Fabric Organization
By Sarah
www.Wallypop.net
Even if you’re not a full-fledged fabric-aholic like I am, if you’re a sewing WAHM, chances are you’ve got quite the fabric stash. And probably not a lot of storage space. What you need is easy, organized storage and a fast, easy way to keep track of what you have.
Storage
Is the space you use to store your fabric adequate? If so, then skip to the next section! If not, read on.
If the space you currently use is too small, consider using other areas of your home for excess fabric storage. Don’t limit yourself to locations that make logical sense right off the bat. With a well-developed fabric management system (which we’ll get to later), you do not need to be able to access your fabric on a daily basis. This frees you up to use non-logical spaces like the top shelf in your bedroom closet, a clean and protected attic space, or a shelving unit in the basement.
General home de-cluttering is outside the scope of this article, but chances are that most people have at least several square feet of space in their homes that could be reclaimed simply by getting rid of unused items. Taking unused or unneeded items to Goodwill not only frees up more space for your fabric, but it feels good, too. (And the tax deduction can’t hurt, either!)
A few words of caution that probably go without saying – make sure that the space you choose is relatively clean, rodent-free, dry, and out of reach of family pets or any other hazards. It would be a shame to have your stash ruined by a preventable accident!
Organization
Once you’ve found a space that is large enough, you need to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. One system that works well for some WAHMs is to store fabric in plastic crates or cardboard boxes (the types meant to hold files). Keep similar materials together, slap on a label, and toss it on the shelf. Not only does this make the storage area look neater, it also keeps the fabric cleaner.
Other WAHMs have found that buying shelving units has worked well. Each shelf gets a label, and then fabric is neatly folded and stacked on the shelves.
Fabrics purchased in particularly large quantities or that are especially “puffy” (like Fleece) can be easily stored in larger boxes or simply stacked neatly on a shelf.
Put some thought into how you group your fabrics together. Well-organized fabric means you can find what you want more easily and you are more likely to put something away where it goes.
The same thing goes for notions such as thread, elastic, zippers, etc. Consider purchasing a few dozen shoebox-sized plastic containers with lids. Group similar items together, label, and shelve. Well-organized notions mean that you spend less time searching and more time sewing! Management This is the real fun part. Fabric management. Sure, you think you remember buying some Hawaiian print cottons a few months ago, but what did that design look like? When did I get it? And how much do I have? A simple spreadsheet and a few minutes’ time will answer all those questions at the touch of a button. As you receive new fabric, take a minute to scan in a swatch or take a digital picture. Gather those digital images and your receipts and head to the computer. Open up a new spreadsheet. Each line in the spreadsheet will be for a different fabric. Insert the image of the fabric (and shrink it small enough to fit). Give the fabric a name. Then list any other qualities you may need to know about the fabric. For example:
Of course, each time you use a fabric, you need to update the spreadsheet accordingly to keep it current. But this spreadsheet allows you to check your fabric inventory from your desk without having to get up and physically look at your fabrics. To make this spreadsheet even more useful, you could record the price per yard that you paid for the fabric to help track your costs. You may, of course, use a table in a word processing program if you prefer, but using a spreadsheet program allows you to sort your table in different ways with just the touch of a button. Scraps. Sometimes we fabric hoarders have a hard time letting go of our scraps. Consider developing a rule: If it’s too small for any use I can think of, I’ll throw it away. Do you have a use in mind for a 3 inch square piece of Windpro? If so, get out a plastic container, label it with your idea, and toss the scrap – and any other appropriate scraps – in. If not, just throw it out. One thing about scraps in our business is that you know you will always have more!
www.Wallypop.net
Even if you’re not a full-fledged fabric-aholic like I am, if you’re a sewing WAHM, chances are you’ve got quite the fabric stash. And probably not a lot of storage space. What you need is easy, organized storage and a fast, easy way to keep track of what you have.
Storage
Is the space you use to store your fabric adequate? If so, then skip to the next section! If not, read on.
If the space you currently use is too small, consider using other areas of your home for excess fabric storage. Don’t limit yourself to locations that make logical sense right off the bat. With a well-developed fabric management system (which we’ll get to later), you do not need to be able to access your fabric on a daily basis. This frees you up to use non-logical spaces like the top shelf in your bedroom closet, a clean and protected attic space, or a shelving unit in the basement.
General home de-cluttering is outside the scope of this article, but chances are that most people have at least several square feet of space in their homes that could be reclaimed simply by getting rid of unused items. Taking unused or unneeded items to Goodwill not only frees up more space for your fabric, but it feels good, too. (And the tax deduction can’t hurt, either!)
A few words of caution that probably go without saying – make sure that the space you choose is relatively clean, rodent-free, dry, and out of reach of family pets or any other hazards. It would be a shame to have your stash ruined by a preventable accident!
Organization
Once you’ve found a space that is large enough, you need to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. One system that works well for some WAHMs is to store fabric in plastic crates or cardboard boxes (the types meant to hold files). Keep similar materials together, slap on a label, and toss it on the shelf. Not only does this make the storage area look neater, it also keeps the fabric cleaner.
Other WAHMs have found that buying shelving units has worked well. Each shelf gets a label, and then fabric is neatly folded and stacked on the shelves.
Fabrics purchased in particularly large quantities or that are especially “puffy” (like Fleece) can be easily stored in larger boxes or simply stacked neatly on a shelf.
Put some thought into how you group your fabrics together. Well-organized fabric means you can find what you want more easily and you are more likely to put something away where it goes.
The same thing goes for notions such as thread, elastic, zippers, etc. Consider purchasing a few dozen shoebox-sized plastic containers with lids. Group similar items together, label, and shelve. Well-organized notions mean that you spend less time searching and more time sewing! Management This is the real fun part. Fabric management. Sure, you think you remember buying some Hawaiian print cottons a few months ago, but what did that design look like? When did I get it? And how much do I have? A simple spreadsheet and a few minutes’ time will answer all those questions at the touch of a button. As you receive new fabric, take a minute to scan in a swatch or take a digital picture. Gather those digital images and your receipts and head to the computer. Open up a new spreadsheet. Each line in the spreadsheet will be for a different fabric. Insert the image of the fabric (and shrink it small enough to fit). Give the fabric a name. Then list any other qualities you may need to know about the fabric. For example:
| Swatch | Fabric Type | Purchased | Approx. Yardage | Width | Uses | Location | |
| image here | Cows Flannel | 1/24/04 - JoAnn’s | 6 | 45 | Fitted diaper outer | Wire shelves | |
| image here | Natural BKT | 9/1/05 - NeatFabric Coop | 3 | 60 | Diaper inner | Office | |
| image here | Purple Stretch Merino Wool | 5/23/05 | 10 | 60 | Covers | Wire shelves |
Of course, each time you use a fabric, you need to update the spreadsheet accordingly to keep it current. But this spreadsheet allows you to check your fabric inventory from your desk without having to get up and physically look at your fabrics. To make this spreadsheet even more useful, you could record the price per yard that you paid for the fabric to help track your costs. You may, of course, use a table in a word processing program if you prefer, but using a spreadsheet program allows you to sort your table in different ways with just the touch of a button. Scraps. Sometimes we fabric hoarders have a hard time letting go of our scraps. Consider developing a rule: If it’s too small for any use I can think of, I’ll throw it away. Do you have a use in mind for a 3 inch square piece of Windpro? If so, get out a plastic container, label it with your idea, and toss the scrap – and any other appropriate scraps – in. If not, just throw it out. One thing about scraps in our business is that you know you will always have more!
