she only lives about 30 or so minutes away from me. Do you think that if maybe the wind is blowing in just the right direction some of that organizational skill will blow my way and rub off on me??? LOL Now in all seriousness my question is how does everyone here store your stash? I REALLY need to do something with mine! I have to do something to be able to find what I'm looking for when I need it! Since I don't really have any organizaton right now I'm sorta starting from the begining. Please share all of your ideas and/or pics! Thanks, Linda

Let us all know if you contact her! I bet she'd be glad to help you!! You know how friendly & helpful most "sewers" are!! All you gals have made me feel better about the "stash all over the place" I have! I do have lots in plastic bins. I read somewhere how to fold yardage & set it on edge so you can see all the fabrics in the box at a glance. I've done a lot like that...until I ran out of boxes!!

If i had a smuch fabric as all of you, I'd take it in large piles , garbage bags,...anyway I could get it Just as long as I could have it :) lol

And Linda, If you are uncomfortable calling her, I will. Or I will email her for you and ask if she minds company. Just send me a message and I'll do it for you ~ Sandy

Thanks to everyone that answered. It has given me a few ideas. When it gets done I'll post pictures. Hubby has to get his garage back first...sorta long story, but we had to replace 2&1/2 basement walls a few years ago. Well the basement that was like a storage unit had to be emptied. House was up on jacks for 9 weeks. Anyway everything went out to the garage. Mind you it is a 2&1/2 car garage! It is Filled to the brim. So he has recently retired and wants his garage back...lol. We've been working in the basement moving things to make room for all the shelves he built for stuff. He said when that is done he'll help me redo up in my room.
So thanks again!

As scary as it may be I am attaching a composite picture of how not to store it HA!! Mine is so scary that those shelves are acnhored to the wall! and it is 2 layers thick. I have to have a step ladder to get to the top ones since it goes to the seiling and the bottom bins(plastic drawer containers hold peices 1 yard or less grouped in color.
the others are grouped in material composite then prints. Organized but still oh so scary HAHA

1 images:[1]

2 comments

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

LOL...I have to say your pictures looks familiar!!! I only have a little path way to walk from one end of the room to the other. I have piles that are 4' tall in most places!!!

by hogfan 23 Jan 2011

you should see the rest of the room! that is just the fabric wall, there is a floral and wreath wall, a yarn wall and a sewing wall and plastic drawers and containers all over HA!!

I have mine stashed in large clear plastic containers, under my bed, against the wall. I have some on shelves,and boxes(those I haven't put in a clear container). I NEED a larger space because mine is in two bedrooms that I use. Hopefully one day I will see this building my hubby says he will get for me. hehehe.

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

Yes if I go with containers I will want them to be clear too. Thanks for your reply.

I have my fabric on 2 shelving units. I have to limit my stash because of space and weight (we move every few years and every pound costs. I don't use bins because I have a bad back so can't move heavy objects. I am trying to collect the cardboard pieces the stores use to wrap my fabric around. I do not quilt so don't have small bits of fabric to store. I have mine arranged by type of fabric and color and prints by main color. Holiday fabrics are together by specific holiday. I can see all that have and pull out what I want quickly. Hope it helps.

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

That's what I want to do is by types and colors and holidays and such too. Thanks for your reply.

I have an extensive stash, but now have a home for most of it in my little sewing house. I have fabrics on open shelves. It may look busy to some, but I love the colors. Like colors in a stack, holiday in stacks by holiday, flannels in one section, the same type storage containers as she had for collections of fabrics, special projects. I have baskets of fat quarters, coordinating colors, large shoe boxes with scraps labeled....I collect selvages & small strips for quilt tops & projects.. I don't throw much away as I save threads in a pretty vase by my emb. machine, box by my other machine for small pieces and teeny strips or whatever for an artist friend as she makes bird nests out of this, save small pieces for a lady that uses small pieces for hand piecing of 1" to 4" blocks, I save strips in a long box and that goes under a cabinet. I have 3 plastic stacked storage containers with 5 to 7 drawers for cut shapes...
squares 2" up to 5", Triangles, circles, these are cut and stacked from leftover project fabric. I take small strips of fabrics by colors & sew on paper strips to create scrap fabric. I just recently made my challenge quilt with my guild....
completely out of these leftovers since our theme was "don't throw it away". The only new fabric was the 4 challenge fabrics that I had to use, all else including the batting were pieced together to create the quilt. Backing was a border fabric that was left in one piece, but old. The quilt turned out nice with added embroidery all over the top....
may have to post for you to understand this. I have to be organized as I have so much, if I didn't I would be lost. I have always been an organizer but not a fanatic about it. I do have messes and new fabrics in bags until I have time to get it in place. I bought fabrics for years waiting for this very time....my retirement and what fun I am having.
I am a crafter also so it is there too....by the way....my hubby is a better organizer than me.

