How Do You Sort Your Quilting Fabrics?
Tuesday February 3, 2009
I think everyone has a different method for sorting their fabrics. I'm constantly changing mine because, for me, there's no "best" way to do it. Right now the majority are (kind of) sorted by color, but others are arranged by theme (like Civil War prints, Depression era reproductions, paisleys, border prints -- honestly, it's confusing, and somewhat of a mess). I'm not sure there's a solution. How do you sort? Do the sorts stay intact, or are you constantly shifting things around? Can you find a specific fabric when you need it? Take the poll, and then leave a comment (even if your answer isn't other) -- we'll all benefit from your tips.
Comments
I sort by color, but I also sort some fabrics by theme ie: 30’s,civil war,and Christmas.
I sort by project. quilt fabric, doll, etc
I sort by color and then by amount of fabric I have left. ie. Anything that is less than 1 yd. is marked and sorted by color. Anything less than 1/4 yd. is put in a clear zippered bag, the kind you get when you buy comforters in.
HI, I sort by fabric type, then color. Flannel, Cotton, Cheaper practice material, the Really Good Stuff from quilt stores, Holiday and Special Material. AND I can never keep it NEAT for long, I should try another way. I’ll keep checking in and reading all the great ideas and maybe inspiration will strike. Bert
I start by color but also group themes–30’s; civil war; Christmas. I fold fabric length wise until 6″ wide then fold accordian style by 6″. That way I can tell approximatly how much fabric I have. I store in plastic under the bed storage containers by two rows.
I sort my larger pieces by yardag amount, so that I can quickly search my stash for a pattern’s fabric requirements. My scraps are neatly folded and sorted by color because most of my scrappy quilts follow a “color recipe” or color-coordinate with a focus fabric.
I sort by color and then each color by value
I try to sort by size, then color. But I might have to go back to just color because I am running out of space in one drawer and have an abundance of space in another. I don’t think I’ll have such a problem if I just go by color.
I sort by type and label all my material for yardage. The only ones I don’t are scraps. Sometimes they come in handy for example today I have enough flannel to make a block scrap flannel baby quilt for a gift!
I have fabrics by color in Sterilite containers on shelves built in a closet. The prints that are all different colors are in a separate big container so I can see them. If I can’t see the stuff I forget what I have and end up buying more.
I sort by color, and by purpose – children’s, Christmas, denim – and store in see-through plastic boxes. Lift-over bits go into a big basket where I “dig” to find practice scraps or pieces for a ‘knock-about quilt’.
I sort by color, if they are calicos or textures, but also by themes, since I make many theme-related quilts.
I sort by color but also I group my batiks, orientals, christmas, flannels, and Laurel Burch all together and by themselves. Fortunately I have a large studio and have the room to do this.
I sort by yardage, then color, then anything smaller than a fat quarter goes into bins by color. I finally found this help in the book entitled Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space Sewing Room Makeovers for Any Space and Any Budget by Lois L. Hallock ISBN 1-56477-569-0 published by That Patchwork Place (I’m not affliated). It is all my friend, Cindy’s fault, but I was able to get the fabric under control and am so grateful! Page 28 contains the secret!! Allison in Plano, TX
I get the empty bolt from the quilt shop or I cut cardboard, wrap my fabric around them put a sticky on them as to how many yards are on each one, then I put all the home spun together. All maywood together, all moda together, and so on. I color cordinate each one as I go. All scraps or fat quarters I tie together, christmas, solids etc. other scraps get cut into 2 1/2 or 2″ strips or blocks and put in a box and on the outside I have marked what is in each one. My sewing room looks like a quilt shop, I can see everything.
I sort by the amount of fabric. Starting with 1/4 yd and go up from there.
I have several ways to store my fabric in my own “system.” I do have both quilting and regular garment & home dec fabrics, so cottons are separated from “everything else.” Within my cottons, I store by color and separate prints from solids or “reads as solid” fabrics. I also have a different section for holidays (Christmas, Halloween, Easter, etc.) and themes (back to school, poker, Cubs, etc.). Anything that is under one yard goes into a separate cabinet, also sorted by color for when I need just a bit of something, or want to do a scrap quilt. I have the luxury of a sewing studio in my basement, so I keep all of my fabrics in clear-drawer cabinets. My handheld label-maker is my best friend – I use it to accurately label virtually every drawer, tote, box, bin and shelf. It’s been a life (and time!) saver for quickly and easily locating what I need!
