4 Secrets to Failproof Fabric Storage
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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Love, Nikki - Jak na to + styl
I really like what you said… Don’t buy more storage, use more fabric. I should adopt that motto for the coming year. Hopefully it will be my year of re-organizing a really really really using, did I say using what I already have.
👏👏👏 😝❤️😀
I have 3 quilts in production just for that reason…because these are quilts i was going to make someday…someday is now….instead of storing I’m cutting it and sewing instead of storing it!
Too much just talking.
The only way to use more is to stop buying, shift the energy.
@@lovesdogs8616 I seldom buy fabric
When I first started buying fabric many many years ago, it wasn’t the best quality stuff at all, it was actually quite pathetic. So now I have a few bins of this fabric and I need the space so what I decided to do with it is make little quilts for animal shelters. My logic is that I will use the fabric. I will practice my quilting, techniques, practice, quilting, blocks, etc. and it’ll go to a good cause and not the dump.
This is what I am doing also. I love quilting but there are only so many quilts I have space to keep. And I have some fabric I need to get rid of, and when we adopted both our cats they both came home with their own knitted/ crochet blankets and I thought why not make some little quilts for the rescue cats.
I'm so glad my granddaughter wasn't here when you mentioned keeping stash in the guest room bath which is exactly where she found my oversized stash that I was hiding from a husband who doesn't get it. A shower curtain in an unused guest bathroom hides a multitude of fabric. In my defense fabric is given to me from people who know I sew and quilt, rarely bought. Good quilting fabric is too hard to turn down.
Isn’t it interesting how fabric just arrives? Particularly if you do charity sewing. Send it out, in it comes! 😅
If you hang your fabric, it looks like clothes. :)
Love it 😍 greetings from Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks for the motivation and the reminder about not buying more storage - but use more fabric! I have a fear of cutting my “good” fabric and then not liking how the project turns out. I need to watch this video again to remind myself that it’s only fabric!
I saw another quilter (don't remember her name) say her husband asked her why she doesn't use her new fabric instead of keeping it a long time? I have been guilty of "saving" (frugal background) it for a special wonderful project, also afraid I won't like how it turns out. My major issue is I can't picture how what I put together will look. Choosing combinations is HARD for me.
Maybe the solution for this is to make a mock-up either out of a lining fabric or a plain fabric, so that you are sure you like the project before you cut out your nice fabric.
I have found taking pictures of my fabric then using that with the block pattern to test what it might look like before I cut anything helps to visualize it.
I had that problem with yarn but I learned that I can rip out anything and re-use that yarn. It's not the same with fabric. You can cut again but with each time the projects have to get smaller.
Plus, it’s a real investment of $ right now. My quilting skills are way behind my fabric collecting skills😂
I have been ‘filing’ my fabric for most of my life! As a sewing teacher who received numerous ‘free fabric’, I wanted to be able to see everything at once. I have used the cardboard (I made my own). As a fashion/quilt sewist, I measured the fabric, cut a sample and marked it on a 3x5 card which I keep on my shelves. My fabric is put away, unexposed to light & dust.
Would love to see a picture of that!
That’s really awesome 👍
My solution is similar to yours, 20 plus years making theater costumes has led to an obscene amount of fabric. But having index cards with samples, yardage and bin location has been amazing.
Me too, I have 4x6 index cards. I cut a 3x3 fabric piece, tape or staple it to the card, write purchase date, store name, price, yards, and any projects I bought it for, or ideas. I don’t put bin location, since I don’t have that many. When I make an object I update yards on the front, and on the back, what I made, year, any comments, how well the fabric performed, any sewing issues I solved, thread and needle type used, etc. I store the index cards in a decorative tin box, next to my main sewing tools caddy. Thanks for your tip.
I have seen other people use foam core to wrap the fabric and store it on a shelf looks very good.
