Comic boards vs. stacking
 

I know there are many wonderful examples and tutorials on folding stash fabric over comic boards.
My stash closet is getting out of hand . We converted the entire closet in my sewing room to shelving. My stash is currently all stacked in piles that were neat. The more I rifle through stuff the messier it gets. I can tell this is not a long term solution. I was wondering if folding the fabric over comic boards saves space? I am thinking of starting this process but I am afraid of discovering I no longer have enough room for my complete stash.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I just reuse cardboard. I don't plan on having the fabric around forever and any cardboard made here does not have acid. I like to wrap my fabrics so I don't have to make a mess when looking for the perfect fabric

I have no idea what space would be saved or lost, I have both folded and on boards. The folded, as you know, have a tendency to get messy. My boards don't. So the choice is simple for me. I use foam coir boards I get from the $ store, and cut to the size I want and reuse.

I use the comic book boards because when I had it folded and stacked I couldn't see what I had. I like to keep the greens with the greens and the blues with the blues, etc. Also, I keep mine in plastic totes and section them off by color and theme (i.e.: Christmas is separate as is Halloween and Thanksgiving fabric because I have so much of each. I do have a few pieces of 5 yards or more that I do keep folded and separate from other fabric that I bought on sale or for a specific purpose and do not want to cut small pieces off.

When I converted my stash from folding to comic book boards it took a long time. I bought 100 boards, ended up going back 3 times to get more. (The store is only a mile from my house.) I can't remember how long it actually took because it seemed as I went along I kept rearranging it. It certainly was more than a couple days.

I like the way it looks as well. I guess all there is to do is give it a try. Thanks, ladies.

My stash currently fits in the closet albeit tightly. If I start with boards I am afraid i would spend a lot of time and effort on it but wind up with a lot of extra fabric I wouldnt have a home for-- that it wouldn't all fit back in there . That's why I was hoping someone went thru the process and ( ideally) discovered that boarding the fabric actually saves space in the end.

Maybe a stupid question but what are comic boards?

KittyD, comic boards you buy at a store that handles old comic books. They use these board to store the comic books.
Usually, come in 300 or 500 pkgs.

riverandwoods, I put shelves in my closet, put the material on boards (was in totes) and yes in was worth the time.
I had a lot more room and could find my colors of material better. My larger pieces I folded and put on the top shelf. Hope this helps.

Guess I'm the odd one out here. I had my fabric on comic boards then decided it wasn't for me. Too much folding and unfolding. I went back to ruler folding and had a lot more space for my fabric.

I prefer folding my fabric and storing in drawers based on color or print. My problem is after using the fabric, getting it FOLDED and PUT BACK. That is not as much fun as piecing the quilt!

I think an important step in keeping the stacks somewhat neat is putting back whatever one dragged out and is not going to use at the moment.

I have some of my fabric on comic book boards but the rest of it I store in plastic bins by color and theme. If we ever get to build our cabin in Colorado I will take my comic book boards and wrap my fabric on to them I will have shelves under the window that I can store my fabric on. I will also have shelve for my magazines and books.I will have a room big enough for sewing machine and cutting table and my tv and cabinet with dvd and vcr player, cd's and all I will also have space for a Statler Stitcher.

I saw a quilter folding fabric over a 12" x 24" ruler (as I recall). She started with maybe 3" on top, then just flipped and folded, then slipped the ruler out. I was amazed at how much you could then stack, and kinda tell by the thickness whether there is 1 yard, 2, etc.

I'm also working on getting my fabric organized. Looks like a bomb went off in that room LOL

I get my boards from Joann's. I ask for the empty fabric boards and they're happy to get rid of them. They just throw them away -- best part? They're free. You just have to cut the boards to the size you want which can be a little challenging because they are a little thicker than the comic boards. But again....free....

this is my 2016 goal.

I use old cardboard boxes...I cut them into 6" width and about 10" in height. My Billy bookcases from Ikea are completely filled with my neatly folded stash and I spent zero dollars for comic boards!

If you use the whole 100 boards it takes up about 1 1/2 inches. I like to leave the selvage edge showing of the fabric that has the color guide on it. That way I can reference other colors.

It still all depends if you "put" it back or "shove" it back. Makes all the difference.

Although it took me quite a while to wrap my stash on comic boards it was so worth it. I can see what I have and pulling one out doesn't result in messing up a pile.

Your sewing room sounds like mine!!! Can't count how many times I needed the fabric near the bottom and had to unstack everything on the top to get to it, then re-stack it.

Anyway ...

As for saving space, it will highly depend on how well the space is utilized. If for example your shelves are 12" high and the comic boards are only 10" high ... you are wasting 2" on every single shelf. But then if you know your shelves are 12" high you can get *something* (corrugated plastic for example) cut to within a 1/4" of the shelf height to better utilize space.

My plan is exactly as yours ... I want shelves built to store my fabric on boards in an upright position so I can easily see what I have and grab what I want. I'm disciplined enough that once I am done with the fabric it will go back where it belongs.

I really like comic boards. They stay neat and tidy, look nice and makes it easy to see what you have. I think they actually save space

When I want a fabric from a stack of folded fabrics I put a large square ruler under the fabric I want, then hold the upper part of the stack up and pull out what I want. Helps to keep the stack neater.

