it can make it difficult and stressful to find the right fabric for the next project, i know. it is soooo worth it to take the time to organize it. i started by piling the fabric by color on the floor. then i folded it around my 6x24 ruler. then i put the fabrics by color into the plastic tubs. like you, i didn't like to dig through that. so, after i moved to a new home, i put plastic utility shelving in the closet. if you have room for the tubs in a closet, you have room for the shelves. my life is so much better for doing this.