I have become an avid fabric collector that is absolutely not keeping pace with the sewing AND because of lack of an organizing system like yours, I often find that it's easier to buy the fabric I need rather than dig through my bins! Your system and logic are great and I'm going to implement it today!!! Thank you so much.
Perfect timing... There is a blizzard happening now and I'm looking at a stack of fabric that's about to fall over. I emptied a large dresser drawer and filed my stash away. Brilliant! Thank you so much.
Ah yes….the pull of the new treasure. The “get it first before it all sells.” The “my favorite designer” collecting.
I’ve definitely reined myself in due to severe lack of space (I live in an RV😂). It’s a struggle for sure.
I was stunned to learn that the designer quilt fabrics are released, then sell out. Any remainders end up on ebay or etsy at full price…
@@JesusisKing222 yup! That’s the rush of marketing!! lol. Bad part is that if you don’t get your mind set on what you want to make, right it down, map it out and then buy enough for your project…you end up scrambling on Etsy! But…I must say I have several favorite Etsy shops I love and go to first for preorders and such.
I like the idea, but I am obsessed with fabric, quilting, and sewing. I think I always need more.
Oh, truer words! "Don't buy more storage, use what fabric you have!" I think a lot of storage has to do with the type of sewing you do. As a general rule I sew clothing rather than smaller projects. So because I have more yardage, I do wrap mine on foamcore boards made from the ones at Dollar Tree, because I use all of what's on the "bolt." The small amount that's left I just roll up, wrap a rubber band around and stuff into an open cube organizer that is also my pressing station. I try not to save less than a yard unless it's cotton. The boarded fabric lives in more cubes that form my cutting table, away from direct sunlight. I like to see what I have and use it as part of the decor. But there's a LOT to be said for closed storage when it comes to fading and dust.
You are so right about fabric not being so precious it has to wait to be used. I'm so guilty of that, waiting for just the right pattern. There's always another piece of gorgeous fabric and I need to remember that!
One last thing - I just got drawers for under my sewing machine table. I've struggled with a good way to store my thread for a long time and I love the way you do yours. I looked and looked for a replacement drawer for a Husky table to no avail - so I went back to the drawers made by the company that made my table. I had to get 3 but I'm pretty sure it will take care of the thread and a few other gadgets I use at the my machines. Thanks for the inspiration!
This is extremely useful as I have fabric spilling out of plastic storage bins and piled up on bookshelves and none of it works, and I’ve been looking for a solution for so long. Now you have provided one. Thank you so much!
Great idea.
My wife stored hers in the storage cubes using the cloth bins. Each wrapped so they didn't crease. Like colors together. She liked to be organized.
Love this storage idea, I have my fabric in my drawers, but stack them, I will now stand them, that is such a good tip! Thank you for this video. :))🧵🪡♥
I'm guilty of the bins, but to counter this I like to keep a notebook full of info about my fabric inventory, including fabric type, measurements, where I got it from, which bin its in, and a section for notes such as what I end up using it for, sewing machine settings, stuff like that.
I do have a large stash right now. I was not going to add to it and work it down. But there was a couple of reasons I choose to increase it this year. I'm a retired empty nester and have more time to sew. I sew things for a local shop. More for fun then for a wage. Butvit keeps me engaged and in thread. I have decided to donate to a couple of charities each year to go to kids and women shelters. The fabric I have been buying has been for $2 to $5 dollars Canadian from people destashing. This means I can make 4 to 10 pillow cases for one charity for the Christmas drive. If I bought new fabric I could make 1. Printed fabric costs $20 a meter (1 yard plus 3" ) i probably have enough fabric to make for a couple of years. I also give my mom fabric cut out to sew. She is 88 and finds it hard to pay the canadian price.
So what have I done with it? I am currently washing and folding it. I fold it like you do and vertical file it in Sterilite Clear Boxes to sit on my shelves. I label the box with the colour or type.
It will be a lot of work but I tend to nest in January, put on a good movie or show and clean up my stash from the years work. I find it oddly satisfying. One year I colour sorted my button collection. I seem to get buttons from people who are cleaning up. But i always shop my button collection.