I do 1 yard peices by color, but batiks have their own area, as do Christmas and homespun. Less than a yard are in a color sorted pile, more than 1 yard in another area, “kits” in sweater or shoe boxes on top of the cabinets, and smaller pieces in (sorta) color shoe boxes ie; all darks, all lights, all brights, etc. And they do have to be re-done on occasion!! Lee
I sort by amount of fabric, then by color. I keep all the fat quarters (and half-yards) separate, again by color. Yardage is in tubs separated by color groups (pink/red, purple/blue/green, yellow/brown, neutrals, black/white-black/red. I also keep batiks separate from other fabrics (fat quarters are sorted by color groups) and brights are in their own bin! Christmas fabrics have their very own bins!
Wow! These ladies are light years ahead of me. I sew for a non profit baby group in the area and provide clothes and isolete covers (quilts). My stuff is in clear plastic totes….and not sorted so well. I have plain flannel together in containers, boy prints in others, girl in still other ones….and have fabric, notions for future projects together in dresser drawers. My cut out preemie items, and six inch quilt blocks are piled in the open type card board boxes I get from Costco. Don’t worry, they aren’t there long, and I can see what needs to be done next. Since the boxes have built in handles, I can haul them easily to our baby group, too.
I sort a couple of different ways,none of which have been the perfect solution. I sort by color and by theme into 18-quart plastic storage bins that are stacked on shelves in my garage. With the Civil War repros, I generally have two colors in a tub, but since I have more contemporary fabrics, they are generally one color to a tub. I have one tub of 30’s repros. I have multi-yard pieces in separate tubs because they’re so bulky. I bought a couple of 7-drawer organizers where the drawers are 12 x 12 bins that can be taken out. Those hold scraps and embellishments. I also have a laminate storage unit with shelves and doors where I keep silks, velvets and other fancy fabrics.
Hi – I sort my material with Fabric Orgainzers that I bought for this purpose. Then I stack them on shelves in like colors or patterns. My closet looks like the shelves of a quilt store. Real neat and real handy.
I sort by color and store the fabrics in plastic storage boxes. I also sort by project when I’m assembling fabrics for a specific purpose. I store the project collections in those plastic zipper bags that you get when buying a pillow or other linens.
I sort mostly by color, but then I have separate stacks for holiday seasonal, novelties/children’s prints, 1930s and batiks. Most of my fabric is 19th century repros and that category is definitely sorted by color.
I sort primarily by color, although I keep my batiks seperate, also Christmas, Patriotic, and my Thimbleberries collections. All fabric is marked with yardage and whether or not it has been washed.
I sort by the colour of the rainbow. One drawer for blacks and one for whites at the end (ROYGBV Black & White). Two plastic towers with 4 small drawers on top and 4 large at the bottom allow me to keep the little pieces the same way. I’ve moved into wire baskets for pieces larger than a yard but I can tell at a glance what colour my next quilt should be.
I don’t really sort. I don’t have room for very much fabric. I have two bins stacked on top of each other in the cornor of my room. I have colors together in my binds.
I never sorted, then my daughter came home one christmas and we decided we needed to get my huge collection of fat quarters organized She spent hours color cordinating them and then within the colors she gradiated them (if that is the right word!) Well that was more than a couple of years ago and now they are a mess again and she refuses to do it for me one more time. Can’t say as I blame her. I just love to look throught them and fondle each and everyone of them. LOL
I sort by color, theme, solids,era that seems to be the easiest for me but it is whatever works for anybody…
Hello,
Most of the I sort by color and than I sort some by theme: Christmas; Winter; stars; Leafes; flowers; panels usw.
greeting Guilitta
I sort by yardage. All scraps in a box, FQ in piles, stored together. 1-3 yard pieces stored together, 3-6 yard pieces stored together, and more than 6 yard pieces stored together. Then in each pile, I have a sub-storage by color.
Lots of great comments here. Thank you. I’ll see if I can condense them a little and put them in one of the Tip of the Day newsletters.
I sort mainly by colour and to a lesser degree by theme (for example, I have a big collection of civil war fabrics, some batiks, I Spy & nursery themes. But I also Have a bad habit of falling in love with a feature fabric and then buying a collection of fabrics to go with it… sometimes enough to make a whole quilt, sometimes a collection that will be added to. These I keep together.
I sort by how I use the fabric, such as those used for clothing, quilting and specialty fabrics. I also sort the fabric I use for quilting by types such as reproductions, holiday, darks and lights, and wool etc..
