ragamuffin

I worked for a moving company, and it was the best job I ever had. Beats doing payroll any day. I would not recommend using fabric to pack dishes, etc. The rule to follow is - the heavier the item, the smaller the box. Always stand dishes on end, not flat, glasses on end, not flat. If you have a large bowl or vase, fill it with paper. The paper will absorb a shock. Lay a layer of crumbled up paper, then say the plates, a layer of paper, then the smaller plates, a layer of paper, then the cups, etc. Just number the boxes and keep an inventory if the moving company does not.
Use one different colored box, we used red, and that will hold all the small items - such as - if you remove the harp from a lamp, wrap it in paper and mark Lamp #1, L/R, and put it in the red box. Wrap the lamp in a blanket or heavy towels, and stand upright in a box. I kept lamps together. Then the shades, use a different box, put the little shades in, separate with paper or a towel, then a bigger shade, then a larger shade. Put paper on the top. Seal the box and mark the box, lamp shades, do not top, meaning that nothing should be put on the top of this box. You will have to mark the boxes on one side, not the top because once the boxes are stacked, you cannot see what is in it.
I would use small boxes for my fabric, like books are packed in. If you are using the plastic bins, tape them shut with packing tape. If you can, a better way is to fold blank newsprint till it is about 4" wide, laid inside each other and pulled out, and use the tape on top so no tape residue is on the plastic box. That way you can write on the tape. You can buy new or used boxes from moving companies or get free boxes that are advertised on craigslist, or some from the wine store. I do not envy someone doing it themselves. I would go in ahead of the men, strip the house so to speak, pack the dishes from the kitchen and dining room, then the lady's clothes, then whatever I could to finish my day out. Pictures are always packed with wrappings, placing them back to back, and front to front to avoid any puncture from the fixtures. If I can be of help to you, please send me a private message. Good luck. Our company used to unpack in a day, and I had all the dishes in the cupboards, the clothes where they belong, and all the furniture placed. All the client had to do was hang the pictures. I am serious. It can be done.

Annaquilts

I don't envy you but I do think it is a good idea to take all your fabric and craft stuff. I could handle "new" furniture (Craigslist) before having to replace my fabric. I agree with it being a good idea to use fabric instead of news paper if need be. I would prefer to take it in the bins I have it in now so I could just set up the studio as soon as I arrived.

Pattia

where in PA Linda? I am heading to Pittsburg in end Nov. I can "help" you if you want. lol Patti

kyquiltlover1942

I used my fabric to wrap my china, collector's glass and pictures when we moved from RI to KY. Actually use less than paper and is better cushioned. And I did not have dozens of boxes labeled Fabric.

nwm50

Space bags for fabrics/battings and then inside totes as to save rooms, not necessarily cheap but may improve the desire to pack up & not be overwhelmed by the volume of it

coopah

I have moved many times, too and agree with GrandmaPeggy. :-) Good luck with the move.

beksclen

No ideas but wanting to welcome you to TN. We came from MI just over 7 years ago and absolutely love living on the Plateau.

damaquilts

When I had to move from VA to GA I decided I had things sorted the way I wanted and wasn't going to mess with it much. I already had my fabric on boards. Which out of everything I have tried is the best for me. I found or cut down boxes to fit the boards and packed that way I also took a photo printed it out on plain paper and taped it to the side of the box so I knew what was in it since I didn't know how long I would have before unpacking. I didn't have a whole house to pack just two rooms so it was easier for me. Books were packed in small boxes I could handle and a list taped to the outside of the box. I tried to label every box as to what was actually in it. Toward the end there were some things just put in wherever they would fit but all in all its been easy to unpack. I had already downsized while in VA Had to get rid of a lot of things I didn't want to but that's life.

Snooze2978

Been there, done that. when I decided to put my house on the market, I packed up all my stash in plastic totes, machines in their perspective packing boxes, etc. Never in my wildest imagination did I think it would take 3 years to sell the house. My entire sewing room was in a supposedly A/C storage unit for all that time. But it all came out okay. The plastic totes didn't survive as they put heavier items on top of them and the weight cracked either the container or the lid on most of them. I even found one of my embroider machines at the bottom of a very tall pile and shreked from horror. Since the machine was in its original box with the styrofoam forms around it, the machine came out okay. Sure makes you wonder what these professionals are thinking about when they load up their trucks though. Some of my furniture didn't come out as lucky though.

Good luck on your move. I moved from Florida to Iowa. It was so good to see my sewing room again after all that time. I too put the sewing room off to the side till the rest of the house was unpacked. Hardest thing I ever did.......:-)

ShirlinAZ

In 44 years of marriage I've moved 18 times. In some of the early moves I had to totally dejunk and move the bare minimum. The most important thing I've learned is that more small boxes are way better than less big boxes! I also use my fabric, as well as towels, sheets, etc., as packing material. Yes, the boxes are a bit heavier than if I used paper or peanuts to pack, but on the other hand I don't have to pay for as much packing material then throw it away when I get to the new place. I do pack my fine china and crystal in foam and load it at the top of the truck. Using the fabric to pack clean dishes and such does not get it any dirtier than packing it alone in boxes, and helps keep the number of boxes/bins down.