Comments on: Reader question: How should I store my fabric stash?

By: Lisa NYC

Lisa NYC — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:42:28 +0000

I agree with Little Miss. However, as a fabric hoarder I TRY and go through my fabric stash every year and get rid of those fabrics I will never have any use for.

Recently I did a Sewing Room Organization Challenge for my friends on the web. Part I deals with Fabric. Here’s a link to my blog post:

http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2007/06/

Also posted are others which deal with Ribbon, Thread, etc.

HTH

With friendship,
Lisa

By: A Stiner

A Stiner — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:43:13 +0000

I have the 2 door storage pantry that you can get at any walmart or home depot. I have 2 of them along the wall and all my fabric is folded and stacked in those. I can see everything I have when I open the doors. I got tired of digging thru plastic bins or under the bed boxes to see what I had. I just close the doors and it is all hidden. Now if I could just get rid of the multiple baskets of yarn and bring myself to get rid of books and patterns…

By: bex

bex — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:04:39 +0000

hiya im really bad an keeping things organised i have a sewing business so i have rolls of fabric and stacks of pieces ive got coz it was cheep and would make an awsome item and dont have enuff hours in the day to sew and look after the kids. and i deffinatly agree with “little miss” allthought for a home sewer these tips would work great for someone who sews regulaly some of these tips just arent feasable. i make a lot of products from my scraps.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 19:57:49 +0000

Does anyone recall when materials were treasured? I used to feel guilty for picking up fabric I had no immediate need for, because I used to feel guilty that I was an artist. Then I built a studio, and a business, and now 26 years later, I still wonder what I left behind. Also, I think the quality of new stuff often isn’t as good as what used to be available. Much of my old fabric collection is lustrous, higher thread counts, longer stapled, still strong, and treasured.

By: Little Miss

Little Miss — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:06:54 +0000

I think the author thinks she sews, but she really doesn’t. A true seamstress has at hand all the tools necessary for her trade. Would you expect a man to have only the nuts and bolts he needs for the current project on hand? No, he has bins and bins of different accessories needed for whatever he feels like making at the time. What about other household items? Do you only keep spices in your cupboard for what you know you will be cooking in the next six months? That’s ludicrous. I could think of more examples, but I think you get my point.

And only have what you can carry? Ever heard of homeowners insurance? I love my fabric and sewing room but if there was a fire, it wouldn’t be the first thing I’d carry out. There would be my animals and my photos first.

Uncluttering doesn’t mean having nothing. Organizing what you do have is as good as uncluttering. Buying stuff because it’s on sale but you’d never ever use it – now that’s a problem. But purchasing and saving fabric for future projects – even two or three or ten years out – I see nothing wrong with that if it is neatly organized and can fit in the space you’ve allocated.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:26:50 +0000

I was pawing through my disheveled pile of stash on Saturday as a friend looked on, trying to find a specific fabric for her. Something about having a witness to my disorganization spurred me into action and, yesterday, I did it: I organized my stash! I’m grateful I discovered this blog (and this post!) to give me tips; I used Ziploc baggies and bins to get a grip on things. I got rid of a goodly amount, but will purge more once the dust settles. Thanks for the inspiration, Unclutterer!

By: Kate Murphy

Kate Murphy — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:42:28 +0000

Berkeley quilter here. Ditto on the plastic storage warning. Ditto on the creative process needing fabric bought “just because.” I needed to clean up our bedroom which also provides two walls for my studio, when family was visiting awhile back. Got Billy bookcases from Ikea – tall and shallow, with see-through doors to help limit the dust factor. Now I can see most (not all) of my stash.

I have found a piece of David Allen wisdom works on my sewing projects: when I have the time to work on them, I don’t have the time to decide what work to do. I try to leave a project with the next step identified or even started.

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:30:09 +0000

“How much you can carry in one load. If you cannot carry the whole of your stash, then it is too big.” I couldn’t carry all my books in one load either, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t value having them and use them often. While it might make sense to decide on a hard ceiling for a stash or collection, ‘what you can carry in one load’ seems both arbitrary and nonsensical.

