How do you organize lots of fabric stash?

[PDQuilt]

Get your fabric out of the plastic!! Bad bad. Gotta breathe. Shelves are great, out of the sun (or bright light). The wire shelving/pull-out drawer units I've found quite useless for a serious collection. Try this: get the (sort of) cheap cardboard filing boxes from Staples or such. As you place your fabric inside, cut a generous strip, so you can really get the full sense of the fabric. Tuck the strips in the handle holes, sticking well outside to see. Best if the fabrics are grouped by color or style. This way, I can find anything....eventually! 8)

[dianaupp]

I have a system similar to what Margo described. I use wire baskets that are 15"x15"and 7" in height. I had my DH cut an old ruler to 6x14 and I fold most everything to that dimension like Margo. However, I struggled with partially filled baskets. I found some small bungie cords and I use two of them to strap the fabric in. I then printed off tags with the catagories (Blue, batik, Xmas, patriotic, etc) and laminated them and attached to the basket front. I can finally find things.

[PDQuilt]

If you do find the wire pull-out baskets adequate, make them totally stable by tying them all together with plastic straps - the kind with the teeth, that won't come undone unless you cut them. My problem was the weight of the fabric which made drawers tough to open/close and bent the drawer tracks. Also, there is a lot of wasted space between the drawers. The good feature is that it totally lets the fabric breathe. My collection is extensive, yet I have very few doubles (that's when you buy fabric you already have!). I do have "why did I buy thats" LOL! Collecting since the 70's - so I have calicoes to hand dyes, and lots of 'em! 8)

[dianaupp]

PDQuilt
I forgot to mention that I use the baskets but not the runners. I have inexpensive double door wardrobe cabinets. My DH put in shelves at the right height to eliminate the wasted space. The only negative is that I can't fill the basket to overflowing and still get it on the shelf (not that I don't try).

Diana

[dianaupp]

I sort most of my fabric by color, and store it in clear-ish plastic (Rubbermaid) storage boxes, labeled with the color name, on shelves. I fold my fabric -- except for large multi-yard pieces -- into a uniform size (approx 6"x9"), and stand the folded pieces vertically in the plastic boxes (so that the folded edges face up).

This way, if I need a particular color, I can take down the correct box (or boxes), easily see what's available, and pull out one or more pieces without disturbing the rest. I make mostly very scrappy quilts, and find this system works well for storing both large and small pieces of fabric. You can fit a LOT of fabric into these boxes, and it stays clean and dust-free.

I know some folks say storing fabric in plastic is bad, but I've done it this way for years and years with no problems. Maybe problems (like mildew?) come up if boxes are tightly sealed...but my boxes are nearly all overstuffed, so none of the lids fit tightly anyway. The only problem I've ever encountered is that sometimes a mouse sneaks in and hides birdseed in the corner of a box!

[dianaupp]

EUW! I hate mice!

Maggie in E. central Illinois

[dianaupp]

eww...don't like mice either, but we have more lizards here. Cats love to play with lizards. :roll: I use plastic drawers and they are not tight, can see through them and are on rollers so I can move easily if need be. I did put some of those little dodads (kind that come in shoes boxes etc) that soak up moisture in the drawers...just in case. Sandi in FL

[GloriaH]

Wow, the dodad is an awesome idea. They come in some pill bottles too