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Insert cardboard sized for the area you want to fit, ex: shelf Fold fabric matching selvages and then into thirds Lay cardboard template and fold one side over it as shown. |
Today's topic is FABRIC!
The hardest part of organizing fabrics is deciding on how you plan to classify your fabrics. Once decided, you then have to actually sort them into piles according to the classifications you have chosen.
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Roll the fabric around the board |
Whatever system you choose,pick one you can actually use easily! I have tried so many from all the books I read that I truly understand the value of keeping it simple.
No matter what system you decide I would suggest folding the fabrics uniformly. This is a trick used in a retail store I worked at, years ago, when stacking shirts. It is quick to do and you can use a heavy cardboard to make your template.
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Slide the board out from the top |
What size template? If you are storing it on a shelf then be sure the depth of the shelf is part of the calculation, and how many you want across will determine the other.
Even if you prefer to roll your fabrics, having a template to size them uniformly will really speed things up. And make all the rolls more visible.
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Fabric stacks neatly on a shelf when it is the same uniform sizeI go one extra step |
You can see that by folding fabrics uniformly, it's quicker to sort through and easier to see them.
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Fabrics are folded again in half and placed in a basket shelving system from the Container Store. This way each holds 4 stacks per drawer. |
When I designed my in the hoop Machine Embroidery Sewing Room Tags, I realized that others will want to use cutesy fabrics, with variations in borders and lettering, etc. So I left color breaks in them to allow for creativity.
A Glimpse at my Fabric CornerWant to embroider your own tags?
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Simple embroidered tags keeps confusion out when in a hurry sorting and grabbing fabrics. |
Originally, I had adorable paper tags and even though I used my label maker on them, I found the detail distracting and the paper wore out and simply was not as functional as fabric reinforced tags.
I have added the pictures for you to see the bins I use, but there are many different organizers on the market. Keep it simple!

See the tags stitched in fun fabric dressed up with ribbons so you can what else is possible with them. The chain I used to hang the tags were purchased at Home Depot's lighting department. But scrap stores also sell chains. I used gold thread to edge my plain tags as it matched the walls. My projects are always colorful so sometimes simple makes things stand out in my world.
The captioned steps in the photos show how I fold the fabric. If you are overwhelmed or short of time for the task of overhauling the sewing room, I recommend a professional organizer. I can't speak highly enough of Michelle Cooper of Put-it-there.com and the time she has saved me is priceless!
Good news for ASG friends in Atlanta, Michelle will now be the guest speaker at the upcoming Common Threads meeting on October 20. Learn more about this meeting you shouldn't miss...
3 comments:
Great ideas! That is pretty much how mine are organized. I kept all the flannels together, and Christmas, but other than that they are organized by color.
Sandy Lai
Hi Sandy, I just don't have your discipline. Once I let one sub group in, there is no end in sight! LOL! Thanks for sharing.
I have the smallest fabric stash of everyone I know! Mine are folded by color or Christmas/Asian prints/flannel in the drawers of an antique chest. I would love to have them visible on shelving. This may be the shove I need! Love the tags.
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