Organizing Fabric

[LRM]

I have three categories of fabric: large pieces, small but completely usable scraps, and scraps. The scraps I keep in baggies by color-ish, the large pieces I keep folded neatly by color. However, I'm wondering about the mid-size. I know color seems logical, but I have lines of fabric that go together and I'd kind of like to keep them that way. I sometimes forget about the set if I separate them

Just curious how you organize your fabric.

[Sandy Navas]

A typical quilter's dilemma. If you get the PERFECT response, please let me know.

[Bubby]

I sort my stash primarily by color, but some are by category. A few of my categories include batiks, juvenile/kids, 1930's reproduction prints, holidays, flannel and precuts. If I have a full line of fabrics I will keep them together but store them by the dominant color of the prints. stash organization is an ever changing evolution the longer you are a quilter.

Jenny's newest tutorial on the pet beds would be a nice use of some of your small scraps. Be sure to watch it if you haven't already.

[coffeebreak]

I have the same size separation. I have 1/2 yard and higher on a book case shelf...three stacks per shelf and by color.....with solids on the bottom of the stack and prints on top of the stack. Then I have fat quarters to less than 1/2 yard...smaller than yardage, but bigger than scraps, folded and two rows right to left in the top drawer of a tall dresser of four drawers. Next drawer has same, but some a little smaller or specific kids theme or pieces I am saving for something specific. Then scraps (smaller than 1/8 yd) and I just toss till it is full then separate into drawers by color in a plastic 5 drawer on wheels thing. I have another narrow 5 drawer lingerie style chest of drawers...and have charms in the first drawer and the next two are with poly/cotton fabric broadcloth that I have for linings and storage in the bottom two. At the moment, anyway, But I am sure that will change eventually!

[Quiltfreestyle]

I have a tall bookcase in the closet of my sewing room. I put almost all my fabric on foam core "bolts". Fat quarters are on smaller bolts, everything larger than a fat quarter are on the larger bolts. I also keep my batiks, civil war repo & 30's repo fabrics separated in cloth bins I got at Big Lots.
Any scraps smaller than a fat quarter I cut up into charm squares or random strips. When the stip bin is full, that's when I make another scrappy strip quilt.
The "bolts" make it easy for me to pull a bunch of fabrics when planning a quilt & put them back without messing up a folded stack. I used that method for a long time but constantly refolding fabric every time I pulled some out got to be a pain...
As someone earlier said, your storage needs will change & adapt over time.
Good luck.

[Juliet Taylor]

Since I don't have that great amount of fabrics I simply organized them by color

[Sylvia H]

I organize primarily by size, and then by color. I keep the different sizes in separate bins. Within each size, I also have a section where there are multiple colors. I keep them separate just so I will remember to check them when I am looking for coordinate colors/prints. Next, I do keep "lines" together, mostly by size. Finally, I also have some bins for themed fabrics, like holiday fabric and batiks.

I find managing the leftovers the most challenging, and I don't feel I have discovered the "right for me" method yet - but it is evolving.

[LRM]

Sounds like I should just enjoy the reorganization process because it will happen over and over.
Thanks for all the good ideas. You have validated a "multi" method with one system for most fabrics, and a different one for lines or specialty fabrics. Also, I like the idea of using foam core "bolts". My aunt uses half a hanging file folder, with her small pieces folded over the top. She then hangs them in a file cabinet!
Good thing it is my 2015 goal to do a little organization each day. Happy New Year!

[Sandy Navas]

Louise - I, too, use the foam core. I bought a box of 20x30 inch boards from Dollar Tree (there were 25 boards in a box). I used painter's tape and strapped them all together in a stack and had my husband cut them into six 10 inch squares. I wound up with 150 pieces on which to wrap my fabric. I folded the fabric length wise and wrapped around the boards, securing the tail with a T-pin.

These work well for me - I also had him cut one stack in half again, winding up with 5x10 inch pieces that are great to wrap FQs.

It's the left overs and the scraps that have me totally over-whelmed - oh, that and my buying practices having an enabler for a husband. I oohed and aahed over the DD this morning and he tells me to order it . . . I need it like I need another hole in my head.

[LRM]

Louise - I, too, use the foam core. I bought a box of 20x30 inch boards from Dollar Tree (there were 25 boards in a box). I used painter's tape and strapped them all together in a stack and had my husband cut them into six 10 inch squares. I wound up with 150 pieces on which to wrap my fabric. I folded the fabric length wise and wrapped around the boards, securing the tail with a T-pin.

These work well for me - I also had him cut one stack in half again, winding up with 5x10 inch pieces that are great to wrap FQs.

It's the left overs and the scraps that have me totally over-whelmed - oh, that and my buying practices having an enabler for a husband. I oohed and aahed over the DD this morning and he tells me to order it . . . I need it like I need another hole in my head.

Awesome! I love a bargain and Dollar Tree is a good source for bargains! I have three drawer plastic organizers in the closet (two side by side, wish it was a full shelf like Coffeebreak!) and I could cut the foam core to fit in those.

Thanks for the directions for making bolts.