I have two groups of fabrics which I sort by color. The first group is all fabrics 1 1/4 yards and under. The second group is 1 1/2 hards and over. Everying is washed, folded neatly and labeled as to yardage. I have no trouble keeping things in order on box type shelves. I make approximately 100 lap quilts a year for charity.
I sew small quilts for a Linus group. Seems I use nearly every method mentioned in my sorting! The larger pieces, 1 yard and up, are wrapped around flat cardboard bats I get from a fabric store when they empty them. Those are stacked on a high shelf in closet. Smaller pieces I sort by color, combining several in stackable see-through plastic bins on the closet floor. Scraps and strips go into plastic retail bags in the same closet, Christmas/seasonal groups are folded together on closet shelf. A few heirloom quilt tops or patches from my mother are kept in a drawer. I am fortunate to have a room I can call my sewing room (guest room) so everything is handy. Every year or so I have to spend several hours resorting the boxes and small pieces.
I sort by color only if the material isn’t associated in any other way…a collection of fat quarters, batiks all go together, Christmas stuff has its own bin, etc.
I have so much fabric that it has overrun the house and is currently stacked in 2 outside buildings. No way to sort all that!!
As a beginning quilter, I started to sort by color, but have since started collecting themes, so now I am drifting towards batiks and marbles, novelty, thimbleberries (because they all match), civil war and 30’s. also, christmas has it’s own category
I start sorting by color, then I run into theme fabrics (holidays, children, checks, dots, calicoes, plaids, stripes, florals, etc.), I get overwhelmed, I run out of room to stack the wide variety and never seem to finish the sorting…
I sort by color, however, christmas is together, as is fall, fruits, novelties, water, stars.
I just finished a full weekend of “sorting”. I sorted by color first and then by yardage. Anything under a yard went one way and over the other way. I built shelves in the “stash closet” and, of course, found stuff I had forgotten about. I used the infamous “plastic tubs” (a little larger than shoe box). I also then sorted some by speciality, i.e. Christmas,cowboy,feed sack. I also used the plastic curtain packages to put “projects”(fabric I had gathered to “go together”)in. If I had a pattern in mind for it, I put it in also. “UFO’s were also put together with all the fabric that went with them. I already had some sterite rolling carts and put all the “to big to throw away” scraps in them and those are sorted by color.
I was so proud to be able to find everything. The stack had been waist high. My husband stepped in the room for a moment and for the first time saw how much fabric was there and quickly backed away.(My secret is almost out – did not see what was under the bed and in the trunk of the car)
This turned out to be a great winter weekend project. I spent less than $40 for the whole thing. The local Home Depot will cut your wood to length (I used the very cheapest) and the tubs came for the “Dollar Tree” (local everything’s a dollar store).
With all the talk of the poor financial status of things, and all the home shows talking about “decluttering”, it has served 2 purposes. I felt good about the declutter and might save some money on fabric (just for a month or so). I hated to give up a whole weekend of quilting but now, I just go and open the closet door and look. Just like I had finished a new quilt.
I’m a beginner and, so far, sort just by color. I intend to sort each color by value, but I’m having a great deal of trouble seeing values for some reason.
I’m also having a problem (related to the above) in choosing materials for quilts or wall hangings.
I hope to learn through this group!
Barb
I put everything into 16 qt. clean containers and stack them sideways on shelves and then just hunt. I love the hunting part. The going through my fabric and finding some I totally forgot I had and finding a pattern just for that fabric. I guess I don’t want to be too organized because I love touching my fabrics as I decide which to use.
I sort by color and theme.Baby,ethnic,backs.
Need to sort again now though, I have a colorful mess.
Most sorted first by color, lightest to darkest, then by print scale. I also have stacks for solid colors, multi-colored prints sorted by scale, rows of fat quarters sorted by color, one stack with mini prints, and a stack separated with dividers for coordinating fabrics to be used in a specific project.
First shelf has pieces 1+yards by color, second shelf is 1/2 yard pieces in clear bins by color, third shelf is fq’s in clear bins by color. The fabrics that are separate are the batiks & landscape/building fabric. I have 2 large bins of scraps. Top shelf are strips I’ve cut from the scraps sorted by size; 2.5″,3.5″,4.5″,6.5″. I used to cut squares but sometimes I would need rectangles so I leave them in strips and cut squares & rectangles as needed.
I basically sort by color and type. Types are Asian, novelties, brights, batiks and I consider tone on tones a type, Fossil Fern, Fairy Frost, Moda Marbles are also separate because I can go right to them when I am thinking I need that. So I usually ask myself when putting fabric away – Where would I look to find this. Works for me.
