I was folding my new stash and noticed that most pieces have a 3" square cut from them. I was thinking that the previous owner probably cut a piece from each to catalog in a binder. This way, she could look in her binder instead of going thru her bins when looking for fabric. Sounds like a pretty good idea to stay organized. Does anyone do this? It sort of makes sense to me.

I recently read an article in one of the mags that suggested doing just that. It would be a great way to match up new "finds". Unfortunately, mine would like an old Sears catalog when I got through. Imagine hauling that around with you!

Years ago I saw a lady with a huge notebook cutting and pasting swatches of fabric as the saleslady was cutting her fabric! Thanks for that reminder! I meant to start doing that but forgot all about it although I would wait until I got home to do it!

I did it for years, but with c. 1 1/2" pieces. Stapled to a page for each type then into three hole binders
e.g. - repros, Holidays, batiks etc.

Stopped doing it a couple of years ago, as I rarely looked at it.
Now I store my fabrics by type into large rubbermaids

sounds like a good idea and keep the selvage with the piece of fabric so you would always know the maker in case you need to find more later on, could but them in a binder by manufacturer name

She may have also cut the pieces to take with her to shops to fine pieces that match. I have done that too.

There are members that do that... I could never be that organized :oops:

i have a digital database of all my fabric.

i take the pic, list the name, color, and where its located in my stash.

I actually years ago went through all my fabric and cut out 3" squares. It was sooo long ago I actually forgot about it. Don't even know whats happened to them!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

The person might have been doing a charm quilt - every piece is the same shape, but of a different fabric.

I have a triangle cut out of ever-so-many fabrics when I was doing that. Didn't know about trading at the time. :?

It does sound like a great idea. Mine would be too heavy to carry though.

I'm currently reading a book about the history of quilting (well actually, I'm reading two but I can't remember which one it's in- If you want to know I'll go back and check) and it has a section in there about fabric diarys that ladies used to keep.

Thy would have samples of their fabric and would write what they thought of them/planned to do with them/had done with them.

The book in question even showed some pictures of these antique books. I fell in love with them I must say!

that's a GREAT idea!!! Thanks

I can't imagine doing that!
It would drive me crazy!
and with as much fabric as I buy and cut in a week , it would be gone before I got it cataloged!

Maybe saving a piece of each for a charm quilt.

I have a hard enough time just doing that with the quilts I'm currently working on. Even then the only time I do it is if I'm making a couple with the same pattern and different fabrics. Or if I'm doing it differently than the directions.

I am doing something like this. They lady who taught my sewing class stated that she wished that she had done it, so I thought that I would. All I am doing is taking a picture of the completed the quilt, pattern, month/year completed, who it went to, what type of quilting, (in the ditch, free motion, etc.) Then I an gluing a swatch of all the fabric used on the quilt. I am very glad to have it.

I use a small business card album to organize current project samples...it's only 8" x4", and isn't very thick, so it slides easily into my bag. It holds almost 40 swatches in clear plastic pockets. I have also discovered baseball card collector's pages. They fit into a 3-ring binder, and usually, I allot a "page" per project. I have a few pages, (same size) that are used to hold photo slides...the pockets are a bit smaller, but are the perfect size for snipets of solid colors!

I have some fabrics that were given to my by friends, etc where a square was cut out but I do not do that with mine. If I am buying for a specific project I always buy just a bit more in case I make a mistake. If there is any left over I might cut it into squares or whatever to use for a scrap quilt down the road but I just don't see the need to have a sample of every fabric I own. What's the purpose? I'm not making heirloom quilts -- mine are to be used and loved and if they wear out, I'll make something new. The only time I've had any issues is if I absolutely love a fabric and need to hunt some down via missingfabrics.com or here. I'm busy enough just making quilts that I want to make. Cataloging everything takes up too much of my valuable time and space that could be used for patterns, books or more fabric.

I only do it when I'm heading to a LQS for a current project and need to add coordinating fabric.

I got the idea from an old dollmaker's fabric journal. If you were reproducing items for sale, keeping a fabric journal was handy.

I cut a little chunk out of all my fabrics one year as I was going away for the summer. I thought I would organize them all while I was away (with nothing else to do :roll: ) but didn't touch them. Those little bits were eventually all thrown away and now I am annoyed by fabric with corners missing!

I thought of doing this, but I'd need to haul around a trailer behing our van.

I do something similar to this. I bought baseball (or football/basketball whatever) card holders that go in a 3 ring binder. I cut cardstock down to the size that would fit in each space. I then cut out a small swatch of fabric and glued it on to the card. I then write on the card where and when I got that fabric, and how much I have of it. I haven't done my whole stash yet, but I'm working on it. This way, when I find a pattern I like, if I need to "fill in" by buying new fabric, I can take the cards out of the holders and take them with me. (The cards would even fit in a wallet/billfold) This way I can see the true colors of my fabric to find something that goes with it.

