I see some have fabric stored in containers with lids on and off, and in cabinets with doors, and without doors on open shelves. What is the best way to store fabric? Is dust not a concern?

Humidity and sunlight are the major concerns. Moisture and starch draw bugs.

I have my material ruler folded and stacked on shelves in a closet. I removed the folding doors from the closet and hung dark curtains in front of it to keep the sun off of it.

I think you have to do whatever works for you. Some like bins. Some like cabinets. Some like shelves. Some like xerox boxes (which I also have a lot of material in) but for me the ruler fold and closet method works the best for me at this time in my life. Things might change.

ditto

Me, too. I'm fortunate to have a small walk-in closet with a door for my stash. I added inexpensive shelves from an office supply store, and a few things are on hangers.

Now if I could only find a better way to store my scraps...

Ditto again.

I use Rubbermaid containers for pretty much all my crafty stuff (patterns, scraps, fabric, yarn, beads, tools, etc). I'm at a place in my life where we're still a bit transient--renting, moving every couple years, still not sure where we'll end up permanently, so I like knowing that my crafting supplies won't require a lot of fussing next time we move. I do have my most-used items out and available in pretty vases and jars, but the bulk of my things are squirreled away in the spare bedroom, garage, and in the sewing room cubbies. It's not the prettiest solution, but it's the best for now.

All of my fabric is in drawers or large totes and since I have north facing windows, I'm not concerned about sun damage.

I have my FQ in rubbermaid by color. I like being able to put them side by side when picking fabric.

Most of my fabric is folded and on shelves or in drawers. I sorted it about a year ago and gave away what I didn't think I would ever use. I have found that it was helpful to go through everything and see what I have. Everything is stored away from light and windows and in a way that will keep it clean. All my scraps are stored in containers by size.

All mine is in rubber made containers.

I think it depends on where you are storing them. How much humditiy, sunlight, and dust in the room. I would choose according to factors like these :D:D:D

i wash my fabric before i use it so if it gets dusty its np. I also do not have them in the light. Only light comes on when i sew. I keep it pretty dark in there to keep it cool.

Thanks for asking the question, I also wondered...will be watching for the answers

the best way is the way that works for you

I too didn't know what to do with scraps. When I stored them in a big basket I never used them because I couldn't find anything. Now I put the scraps form each project in a zip lock bag and store them is the basket. When I need something it will be all together with the same colorway scraps and in fairly flat condition.
Vicky

I think an important factor is to avoid exposure to light.

(some) fabrics will fade or change color along the exposed fold lines

I use plastic drawers/tubs that are semi-transparent so I have an idea about what is in each drawer/tub. I put silica gel packets in with them to absorb moisture. I re-use the silica packets that come in shoe-boxes, shipping containers, etc. So far so good!

The correct ways to store your fabric is NOT the way most do it.
It should be folded or hund out of direct sunlight.
Moisture should be kept at a minimum as well.

Cotton is considered a living/breathing fiber. Meaning that even after being dyed/printed, it is still able to breathe in anything it comes in contact with. Cigarette smoke being the #1 thing we can all atest to ruining fabric.
But storing it in a sealed baggie, or tote can do just as much harm. It dries it out causing dry rot! Storing it in a closet or chest with bare wood, causes the yellowing as the acids in the wood make gas fumes that leach into the fabric. Storing in or on cardboard that is not acid free/archival board will cause bleaching out of the dyes as the acid in the cardboard makes fumes. All of these also cause detoriation in the fabrics over time.
SO if you are going to store it on a shelf, make sure it is completely painted/sealed. I also put down some cheap poly/cotton muslin as a shelf liner!
If using cardboard, make sure it is acid free(the bolts it comes on is NOT acid free and are meant for short term storage only).
The folding over the ruler to make each piece measure the same is the best way to make sure you know what you have and how much. It also makes for easy rotation!

ditto ditto

I don't have too much humidity to worry about, only during our monsoon season, which is now. I store my fabric in totes, some blocks from another quilt left over, are in baggies which are also in my totes. Some say to seal the baggies while others don't. My totes are inside of closet

I bought a armoire and store all the fabric there with the doors closed at all times and the window shades drawn unless I am in there.

I work in the basement and have converted my sons bedroom, (he is a US Marine in Japan for a couple of years) into my storage area. I use my large 10 seat dining room table as my storage for all my cutting items, but my material is laid on his bed. That's my storage unit and so far it works ok.....I'm lucky my dh doesn't ask me to clean up the room, at least not until my son comes home and need a place to sleep

I store my scraps in those 6 drawer plastic rolling carts. I have 2, and give each color a drawer. They tuck under my sewing counter nicely. I do a lot of applique and can't throw away any scraps, so scrap management was a must. !

My sewing area is the basement. I do have alot of floor to ceiling windows since it is a walk out basement, but none of my fabric is exposed to the light. I have it in metal cabinets with two doors in front of it. It is washed, folded, and is stacked according to color. All my greens are together, all blues, etc. I like to open both doors and be able to see all the colors so I know what I have. I also have some large drawers where I keep groups that go together for a specific project. It really just matters what you like. You may not get it done the way you like the first time. You just have to live with it for a while and see.

When storing fabric, you should keep in mind how long you want to store it. Fabric composition is organic, and like storing precious documents, you should consider the elements. Moisture, sunlight are the primary factors. If you wash your fabric before storing, you remove the excess starch which deters little critters. But also consider that plastic containers emit chemicals that can affect the strength of the fibers if left in it for extended periods of time. Certain cardboard has a pH factor to consider which may cause leaching of the colors. Using these containers over a short time period won't affect the fabric much, but if you keep them for years and years, it may be something to think about.

Since we moved from a 3-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apt. I have my fabric stored in clear plastic bins, mostly arranged by type - batiks, pinks, purples, Christmas, fall, etc. Due to lack of a better space, they are stacked against the wall in our dining room, so when I need a fabric, I can usually pick the right bin, but then I get surprised often as well.

Thank you Jacquie, I wondered about all that you have mentioned here. This has been very helpful to me. I am just starting to get a "stash" so of course I was concerned about the elements of storage and what would preserve the fabric the best over a long time. I have seen fabrics in some stores and homes that the fold of the fabric was lighter than the rest of the bolt, probably from being there for a very long time and exposed to the lighting fixtures, dust, chemicals, etc.

so are my fabric also in color coordinated boxes for easy access when looking for the right color quickly.

I have all of mine in two large cabinets, with doors, that I found at Lowes (or was it Home Depot).....have them sorted by color.

Okay what is the ruler fold???? I'm still learning .....

For now I use rubber maid but I also sleep in same room and the plastic does have an order. Trying to think of another way :)