UPDATE: Well I got stuck into tidying and made a bigger mess in the process! I have tall cupboards for my fabrics to keep the cat and dust out. I have put like fabrics together with plain fabrics one side and then patterned on the other, then all sorted by colour. Not sure how long it will last, but it looks better for now. I have my quilting fabrics and Christmas prints stored separately to other fabrics as I usually am after something more specifc when I use them

I need to do that but i am kind of lazy

I usually sort by colour, stored side by side wrapped around cardboard like bolts from the shop. I have large drawers built in under my cutting table that I had specially made. does not always stay tidy !! LOL

I don't sort fabric. It is all over the place. I did try sorting once, but got frustrated that I couldn't see all my fabrics. I do keep fabrics when I make a raw edged jacket in separate tubs so the jacket theme fabric is all together. I need "mess" to feel inspired! My husband is an engineer who has everything in nice neat places and perfectly lined up. Fortunately, we have a lot of rooms so I keep my stuff away from his rooms.

I sort by putting in see through totes according to fabric content. Also label the tote. I have found smaller totes are better for me to handle. Holiday fabrics are in a different closet. Not much for quilting fabric but maybe someday. This closet is somewhat organized (top 2 shelves) I would not dare to show the bottom of the closet!

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I have mine sorted in boxes in themes for cotton prints ( birds, dogs cats) that type of thing. As for track suiting or T shirt stuff just in colours in clear plastic bags sealed.
Where possible if I buy a large amount of a particular piece I try to put it on a roll. Makes it easier to handle and actually takes up less space.

You got me thinking that I really need a tidy up myself. So got a couple of $17 metal shelves from Ikea this morning and pulled everything out made a huge mess and resorted and now it is all put back neat and tidy.
Found a big stack of Hand Towels that had been pushed to the back so feel like the fairies have been.

1 comment

by Sewmum1 edited 22 Apr 2020

I like the idea of the IKEA shelves, well done with your tidying and finding the hand towels. I found towels and bibs in my sorting

Always by colour! Love Chris

Sort??? Newest on top. LOL

3 comments

by asterixsew 22 Apr 2020

I just love this reply

by Sewmum1 22 Apr 2020

LOL this is exactly why I had to sort! 🤣

by sewdeb 22 Apr 2020

Tooo, funny!

I sort by what I use them for, I have found folding and rolling up and putting on shelves with the end showing (like you do towels) is the best way to see and keep tidy ...wendy

1 comment

by Sewmum1 22 Apr 2020

Oooh I think I like this idea. Is that easier to pull out the one from the bottom without all the others following behind?

If it's cotton according to color, or if it's fashion fabric summer or winter .

I keep my cottons by color. Specialty fabrics have an underbed box of their own: batiks, laces, denims, metallics, leather and fake leather. Not much poly at my house.





I also have some boxes that are project oriented, such as seasonal banners, holiday banners.

As to how it gets messed up, it's either the cost of progress, or the Anti-Sewer comes in at night while we sleep and has a spree.

I look forwards to reading how others keep their stuff tidy and sorted as its something I don't seem to be able to achieve satisfactorily. I do have a shelf with neatly folded fabrics, then I grab something... and.... Part of my downfall is living 3 minutes away from the fabric shop

1 comment

by Sewmum1 20 Apr 2020

I tend to audition several different fabrics for a project before deciding on the one I will use and then sometimes forget to put it back exactly where I picked it from.
I wish I lived that close to my fabric shop but then my bank balance might not!