Some day I will have to deal with down sizing but i figure it will be a good few years (hopefully) and my daughter is a quilter she will know what to do with it.
We are all at different stages. I started out using a chest of drawers. I probably will end up that way when we down size. Meanwhile I am enjoying being able to gift a little love jnto each project i make. Some will be treasured. I am sure some won't be. But I am ok with doing that. When i was younger i didnt have the time or money to do so. I think my style of stash is of a practical minimal maximist! Lol
I love your channel! I get alot of pleasure from watching you. Have a wonderful holiday season with your family!
I have a lateral filing cabinet that I got from a large company when they started storing everything online. It works for patterns in one drawer, and fabric in other drawers.
This is awesome, I use the same system!
I love your storage solution! And all your videos. I have too much fabric - I am a serial quilter. I admit I have from time to time changed my system to accommodate an increasingly large stash. I tend to purchase sets or coordinates for quilt projects (yardage, precuts, panels, etc.) and I do store them on the acid free comic book cardboard. I do this because I write the yardage on each card, and don’t have to measure to know if I have enough for a specific project. I can just look at the card and see exactly how much is there. They stand upright in a cabinet with doors, but unfortunately with a row across the front, and a row behind so I can’t easily see what is in the back row. I also have fabric in plastic file boxes, which are hidden out of the sun but are heavy to lift and shuffle. I am three-yard quilting my way through yardage for foster kids’ quilts, but I will never let my stash grow this large again. I have some cabinets with drawers, and might just see a fabric storage revamp in my future! Nobody needs a huge stash these days as sadly there are frequent quilter estate sales practically giving away fabric, and plenty of church groups and guilds with ample supplies for those willing to make charity quilts. I think I will help them out by moving some of my stash out in the new year. I wonder if they want the fabric pre-measured on comic boards? 😂
I’ve been trying to use my scrap lately for quilts and it’s been fun! I try not to hoard fabric and only buy what I need for a project but there are always the cuties I can’t pass up.
My sewing is on the backburner in favor of my crochet...my yarn stash is now organized to remind myself I don't need to buy more yarn. It's a bit tricky to pass on fabric but at least I can say my craft priority doesn't align with it; my brain has accepted that answer for now.
Crafting stashes seem to always be a tale of two hobbies: buying and using.
I want a large dresser/cutting table situation but we are about to remodel and I don’t want to buy any more furniture. So I use my old luggage to “file” my fabric. I loved this video.
I have fabric in every room of my apartment. Main storage is the hallway linen closet where it's rolled, drawers in my sewing desk in the living room, velvet hanging in the bedroom closet, and a bin of scraps in both the coat closet and the kitchen. But it hasn't made it into the shower... YET!
Great tips and reminders about purging and using it up! I have bins where my fabric was filed as you did in your drawer, but I need to move them to the drawers. What a hassle to get the bins out to find the fabric I want! Thank you for the motivation!!
Your fabric storage really IS perfect! I make cloth menstrual pads. Its just a hobby, i make them for myself and to donate to the church so they can take them on missions trips to Uganda once a year and to give to friends and such. I buy 1/4 yard at a time most of the time because, well, pads are small products. But i have shopped frequently, because collecting fabric is another hobby too! I just went through my fabric because of space restrictions, and now i have less then half of what i did have. My new years resolution this year is to NOT BUY FABRIC until i have worked through what i have. Same with my yarn too. Being more intentional about my crafting hobbies and having a plan before buying.
Fun to hear, and glad you’ve found a system that works for you. Is very geared towards quilting though, your big pieces are smaller than some of my scraps 😂 Honestly, no way if use this system for my expensive wools, that I most often have 3-4 meters of full width. They don’t like being stored folded to begin with. I’m planning on storing them on full width rolls (like in a fabric shop), on shelfs that gets covered to protect them from sunlight.
My jerseys will be rolled in smaller rolls and stacked, but they are easy to access and easy to see what I have.
