Lateral File Storage
 

My employer was giving away two metal lateral filing cabinets so I brought them home for fabric storage. They are very heavy, and I'm so proud of myself for getting them out of the van and into the house all by my lonesome without major injury. The hardest part was getting the files stacked on top of each other in that small closet. It took a while to figure out how to do that, but I eventually got them in there.

The first picture is how I was storing my fabric before... hanging in a closet on clothes hangers.

Today I have spent hours folding fabric to fit into the lateral files. There is four times more fabric in that closet now, and there is plenty of room left for more. Only I don't want any more. I think the cure for buying too much fabric is to refold everything that you have. I need to start using it up.

The really cool thing about those drawers is that they pull out making it easy to see what's on the shelves. :)

I really like that! Easy to see what you have and pull out for easy access. You're absolutely right about refolding fabric being a cure to buying new. Well, almost a cure. :) Looking at your fabric makes me want to go play in mine!

It looks great, but, I have a suggestion, if you ruler fold the fabric, and then lay the fabric on the edge, you can see what you have, and be able to get it out without disturbing the whole stack, of course, then you'll have tons of room. LOL I'd post a pic of my filing cabinets but haven't figured out how to do it.

Love it. And free too. A lot of work but well worth it.

I also LOVE IT because it will keep the light off of you fabrics.

What a smart way to store fabrics. And you're right, refolding or reorganizing stash makes a person think twice about buying more! Have fun with the new to you filing system!

Great idea!

Very nice. I am a very visual person so your fabric storage really appeals to me. And, how could one say no to a "free" offer. You scored!

I really love that idea! You did a very good job!!

Cool! I thank they are perfect!

Very nice...

Many years ago I worked at GTE in the accounting dept. We had these type cabinets. They were getting rid of couple in our dept and no one else wanted them. My dad helped me bring them home. They fit perfectly in my small home for storage. Wish I still had them.

Pocoellie, what does that mean? I don't see how it wouldn't still be a pile. I do need a pic!
JENNR8R, those aren't just laterals, they are credenzas - awesome!

I've got regular laterals that you have to hang folders in, don't know if I could use them. I would have to hang the fabric on little hangers - anybody done that?

Nice! Your are a very lucky and a resourceful one.

SueSew-I would be happy to post a picture, if I could figure out HOW to post one, it used to be so easy(in the beginning), but have tried a couple of times and still haven't figured out how.

So I fold the fabric around an 8 1/2" wide ruler, slide it out and then lay the fabric down so the fold part is facing outward, like the spine of a book, like bolts all lying down one on top of each other, but I still have to lift up all the other fabrics? I must be dense.

SueSew I ruler fold mine too and I can't get it to stand upright so now I am wrapping it around the comic book boards and it stands up nicely. I like being able to take it out without having to pull the whole stack out to get to the bottom.

Great job, looks so neat !

SueSew, the best way to try to explain how I store mine is, I ruler fold with a 4" ruler, then I lay them side by side in the drawers, this way I can see exactly what I'm looking for, well, that is, until I have too much, then start stacking them on top. LOL I have 7 of the pattern cabinets, all filled with just quilting cottons, minus flannel, which are out in the storage shed, since I don't use it often. I sort each drawer by background color, blues, reds, etc. I find the 4" ruler is best, because too much wider, the folded fabric without stiffing of some kind, is kind of wobbly and you don't have that problem with the 4" folded fabric.

Very nice! Lucky you.

great storage

Great idea! Nice use of the cabinets, and a nice way to easily see what is in your stash.

That looks really good, great idea.