Fabric Organization
 

I would be interested to know how you organize your fabrics. I started using the cardboards used with the comic books but found that my shelves don't have enough space to allow the fabric boards to stand on end. I'm about half way with this but I'm not sure it's what I want to continue. Would love to hear your favorite way to store your yardage that helps with organization and fabric visibility to know what's in your stash? Thanks.

I hope to do the comic boards one day; it looks so nice and tidy. I currently have my fabric stacked by color on open shelves in my sewing room. I have fat quarter bundles on a separate shelving unit in the hallway; I bought a lot of bundles when I first started quilting, but am moving away from that now. My stash is not large; keeping fabric in containers that I had to bend to reach would not be practical for me, so I have to limit my stash to the available shelf space, where I can see it and reach it easily.

This is how I organize mine. The picture was taken awhile back, so there's not quite so much room on my shelves now. http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...78-479531.html

Ksdot417 how tall are your bookshelves? I like how they sit straight up while being close together. I just helped my sister put some bookshelves together but when we put them side by side they lean, just makes it look awful.

You can cut the comic book boards to fit the space you have in your book shelves. I do that to fit them in my drawer units and it works out great. just measure the height of your shelves and cut the boards to size, then wrap your fabric around them.

I ruler fold my fabric and it is stored in the plastic drawers from a big box store. I wouldn't have room to store the fabric on comic boards. The drawers are full enough that the fabric stands straight anyway.

I have just started folding my fabrics on a cardboard that fits on edge in my dresser drawers. I found I can store more fabrics in the drawers and can see at a glance what I have. Still in process of this organization.

I have my fabric on the comic boards and then in the file size plastic boxes/bins. Then there are boxes of Christmas fabric, Halloween and Thanksgiving fabric, Children's fabrics, florals, solids and then the professional sports teams. Then I put the bins on shelves.

I fold my stash in three different sizes;

large amounts are folded as they are at the LQS (although without the cardboard center-takes up room that I can use for more fabric)

medium amounts of fabric are folded to look like books (standing up on their sides, about 1/2 the height of bolted fabric-you'd be amazed how much fabric you can fit in a cabinet that way-again no cardboard centers-allows more room for fabric)

1 yard or less pieces-folded the size of fat quarters and stacked vertically.

All medium and small amounts are in color groupings. All large and medium fabrics are in my cabinet that has doors. My small sized fabrics have been bumped to one of our book shelves, as there's no longer space in the cabinet for them. But I'm always on the lookout for a larger cabinet that can hold all of my cotton fabric. All flannel is in a different shelving unit in a closet upstairs.

This how my fabric are stored, I was going to say organized, so this is a picture..OK, it does not exactly look this anymore but I fix it up about every 4-6 months.[ATTACH=CONFIG]569238[/ATTACH]

I have since added some curtains for neatness, and protect is from dust and sunlight. Each closet is 6ft and I have 4 shelves. The only things I have in tubs in the bottom on the floor are UFO..oh..I also have some under the longarm.

Originally, I ruler folded the fabric but got frustrated because I had to stack the fabric. When I moved I thought to use the comic book boards but my primary shelves have wooden slats about 2 inches up from the shelves (my Dad made the shelves after an earthquake and he wanted to keep things from falling off) and the comic book boards bend going in (and making them shorter wastes space). So now my larger pieces are stacked in the shelves. Pieces less than a yard are folded and stand up on end in drawers. I went back to ruler folding for the larger pieces, but I cut the boards in half for the smaller ones so they stand up in the drawers.

Sometimes the answer is staring you in the face...LOL. Never thought about cutting the boards, but what a simple solution.

Thanks.

What are comic boards and how do you get them?

Since the hubs made my xl cabinet the shelves are larger (24" deep and 36" long), I can put 2 rows of fabric on comic boards. I stand the back row upright and the front stands on the longer edge (side). I can quickly see my stash. Fabric I don't use as much stands in the back. Knits, synthetics, polys and some flannels.

You can get them at the comic book stores or go to a dollar discount and get poster board and customize your size. I haven't used all of mine because my stash isn't as large. I have also used the bolt boards that some fabric shops also Walmart toss. When I buy fabric and it's at the end of the bolt, I ask for the board. If you have any old shirt boxes, those help. They're mainly used to help keep them upright. Can also order online.

