I organize by color and then within the color try to keep polka dots, stripes, floral, etc. together. Of course, it stays this way for a very short time because I love scrappy quilts and applique quilts so I may pull 100 fabrics for one project and it may take me weeks (or months) to get them all back where they belong. However remember what works for me may not work at all for you.

I have three big floor-to-ceiling cabinets in my sewing room and I use opaque plastic bins for my fabric storage. I sort by color mostly, with one or two colors per bin. Because the bins are opaque, I can easily see what color is inside. If I put two colors in one bin, I try to keep them related, like browns & oranges for instance, or reds & pinks. Next I have separate bins for novelties, Christmas fabrics, and patriotic fabrics. Lastly I use smaller bins to hold fabric "sets", like if I buy several coordinating fabrics with a specific quilt in mind and want to keep them all together until I can work on that one. I also have smaller bins full of charm squares from the exchange at our quilt guild, orphan blocks, and scraps. If I want blue fabric, it's simple to open the cabinet and pull out the blue bin, or if I want kitten fabric I pull out the novelties bin. This system works well for me, but mainly because I have plenty of storage space.

Good luck on your organization, whatever method you choose.

I have mine by color. The designer doesn't matter that much to me, but I can go to a color pile easier.

What part of Texas? I will be spending Christmas holiday in San Antonio. I love to play in fabric but you probably don't want to wait that long.
I love all the methods for storage! I do place muslin or a pillow case in the bottom of plastic storage boxes to protect the fabrics stored in them. Fabrics assembled for a specific quilt go into those with the pattern. Unfortunately, I'm gathering quite a collection of storage boxes with quilts inside waiting for my undivided attention. (Sigh). We won't discuss the drawers full of color coordinated remnants from past quilts.

Good to know I'm not alone in this! I started the cutest woodland critters quilt and I keep digging through the stash for just the right bear, or frog, or bird material. The box for the quilt is out of control, as the pieces are fairly large and I just need a few inches. Then there's the fat quarters I've purchased because I don't have "that" shade of brown fur! I need to put them back in the stash drawers as I use them since I don't want to use them more than once, but that would just be too organized!

Mine is wound on 3 sizes of comic boards and really large pieces are flat folded. I do not arrange anything according to color. I have several large wardrobe closets with shelves, and can stash my stash 2-3 deep. I can see all of it so I don't have to sort according to color. Do whatever works best for you. Everyone's stash is personal and it is good if you can see most if not all of it. Good luck.
Sue

I have my fabric on comic book boards..but my biggest time saver was to pin a small piece of paper on each piece telling me if it's 1 yd., or 3...that way I can easily tell if a piece is too small for a project, or even too large, (and I might want to save it for backing)...other than that..it's just put on shelves in no particular order, because for me...I constantly surprise myself at different colors that work together(or don't)..and I don't think I could be as creative if all of my blues were lined up next to each other...I need to see each color alone, and it's easier for me if they are mixed on the shelf...just do what works for you...you know yourself best...if you need absolute order, or a little "disorder"..good luck!!!

And to answer your question...I do use straight pins to fasten my fabric...they are cheap and hold well..I've seen others use those plastic coated paper clips, and even safety pins!

I also sort by color and theme, but I also put fabrics that I've purchased together for a project into a zip lock bag, so I don't accidentally use part of it for another project.

You aren't clueless. I am glad you asked these questions! I'm going to organize my stash in the near future and am interested in everyone's replies also! Good luck to you (and to me). I'm not looking forward to all that work, but will be glad once it's all done.

As long as its at my address I'm happy...lol seriously...by color, seasonal, novelty, type of fabric (such as flannel or cottonn) and project...I put projects in containers with the pattern planned so its already a kit when I get around to it

I sort by colors on most of my fabrics. Then I have bins for Christmas; Halloween; cowboys, Indians & western; oriental; novelty;laurel burch; Elvis; flannels; batiks; and kids prints. Finished quilt tops are in a bin; UFOs are in a couple of drawers; planned projects are kept together as I get the items needed.

Glad to hear you finally got to move. Enjoy your new home.

I have my stash in metal bins in my sewing room closet. I sort my fabric according to color. This way when I need red fabric, just pull the bin out and there is all my red fabric... I have childrens fabrics in a separate bin. There is space between the bins and I have my solids stacked here. And I also stack fabric for the quiilts I am going to do next while I am colllecting the fabric, along with the pattern. The main thing to remember to prewash all fabrics, store in a place where the fabric can breath, never in plastic bins, and away from direct light to prevent fading. Easy access helps when you are pulling fabrics for a quilt, for this reason drawers (dresser, chest) are not usually an idea storage area.
Good luck, and have fun setting up your sewing room. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get started on that next quilt. :)

Everyone does it differently. When we moved into our new house a few years ago, I got the "media room" (Family room) and it didn't have a closet. So on one wall I put the computer with bookcases on each side and a shelf across the top of the bookcases. I went to JC Penney's catalog in the bathroom section and order two white cabinets. One with two drawers on the bottom and 3 shelves. The other had shelves only but with some dividers. Both with doors to keep out the sun. Then I sorted my stash by color if they were misc. My Thimbleberries got sorted by color and put in plastic shoeboxes with no lids. The others were also put in shoeboxes and then if I need some blues I just pull out the shoebox with blues it it. So basically cabinets with shelves with doors with plastic shoeboxes sorted by color.

Well, I don't know if this is a repeat, or just weird, but its worked for me. I have bins for individual projects, and have others divided into orientals, large pieces (backings), solids, blenders, & ,then,color groups. Good luck!:thumbup:

I think whatever is right for you is right! I color coordinate mine except for polka dots which I put altogether in one spot. Have fun.

I also have my stash in 2 five shelf bookcases & I sort them alphabetically by color with the exception of kid prints, Christmas, holiday & floral. On the bottom shelves are my 3-ring binders with patterns & books. My scraps are kept in plastic bags by color within 2 plastic tubs so if I need a scrap of a certain color I can go to that bin & pull out the bag with the color I want. I'm a very organized person so it helps. As they say (whoever they are) "Organized people are just too lazy to get up & look for it". Being organized does cut down on the time spent looking for a particular color. Have fun.
Mary C

It's cool to see how everyone organizes their fabrics. I do mine totally different from everyone else. I'm not going to say how because it would take too long. But I enjoyed reading all of these. Gives me some ideas. Might change my method some.

Now, do you *really* think you're going to get away that, popping in here and tantalizing us with such a comment? :shock::p ROTFLOL!! :D Come on, 'fess up, we ALL learn from you!:thumbup:

Jan in VA

Since I'm an up-cycler to an extent, I organize by fabric type--woolens, denims, flannels, dress shirting, homespun, 100% cotton, cotton/poly blends, etc. Within those categories I sort by amounts--scraps, quarters, yardage.

not only is in important to know how to organize but in which you want to store your fabric. do you have shelves? bins? etc. how many of each? you will have to figure out how best to store your fabric. how much do you have? what storage solutions make the most sense to you? will you be able to find what you want and know what you have? we can all tell you how WE do it, but how YOU do it will be different. make some sense of the chaos and work with your fabric, the space and the storage types.