JanetM

How about the ruler method of folding fabric. Because you have such deep shelves, after folding your fabric around the 6 x 24 ruler, slip the fabric off, and just fold it once, in half. Your fabric will then measure approx. 6 x 22 (width of ruler x ½ the 44 width of fabric)

Here is a tutorial to help you,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkTlaMqRlwo

carhop

My room looks worse than yours I just have piles all over the place. The thing is I need to get rid of other crafts.

AnnieF

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. I used that approach in my stand up freezer and it really does work. They give you the control you need. Measure so that you can get maybe 2 stacks of fabric in each box.

QuiltnNan

OK, if the shelves are 24, then 1/2 wof is 22 and they will fit well if you just fold the wof in half and wind it around a 6 1/2" ruler - mine is 24" long, so it works perfectly.

Quiltgranny

Thanks for bringing up this topic as I have the same problem, only my shelves are only 17" deep. I'll definitely be watching to see what others recommend.

One idea I saw once, but have yet to try is where a gal folded her 1 yard and up cuts onto comic boards and then stood them up in the rear of her deep shelves. In front of them, she placed her smaller cuts of fabric - some were wrapped on half size boards, others were neatly folded, probably like FQ's etc. At least she could see what was behind the front row, but seems to me there would still be the issue of having to possibly move something in front in order to get the back fabrics out. Hmm...

doris.meek13088

I have most of my stash in plastic bins in the downstairs guest closet (I pray for no more guests than will fit in the upstairs guest room so I don't have to move them). I then label the bins for the project I am collecting for (Halloween, blue and yellow, or the name of the collection) or the project I am planning on using the fabric for (bags, wall hangings). I confess that sometimes I take a couple of them into another room and just go through the fabrics.
We need to start another organization (although I think one may have been started already)
FA (Fabricaholics anonymous) Hello, my name is Doris and I am a fabricaoholic. I haven touched fabric in 3 hours.
.

Rose Marie

I found plastic bins at Staples that are 21 x 14 for $1.60 each. They fit my shelves perfect. I bought 10 of them and just labeled with masking tape. Oh, and they are clear plastic. I bought all the store had. Now I have bins for all my colors and for specialty fabrics like Christmas, batiks, 1930, backings, flannel, backgrds, etc.
The bins are about 4 in to long but are not a problem.
I have those cheap metal shelves that are cubby holes that you put those fabric (expensive) bins in.

BellaBoo

I folded all my yardage on boards cut to fit my shelves. It works and you can get hundreds of boards on one book shelf. I bought the Wilton white large rectangle cake boards. I can cut twice and have three boards from one. I also have the comic book board and they are a little thinner but works great for smaller cuts of fabric or fat quarters. I use a yellow head pin to hold the end after folding. But on some I have rubber bands around the board. Someone said the bands may harm the fabric if you leave them on for a long time.

Rebecca VLQ

http://reformedsupermom.blogspot.com...anization.html

This is what I did a few months back, and it's still going strong.

The basic setup is "sets" of things are folded together. The fabric is folded in half (selvedge to selvedge) then folded in half again, so what would be the length is about 10-11 inches.

I have lots more that I don't necessarily have plans for, so that is sorted by color and then colors that are "most alike" are in a bundle of about 5-6 yards.

Batiks are all together since i have a few of those, and usually go looking for batik, instead of using a blue batik when I'm looking for blue, kwim?

milp04

Hi Sue,

Ok, this is a bit long. Organizing is putting like things together and having a place for everything with things used a lot that are easily accessible. Keep frequently used items visible and handy and less used items in a place where you know and can access.

I would first start with your fabric. I would do the fabric folding over the ruler as found in a tutorial here at QB. Put the fabric together by fabric type and then in color groups. The fabric ends up being all similar sizes. This may take a while but everyone who takes the time to do this has been very pleased with the results.

I would use small clear plastic containers for keeping smaller items. Put a label on the outside, even if only a piece of paper taped to the side of the container. The dollar store has shoe box containers that can be stacked together on the closet shelves (the tops are not clear but that's ok).

Once you sort through everything and see what you have, then you can determine the size of containers, etc. that you will need to keep like things together, such as thread, binding, tools, etc.

If you are on the go alot and have waiting time you might want to think about putting together a small take-along project bag. (Bag, tote, large purse, etc) This could be the time that you have a project for hand work such as a GFG, Grandmother's Flower Garden. These work well for using up small scraps of fabric.

There is also another section about how to cut, handle and store fabric scraps. To start I would just find one large plastic container to keep all scraps together in one place.

For your rulers, there are several threads that talk about rulers and their storage. Some have storage boards that hang on the wall and others have a board that sits on a table. There is also new hangers that will hang like a clothes hanger that hold several rulers. You may also be able to find a small container to keep them all together other than maybe a very long ruler that you could then hang on the back of the closet door or on a wall grouped with other sewing items.

I would keep a list of the rulers you do have, along with other sewing tools, even noting when you have duplicates.

If you go to classes or quilt club meetings where they sew some quilters have a whole separate rolling tote that has a second set of all the tools they use so that all they need to do is to drop in the sewing machine to be ready to go to class. There are even some who have a machine just for classes.

You may actually be glad that you have deep shelves. Stand the taller items in the back of the shelf and then put smaller items in front. Lighter weight items will be at the top and upper shelves with heavier items at the bottom. I would put items not used very much on the very top shelves. Usually the top shelves take having a step stool to get to, at least for me as I'm a short person.

You may actually find that you have room to keep your sewing machine(s) on the bottom shelves when not in use.

Once you get all of the above completed ask again if you need additional advice for getting organized.

Hope this long instruction explanation helps. Good Luck!

Pam M