You wrap the fabric around a 6" or 6.5" or 8" ruler. Slip the ruler out, and then fold it for placement/stacking on your shelf or in a bin.

By using the ruler, you make sure that all yardage will be the same width, and there stack on your shelves in a much more orderly fashion.

Think of the way the t-shirts are so nicely stacked at The Gap. Same concept.

I have a bunch of them but I don't put any thing shorter than 3 yards on them. I have 27 on one shelf.

Hi everybody -
I sell the coroplast boards on this site. Here are the facts the way I know them. My shelves are deeper than yours look. I can get two rows of boards on each shelf. The taller in the back and can clearly see both. I'm not sure the depth of your shelves, so if you can't get two sizes on one shelf you would lose shelf space. If you can get at least 13" of depth you can handle 2 sizes on each shelf. The boards are just under an eighth of an inch thick so ultimately they do add to space consumption that way. The trade off for me is that I can pull them out easily and not have to touch or dishevel its neighbor. I can roughly tell how much of each one I have based on the size of the board that I have it on. I can put fabrics in working sets sometimes all on one board by folding the corner down lower each time which displays all the fabrics on that one board then I tuck the pattern in the fold and it's protected from me accidentally using it elsewhere. I think it's much easier to add new fabric (If you sort them by color etc.) To borrow MTS's great analogy, I would rather see my fabric look like a fabric store upright than stacked like T-shirts at the Gap. And what I mean by that is I see the fabric/pattern better in a vertical setting. I guess for me and my customers it's mostly: 1. the ease of removing fabrics and replacing them and 2. being able to approximate the quantity based on the size board used.

But maybe it's really just a matter of what works best for your set up or your visual preference. (I also like to run my hand across the row of fabric - just to feel it). I think the verdict has to be - to each his own.

I hope that you will at least try one or two sets perhaps to see if it's something you would value. Don't know if I helped or just confused you. PM me if you have any specific questions - I don't bite.

Oh Gai, I just noticed you're in Houston - so am I. Hey if you want to try them I'll be happy to loan you a couple, three sets and if you like them great - if not - bring them back. Your option. I'm real easy here and have absolutely no problem if you want to test drive some :)
Hugs,
Gayle

Well, I would only use the larger boards, not the medium or smaller. I seldom buy less than 2 yards of fabric, and while I have FQ's, I have them in a closet where I forget about them! On second thought, when I do buy FQ's, I usually buy at least 4 of them! LOL. And my shelves are about 12 inches deep.

I may go ahead and get a set of boards, just to see how they would work. I live in Spring Branch, but I work in Conroe, so pass Spring whenever I work. I'll PM you. Thanks!

Gai

Sure it could. But the OP asked.

Personally, I wouldn't use them for smaller cuts of less than 2 yards (as someone else mentioned upthread). But it's always a possibility. Right now, the shelving units I'm using are way too big to make that work. Plus, I really, really, like my large bin storage system. All 120 of them. ;-)

If you look at the OP's bookcase, unless she added another shelf for every two, there would be a lot of wasted space. And if you stack them like she has her folds, it doesn't make the mass any more manageable.

If one was to go this route, I think it would be beneficial only if they were upright.

But then here's another (cheaper) option that just popped up - some further investigation is warranted:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-100450-1.htm

I agree totally! IMHO, not that there is anything wrong with purchasing coroplast or any other of the numerous types of fabric folding devices.....I just think that there are so many things out there we don't really need. We got along for years and years without them and nothing happened to our fabrics. I feel sad for the newer quilters that feel they need all of this stuff when they first start quilting and may have limited funds when all they really need is fabric, thread and a sewing machine that does a nice straight stitch.

I did investigate these comic book boards before I started making mine. The problem with the comic book boards is that they are far too flimsy. They fold in half very easily. Some are acid free though and that's good. Think of them as FQ cardboard inserts. They are about that thin (very little support). But, again I suppose it's a personal choice. I think anyone who wants to try them should. Just bookmark us in case you decide to upgrade to something much more sturdy.

MTS you're absolutely correct. They really should be used upright. On another note, those smaller boards are nice to have because those seem to be the ones you "go through" the most looking to match your main fabric. Also, you can approximate how much you have just by looking at it sitting on the shelf. There aren't too many storage methods that allow you to do that. (And they fit nicely into drawers.)

Quiltmaker, I really do love my boards and the way my fabric looks. It is more inspiring to me to have the visual I now have. I've used plastic bins, tubs, bags, ruler folding, and stacking. My preference is the boards. I do agree with you completely about newbies - they should buy fabric, thread, templates before storage items unless their using cardboard (and some are).

GAI,
Sent you a PM with my cell number - I'll be happy to meet you with a couple of sets so you can try them out. If you don't choose to, that's OK too.
Gayle

This was just my cheap way of organizing my stash. I had
a flood in my house and had to pack up everything to paint
and new carpet. Luckly in my sewing room everthing was up. So all was fine. I packed in cardboard boxes. So after I
empty a box I cut the cardboard up to the sizes as those
commercial sizes boards. I figure the quilt shops have their fabric on cardboard. So I am now folding and ironing all
of my fabric. Shocker my stash was this big. I guess I didn't want to admit how it had gotten out of control. But
now it will be upright like the quilt shops and I can see
easier what I have. With cotton going so high I figure the
time I have invested will save dollars in the long run.

why would you want to change it looks nice and organized now I think we are working on organizing we should just work on using up this fabric.