My lingerie supplies are stored like your fabrics, filed in drawers. But they are wrapped around cardboard, otherwise their just be a pool of material.
So I’d say how fabric is best stored depends on the type of fabric 😊 4 meters of coat weight wool will not and should not be filed in a drawer 🙈 And maybe quilting cotton don’t need to be rolled carefully without any folds 🤷♀️
This is a good point!
You can also use the multi-layered pant hangers in a closet for larger amounts of fabrics.
That’s what I use for larger fabrics
My mothers fabric collection is. . . . massive. We literally have full bolts. I like the filing storage idea, but for the size of fabric we have to work with. I'm not sure this system would work well. Though. I may be able to do a file system in the totes, so that the massive chunks of fabric are easier to get to and utilize. I have a huge undertaking of organizing her craft room, so I can use it for my biz, and anything in it is free game.
I just love getting new fabric, even though I may still have leftovers that I can find a project for. I just love cutting into the new stuff.
I am so tired of moving & moving my fabric. I have curated and collected some awesome fabrics. I would love to just snap my fingers and be able to sew again. I am giving myself time to heal and being as patient as possible. You are spot on about light and dust. All my precious’s are in tubs. I do organize them by substrate type and color though. This temporary solution has turned permanent as of late. I can’t wait till the next and final move. Sewing space set up over the next 2 years is my goal. Great Share.
That is what I do too! I actually fold them kind of like fat quarters, and have larger pieces folded in the bottom drawer and store them in color order. I use clear bags of scraps by color but like your idea better as you can just reach into the tubs and have easier access.
I’ve been using the cardboard wrap method for years. I learned very early on to carefully pin the loose edge and to attach a small note written in pencil, (not ink which can stain the fabric) with the width and length of the fabric. If it’s a remnant from a project, i might go to the effort to draw a quick diagram with measurements. These days, i still wrap around the cardboard but i have an app where i store a photo, measurements and type of fabric.
Wow what’s the app called?
It's the same collecting vs doing problem with other crafts; I crochet, make jewelry, and dabble in many others and currently, I'd describe myself as only an "aspiring" sewer. The stash is nearly an independent entity!
Love the guestroom shower storage comment🤣
This is a great storage idea! I store my fabric in a large lateral file cabinet 😇 it IS stacked, but it’s closed storage, and the file drawers slide out
For ease of access.
I use a lot of upholstery/decorator-weight material, but also have yardage of vintage quilting cotton and flour sacks. I generally sort by size and weight, with the heaviest & largest yardage in the bottom drawer. I have small clear bins for small project pieces that stack on top of the cabinet ( which is 4’ wide X 5.5’ tall). The file works great & I picked it up at a thrift store for $30. It weights a TON, but I’ve been using this system for 15 years, and could t be happier,
I try to use up every single tiny scrap in art projects, so I have teeny bits in metal tins that I store with my art supplies and break out when I’m making cards or collage.
I used to have lots of fabric in plastic bins and stacked on shelves, but I De-stashed when I moved recently, and had to downsize my studio.
Super happy having it all in one place now. ( except bolts of fabric don’t count 😂 They’re in the closet :)
Our rule is anything over a yard gets wrapped on a board and filed on the shelf. (We used 20x30 poster board cut into fourths to make mini bolts.) Under a yard and it goes in one of 2 places: cottons are filed into bins of fat quarters and eighths for my sister's quilting, fashion fabric gets folded into a remnants bin for me. And all little scraps are in a couple clear "flour" canisters.
This was great! My after Christmas plan is to get my sewing space organized. I know I have too much fabric and I love the suggestion to use it up. I sew a lot for charity and find thrifted fabric a bit hard to resist. I’m blessed to have a dedicated craft cave in my basement but it’s a bit dark and sometimes cold in the winter. I will be watching you other sewing space videos!