I ruler fold mine and stand them on end by color in a 4 drawer dresser. These are all less than a yard. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535083999461797593/

Larger pieces ( up to 5 yards) look like this: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/535083999461797611/

How do you ruler fold?

My shelves are higher than the comic boards---how would I use the space effecient if I were to fold on the boards?
Right now, my fabric is folded and stacked. On the higher shelves, I have used the throw-away cookie sheets from the $ store to keep the stacks from falling over. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!

I have anything 3 yds and under on the comic book boards by color in lg clear plastic bins and have my larger on fabric boards on shelves. You can ask in your fabric stores and they will usually give you their empty ones.

I use Polar notions boards, can put on 5 yards, and can put 3 fabrics and pattern for a project all on one board. they are great, got mine at Paducah quilt show

I prefer the comic book boards or bolt boards for the larger quantities but after buying 1500 of them and still needing more I decided to use the ruler folding method for the rest of them. They don't stay up as nicely but works for the moment.

Where does everyone get their comic book boards so I know to get the right ones?

I mostly buy 4 - 6 yds, fold them with a ruler, stack them on the wire shelves. Small amounts (usually left from larger) are just folded and stack on top shelf. I have used up lots stil have lots.

I've been ruler folding too and stacking. Actually, I started out being really neat and tidy but now I'm just trying to unpack it all and sort it by color and theme. I'm going for the done is better than perfect philosophy. I'm being reminded about so many planned projects and also that I really don't need any more turquoises any time soon. Feels good!

I got my comic boards at Amazon. Just do a search for "comic boards" with a lot of choices, I get the ones that are 8.5 X 11 without bags, they are the right size for my shelves and when the fabric is folded it fits perfectly. I am blessed with a large walk in closet and placed closetmaid shelving in it floor to ceiling. As it is currently pretty full, I am on a "fabric restriction" and only buy what I need to use that stash up.
My problem now is what to do with fat quarters. They are currently folded and in Artbin containers kinda sorted by color but not really and are a pain to access and use. How do you store and organize fat quarters?

Every once in a while, your call on distance, instead of inserting vertically, put a stack (fabric facing you) on its side and make it go to the top of the shelf so you use some of that vertical space. Then alternate back to stacking vertically. etc. etc. You can use some of those old metal book ends every once and a while if your shelves are long to hold vertical sections just so.

I put fat quarters in one of those shoe or sweater things that hang from a bar and have little caves.

My shelves are adjustable and I have them at 12 1/2" high. If I have a shelf that not's completely full I just put something next to the fabric to hold them upright.

I use the comic book boards and just limit myself to what fits in my space. I know that doesn't work for everyone. This cabinet holds all of my yardage and just a few of my fat quarters. I have a couple of drawers of fat quarters, plus a couple of unopened bundles, plus some precuts (with any matching yardage) stored in a covered box.

My choice would be to add more shelves if possible. If can't move existing shelves, I would put in a thin shelf above each to put 1 inch boxes to hold tools or small scraps as want. I use candy boxes with labels on front. neat and convenient. Size of box controlled by height.

I like scrap quilts and have a lot of sizes and scraps. I include fat quarters with yardage. I fold it so it goes with my big stuff. Like it not folded different and fits better. Extra creases gone. If odd subject, goes with centers (medalions), panels, kit ideas, or orphan blocks.

Gale, I LOVE your Granny Smith green cabinet and all that cheery fabric. :thumbup:

I use cheap book cases I've picked up at thrift stores for $5 to $10. The shelves are moveable, so I can add or take out as needed. Here's a pic of my first one. It only had one fixed shelf in it and the others were missing but for $5 I brought it home. The bottom section was just the right size for standard fabric bolts so I didn't put a new shelf there. Went to home depot and bought a long piece of cheap shelving and had it cut to put shelves in the upper part. The book case is just the right height for three rows of fabric on comic boards. I have more book cases now, one configured like this one and one with more shelves in it.
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Cari

Thank you! For 20+ years it was boring tan and I kept meaning to paint it. I finally did and I couldn't be happier with it. As you can probably tell, I love bright colors and that tan was just not working.

Most of it is stored by project. Extra fabric is usually in bins with other items.

Take and screw them together top and bottom