First, I sort by the fabric’s intended use–garment making, purses & totes, quilts, home deco, banners, stuffed animals, or just as a collectible. Fabric for clothing is sorted by whether it will be for myself or someone else and when it’s to be constructed. Quilt fabric is separated into two divisions–100% cotton or cotton blends–and then into stacks by color for traditional quilting and by theme for novelty quilts. Flannel, denim and other fabrics used in quilts is in another section. Collectible fabrics, such as feed sacks, 40s-50s percales, and reminents from my sewing days of the 60s & 70s are stored
separately from the modern fabrics. Specific fabrics chosen for a project are stored together, often in plastic totes or 2-gal storage bags. Small amounts of fabric (i.e. fat quarters) are stored separately from the larger yardage fabric. My fabric collection is “displayed” in my sewing room on four pairs of 6′x 3′x 2′ metal shelving units. Each pair is placed back to back with a 6′ x 4′ x 12″ pressed board bookcase at one end. My fabric collection is growing faster than I and my sewing machine can keep up, so surplus fabric is stored in boxes in my sewing storage room.
I sort my fat quarters by color in small stacking bins–place a piece of construction paper in front to indicate color; I sort my larger pieces of fabric by theme (red/white/blue for Quilts of Valor, seasonal, coordinated medleys, batiks, repros). These I sort and label in plastic gridded cubbies that hang from the clothes pole in the closet (can also use the canvas hanging units).
I sort 1st by theme or pattern type (stripes, polka dots, batiks, etc. Then I should sort by color, but I have to admit that I never seem to get that far. I have way to much fabric but I can’t help it, I love it. I’d like to start organizing by yardage per some of the suggestions. I’m lucky to have a spare bedroom for a studio & the closet is a walk in with a vaulted ceiling. I took down the rods & shelves & bought heavier type plastic shelves that are deeper than most. These also come apart at each shelf level so I can make some of them very tall. I store items such as stuffing on the high up shelves since I don’t get into that as often as fabric. I have a lot of room but lots more of the fabric & always seem to be getting more. Have to stop that. Kits go into their own plastic boxes, usually shoe box size, labeled & stored on shelves on the wall in the studio. Need to reorganize again tho.
I sort by color, theme and type of fabric. I keep my quilting fabric, dressmaking, ethnic and silk fabric separate. While I have lots of fabric, I seem to know where to look for what I need,
I sort by colour and I also sort by theme (building supplies – grass, stones, roofing etc , children’s, batiks, Mary Englebreiht, Valentine’s, Brights, Circus, dragons, teapots/teacups, school related fabric and the list goes on. I make sure that I take time each month to “finger” the material in at least one or two sorts, so that I remember what I have in them. I do tend to forget. I have “walls” of fabric and I don’t want them to get too outdated. I will squirrel away a wad of fabric with a pattern so that I make sure that the fabric is avaliable when I am ready to sew that particular pattern. I don’t want to use up some or all of some fabric and then realize that there isn’t anymore to be had, and I’m not one to buy from ebay.
Good guestion.
My solids are sorted by color; and most all prints are sorted by color; except my horse prints are kept separate!
I too sort primarily by color, but have separate areas for “theme” fabrics. I keep separate the fabrics that are for a specific project, at least for a while. I also keep fat quarters separate for quick fat quarter friendly or scrap quilts. My fabric is all on open shelves, which gives me great pleasure as I look at it, or neaten it up.
I tend to buy fabric based on projects, so my sorting is based on grouping all fabric for a project together. I do keep specialty fabrics (babies, holidays) separated by theme.
I sort both by color and theme. for instance, my Christmas, Halloween, & Asian fabrics are stored by theme. The rest are stored by color.
I just reorganized my sewing room and now have my fabrics sorted into plastic stackable bins. They are the stackables with 3-4 bins in each, I put them side by side on the shelf. I sorted by color and the bins are see through. When I want a specific color I just pull the drawer out, take out what I want and put the drawer back. For my fat quarters I purchased 2 of the fat quarter bags from Joann’s, put all the fat quarters in them and laid them on their side on the top shelf. The top is clear plastic and now I can see all the fat quarters at a glance. My wools are in a separate container as well as my theme fabrics. This is the first system that seems to work the best for me. (Of course, I have miscellaneous baskets setting around the sewing room which I am able to browse through.)
