My sister came up with a wonderful idea for organizing our quilting fabrics. Why not file them? My husband donated an old beat up file cabinet from his office and I purchased hanging file folders from a used office supply store at 5 cents each. It's a letter sized cabinet and we are only using this one in the picture for smaller pieces of fabric (from fat quarters to 2 yards) but I have already purchased a much larger, legal size cabinet for other fabrics. I found it on Craig's List for 18$ and have already painted it white to match the smaller one! Now to get to the office supply store!
The drawers keep light and dust off my fabrics and I can now find any fabric in my stash quickly and remove it easily without disturbing a stack of fabric. Also, I can see what I have in stock for a project before I go shopping.
I don't know why but, the second picture was place sideways, so you will just have to tilt your head a little to the right! :?

Very clever idea! Since I am short on room in my "downsized" house, I think I will be on the hunt for a few repurposed file cabinets. Thanks!

that's ingenious.

It really is ingenious.Thanks for sharing with us, now if I only had room for a file cabinet....

Love this idea!! I have a file cabinet in my basement that is not being used. Its ugly pick...time to paint and load it with fabric! Thanks for the idea

Such a cleaver idea! Are the hanging folders acid free? Or do you have acid free paper between the fabric and the folders?

Love what you did with the front of the drawers too. very pretty.

OMG --GREAT JOB!!! i love that! i am going shopping again :thumbup: i just downsized some of my sewing room furnishings...giving my great big sewing table to my hubby and i picked up a nice new sewing desk at the habitat for humanity re-store-it's about 1/2 the size...and perfect!...now i need to go back and look for file cabinets! i love that method...send your pictures to Fon's and Porter, if they use the tip on their show you will receive a free year subscription to their magazine...and i think their magazine is one of the better ones on the store shelves. :thumbup:

I am really liking that. Do the drawers get to heavy to pull out?

How funny - I don't know if you have a blog or something, but I'm pretty sure your photo was linked to this board a little while ago as a new organization idea!

I love it!

I did post the pics on 'Sew What's New'. It's and idea that REALLY needs to be shared!

My folders are not acid free (wish they were) but acid free paper could be folded over the file folder or you could use the plastic file folders.

I have not had any problems with the weight in the drawers. That's one of the nice things about them. Paper is very heavy when filed in those drawers and they are made to handle the weight!

looks great

Looks great!

like that idea, i'm filing that away to do.

great idea!

My favorite part is your quilt patterns on the front of the file cabinet! Toooo cute!

nice idea but what do you do with the 5 yds & above? Are the pictures on the front of the filing cabinet pictures of the fabric in the drawer? Cool idea

What a brillant & frugal idea :thumbup: :thumbup:

WOW!! What a great idea. How did you put the pictures of blocks on the front? Very nice.

Really great idea!! I'd definitely get the acid-free paper to put over the folders before laying your fabric over them if you don't plan on using it anytime soon!

I don't think the fabric would weigh as much as stuffed files full of paper :wink:

This is a GREAT idea!! Very clever :D:D:D

In answer to the questions about the picture. I printed the pictures on my printer and laminated them, then I just painted some masking tape and 'framed' them. I didn't want them to be permanent... You never know when you will get the bug to re-organize!

That's a great idea!

Great idea!

Great idea for organizing!!!

Great idea, also you could use all these really cute magnets to hold the sheet in place on the front! I love to see fabric so well organized! Nice job!

love...Love...L*O*V*E
this idea !!

OMgosh. Mu hubby has 4-5 of these out in the old barn just rusting. He's gonna be so busy tomorrow cleaning and painting them. Now I just have to find an empty wall while I clean. Great idea. And the Thrift store sells these fror 5 - $10.00. Awhhhhhh shucks,,,,, did you have to tell me this???? ROFL

Wow, that is a really clever idea!

Great Idea, I have two four drawer file cabinets in storage that have not been used in ages, now I know what to do with them :D

I am so glad so many of you think it's a great idea too! When my sister came up with it, I told her I thought lots of other people would like this idea and we should share it! She agreed!

That is a really neat idea!

Love this idea

I sell the hard fabric storage boards on this site:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-99292-1.htm

But, I also use lateral file cabinets as additional storage like you're doing. Isn't it great. To protect your fabric, I recommend you Google "comic boards" and purchase the acid free type. They're very reasonably priced and work great to cover your hanging folders. These comic boards are really too flimsy to work standing up and wrapping fabric around, but they work great protect fabric the way you will be using them. You'll have to tape two together and hang them over the metal bars. Just put the tape side towards the metal bar and you're good to go. Love the way you fashioned the drawer fronts too.

You and your sister are very creative - can't wait to see what you come up with next. Nicely done!

Hugs,
Gayle

Great idea. Thank you for sharing.

Very nice.

Your so very clever, now I am looking for file cabinets.

I just love this idea! Do you mind if I share on Facebook?

Not at all! I think it's an idea that needs to be shared!

My larger fabrics are on bolts. My fabric store saves them for me. They are much easier to organize and see what I have. Also it seems like I can get more fabric on a shelf using bolts than just folding and stacking them...