2 comments

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

Ok, I love the idea of the fabric on the open shelves. I just like the "look" of it. BUT...I can't see how it would stay clean and dust free. I sure don't wanna dust fabric as I hardly dust the stuff that has to be dusted! I have 12 plastic stacked storage containers with 6 drawers in each, about 3"-4" deep. So not great for fabric, good for thread and other tools and such. They were perfect for when I did rubber stamping but I'm not in to that anymore. I too want to sort it down like you have with strips and squares of various sizes, those storage containers would also be good for that too. I love the scrappy look of strip quilts and want to make some of those. (Anyone have scraps they don't want they can send them to me and I'll pay the postage!!!)

by quilter124 23 Jan 2011

Been in my little sewing house for 3+ years and haven't had a problem with dust so far. Thread out open too...no problem. I have a wall heater/AC that keeps the air stirring and not a problem at all.....it is at the top of the wall above my head and I love it.

I use the large plastic bins and have them in a couple of different rooms as I don't have an actual sewing room.

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

We live in a 1 &1/2 story small bungalo I guess you call it. The whole upstairs is one big room and it's mine! The one problem I have though is the walls only go up so high then they slope.

I keep mine in plastic tubs. I have several in my sewing room and another 4 of them in the basement. I try and keep types of fabric together. Hugs, Mary

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

I'm thinking that might be the way to go for me too.

I have a stash and use aluminium storage cupboards to line one wall in my sewing room. They are not too deep so fabric is easy to find. Mouse proof too

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

Mouse proof is good!

Well how do I store my fabric stash? I dont have that much fabric and what I have is folded up and is in boxes mainly underneath my sewing table. There is some in one of our storage areas. There is some Like some other Cutie I am not the tidiest especially when in the middle of sewing. To be honest I forget what I have and try to have a look through the boxes every 6 months. There is also some fabric in the roof and I have got as far as getting the steps to the bottom of the stairs. Climbing into the roof can only be done when there is someone to help. For small bits and pieces I have a small filing cabinet. Each drawer has its own selection. Will I post a picture of my sewing room? Probably not as it is in a none to tidy stage at the moment. A friend of mine has a kitchen worksurface in her sewing room and a big cupboard that she has full of fabric and smaller bits in plastic boxes. Look forward to seeing what you decide for yourself

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

I still haven't made my mind up how I want to do it yet. I think I might go with the plastic storage bins, maybe a bit bigger then hers. I don't have that much to use all that many bins like she does. Well if I put 1-2 peices in a bin maybe...lol

Stash Storing..... the million dollar question. After seeing how she stores her stuff I really have to re orgnise. It was fine the last time but alwys gets messy so easily. I have been collecting the plastic see through containers you get from the Chinese Takeaway here for about a year so all my small fiddlely bits will go in them....eventually!

2 comments

by asterixsew 22 Jan 2011

Oh I do love the eventually. These boxes are great for storing bits and pieces.

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

I have a few clear boxes that cookies come in and I know I'll get more(hubby LOVES his cookies!) so that is a good idea for all the little scraps!

Well - I think you need to try to contact her - she loves doing it so much - maybe she would help you. I don't have fabric stash - so I can't help.

1 comment

by anothrcookiejar 23 Jan 2011

I'm too shy to contact someone I don't know. She'd take 1 look at my mess and back right out of here...LOL!