I buy fabric just because I like it. But I don't buy more fabric than I can store properly.

I thought my plastic totes would be mouseproof but your experience has me questioning that. I use "ugly" and "unsuitable-for-quilt" fabrics for quilts that go to dog rescue organizations. They don't seem to mind the type or color combinations or even my mistakes. My sympathies to your for having to put your precious items in the dumpsters.

I'm sorry you lost your stash. Instead of looking at this as a negative, try to see the positive. You can now focus on one project at a time. You are not blowing your budget on something you don't really need (no matter how good it feels). You will stay current on the latest fabric trends. Your space can be much more orderly.

I also store my fabric in the rubbermaid bins but mine are in the house. (I am lucky enough to have a sewing room).

Oh don't throw it in the dump, please..... If it must go give it to a charity. A church or a donation center. There are so many that would love your stash.... Or post on Freecycle. I'm sure there is somebody that can benefit from your stash...

I still sometimes buy because I like, but right now, I'm trying VERY HARD to restrict myself to fabric that I need to finish a project. I have so much fabric and plenty of UFOs to complete. However, I go through ALL my stash twice a year. Most of it is in Rubbermaid containers. I can't understand why 90% would have been damaged - they got into ALL the containers? So sorry that happened.

My suggestion, since living without a stash makes it darn near impossible to do some things, is to either join swaps (where you will get a variety of items) or have a stash, but limit it to ONE Rubbermaid container and make sure it is a foot or more off the floor. It should do fine in the garage provided you actually regularly access the stuff. My Mom did this when we lived in Massachusetts, so I'm even familiar with the climate!

I have a cutting table and am trying to work my stash down to the 12 half boxes that fit on the shelf under it. My sister has a tiny, tiny sewing room, but she has that cutting table as well and stores her fabric underneath.

By the way, for a good laugh, I just finished using up fabric into pillowcases that my Mom bought at Giant in Framingham in the mid-70s.

hmmm a creative place to store fabric..... maybe a small file cabinet? You can cover it with a skirt of fabric to hide it and put a lamp, picture and decorations on top? Under the bed? My fabric room is about 9x8 and the fabric is on bookshelves and wire cubes. Will I see you at Keepsake's tent sale??

piney

Please don't dump the fabrics you are not going to keep. People on this board would love to have them I am sure. Most will pay for the shipping. Please don't dump them. There may be a quilting quild in your area that would take them, or a senior center. There's lots of options besides dumping them so that someone else gets to use what you don't want. Thanks!

Oh, my.....I am so sorry you lost your stash. I have a fairly good amount but I am always making NICU quilts, so my fabric does get used within a reasonable (define reasonable) time. However, I do have some fabric that I just HAD to have, and it has been 'sitting' for about 2 years. I have a used computer armoir, all my fabric is washed and folded, I don't starch/size it till I am ready to use it. My sewing area is in the basement, and using a dehumidifer during the summer takes care of the moisture issue.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss! We moved from a 3 story house to a motorhome with nearly no storage room. The chair I sit in up front, sits in a 4" hover as I stuff bags of stash under it. I don't buy a lot, but my DH tells me to buy when I find some I really like.

Sorry you lost your stash. I tend to buy what I like and try to get some coordinating fabrics at the same time. I store them in Rubbermaid tubs in my bedroom. I have tried to not buy anything new, and have been picking from the stash for new projects, or if I really like a quilt I see, I get the kit. My stash is not arranged by color, something I have been meaning to do!