You know you have to much fabric when
 

You have lost 20 yards of NEW fabric! Last night I got a wild hair and decided to ruler fold my fabric. I took all the fabric out of my bathtub in the 2nd bathroom (yup didn't have any place to store it in my sewing room). Started ruler folding --Then I panicked - I couldn't find all the neutrals I purchased in the last 4 weeks. The more I folded the more anxious I got --even started calling a couple of restaurants I had been in and showing the fabric to friends. Do you know how embarrassing it is to ask if anyone has turned in a package of fabric in the last 4-5 weeks?

I finally found the fabric this morning --on the arm of the couch in the family room, under a pillow. I've been folding for at least 6 hours now and still not close to being done. I am finding a home for all the fabric that had been stored in the tub. I've found many backing fabrics and many fabrics I forgot I even had. I think I will be working on this project for the next week but now am feeling really good about the progress I have made.

By the way - the ruler folding is working really well -- it is surprising how nice all the fabric looks, and how organized everything is - with the fabric all folded the same way you can see what you have and even can figure out about how much is in each piece by the number of folds. This whole process has been a wakeup call for me -- I wanted to buy 28 fat quarters to use in a special project -- I will now shop out of my stash -- I certainly have more than enough -- the 28 fat quarters won't even make a dent!!

I spent this week organizing my stash too. It is a daunting task but well worth the time invested. Very glad you found the missing neutrals :-)

I had to laugh at your post as I went through something on smaller scale earlier this week. I am not familiar with ruler folding can you direct me to some information? I am happy that you found your fabric.

GrammaNan - ruler folding is very easy -- fold your fabric with the selvedges together, then fold in half again. Place a 6 x 12 inch ruler along one of the raw edges, then keep folding until you reach the end of your fabric. I believe there is a tutorial on this process. I know a lot of people use the comic boards to fold their fabric on but I hardly have enough room for my fabric let alone adding boards to it.

Wow thats alot of work. I justfold in half keep repeating till it fits in the drawer.
or tote or now a couple of bags because i dont have anymore room. Think i needt start a scrap quilt. Any ideas?

I, too, like the ruler folding method. I have started folding my stash with this method. I need to finish. I get side tracked easily!!

I bought some Asian fabric, and some Kona bolts and do you know I can't find it. In fact I have a big 31 bag full, and have misplaced it. arghhhhhhh. Tomorrow going on a field trip as someone had fabric/lace ad on Craigslist and going to look at it.

I'm determined to complete this project -- didn't know what I was going to do with the fabric purchased for the backs of quilts. Decided to put them on a hanger in the closet. I now have 8 drawers of fabric folded and put away; 6 more drawers to go. Then there is the closet to go through!

I was doing that -- then I got bored and cut out a quilt and started piecing it and oh what a mess I made!!!

I ruler fold my fabric and it sure makes it nice to find it back. I have a former bedroom for my fabric and it is full. My husband says I have more than I can ever use and yet I keep buying. Guess I am a hoarder of fabric. I always shop from my stash but then when I go to fabric store I always seem to find something I must have.

I try to ruler fold and organize once a month, most months I do get a good start :o{ Then I run across a couple pieces I bought for this Great Idea (which believe it or not, I make a note and pin it to the fabric) and think ok I can start that project and then it gets started and put in the UFO :o) Oh well I pray God keeps blessing me with more tomorrows so I can finish all my "Projects" Enjoy your new organized Stash!!

Good for You! .... for finding the fabric and organizing the fabric. I did that a while ago and it's been so easy to chose the correct fabric.

Now when you shop your stash...pay yourself for the fabric you use...thereby saving up for the next shopping trip!

We like pictures so post some if you have some!
Nan

I ruler folded my fabric several years ago and now the first place I shop is my stash. It really helped to be able to see everything I had.

I keep mine folded and as neat as I can it sure makes it nice !

wow. from someone who can't afford a stash all I can say is-wow. have fun with your new organized room!

Do you have any pictures??. Sounds like a great effort....way to go!

:D While I don't have nearly as much fabric as you, I have 'lost' pieces, from time to time. The latest missing pieces turned up in the bottom of the laundry hamper. They were still waiting to be washed. Washed one of them (4 yard length), yesterday evening. After pulling it from the dryer, was folding it and didn't have a wide ruler handy, so grabbed a flat Priority Rate packing box. In very short order, that baby was neatly folded . . . and I felt as if I'd just invented a new folding tool! :D

I bought fabric to make my DH a quilt last winter. We went from 1 hobby room to 2, and I can't find the fabric anywhere. I know I had it put up to surprise him. Now I'm in a panic, where did it go, fabric gremlins maybe? Just praying it didn't get took away in donation box with fabric I knew I wouldn't use.
Penny

I knew I had to much fabric when I brought home some fat quarters and had nowhere to put them. I knew I had reached my limit when I could not store a piece of 18 X 20 piece of fabric.

This made me have such a chuckle!

And I thought I was bad or should I say my daughter thinks I am bad. She says no more fabric stores for me for a while....LOL..

I, too, lost some fabric, all in shades of aqua. My son is to be married Mar or Apr. and it was for his wedding. However, I talked to him today and told him I am making his daughter, 21, one for Christmas. Today I found his fabric after 6 months. It was to be a copy of a log cabin that moves up the quilt into a heart. But because of time, it may be a Disappearing 9 patch. His daughter's quilt was hand quilted by my Amish friend in Pa., but now she got a
king size bed, so guess what, I am adding 18" to all 4 sides. So the 3 borders I am adding may be machine quilted
and not hand quilted. How do we always get into these ruts when the holidays are coming. It is beyond me. haha

Man I love the idea of shopping from your stash And then paying yourself. I do shop from mine but never thought of paying myself and saving for the next trip. Love it and will definitely start paying to save. Love, love love it!!!!!!!

