Mid-Size Pieces of Fabric...Organizing
#1
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I cut down all my scraps that were less than a fat quarter into 2 1/2" squares.
Anything that was fat quarter up to about 2 yards, I folded. Anything over 2 yards, I'll keep separate again in my closet organizers.
My question is: How do I keep those fat quarter - 2 yards pieces organized? The larger ones don't really fit in the plastic boxes I have that fit on my shelves. I can't organize them by colour, because I don't have enough space to do that on my shelves. Do I just fold and stack up by colour? Or keep together by size of piece? I really like the look of the plastic boxes with lids, but they aren't going to work for these pieces.
Watson
Anything that was fat quarter up to about 2 yards, I folded. Anything over 2 yards, I'll keep separate again in my closet organizers.
My question is: How do I keep those fat quarter - 2 yards pieces organized? The larger ones don't really fit in the plastic boxes I have that fit on my shelves. I can't organize them by colour, because I don't have enough space to do that on my shelves. Do I just fold and stack up by colour? Or keep together by size of piece? I really like the look of the plastic boxes with lids, but they aren't going to work for these pieces.
Watson
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,429
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Way to go with more organizing!
For fabric size pieces that may be a FQ or 1/2 yard, I ruler fold using a 5 inch ruler. Then fold up again so they make 5 inch bundles. These pieces are stored in a plastic refrigerator bin approx 6 inches wide x 16 inches deep. I stand them upright so it's easy to see the color and sort. These bins also hold all of my charm packs and keep them organized. The bins fits into a drawer unit for storage. The fabric pieces would also fit into one of the double scrapbook bins.
Yardage above that size are ruler folder with a 6 1/2 inch ruler and stored with like colors or patterns.
For fabric size pieces that may be a FQ or 1/2 yard, I ruler fold using a 5 inch ruler. Then fold up again so they make 5 inch bundles. These pieces are stored in a plastic refrigerator bin approx 6 inches wide x 16 inches deep. I stand them upright so it's easy to see the color and sort. These bins also hold all of my charm packs and keep them organized. The bins fits into a drawer unit for storage. The fabric pieces would also fit into one of the double scrapbook bins.
Yardage above that size are ruler folder with a 6 1/2 inch ruler and stored with like colors or patterns.
#3
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What a wonderful way to start the new year Watson. I am about to begin my January (NYD) organizing attempt as well.
I store my FQs together by color…I have a cute cubby from my old retail store that is perfect for storage. Anything 1/2 to 1 yard gets folded with a ruler like Rhonda and again, stored by color. I hope you find something that works for you…
I store my FQs together by color…I have a cute cubby from my old retail store that is perfect for storage. Anything 1/2 to 1 yard gets folded with a ruler like Rhonda and again, stored by color. I hope you find something that works for you…
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,521
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My fat quarters have their own drawer where they are stacked standing up so I can see the edges of them all. 2 m. and larger are on boards (in colour groups) inside my fabric cupboard on the shelf.
#6
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I have a book shelf from when the local library was remodeled and they sold all their shelving. I use mine for my FQ's. I like to be able to see them and that way works for me. I tend to use FQ's more than anything these days.
I've been cutting odd sized fabrics into 5 inch squares. Last New Year I completely cleaned out my sewing room and it was such a great experience that I'm doing it again in a few days. I don't like looking at fabric I know I'll never use. Off to a charity it goes. Win win.
I've been cutting odd sized fabrics into 5 inch squares. Last New Year I completely cleaned out my sewing room and it was such a great experience that I'm doing it again in a few days. I don't like looking at fabric I know I'll never use. Off to a charity it goes. Win win.
#9
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I organize all sizes of fabric by color. That is the how my mind thinks not by size. That said, I love my 2.5s and use them a lot. I store all of my little squares in 13X9 boxes that I found at the Dollar Store. Eight boxes with a strip of painter's tape as a label indicating the color in the box. They stack easily and after a year, I still like this organization.
My other fabric, fat quarter and larger are folded and put in mid-sized bins that I stand on their end minus minus their lids so I can see the individual pieces. Again, after a year it is still working for me. I have an additional bin for 2.5 strips all mixed up and totally unorganized but in one bin with lid and second bin holding bias scraps.
Lastly, I have two of large totes of all sizes of white/cream and another of pinks. This year may be the year of pink. I want to reduce that large tote to a mid-sized on bin on end.![Smile](https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png)
My other fabric, fat quarter and larger are folded and put in mid-sized bins that I stand on their end minus minus their lids so I can see the individual pieces. Again, after a year it is still working for me. I have an additional bin for 2.5 strips all mixed up and totally unorganized but in one bin with lid and second bin holding bias scraps.
Lastly, I have two of large totes of all sizes of white/cream and another of pinks. This year may be the year of pink. I want to reduce that large tote to a mid-sized on bin on end.
![Smile](https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png)
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,469
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Fat quarters, left folded as they came from the shop or folded that way by me, then stacked on edge in a drawer so I can easily see the colors.
half yard cuts to less than a yard --left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a six inch ruler and then folded in half twice and stacked on edge in a drawer (will be a bit wider than the fat quarters so I can tell the size by looking)
1-less than 2 yard cuts -- left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a six inch ruler, folded in half once, then stacked flat on each other in my large bookcase, they just fit so I can pull down the glass covers.
2-4 yards cuts -- left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a 8.5 inch ruler, folded in half once, then stacked flat in piles and placed in my large bookcase, easy because of the width to tell these from the one plus cuts.
Anything bigger than 4 yards just gets folded and placed on the bottom shelf and is a potential backing fabric unless I want to use it for the top.
I keep thinking I will pull everything out and arrange by colors, but I haven't done that yet.
Currently, smaller sizes not a fat quarter or a strange shape, get tossed into a box by color. If I do cut shapes like 5 inch squares, they go into a shoe box for that shape
half yard cuts to less than a yard --left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a six inch ruler and then folded in half twice and stacked on edge in a drawer (will be a bit wider than the fat quarters so I can tell the size by looking)
1-less than 2 yard cuts -- left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a six inch ruler, folded in half once, then stacked flat on each other in my large bookcase, they just fit so I can pull down the glass covers.
2-4 yards cuts -- left folded selvage to selvage, then wrapped around a 8.5 inch ruler, folded in half once, then stacked flat in piles and placed in my large bookcase, easy because of the width to tell these from the one plus cuts.
Anything bigger than 4 yards just gets folded and placed on the bottom shelf and is a potential backing fabric unless I want to use it for the top.
I keep thinking I will pull everything out and arrange by colors, but I haven't done that yet.
Currently, smaller sizes not a fat quarter or a strange shape, get tossed into a box by color. If I do cut shapes like 5 inch squares, they go into a shoe box for that shape
Last edited by sewingpup; 12-30-2021 at 05:42 AM.