You may be interested in Karen Brown's January declutter on Just Get It Done Quilts. You can sign up for her daily email with CZcams link for the task of rhe day. I did it last year and am already signed up to go again next month! 😊😊
Me too! Come back later and we will see if we completed the challenge!😉👍
I have cabinets where I have to stack because my sewing room is also my dining room. The cabinets bave doors so the fabric is shut up tight keeping dust and light off of it. Ideally I wpuld be able to store it the way you do but again that is an ideal.
Bonus: I scored a vintage solid wood ironing board yesterday. It's so sturdy.
You have a great system for your space. I have a closet with bi-fold doors & my husband added extra shelves; the fabric stays out of the light & dust-free. Anything greater than 1/8 yd up to 1-1/4 yards is on two shelves by color. Greater than 1-1/4 yard is on a higher shelf by color. Smaller than 1/8 yd (but too big to cut up into a square or rectangle) is in a small bin labeled "chunky scraps." As I finish a project and have small pieces they are cut into squares & rectangles up to 3.5". I have found that, other than 2.5" for bindings, I don't use strips so I've gradually used them up & don't cut more.
I log all my fabric in a spreadsheet & assign it a SKU based on color or, in a few cases, by theme (ie, super hero, snoopy) so I can keep track of it. I love my system. Everyone needs a system that works for them and you sometimes have to try a few to find the best one for you.
It has been my attitude for many many years, I say, "I do NOT need another box, I need less stuff" and it works great! I live in 400 square foot mobile home and have only what I need and I LOVE it. My large 6 drawer dresser in my bedroom has 3 drawers with clothes, socks and T-shirts, and swimwear, and the other three are full of sewing notions and fabric. I live in California, and seriously don't even need seasonal clothing. I am going to try to start folding my fabrics and utilizing the droors the way yours are, I LOVE the way it looks all neat and tidy and you can SEE everything, Incidentally, my freezer, fridge, and all cupboards in my kithcen are packed in a way that you can SEE stuff. Just a habit I have had for a long time. Great video, and have a great holiday.
Yes, I agree with store it so you can see it at a glance! ❤️😀
Exactly. There used to be superb silks, linens and wools in the 50s and 60s, now like good leather, good boots it’s hard to find quality. Good reason to buy fabric when it turns up and thus exceed the sewing. Thank you for this.
My current storage is random shipping boxes with random fabrics quite literally shoved into them. Mixed with fabric is store bought patterns, home made patterns, notions, supplies, and WIPs. I’ve wanted better storage for a while now, and with my confirmed sewing table birthday present, hopefully I’ll be able to get my organization down lol! I switch between quilting and clothes, so my collection has a wide range of fabrics, but with no proper storage I have to dig through five different boxes to find what I need for a specific project!!😂😂❤❤❤❤
Great advice. We tend to get attached to our precious fabrics. I have plenty of fabric and have decided to only shop my stash. That should not be a problem because I’m still learning to sew. I’m a confident beginner. purchasing fabric is definitely my 2nd hobby. I have my fabric filed but out in the open or on hangers in my sewing room closet. Not stacked. I can see it all when I walk in the closet. In my sewing room I have a cabinet for smaller pieces only. If less than a yard they come out of the closet.
Thank you. I have way too much fabric and need to sew it up and stop buying more. Just purchased fabric online this morning. Don't know what the heck I was thinking. Have a nice day.
I'm a minimalist who is just now learning sewing. Wow thank you for your wisdom here, it is a breath of fresh air in a very intimidating and often overwhelming crafting space.
I store my fabric in a dresser also and don't want to deal with cardboard purchasing, dust and sunlight exposure. The space also serves as my guestroom so I like having it tucked away. As I approach mid 60's I want to use what I have instead of purchase more. I like the gray striped quilt on your wall. It's different, modern and like a piece of art! I might try to make a baby quilt like it with scraps.
Love this tip. I'm just about to move my sewing room to my son's bedroom as he bought a house and moved out. There is a chest of draws in there that i was going to move but i'm going to use if for storing fabric. It will save me loads of time when i am searching for fabrics i have stacked.
