AngelinaMaria

We are recarpeting and as excited as I am to get new carpet I am dreading the process. I need to move all of my fabric and the garage is really the only place I will be able to keep it as we will be using other areas of the house not being carpeted for the furniture and other household stuff.

One, I dread the thought of accumulating all of my fabric (I have it stashed away in several spots in the house--closets and under beds as well as on my bookshelves in my sewing area). My DH and kids think that the only fabric I have is what is on my bookshelves and they say that is too much. They will flip a lid when they see how much there really is!!! Two, I don't know how I am going to find enough boxes or containers to put it in. And three, I am worried the high heat (it will be in temperatures ranging from 70 at night to 115 as our daytime temps are going to go to 107 to 110) will damage the fabric. I will probably need around 2 to 3 weeks of storage.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

Prism99

I don't think the heat would affect the fabric at all for that short period of time. What would worry me more is the family seeing all those boxes!

You can scrounge cardboard boxes from stores, but it's a whole lot easier to simply buy boxes as then you can get all the same size so they stack easily. Walmart has some sizes; storage places and moving stores (such as U-Haul) have a lot more sizes but charge quite a bit per box (as I recall, $4-5). If you have time, join a Freecycle list (Google Freecycle to find one for your area) and post a request there for moving boxes.

Alternatively, you can buy plastic boxes at Walmart. I like to store my fabric in clear plastic boxes that stack easily, but you may want to look at opaque boxes so the family cannot see the fabric.

Be careful not to get huge boxes, as fabric becomes very heavy. Even for permanent storage, I prefer smaller boxes because I can move them around much more easily.

Personally, I would find smaller boxes, find a spot in the garage, and move all the fabric by myself when no one is home.

dellareya

I've been "hiding" some of my stash in our luggage. I figure I'm safe until we use the luggage next year for a trip to England. All family members of quilters think we have too much fabric. They just don't get it. If you ever decide to put fabric in large black garbage bags be sure to mark the bag---NOT TRASH--, ya, ask me how I know to mark the bags NOW.

barny

Yes, I have a thought. Go get boxes and pack it all. Phooey if everyone sees all the stash. Look at their junk.ha. Just tell them to stay out of it. I tell everyone in my Kitchen. "Stay out of my kitchen". I mean it too. Now is the time to get it all together. If they don't like it. Tell them to lump it. LOL I'm trying to be funny, but I would just pack it up and take it to the garage. It'll be okay.

Angel Bear

We went through the pain of carpeting last year so I feel your pain. Keep your eye on the prize though, because it is oh, so wonderful when it's done and everything is back in place. I'm hoping this carpet lasts as long as I do, because I really don't want to go through it again.

mom-6

The temps won't be a problem, doing the packing and moving it all. . .don't envy you that part. Just look at as a chance to get everything organized.
You might check your local office supply store or copy center as a source for empty boxes. Copy paper boxes are a nice size for packing.

AliKat

I wouldn't worry about the heat, but I would if there was any humidity. Humidity would be the ick factor times a heck of a lot.

I like the idea of boxing up your stash so it isn't so easily identified.

StephT

Do you have a friends house you can hide some boxes?... Or rent a storage shed for a month.

quiltstringz

I have fabric that I have packed up in plastic boxes that have been out in my shed for years. Mostly fabric that I bought before my taste changed. However, I do go out and get some out of there when I think there may be something that would work. I haven't had any problems with it.

petthefabric

Option #1. Do you have any quilting partners living close? When no one's home stuff the car and drive to your quilting partner's. A couple loads should do it,,,maybe?

Option #2. Are you absolutely sure they don't already know about your hiding places? At our last move DH & DD packed up all my quilting for the move.....very little comments. They know I have an addiction and can't do much about it, until I'm ready.

Option #3. Unload some-fast

Option #4. Stall. Delay the carpet until fall when the weather is cooler and everyone's attitude (especially the workers-everyone will want them to do their best work) isn't affected by the heat. You'll have more time to create a plan.

Option #5. Get a large locked storage unit with climate control. This sounds like a new sewing studio. Yeh! A small mobil home or toy hauler with restroom and small kitchenette. Hide the key, hang a sign,
"ONLY QUILTERS ALLOWED."

California Hills are pretty dry this time of year-humidity low, very low. It's called the Golden State for a reason.