I used both the comic book boards and when I run out, just ruler fold till I get another comic book board available. If more than 5 yds I go to my local fabric store and pick up their empty bolts.

I keep a good amount of Connecting Threads name collections but at times its hard to tell one color from the next when I need to order more so with the comic book boards I'll put CT's label on it so I exactly which color I need to order. I also have a printed list for each of their collections and how much of each I have on hand so when I go to their site to order more I'll check my list to see where I might need to order more. Same goes for their quilting threads. Keeps me on top of things.

I do like how my fabric shelves look so nice and orderly with the comic book boards.

What is the ruler fold?

Thank you didi - now to find a store that sells old comic books.

I like using comic boards for neatness, but I don't think they save space. I think it depends on the depth and height of your shelving. If you can adjust your shelves to just the height of the boards standing up and if your shelves are shallow, you will fully utilize your space. But if your shelves are a few inches taller than the boards, you will have dead air space on top of the boards that you would otherwise use in stacking folded fabrics. Analyze your setup in deciding if the boards will work for you, especially if space is really tight.

I can't thank everyone enough for their feedback!

I have a walk-in closet where I keep my fabric. The large pieces I put on hangers and organize them by colors. The smaller pieces I fold and put them in plastic storage bin

No, using boards does not save space. It takes up more because of the thickness of each board. The main advantage is the neatness factor. I have yardage wrapped in dollar store foam board cut to 9x12", but it's not helpful for smaller pieces. I found that folding fabric into about 5 inch squares and filing them front to back in dollar store shoeboxes, by color, then set into a dresser, works for me.

The fabric stays tidy for the most part(unless I get lazy after auditioning a bunch and then stuffing it back in). I have tried hanging yardage on skirt hangers also. That works if it's not too thick/heavy. But usually I resort to dressers to keep things neat and not ready to Avalanche on me.

That is what I do as well.

I store my fabric on comic boards. Instead of rolling my fabric from on the short side, I roll mine on the long side (end to end). I decided to store my fabric this way because I have five 18" deep x 48" wide x 84" tall shelving units that I set up where I can get to both sides of the shelves. Since the shelves are 18" deep, I can place fabric/boards on both sides of the racks. I purchased one extra shelf unit in order to get the extra racks (it was cheaper to purchase an entire unit than to purchase individual racks). Instead of having 5 racks to a unit, I have 6 racks to a unit. By turning my comic boards on their sides, I can store more fabric per unit. Yeah I know - I have a lot of fabric...

I purchase mine on EBAY. In fact I just ordered more this morning. The EBAY number is ( 361257253722 ) 100 for $15.93 no tax and free shipping. I have been buying them there for about a year. They are better than regular cardboard or core board because they are thinner yet stiff. They are 8 1/2 x 11 and I cut many in half so they measure 4 1/4 x 11. I use those for less than 2 yards. 2 to 3 yds. go on the 8 1/2 x 11 and I use quilt shop boards for more yardage than that. I fold the fabric selvedge to selvedge and then once more, and it just fits the boards. Some I stand on a bookcase shelf but the majority are stood on edge in plastic containers and I can see exactly what is there without disturbing it. I found that plain old bobby pins from the Dollar Tree work best for securing the fabric. I have a huge stash and it takes forever when you start, but its well worth the time and money. I now wrap my fabrics as soon as I get them so they won't get out of control again! I have them separated like someone else here said, by Christmas / holidays, some by colors, some like 30's prints, Civil War, and fruits and vege prints, etc.

Thanks, zozee. That is exactly what I wanted to know. I really like the neatness of the comic boards but I better try refolding with a ruler first.

I put mine on comic boards and I got three times the amount of fabric in my cupboard that I previously had. Its so easy to pull out check a color then slide back in. If you use the foam boards instead it does take more room. The comic boards are just heavy card stock so not very thick at all. my shelves were stuffed with ruler folded fabric but after I put it on the boards I was able to unload another two 17 gal tubs of fabric and put that on boards and put that in.
My sister who has been quilting for 35 years after browsing my shelves has asked me to help her put her shelves of fabric onto the boards as she is tired of shifting the stacks to find what she wants. It can be a personal choice and your shelves can make a difference. Mine are just the right depth and shelf height to fit the fabric on the boards. I love mine but use what works for you I bought 100 to start and now am up to almost 500 fabrics on boards and still working.

I use the cardboard that fabric is wrapped on in the store. Cut it to any size you want and wrap your fabric. Joanns is always very happy to just give them to me.

I went from folded to comic boards. I like the comic boards for being able to see my fabric, but I could not stack them as high as I could with the folded. That being said, I still prefer the comic boards!

I keep my fabrics wrapped in recycled cardboards (comic boards style), they look so neat and handy. I will never go back... no more stacking for me!

Glad you started this riverandwoods! I just got 3 packs from Walmart and I'm hoping to start organizing myself. I appreciate everyone's input!

Be careful with cardboard. Many varieties of bugs like to inhabit them.

I didn't put all my fabric on the boards all at once. I did it as I had time. Sometimes I would do it at my kitchen table while watching tv. Or if I had to watch a tutorial, I brought it into my office and folded it. An inch or two above them, I just put any in that color scheme or texture scheme horizontally. Doesn't take that much to move to the side.