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coloradosky 06-16-2011 11:40 PM

Agree - shelves. I have no room for shelves so I use storage bins filed by color. I have a mess when I am picking colors. I want shelves!

quilterella 06-17-2011 12:48 AM

I like shelves for bolts or larger cuts, so you can stack them and see what you have at a glance. My shelves have sheets attached to the top like curtains to keep out the sun and dust. I store all my fat quarters and scraps in shoebox style totes by colour or by fabric line, that way I can see what is in there at a glance. Leftover squares or really small pieces are stored in ziplock bags and labelled.

whinnytoo 06-17-2011 02:14 AM

Shelves for me! where I can sit back and admire my stash.

Kathios 06-17-2011 02:26 AM

Shelves work best for me. If I can see the fabric, I'm more likely to use it. If it is buried in a bin or drawer, I'm too lazy to dig through everything, so I go buy what I need. Perhaps explain to your husband that it will save $$ in the long run to have shelving.

SharBear 06-17-2011 02:32 AM

show him the picture that natalieg posted of her shelfing unit full of fabric - and then tell him you won't have nearly that much - :thumbup:

Then tell him that if you can see it then there's no chance you'll miss it and have to go purchase that "just right color"!

Sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

sewcrafty 06-17-2011 02:35 AM

I'm actually doing this now. I've moved most of my fabric up to the spare room which is going to be my guest/sewing room for the cold weather months. Don't do what I did. I tried making enough room between shelves to try and accommodate a stack of colors. Well I left a 2' space between shelving and you know fabric gets really heavy. If you need a bottom piece you have to lift everything on top of it to get to it. :roll: :roll: I'd opt for maybe 1' spacing instead next time.

My FQ are in a dresser drawer, and have filled up the dresser with other stuff that I won't be going after as much.

mcdaniel023 06-17-2011 03:07 AM

Tried the tubs...hated going through them. Bought the plastic storage units with drawers. Too hard to get open with the heavy fabric and too much time spent finding the right fabric. Bought a china cabinet at goodwill. Used the ruler folding method. I love it. I am using sooooo much more of my stash. Fat quarters are still drawers.

pieces 06-17-2011 03:57 AM

Easy viewing of your fabric for pulling fabric for a quilt,
bins, shelves, etc. You want your fabric stored where it can breath, you can see what you have at a glance. Not have to shuffle through it everytime you need a piece of fabric.
I would say draw storage is the worst way to store fabric.
In a closet to prevent fading from the sun in wire bins, or on shelves would be the best way to store fabric.

Traditional 06-17-2011 04:04 AM


Originally Posted by Dotha
Do you think that it is better/easier/best use of space to store fabric in drawers or in a cabinet with shelves? I want shelves but DH thinks the best use of space is putting everything in a drawer. I want shelves for the big pieces as I fold every peice to the same size and it stores so neatly and is so easy to see. Drawers, not so much, it is harder to riffle through them, I think. Any thoughts. Dh is doing everything he can to help me with the sewing room reorganization and I appreciate it so much but now I am to a point where I think I know best. Just thought I would ask for input to figure out if I am right or if I should listen to him. I have one of those white cabinet things with the doors (sell for about80 to 100 dollars) and I love it. I want at least one more. Help with your advice, please.

I store my fabric in the darkest place I can find in my sewing room closet or drawers. Light will fade fabric quickly.

Mr. P from P&B fabrics showed samples of fabric exposed to the light for different time frames in three days it was so easy to see the fading. After attending his lexture I stop displaying my fabric and quilts just to admire. I strive to keep them in the dark.

Difergie 06-17-2011 04:20 AM


Originally Posted by Dotha

Originally Posted by snicker dee
I have done both shelves and drawers ... definitely prefer shelves. I put my FQ in rectangle clear plastic salad containers from grocery store. I can separate them by color etc, set them on the shelf and still see what I have. I got the idea from Stash Manicure at Blogspot. Everyone in my family saves the containers for me. Good thing for me that we are all big salad eaters!

I will have to try that. Sounds like a good idea. It will take a boat load of salad containers to contain all my FQs!

I have dogs and their treats come in clear plastic containers that work perfect for fat quarters..look for free containers, youwillprobably need quite a few!


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