I have to agree with Lilly – there are times when you come across a fabric that’s unique or an enduring value (as opposed to just cheap). Although there will likely always be more fabric made, you won’t always be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. Nat, there are costumers and vintage clothing fans who would probably love to have that quiana. My fabric stash lives in two repurposed 3-drawer filing cabinets; that’s the amount that works for me right now.

Incidentally, cutting mats should be stored flat – when they’re stored on their side they often sag and curl, which can become permanent if they’re left that way a while.

By: Erin at Unclutterer

Erin at Unclutterer — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:11:44 +0000

@Melinda–When plastic degrades, that is when it destroys the fabric. The degradation process releases chemicals into the fabric, and that is how it can harm fabric. However, a heavy-duty plastic bag will not degrade enough in six months (if stored away from direct heat and sunlight) or a year to do damage to a fabric. A thin plastic, like a dry-cleaner bag, will degrade much more quickly and can stain fabric within months. Additionally, a lot of fabric is sent to stores with the bolts wrapped in plastic — same way with yarn and other fiber products. There are much worse things that you could do to your fabric than store it in a ziploc bag for six months.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:34:33 +0000

LOL… Obviously, you’ve never met a truly dedicated quilter. It’s not the plastic bag I’m worried about, it’s the fabric itself. The chemicals in the plastic will eat at the fabric.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:17:53 +0000

I’m working on stash management right now, too. I have a lot of non-quilting fabric which I left at my parents’ house when I got married. I have two special wicker baskets (w/lids) for my quilting fabric, one bigger for color and one smaller for white/unbleached muslins. I keep stuff for current projects in a little organizer by my sewing table.

Fortunately, I do use my older fabrics for crazy quilting, patchwork jeans projects, or baby quilts. And I tell myself I can’t buy more unless I’m working on a project. Then add that I should reconsider starting this project when I could make something from my lovely leftovers. Sometimes that works. It’s a clutter-safeguard anyway.

By: Erin at Unclutterer

Erin at Unclutterer — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:37:43 +0000

@Melinda–If you’re making a project within a six or 12 month timeframe, then plastic storage should be fine. The sturdy plastic bag won’t degrade in that period.

A finished quilt should never be stored, in my opinion. Either it should be used on a regular basis or it should be properly mounted and displayed. Having a quilt in storage is not properly honoring its purpose.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:33:20 +0000

One word of caution. Please do not store your quilts in plastic bags. It’s not good for them. Theoretically, you shouldn’t store your fabric in them either, but I can see it for the sake of organizing.

By: Lilly

Lilly — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:05:35 +0000

I worked as a theatrical costume designer for years. So I had a HUGE stash. I also managed the costuming shop at the university I taught at. Sometimes there are reasons to have a large fabric stash but even those need to be kept under control. There are some fabrics that don’t really go out of style. If you can get a good deal and you know you will actually do something with it, those might be worth hanging on to. Something like black wool for $2 a yard or interfacing. Those won’t go out of style.

I am in the process of downsizing my personal studio space again since I am not working professionally any longer. I only keep fashion fabrics that are time sensitive if they are for a specific project. I make a rule that I can’t buy more of these until the other projects are done. I store fabrics based on either use or color in clear plastic storage tubs. Anything under a yard goes elsewhere unless it would make good trim for something.

Give away excess fabric to groups that make quilts for charity or see if a local theater group wants it (only if there is large quantity and it is good stuff).

Here’s another hint. If you have formal wear or suits you want to clear out, check with local theater groups to see if they want them.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:23:46 +0000

I’m working on my stash at the moment – I think I’ll always want a stash since it’s part of the creative process to think about what I might want to make, to go to my hoard and then work out a way of making it with the resources I have, but having just paid a fortune to move it, I’ve decided that I don’t need nearly so much of it. So, my plan is to limit my stash to one cupboard and what will fit on top of it. However, I’ve given myself a year to do this. I plan to give away anything that I don’t actually want to work with, and to use up as much of what I have as possible, and then in most cases give away the end products. Because what’s the point of stash if you don’t use it?