
I fill mine using a small spoon. The filling consists of the following:
dried lavendar )I buy mine in bulk online)
cedar shavings (Some is available in pet stores for bedding)
a few cloves or dried rosemary if you wish
Massage the little sachets a bit before placing in the containers to release the lavendar scent.
These make cute little gifts, too, when tied to a present with the ribbons.:)
Wish I had a photo of some of mine, alas....... Maybe this will help.
Jan in VA
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Beautiful Oregon
Posts: 320
I will probably be moving in the next few months so will probably need to store fabric in a non heated/ non air conditioned storage unit for up to a year. With summer temps here getting into the triple digits, I'm concerned about how to store the fabric safely. I have a plethora of plastic tubs, and they do well for fabric storage in my temperature controlled house, but I wonder if sealed tubs would attract moisture in a storage unit? Cardboard boxes are my other option, but then I'm concerned about creepy crawlies getting in.
A temperature controlled storage unit is not an option at present. Any and all suggestions for storage ideas are welcome. Thanks.
A temperature controlled storage unit is not an option at present. Any and all suggestions for storage ideas are welcome. Thanks.
Anyway, that is when after sewing some potholders, I said to myself, "If I make enough of these potholders, sew them all together, I could have a quilt!" That is how I got started!!
#19
All of you are wonderful! And have set my mind at ease. I've ordered silica gel packs just to hedge my bets. Now to decide which goes to storage and which stays with me as I have no plans to stop quilting while I pare down and get ready for the move. Thank you all!
I also need to sell two sewing machines, so guess I'll be listing those shortly.
I also need to sell two sewing machines, so guess I'll be listing those shortly.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lebanon Missouri
Posts: 2,668
I stored dozens of plastic totes of fabrics and quilts in my Dad's basement-no heat or AC. They were there for almost 2 yrs and every thing was as clean and fresh as the day I packed them. I did use packing tape around the lid closures as a precautionary step to keep out spiders or ants. We live in an area where Brown Recluse spiders are as bad as ticks in population and I really hate ants.
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