I love this video! Thank you for focusing on fabric storage that’s practical ❤
You are adorable and your videos are very helpful!! Keep doing what you’re doing!!
a tip for your slippery garment fabrics is to find a piece of cardboard to make your own kind of diy bolt so they don’t slip away and get lost
I file my fabric in 15qt storage containers folded like fat quarters. That size works really well for quarters, fat quarters, or half yards. I store by genre or and then color.
What was I just researching the past week? Storage bins? Yes, but not gonna after this video. Thanks for the idea! Good and needed inspiration to get organized.
Thank you, that is a great idea. I like your scrap idea, I’m going to try it. I’ve been taking my larger scraps and cutting them into manageable sizes like, 2, 2 1/2” 3” or 5”. Common sizes for projects. Not by color just sorted just sizes.
I have mine in larger cuts in kitchen cabinets that have doors. When I buy larger pieces of fabric like 2-3 yards, I flat fold them on a 4” ruler, I slide out the ruler & fold in 1/2 and try to store by theme/solids. It’s gotten out of hand at times before I started doing this. My friends have seen how I store my fabric and incorporated it into their room.
I like your "Be Here Now" quilted sign (behind your head!
I have an abundance of quilt fabric. I am redoing my sewing area and decided on a lateral file cabinet to store fabric in the drawers.
Every relative who has unused fabric always gives it to me and I have crates full and not enough time to sew it all. One day I will get to it though😂❤ I really like the filing option. It makes everything visible and you don't have to rummage through all the crates to find a specific piece. 🎉
Great tips, as always. ...and the most practical fabric storage solution. Thanks Nikki!
Always trying to be more organized so I loved the video. My ocd self has to have fabrics folded the same size or as close as possible. Lol I drive myself crazy folding! 😂😂 Merry Christmas 🎄🎄
Please please continue uploading such helpful videos.Fabric is very important starting with Cotton for soft undergarment,denim for jeans and vest dresses coat whatever fashion Italy,France,USA 🙏🌹🍎 please don't give up your wonderfully videos of content and knowledge contribution for better loving and happy 😁 lives.
I am so grateful I found this video when I did! I am reorganizing and purging my craft room and I’m to the point of organizing 4 Rubbermaid containers of fabric and feeling overwhelmed thinking I wanted to file on shelves like a fabric store! After seeing this video, I realized I have a dresser in the guest room that is completely empty and ready to organize like this! Now I’m not overwhelmed, I’m excited!
6:07 -- "Try not to hold too tightly to those fabrics. It's better to get used while it's still in style, right?!?"🎉
I do the Mari condo style folding, but I filed them in 9 inch deep square sided bins with lids. I don’t have a dedicated sewing area, so this way, my fabric is stored and organized and I can grab (or get my husband to grab) the bin that has the type of fabric using whether it’s fashion fabric or crafting cotton.
I ❤ the dresser
I agree with you...use up what you have instead of buying more storage.
I have an armoire with a shelf stacked up right. I can just closed it when I'm done sewing!
Thank you for mentioning that trend. I thought about doing it, but didn't start for this exact reason. I could just see myself not doing this long term.
Very helpful! I do use the comic book technique because shelves I do have: bookshelves left over from the kids growing up and moving out. But the fabric IS exposed to sunlight (not directly), which concerns me. I would love a dresser for my fabric storage, but that's not an option right now. My sewing room is pretty big, so I'm lucky there. I knit as well (not well) as sew (again, not well), so storing both yarn and fabric is the constant battle in my large room.
A curtain for your bookshelf could be an option.
Thanks for the idea. It won't work for my room, but I appreciate you taking the time to offer me help. I hope that someday I can copy this one person's craft room organization: she used some nice shelving units with doors, all from Ikea. It would cost me about $640, so...not happening anytime soon. Stay healthy!@@kathleennewbern480
I use project bins, that goes for doll clothes sewing, even each counted cross stitch has a bin, for quilting i use a dish washing bin to hold more fabric, i fold and stack as you do in your drawer….then once there are smaller cut pieces they go to the low rectangle bin. the rectangle bins are from the dollar store….they stack well, everything for the project is in the bin.
