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How to organize fabric

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Dirtduchess	Posted - Jun 28 2013 : 1:59:17 PM I am organized with all my fat quarters or very small pieces of fabric. Is there anyway to organize pieces of fabric that are 1 to 3 yards so I can easily find them. I have about 25 swatches of cloth folded up and put in boxes. I hate sitting down, leaning over and searching through boxes to find what I want. What do you seamtress do? Thanks, Patsy Farmgirl 4678 Leave room in your garden for the fairies to dance.
16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Dirtduchess	Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 6:47:36 PM Thanks. Patsy Farmgirl 4678 Leave room in your garden for the fairies to dance.
jan49829	Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 5:38:17 PM Patsy, that is a very good organized way to store your fabric. I am sure it takes a lot less time to look for a piece of fabric that way. Looks nice and convenient. Janet Farmgirl Sister #3340 http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com http://Jan49829.etsy.com
levisgrammy	Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 4:13:55 PM Looks great Patsy! Denise Farmgirl Sister #43 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105 http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/ http://www.torisgram.etsy.com
Dirtduchess	Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 1:01:41 PM I am trying different things on fabric organization. Some wonderful idea already posted. I cleared out the closet that I hang seasonal clothes in. Lucky for me this closet is in my craft room. Put the clothes in big plastic containers and stored them in the garage. I hung large pieces of fabric according to color and fabric type. I cut 5"x5" squares of thick paper used to divide comic books for my fat quarters and fabric up to 1/2 yard. I stored them in a see through plastic container according to color. I have 32 pieces of material on hangers and over 50 pieces of fat squares. What do you think? Patsy Farmgirl 4678 Leave room in your garden for the fairies to dance.
ceejay48	Posted - Jul 02 2013 : 6:31:53 PM Patsy, I make aprons to sell and I make a lot of them. Fabric organization is always a challenge. But I use long lidded bins for the smaller pieces that are still big enough for pockets and such. They are folded and placed on edge in the bins, kind of like a filing system. The larger pieces I sort into type of print. I have a stack that is just checks, in all colors; another that is polka dots. Then I have florals and such in one stack; the fun/novelty prints in another. I live in the Southwest and a rural community so western prints are popular so I have a separate stack that is for those themed prints. Then I have another stack that is what I call my "go with" fabric. It is all colors, but slightly or very subdued patterns that wouldn't be the main focus print of the apron. My organization is ever changing as I'm always making aprons! And summer time season for Farmers Market is my busiest time and it can get crazy. Then there's the issue of scraps! Good luck! CJ ..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665. 2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com
Dirtduchess	Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 09:38:04 AM I love all the suggestions above. I am going to try each one and see which one works best for me. All of my quarters are multicolored. I stack them by standout color together. Then each color is stacked beside other colors in see through plastic box. Sherone, two thumbs up on DH and hoarding comment. Patsy Farmgirl 4678 Leave room in your garden for the fairies to dance.
sherone_13	Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 09:09:52 AM How did you organize your fat quarters and scraps? Sherone Farmgirl Sister #1682 Thirty-One Independent Consultant www.mythirtyone.com/233237 My Blog www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way!
sherone_13	Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 09:06:47 AM Here's what I do..... 1. Find lots of cardboard boxes. Cut pieces 1' x 2'. 2. In the upper left corner, number each piece starting with #1. 3. Purchase index cards and an index card box or folder. 4. Label the dividers in the card box according to the type of material you will be organizing, 1e: Flannel, Linen, etc. 5. Cut a small corner off the piece of material you will be organizing. Glue the piece to the center of an index card. 6. Measure the length and width of the material. Record these measurements below the material on the index card. 7. In the upper left corner of the index card, record the number of the cardboard piece you will be using for that particular fabric. 8. In the upper right corner of the index card, record the type of material, ie: flannel, linen, etc. 9. File the card under the corresponding divider in the index box. 10. Wrap the fabric around the cardboard piece and secure with a small safety pin at each corner of the edge. 11. Store the fabric in another cardboard box or a plastic tote. This system works great. When you decide you want to make something out of flannel, you go to your index box. You can pull out the cards in the flannel section and see exactly what color and yardages you have. The cardboard pieces keep the fabric neat and easily accessible. The extra big plus to this is that DH will never fully comprehend exactly how much fabric you really have been hoarding. Sherone Farmgirl Sister #1682 Thirty-One Independent Consultant www.mythirtyone.com/233237 My Blog www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way!
levisgrammy	Posted - Jun 30 2013 : 8:09:02 PM Patsy, At one point in time I hung all my fabric pieces on childsize hangers with the little clips. That worked great for a time then I had to re arrange the room I was using and so I lost the space to hang it. Denise Farmgirl Sister #43 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105 http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/ http://www.torisgram.etsy.com
crafter	Posted - Jun 30 2013 : 4:17:24 PM Alicia, I'm not sure there is hope for my fabric...my dad when he was still with us, told me he would rent a dumpster for me....by the way...I really enjoy your blog, your children are A DOR ABLE!!! Your bounty from your garden is amazing!! thank you so much for sharing!! Lori God has promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love. We are here to love each other, serve each other and uplift each other.
DandeeRose	Posted - Jun 30 2013 : 3:11:29 PM I have see through tubs.... but it is still a disaster! I am not very organized. Many Blessings- Alicia #5232 http://dandeelionrose.blogspot.com/ Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain."
AmethystRose	Posted - Jun 30 2013 : 09:50:45 AM There was a system which I saw in a magazine years ago where uncut fabric stored on open shelves was folded in a manner where you counted the number of folds to know the yardage. For example, since most fabric is 45 inches wide, you fold the whole length widthwide by half or thirds. If the piece is a yard long, fold it in half and store it on the shelf. For a two yard piece, fold it into four sections. Each thickness of fabric represents a half yard. I thought that it was clever, but I have some fabric over thirty years old still in plastic tubs because I never had shelves.
levisgrammy	Posted - Jun 28 2013 : 8:05:39 PM I keep mine in a long see through plastic container. That way I can see what I have without opening the box. I also organize by color. Denise Farmgirl Sister #43 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105 http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/ http://www.torisgram.etsy.com
jan49829	Posted - Jun 28 2013 : 5:37:05 PM Teri, that is an excellent way to organize fabric!!!!!! How talented you are!!!! Janet Farmgirl Sister #3340 http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com http://Jan49829.etsy.com
kysheeplady	Posted - Jun 28 2013 : 4:11:07 PM I organize my fabric by color first, then I break it down into largest piece on bottom up to 1/4 yard ... scraps ... I do the same thing, by color but it is what it is. It may be enough and may not, if not,that is when I go to the other. Of couse I mark my fabric length with a small sticker, if I use some then I remeasure and place it where it would go in the stack. At one time I use to do a lot of quilting ... so it worked quite well for me. Good luck finding what works for you. Teri "There are black sheep in every flock" www.whitesheepfarm.com http://whitesheepfarm.wordpress.com/
crafter	Posted - Jun 28 2013 : 2:43:45 PM Patsy- I want to know how too!!! But... I need help organizing EVERYTHING!! :) I can't wait to hear the help!! Lori God has promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love. We are here to love each other, serve each other and uplift each other.

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