Sunday
Aug022009
Nice Neat Fabric Stacks
Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 10:35AM 
I am often frustrated that I cannot find the exact fabric that I am looking for. No wonder I currently have 12 plastic bins of fabric. They started out very organized but over time they are somewhat random. I am reorganizing my fabrics so that I can see exactly what I have.
A 6" ruler provides a great way to fold the fabrics so they all end up the same size. Most quilters have such a ruler so there is no waste, nothing new to buy.
Place a 6" x 24" see-through ruler on the fabric with the edge of the fabric even with the 1" line on the ruler. Leave about 3" or 4" of fabric extending past the ruler, fold this back onto the ruler as shown above. Hold the fabric/ruler on the edge that you just foled over and fold the fabric/ruler over the fabric. You are basically making a bolt of fabric just like in the fabric/quilt shop but using a ruler instead of a card board insert. 
Keep wrapping the fabric around the ruler until it is all wrapped. Fold any remaining fabric under so that all edges end at the ruler. This way there are no raw edges showing anywhere.
Once all the fabric has been wrapped, slide out the ruler and fold your little bolt of fabric in half.
A fat quarter and yardage both folded with the same technique. Note that the fat quarter is distinctly smaller which helps distinguish fat quarters from larger pieces of fabric.
While I have a long way to go, I think this organization system will save me time and frustration because I will be able to see what fabrics I have as well as an approximate quantity.
Warning: one major downfall of this system is that it will clearly identify to all how much fabric I actually own!
tagged organization, quilt stash
organization, quilt stash
Reader Comments (5)
I'm still dumping plastic bins on the floor. I really did try to be neat once! I love looking at all your pretty fabric stacked up neatly! Great job!
It's important for me to have my stashes neat and tidy too. It pleases me just looking at the arrangements...and inspire me to create....
I love your way of keeping your stash tidy. I try to be neat but then t all tends to go haywire when I start to pull out fabrics for the next project. I must discipline myself!
Sorry, I meant also to say thank you for the lovely comment about my FOQ entry.
Clever idea to use a ruler for folding! Love the name "transitional"!