~Heather

Sounds like a great idea!

I'm just now organized enough to do something like that. I like to think of myself as a quilter not a scrapbooker. I do keep a quilt diary with name, date, recipient, why I made that particular quilt, etc.

I started to do that, then decided it was too much work and I may NEED that piece I had cut. I then cut smaller pieces to catalog. Now though I have a photo 'catalog' of my fabric. Since my printer is wonderful at correct color it works pretty well. If I am trying to match fabric for a project though, I take a small piece(s) along.

If I only had time to keep up with all the ways to stay organized! AND had time to quilt AND time for everything else. OH, wait I do ---- as long as I don't sleep at all. :thumbup: :thumbdown:

I'm always trying things like this. They seem like a good idea at the time, but keeping them up-to-date is a challenge. I like the idea of BEING organized more than I like organizing.

I love this idea ans will start doing it. I will cut 1 1/2" squares, save the selvedge name, and glue to a piece of heavy paper with an acid free glue stick. Then I will put it in a plastic sleeve with a 3 hole edge and into a binder.

I think I will do this by color (red, blue etc) rather than mfgr. name for when I take it with me. That way I will have a few colors in mind for my project and not have to carry the whole thing with me.

Geeze.....I've just spent the last couple of months organizing my stash of over 200 fabrics (and still have more to do) and wish I had known about this then. I could have cut fabric swatches as I wrapped boards and had a bit more organization.

I have gotten into the habit of when I bring fabric home, I usually buy all fabric for a quilt at a time even if I don't know what quilt it might be, to cut a small piece off and add it to a receipe card then I staple the receipt to the back. This way I know where I bought it and if I need to find more I have the manufacturers number on the receipt to get more.

OMG this sounds the best idea I have heard in a long time. All of my fabric is in totes by color or fabric type or adult/child/baby but how cool would it be to have the totes numbered and a digital image of all the fabrics in it on my computer to go thru before moving them all. This could very well be my next project and then maybe I would actually use fabric I already have instead of buying more because I don't want to go thru the totes.

I take pictures of my fabrics either when I buy them or while they are in the bin. And, believe me, I have a enormous stash! Here are some examples of the pictures, nothing fancy. Then, if I don't know whether I already have some of a certain color/design, I can look in my iphone at my photos. There is also an app to organize fabrics by color or designer on the iphone which I am starting to use more.

quote=susiequilt]Maybe saving a piece of each for a charm quilt.[/quote]

I just started quilting and I have a huge stash but am not organized enough yet. I keep like colors in totes.

Wow, it would be nice to be that organized!

That a great method to stay organized!

I had a lady stop at a yard sale I was having and asked if I had any fabric. I asked her what she was looking for, and she said she was making a charm quilt. I took her inside to my sewing room and we cut pieces from my stash and filled up a bag. Then she asked me what I was working on, and I showed her. Later, she showed up with just what I was looking for in my collection. We still exchange Christmas cards.

I just got an order from Thousands of Bolts. On each fabric, they have a sticky label that names the fabric, the amount, etc. I thought that was such a good idea that I took some computer printer labels, stuck them in an envelope and put them in my glove box in my car.

**IF** I remember it's there, I want to take the labels into a fabric store when I go shopping. I can copy the name of fabric, designer, amount and any special fabric instructions, then just stick it on the cut fabric.

I've also started sticking a label on fabric in my drawers if I am thinking of using it in a quilt. I have all my closet space taken up with boxes with unmade quilts in them. They have the pattern and fabric. But now, I have projects in mind and have some fabric from my stash I will probably use. I decided if I just stuck that reminder on the fabric, I'd be aware of it other uses. That way I can always cut some of it for a current project, but leave enough for the future one.

Hmmm, I am sitting here thinking what swatches would be good for in a binder once the quilt is made? I can see cutting pieces for matching up or filing with a pattern to be made later and marking the fabrics you intend to use for it.

Reading also of the other reasons to note what fabrics one has, to keep a record of colors, yardage or fat qtrs etc. Not a bad idea. To be so organized!!

Oh, so many good ideas for organizing for upcoming projects!

All I have done is, take pictures of all the things I have made to date. Most of which I have given away. I enjoy having a picture diary of things made.

Me too! :roll:

I keep small pieces of fabric in my wallet :oops: it can be embarrassing when they get mixed in with my dollars :roll:
but I can ALWAYS make a perfect match!!!