cmw0829

I wrap my fabric on cardboard magazine boards (comic boards but a little larger). Then put on a bookcase shelves vertically. I do wish I had glass doors on the bookcase though.

This makes it really easy to "shop" my stash. And I can remove one fabric with one hand and without disturbing any others as I would if I stacked them.

Deborahlees

I like stackable drawers from walmart. I fold my fabric and then put them in on end, I sort by color, and that way I can thumb thru to see what I can use....Pieces over a yard go on bolts from Joann, that I cut in half like little minnie bolts...when I do that I pin a little postit note on the end telling me how much is there, that is usually for backings...

Jingle

I use to store my fabrics in big plastic clear boxes with lids. I never noticed any odor or anything. I just got real tired of moving them around. We bought a 48 x 72" cabinet at Lowe's and I folded fabric with a ruler. I had so much a couple of shelves broke and my Husband had to reinforce them. The little plastic things that hold the shelves broke under the weight. I have 6 or 7 large pieces in a stack and three rolls on each shelf. I am finally seeing a shelf getting lighter. I make a quilt about every two weeks and really don't use much of it.

susie-susie-susie

Jingle, I think I have the same cabinet. I got mine at Lowe's' too. I have lined the walls of my sewing room with that cabinet (a wardrobe cabinet) and several smaller cabinets. Works great. I also have 2 open bookshelves. Everyone who stores their fabric on open bookcases, please be careful because the sun will fade most fabrics on the fold line over time. I used to store my fabric on open bookcases, and that is what happened to me. Lots of spoiled fabric. I did enjoy looking at all my fabric, though.
Sue

coffeebreak

What's this "fold with a 6x24 inch ruler" thing about?

Tartan

I believe that the ruler method is used in place of the mini bolt boards. For the mini bolt- you fold the fabric again (selvages to the factory fold edge)so that it measures about 11 inches wide. You start rolling/ folding the length of the fabric around the mini bolt until it is all wound on like the fabric bolts at the store but smaller. In the ruler method you use a 6 X 12 or longer ruler in place of the mini bolt board. The difference is when you have the fabric all folding/rolled around the ruler you carefully pull the ruler out and store the folded fabric on the shelf. Those who ruler fold, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

LadyElisabeth

I have wood bookcases lining the walls of my double garage. Plastic can sweat so have never used the plastic boxes for storage. I do use the plastic tubs when going to a sale as they help keep the fabric clean and are easy to transport.

DebbE

One thing to keep in mind is where do you live? If its humid or you get lots of rain (like Oregon, where I live), then I would store on open shelving for lots of air circulation. The added bonus is I smile everytime I walk into my quilt room, with all the colors and fabrics on display. I used Billy shelves from Ikea, and have a wall of those -- folded my fabrics so they fit on the shelves (11" deep) and its perfect. Separated by colors, Christmas, Australian, baby/children, misc and "All Creatures Great & Small" - a quilt I hope to do in the not too distant future. In between are baskets of various things (old hankies, patterns, threads, etc) on shelves & pics. I think you need to do it so you can see what you have easily.

Prism99

Cardboard boxes, and actually any wood products that are not treated (including tissue paper), are hard on fabric. Wood contains an acid that gradually eats fabric. This is one reason why many antique quilts that were stored for long periods of time in cedar chests have brown stains and holes in them.

To make cardboard boxes safe, you would have to either line them with muslin or spray them with a polyester film to prevent leaching of the acid.

I have stacking plastic tubs for my fabric. If you go that route, my advice is to skip the really big tubs because they get too heavy. I like the smaller tubs that are all see-through plastic. I tape a label to the inside of the tub (label facing outside), which keeps the labels from getting dirty and also allows me to replace the label easily. My very favorite tubs have latches on the box which make taking the lid on and off very easy, plus they stack really well. Unfortunately, Walmart isn't selling them any more. If you can afford it, it's really nice to buy all the tubs at the same time, as similar sized tubs from the store vary over time and often don't "play well" with existing tubs.

nannyrick

This also happened to me but I have to store in plastic bins. What I did is I bought some of those little votive
candles from Yankee Candles.They have room freshner ones and that cured that plastic smell for good and now
the fabric smells very nice when you use it and is gone by the time you are finished with your project.