I fold like you do but since I store on shelving i put the fabric in bins without the lids. I store by color and type also. I use old clothes for Barbie and doll clothes, that has been getting out of control because I couldn’t sew for months…after Christmas I have some time off from work and am planning to sew.
I bought the comic cards and wrapped all my fabric and liked it at first but I ended up pulling it all off the shelves and putting it in bins! Turns out I hated it. Lol
I prefer everything put away and not much on display. The openness of everything gives me anxiety for some reason.
I like your method as I am using a dresser and stacking my fabric (in addition to the fabric in the bins)
I need to use up the fabric I have as well. The temptation is real though. 😂
I think every maker hobby is really 2 hobbies in one: Aquire, and Use. LOL
I have very, very limited space for my main maker hobbies of sewing and knitting. I have 4 of those Steralite 3 drawer sets on wheels, 2 full of yarn, and 2 for sewing supplies. My machine and such are in one of those space-saver fold out console tables since it lives in the living room. My 6 drawers are thus: fat quarters and 1 yard pre-cuts, projects in time-out, scraps, manuals and paper patterns, cross-stitch and embroidery supplies, and miscellaneous. I have 2 sets of smaller, tabletop drawers that sit on the bigger ones that have notions, like ribbon, zippers, bias tape, etc.
Very helping to new sewers like me.
Amazon drawer organizers for shirts, panties and bras would help. I love the idea of filing the fabric
I don't have big drawers, but I file my fabrics by color in sweater size plastic bins which then go on shelves in my closet. My bigger fabric pieces (possible backings) are filed in a large plastic tote. I mostly scrappy quilt so most of my fabric is in fat quarters or less than a yard.
I have just started two scrap projects - one is a handsewing hexagon english paper piecing in blue /green tones which I take along on our vacation/trips. In the meantime I have a lot of bigger pieces so I can start putting all of them together. Everything layed out is already a Queen size!
The other project is sewing scrap strips into 4"x12" pieces to finally make a King size quilt.
I have about 40 of those so far, have chosen a connector fabric and now I want to put these on the Design wall!
Both are very pleasing projects and they help getting rid of my evergrowing stash. I store in a big cupboard (with doors!), but also easy to see what is available. For scraps I use clear Ikea plastic bins with a lid.
All sorted by color for an easy overview. 😁
A while back I did have the light bulb moment and realized we didn't need more bookcases, we needed less books.
I think the problem many of us run into is not having one designated room for sewing, so we stash things here and there. I am trying to at least have it all in the same general area. I still have a few bins, and some bigger cuts hanging in the guestroom closet. But I did inventory everything and I keep that list in my sewing notebook, so I can quickly see what I have. It is very satisfying crossing things out! My goal is to one day have it all boiled down to one tall dresser. Tools, patterns, fabric, mending. One drawer each.
I love your storage philosophy. I have the smallest of my three bedrooms as a sewing room. I complain about the lack of space. But it is an actual room with two windows and a closet . I’m going to try your method. Thank you. Happy New Year!!! 🎆
I have to remind myself that I started seeing as a hobby. So it’s okay to cut into my fabric.
Did this over the holidays. Works great in my small space - I can see what I have!
Great information. Your necklace is very sweet.
Just found you…you made me laugh…I agree with all you said…! Love from Australia!
Good attitude, I agree with your process. 🇨🇦
I’m a garment sewer and use the comic book cards for silks, slippery fabrics and trims. This allows me to see exactly what I have on hand. The rest I roll & tag and store on end in clear totes by type: top/dress weight, denim/bottom weight & tech/specialty fabric. Love your system for quilting!
