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A great way to store your fabric.

http://jensownroad.blogspot.co...om-cereal-boxes.html

I figure it can be used for all sizes of fabric stash. Well any way those that need stacking.

I soooooo envy people who have the room to store fabric wrapped around a cardboard holder or anything like that, so the fabric is stored vertically and the room looks like a quilt shop. Unfortunately, the space in my sewing room is so limited that I can't even give up the millimeter or so that cardboard would take up. That that times a few thousand pieces of fabric, and all of a sudden that cardboard thickness makes a big difference.

I'd also have to wonder about the fabrics I've stored for 10 years or more. I think I'd be tempted to use acid-free cardboard so the fabric didn't go "vintage" on me too soon. I have a few bolts of white or WOW fabric, and I wrapped freezer paper (plastic side out) on the cardboard bolt then rewound the fabric so it was against that, not the original bolt cardboard. Maybe it will help?

A core like that would help with the problem of folds, though. But I try to re-fold my stash whenever I'm pulling fabrics, moving the folds over a bit or making them fold another way for awhile. That can get a little time-consuming.

I do a lot of paper piecing for which a piece of fabric 3 x 5...that is 3 inches by 5 inches...is just enough. How do I store that. What do you other paper piecers do it?

i have been using the empty bolts from Joanns.

they are free and have gladly handed them over to me any time i ask.

i have cut them in half too..

I keep small scraps & pieces for PP in plastic shoe boxes, sorted by color.

I store embroidery thread by color in the small snack size ziplocks...standing up right in a plastic shoebox. I bet you could do something similar with the teeny pieces of fabric...even lined up in color order...

to store small pieces.
How about stapling or taping a large,med,small, manila envelope, what ever size floats your boat, to a piece of carboard cut the size to fit on a shelf.Store by size or color with the contents listed on the front. The flap when closed would keep items from falling out if it tipped over. Or if you stack like a book shelf you could use marker along the edge to note the color.Or use a different color for each size with a map posted next to the shelf for reference.

mine is stuffed in every nook and cranny and there is no order

Someone just the other day posted a photo of her storage (rainbow postcard thread) of small fabric bits in mason jars. It looked so cute. Would that work for you??

I started using a storage tower, much like the black one Kim shows in her pic. I have 2-1/2 & 3 1/2 inch squares in 1, coins in another, blocks the size you mentioned in another drawer, and nickels in another. I have a second tower where i house bigger 'scraps' by color.

Whatever you decide for storing those small pieces, my advice is to try to keep them as flat as possible. Otherwise, you'll be running to the ironing board with a ton of small pieces any time you want to PP or use a scrap.

Most pieces do stay flat in my shoe boxes, but every now & then I have to fold a scrap, which can mean ironing later. Otherwise, I'm usually able to reach under the sewing table, pull out the right color box, pick a piece, and sew.

I posted earlier but there was a bad word in it, so if it shows up twice, forgive me.

Using the cereal boxes is a good idea, and one to bear in mind.

I use archival comic book boards. Found them on Amazon for around $10 per 100. For fabrics over 2 yds I put two of them together for strength and for fabrics less that 1/2 yd wide/long I cut the boards in half and fold the fabric accordingly.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb...ds=comic+book+boards

These came out about two years ago and with my stash and the price we couldn't come together.

http://www.thefabricorganizer.com/

Another great idea is to use the political signs that abound right about now. Ask the local printers if you can have them when they are returned for cheap (as in free) or purchase the plastic the signs are made from and cut them to size. A lady in Alaska did this. Tried to find her video but no could do.

The down side to using recycled cardboard/signs is the archival ability of the cardboard or inks used for the printing. I like the idea of putting freezer paper around cardboard...hadn't thought of that one. I'll have to give that a try for the larger pieces (charms and above)and orphaned UFO blocks; currently using clean pizza boxes.

For smaller pieces....squares, strips, triangles, etc I've been using plastic shoe boxes with self-made separators in them. Working good so far.

We can always find good suggestions on this board. Keep it coming, Ladies.

Very nice idea...I guess I'll have to start buying cereal more often.

my 1+ yard amounts of fabric are kept on shelves (like Kimstrut) with cardboard bolts from JAs (free when you ask them!)

pat

Here's a portion of my strip, square and brick shoebox storage. It goes floor to ceiling (about 9 foot high).

Sure makes it fast and easy to pull scraps for my scrappy quilts or for applique or PP!!

pat

I hope you'll forgive my drool, gardenpat. You have my dream in your photos.