That was hilarious! Asking if anyone had turned in a bag of fabric.

I love the ruler folding method, too. Looks so neat .

I need to organize my stash too. 2 weeks ago I decided I needed a certain fabric for the borders of the quilt I am making for my DS for Christmas. I went to the LQS where I was sure i had seen it the week before. I was saying bad words in my head because I couldn't find it. Suddenly the light in my head went on. I thought you idiot that fabric is at home in your stash. Sure enough I went home and there it was. I was so annoyed with myself that I forgot the binding fabric I needed.

I re-fold about every 6 months in opposite direction just to air the fabric out, and if it is out on a shelf, it can fade real easy even tho not in the sun.. and that makes for streaks on the fabric fold.

Do you mean you make a round roll of fabic as opposed to as flat packet shape? I'm confused. However if you tell me that means I have to clean up my fabric, so I'm asking with trepidation!!! LOL;)

I just moved and my fabric's are all stacked willy-nilly So after I finish putting the house together I am going to get started on re-organizing and this sounds like a great way to get all this fabric under control.

I folded all my fabric last year and it took me a whole week! Now I've put new fabric away without doing that, so yep that's on my list to get in there and clean up my mess..........after Christmas!

Since this is tell the truth time......... I "Lost" a very special block from a class and couldn't find it anywhere!!!! I tore this room up looking for it..:hunf:...even called the teacher [a personal friend] and asked her if someone turned it in after class.....no they hadn't........as we were talking, I looked up to one of my design walls, and yep there it was!!!!!!!
well, duhhhhhhh, oh well, we all have brain fa*ts and no that in Not fabric acquisition road trip. lol

I ruler folded all my fabric over the last few months and I'm so happy with it. I use a 24" by 6 1/2" ruler and fold the fabric just as it comes off the bolt. Once I've got it all wrapped around the ruler, I slip the ruler out and fold it in half.

Taking the time to fold it also meant that I could edit my stash as I went. I sold quite a bit at a yard sale, some on my blog and some here on QB. Some has also gone to Goodwill. Everytime I even think about buying fabric I just take a walk down to my quilt studio and that cures the urge. The only thing I'm buying these days are solids and things to finish UFOs!

It feels really good to get rid of things you'll never use, although there's a little bit of an ache when getting rid of fabric. Sort of a "what if I need it for.....". But it does go away when you look at your organized room. And if mine is ever truly organized I'll know what that feels like!

I've lost fabric before, too. I keep needing to reorganize my stash. Part of the reason I think is I keep buying new fabric is because there is a lot of fabric I have I really don't like any more. I know I probably won't ever use it. I gave a lot away last spring, but it looks like I need to go through again and be a lot tougher this time. Just because I have yards of it, it's no good if it's never going to be used. I guess I need to start making some quilt tops for church (a group ties and finishes them) or donate material to a group that will put it to good uses.

Today I hit the wall -- I absolutely can not fold any more fabric. I only have two small stacks of fabric to go through to fold and put away and I just can't do it. I will be giving away a bunch of panels (Christmas vests, Halloween vests, holiday dolls (witches and Santa), fabric for baby clothes and a bag of scraps to whoever wants it on Tuesday at the Guild meeting. The sewing room is looking much better, I have folded 16 drawers of fabric, found backing fabric for 28 quilts and have rediscovered pieces I forgot I had. All the backing fabric is now hanging in the closet by color. It will be so easy to grab one to finish a quilt -- before it was stacked in a closet and not easy to get to.

Now I need to find a pattern to loan to another person. Sigh -- have no idea where that might be -- I do know it isn't in my sewing room!!

love the ruler folding method! never heard of it and will do this after Christmas!

Having moved many many times, I have "lost" & "found" fabrics over and over. As my sons are now off living their own lives, I'm in the process of turning their old room into my quilting/crafting room. I've started using the fabric organizers from Polarnotions.com and ADORE them. My stash is starting to look sooo pretty.

As a quilter I am often reminded of a Norman Rockwell picture on the front of Saturday Evening Post (I think that's the right magazine.) There were four parts to the picture. Lady sitting behind desk -- everything on desk perfect order. Next same lady at home --- everything jumbled. Then lady at home everything organized. Next lady at work --- her desk stacked. When I get sewing stuff organized, the rest of the house is jumbled. If house is all tidy the sewing stuff is out of control. -- Wish I could paint this like Mr. Rockwell. Maybe I could have more money for fabric. LOL

Your story was amusing and great you also found amusement in the panic. That is a good quality. Would be happy to take some of your bath tub overload and put it to good use.

Nammie, you are an amateur stasher. I have 15 dressers of stash. for some reason, DH thinks I should use all that up before I buy more.

Congratulations on getting control of your stash!

I have spent several hours over the last few weeks sneaking into the sewing room, taking fabric out of tote bins, ruler folding it, and putting it away. I am down to the last couple of totes, we just got a storage building delivered to clear out a bunch of stuff that was waiting in the sewing room, and Christmas is almost here. On my next couple of days off I think I can finish organizing the sewing room and take some pics to post. Of course that will probably be the last time it looks neat, but we will have the pictures.