GailG

And while we're "sharing" and baring it all, you guys put me to shame. As you say how your fabric is organized and where you store it, I think about my oodles of fabric all over the place. I think if I had it all in one place so I could at least SEE it, perhaps I'd be inspired to use what I have. I don't even know where to start to get it organized. I have much of the larger pieces on bolt rolls or rolled around a large ruler( and then slip the ruler out). But at the moment, some of it is standing in a basket (waste paper basket purchased for this purpose) and some of it is lying on a chest of drawers covered with a piece of fabric. [Just what do you people do about dust settling on your fabrics that are out on shelves?] I think I'm gettin more and more paranoid about this whole situation as we speak about it.

Smaller pieces are folded in large bins -- all over the place. In corners, under tables, in closets. Aaagghhhh!! Who said --" The faster I go, the behinder I get" ? I'm spinning my wheels, guys, and getting nowhere.

Sheree from Chicago

Don't let quiltncrazy's method throw you. I would gather your fabric, sort and wash like laundry, dry completely and protect it in something. I remember a while back someone mentioned not to completely seal fabric due to the chance of moisture/there could be mildew. I have decided to make sure fabric is dry and protect it. I have a lot of money and time spent agonizing over selections in my fabric. When I saw a little moth, I panicked and decided to wash/dry/ziploc one load at a time!

weezie

Hi Gail. I have a need to SEE my fabric stash without digging through bins; I loathe digging through bins and drawers for fabric! I keep 1 large plastic tub of scraps only for future applique projects and I keep my finished quilt tops and the backings in tubs while they wait their turn to be quilted. Everything else is on shelf units. I have a heavy solid wood 3' x 6' unit on wheels (a book store discard) that sits under my 4 x 8 plywood cutting table. Since it is recessed, it doesn't seem to attract dust and is out of the way of my feet as I work at the table. In the same room, I also keep 3 spring-loaded shower curtain rods across the doorway of the closet (I've removed the closet doors and stashed them out of everyone's way); I hang all sorts of things on those rods ... binding and borders and lots of 2" strips cut from a variety of fabrics and which I'm accumulating for some future project(s). Since all of these bindings, borders and strips are pressed, they hang nicely on the shower rods without getting re-wrinkled of tangled. I cover the rods and strips with large plastic bags that come in shipping boxes ... appliances, mail order medicine, dry cleaning bags ... all kinds of sources provide large lightweight plastic bags. In fact I use these in all our clothes closets to keep the dust off clothing that's on hangers. I suppose I could cover the fabric on my shelves as well, but haven't seen evidence of dust accumulation. Also, I don't wash my fabric until I'm ready to use it, at which time I'm eliminating any bit of dust that might be on the fabric.

I still have enough room at either end of my cutting table for 2 shelf units, which is son is making for me to my specifications. They will not only serve as props for the plywood, i.e., table legs, replacing the sawhorses that are currently there, but also will give me 6 more 40"-wide storage shelves. Since my fabric storage/cutting table is in the basement and I keep the window blind closed (because I have excellent overhead fluorescent lighting) I needn't worry about the sun fading my fabric.

If you have the floor space and want to spend the money, a large, heavy duty shelf unit from a home improvement store can store a huge quanity of fabric and you could organize the fabric on each shelf in whatever way would be convenient for you. If you're worried about dust, you could create drawstring curtains of some sort to go all around the shelf unit.

I'm hoping that you get an idea or more that's helpful from this lengthy response. Good luck. Weezie

bearisgray

I'm thinking my solution is to stop buying fabric and unload some of what I have - like that's going to happen.

Jim's Gem

Here's a picture of how most of my stash is stored. I have quite a few "buckets" in the garage, several of those are back sized pieces. I have them folded so I can see at a glance, without digging in them, what is in there. I fold 2 yards down to 1/2 yard one way, my over 2 yard pieces are folded another way and my pieces large enough for backs are stored in a separate cabinet. I have put 1 yard pieces of my very large pieces stored in the garage into my cabinets so I don't "forget" that I have them.

bearpaw

I just organized my stash - 1/2 yard pieces and over are folded with the 6X24 ruler. Under 1/2 yard, but not a true fat quarter, folded with the 3x24 ruler. Fat quarters are folded the smallest.

As for buying, I really don't have a system. I just buy. :roll:

hokieappmom

For organization, check out this link: www.polarnotions.com. The storing looks so neat and you see what you have. Yes and expensive. But I did a search on ebay for corrugated cardboard and found (100) 11 7/8 x 14 1/2 for $15. Shipping is high though at $16. I've asked what the charge would be to cut them in half to 11 7/8 x 7 1/4, which is just about the size on the link. But to think I might get 200 cardboard panels for $30-$40, it's worth it to me. I'll let you know what I find out. I also asked about a size for fat quarters, but I don't have many of them. I usually buy in yards unless I know what quilt I'm making and the amounts needed.

hokieappmom

Wow Jim's Gem and Bearpaw. I'm jealous! Do most of you "square up" left over fabric before folding so you don't have any odd shapes or strings hanging?

Knot Sew

Wow...some of the pictures took my breath away...beautiful piles of fabric I am trying not to envy..its not nice..so congratulations lovely fabric collections :roll: :roll: :oops:
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weezie

Good Grief!! After reading the 'stash' posts and seeing stash photos, I have concluded that I have a mini-stash and I should just quit worrying about using it all before I die of old age.

Different subject, please. Can anyone tell me how to send a private message on this quilting board? I've been searching for instructions, but can't find any. TIA Weezie