Thank you ! Very very much! From Portugal
Mine is filed too in the Kallux unit from IKEA . It’s two layers deep. way more fabric to use than life left I think. 😂But intend to get rid of a lot next year now I’m retired. Will be able to quilt to my hearts content thanks for your video.
I have found filing to be good, but I have storage containers & shoe boxes as my sewing room is more of a shed and I am protecting my stash 😊
I wish you’d posted this video 2 weeks ago, before I bought 6 more storage bins! I live in the Houston, Texas area, where we have a lot of heat and humidity, so I’ve been storing my fabric in clear Sterlite bins that have rubber gaskets in the lid. I keep all 13 bins of fabric, (along with 17 vacuum bags full of yarn) in my closet, which I’m currently trying VERY HARD to organize.
I’m so glad you said to start using the fabric I have. My only problem is what to make with it!
Love your ideas! I picked up a couple of small fabric bins from the Dollar Tree last night and am going to start with that to file my smaller pieces. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Great ideas! And I heartily agree…use what you have before buying more! Thanks for the reinforcement of a great idea! Merry Christmas and a blessed new year for you and yours!
Your idea is such a wonderful idea! Thank you.
I was amazed at the amount of fabric you have. I really like your storage system. I love buying fabric. And I have started to donate fabric this past year. As I seem to have found that I am a pack rat. Probably due to the fact I grew up very poor and when I was working and even now I can still buy what I want. But now I we will be moving from our acreage to a condo in the next 5-10 years and it’s time to start decluttering. I have definitely found that too much stuff or fabric causes you to not know what you have. Ergo, you buy more fabric for a specific need. I really like the size of your table/fabric storage.
I use clear storage boxes that you use for scrapbook paper. I store by color, folded flat. I also have scraps by color. My cabinet is an old metal kitchen cabinet I bought from a family putting new cabinets in their farm house. It has 6 doors on the bottom and 4 drawers above the cabinets. I can fit two large cutting mats on the top. All my threads, beads, rulers and such fit nicely in the drawers. I got it for $20.
This has been my New Year’s resolution this year. Thank you for reinforcing my mission. 😊
I currently have 3 dressers in my sewing/craft area. Great advice!
I like to use up as much of my fabric that I can before I start buying more. I have a lot of scraps stored in Ziploc bags by color and I keep them in a large plastic round container. My paper supplies are out of control. That's my next organizing project. I don't like my table setup so my husband is going to make me an L shaped one. Hopefully it will work.
I found two sets of rubbermaid 2 drawer sets on the side of the road and i have been storing my fabric in them ever since, much like how yours is! Mine is organized by topic (holidays, solids, etc).
i’m kind of on the right track. I do have a Lotta pull out drawers for my fabric. Well I need to do is figure out how to segment all the different tools I use for when I make dolls.
For example, things I use for the hair, meaning wooland fabric scraps , tools etc.
I really only sew with stretch fabric. I roll them up into archive boxes by fabric type. I also catalogue them in the Cora app so I can see everything I have, the stretch percentage & fibre content etc and mark which box it’s in for easy access. I can plan projects from wherever, which is great. It’s the only thing I’ve found that works for knits.
I have my in bins and sorted by colors. I have them stacked and have to look deep for what I want. Thank you for the file idea, I will resort mine filed to see all the colors.. but still keep them in the same bins.
I do a lot of scrappy sewing and I have four rolling three tiered carts which I like because I have three sewing machines and move around. One is all lace and trim, one is thread and embroidery stuff and two have fabric. I have the fabric folded like yours. Sometimes I like to sew in the kitchen while I'm canning so it's nice to be able to just roll a cart out.
Thank you so much for this video! Very practical and helpful. I’m going to follow these steps and look forward to feeling less overwhelmed! New subscriber here! Deb x 🤗
LOVE this - ALL of it! I have too much and am using it in a 100 quilts challenge this year - I'd like to get rid of lots of current storage! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is great! I've always had problem with dust. The dresser will be perfect for my fabrics by the yard.