My stash is sorted by project. A corner of each piece is snipped and stapled onto a file card with the yardage amount, the date purchased, where it was purchased, the manufacturer and any other identifying information such as pattern design number and designer, and what it is intended for. These cards are stored in a file card box by color and purpose. The fabrics for each project are then stored tied together with string or yarn in tubs in the basement.
I sort by either colour, or type (floral, oriental), or put things together in project groups, even if I don’t have a pattern for the group yet.
Sort fabric . . . what a concept! I sort by whatever space is available for my latest acquisitions. It does make for some interesting searches. (”OMG, I’ve bought the same fabric three times now!” and “What was I thinking when I bought this?!?”)
I sort by color when I can, I really need to redo my storage cabinet as lately I have just tried to find a spot to fit new pieces into.LOL
I sort by type of fabric – 100% cotton, flannel, corduroy … you get the idea.
I sort first by size. Half yards go in their bins as do some other cut lengths, i.e. 1 yard to 2 yards. When I get over 2 yards I just put them all neatly folded, into large Sterlite bins, labeled as “over 2 yards.” However I have smaller plastic bins labeled by holiday, theme, or favorite designers such as Kaffe Fasset or Laura Heine (my top favorites). With fat quarters, I sort them into lovely long “designer” boxes my granddaughter brings me from the salon she works in. They receive some of their very special products in boxes that are the exact size of fat quarters folded the way I fold them. Lucky me. I sort these fat quarters by colors and tones. My regular scraps are tossed into a large plastic comforter zip bag.Scraps that have been cut into charm squares and smaller squares go into separate plastic zip bags. Everything is labeled as to content. The reason I don’t sort my large yardages by color is that I usually choose my fabric by the type of quilt I’ll be making. For instance fun quilt, flowery feminine quilt, etc. I make that decision first, then go on to choose coordinating colors to go with it. It may sound a bit mixed up, but it works perfectly for me. I’ve been doing it for years. I am very lucky to have “inherited” a large bedroom when our last chick flew the coop, so I can keep my stuff, AND sew, all in one place.
I sort by fabric type: flannel, theme,batics, landscape, holidays, backings,then by color within the groupings.
I sort my fabric by prints and solids, then by color. However, when I start a new project and go through all my bins, things are inclined to get a bit mixed up because I pull out a load of fabrics to choose from. Then comes the job of putting them all back where they belong and, sometimes, I am so “gung ho” about the new project that the unused pieces lay around for awhile till I cool down a bit.
Winnie
Yikes! I’m jealous!
Not having quilt shops in Italy, my entire stash fits into one large sweater box, and four flat clear plastic storage boxes for FQs. I have two bins of scraps (actually one bin and two shirt boxes – which amounts to about the same volume).
Wait a minute, does the box full of old dress shirts I’m planning to cut up count as stash?
Do any of you ladies want to write me into your “quilting will”, LOL?
I have a crazy sort of system compared to those here.
First- I sort by fabric type. I do some occasional clothing sewing (mostly tee shirt knit type stuff- quick and easy!) and a great deal of American Girl clothing sewing (for my daughters)- so first separation would be something like: knits, specialities, and quilting (cotton & polycotton blend).
The knits and dolls stuff have bins they go into. I have 2 dressers for my quilting fabrics/supplies/UFOS.
Quilting fabric then gets sorted down further by drawers. Top drawer in the main dresser is muslin and white- for my redwork/embroidery. 2nd drawer is red solids and red prints.
3rd drawer is UFOS.
4th drawer is completed projects- ready to give, use or sell.
My other dresser breaks down as:
1) Batiks
2) Larger prints/panels
3) print fabrics
4) solids
5) misc- ie whatever didn’t fit in the other drawers (usually random big chunks of solid)
I have weird fabrics in that my uncle in law brings me carloads about twice a year from his upholstery bizz. Some heavier things might be used as padding in small quilted projects.
I sort by colour but also have some piles of things. ie Christmas, ongoing projects, batiks, 30’s
I don’t have a big stash so it is not to hard to keep track.
I seem to sort in several different ways, small pieces (smaller than FQ by colour, then by sizes, have novelty prints and Christmad fabrics separately. Cut my scraps into squares and strips as in Bonnie Hunter’s scrap user system. I can usually find what I want!!
I have my fabric sorted (kinda)by color, and then by light to dark. I keep it in those plastic drawers on wheels…one color family per drawer.. When I get finished with the quilt I’m currently working on, I take all the scrap pieces, cut them into whatever size block I can squeeze out of them, and put them in zip locks according to size (from 21/2″ – 4″). That way when I need to whip up a scrap patch quilt for a gift, all I do is sew. Works for me.
