I have several different areas for sorting. I have my general fabrics sorted by color. I just by what color is the most prominent when I look a the fabric. I also sort novelty fabrics by subject matter-Christmas, Fall, Halloween, Snowmen, I Spy, etc. I have a large collection of CW fabrics-I sort them by color, but I also keep my Jo Morton fabrics separate from the other CW fabrics. (I have used them in swaps with friends and I like to be able to grab one easily). Special fabrics, like Minke, flannels, 1930s, homespuns, Kansas Troubles, hand-dyed, all have their own areas within my stash. It took a while to get all of my fabric sorted, folded and on the shelves where I wanted it, but it has paid off in the end-I can reach in and pull out the exact fabric I am looking for very quickly. It's a real time saver when I am on working on a new quilt.