I sort by theme such as 30’s, baby, textures, civil war etc. I also group my fabrics in projects including the pattern I wish to use. I will also cut several quilts out at a time that way when ever I have a moment I can sit and sew. This helps keep me on track to completion. I also get bored very easily with just one project going on and this gives me a selection to work on depending on the mood I am in. Happy Sewing to all!!!!
I’m new at quilting so I haven’t thought much about sorting. I do, however, have a huge bin of all solid fabrics. And for the other fabrics, I sort by the project (keep them all together in large plastic bags).
Michelle
I sort by color, by theme, and by projects.
Oh, and UFO…
My system is nuts! I sort into laundry baskets by color ( red/ pink go together) etc. All neutrals in another. Multi colors in another. Stripes are together. Holiday is in separate. Can we see lots of baskets?
I have learned to purchase all components of anything I want to make all at the same time. I had finished a quilt with the exception of the backing but when I went back to the shop to purchase the fabric it was gone! I checked with many other shops but no one had it. Very disappointed – I had to use a different fabric. So all my supplies for a project are purchased at the same time and go into a clear plastic container – if I need a pattern for the project I copy the picture and tape it to the front of the container with the dur date of the of the project. My “I must have” purchases are wrapped on fabric storage sheets and sorted by color then stand on several cabinet shelves.
I make baskets also, so I’ve found that rolling up my fat quarters and securing them with a clear plastic hair elastics ( dollar store, 100/1.00) and sorting them by color works wonders. And it serves as a decorative element in my workshop (sewing, weaving, knitting , crafts and watercolor). I also make dolls, and their fabrics, being so small, I roll up, secure and keep in clear plastic tubs. My sewing fabrics, being larger are folded on a shelf. And yes I would like to correspond with the lady from Assisse in Italy.
Happy quilting, everyone!
I sort by color within a theme (type) batiks, flannels, depression, civil war, solids. And like a lot of others, this is an ongoing change as fabrics keep changing and evolving.
I sort by 3 categories–Christmas, project, and color. “Christmas” also includes other holiday panels. “Project” is for cheater panels and purchases of several fabrics that go well together but don’t have a pattern yet. The rest is grouped by color. I like all the ideas of grouping or folding to know at a glance the size of the yardage.
I sort by project. When I find a pattern I want to make I purchase the required fabric plus extra. I store a photo copy of the pattern and all the necessary fabrics together in a bag. The original pattern is stored in a notebook (if I’m not keeping the magazine) or in a “save stack” of quilt mags. My other stash is stored by fabric type,e.g., flannels, quilting cottons, ect. I also save by colors. I keep all of my fabrics very handy as I love to look at them, feel them, and envision them in a quilt.
I more or less sort by fabric type (wools from my mother’s stash, home decorating fabrics, cottons, themes) then by color — only a couple of shelves of anything other than cottons for quilting. I have a glass fronted, 2-door, 7′ cabinet I got from a resale shop — I think it must have been a display cabinet from a store. I love it, and the visible fabrics are instant decorating in my sewing room!
When my best Friend Died in 2007 I inhearited all of her material and books on quilting. I got all of it home and had 15 30qt. totes full of material It has taken me this long to get it all sorted. I laid it all out on the floor and then started placing different colors together. I sorted it out to what I thought looked good together. I have taught myself to quilt and have given away 12 lap quilts,one queen, one twin and made another queen. I am now working on a king. I have got I have a hanging basket, and a cloth bag with small scraps in them to use on something else have not thought about sorting them yet.
I started doing it by colour, then decided I need a bunch for Christmas, a bunch for children, a batch of backing fabrics (they become colour coded when there is not enough for a backing, those that are flowered, and the primary colours for the rainbow ones. After doing several quilts I have to start all over as they get all mixed up, so I start again.
I sort by decor color. For example, several siblings decorate in greens, so I have several bins of greens and complementary colored fabrics for quilts for them. The black and white geometric prints and the bright primary fabrics I use with them for quilts for my nephews go into another bin. Teals and the fabrics I use in quilts for my sister with a teal bedroom decor go into different bins.
As to sorting fabrics for quilting – why color? I like to have all colors but sorted by size-I keep all scraps that are triangles in plastic boxes stacked by sizes. I make scrap blocks in crazy quilt types, using dryer sheets for foundation – doesn’t have to be torn out like paper. The other scraps that are square, rectangle, or strips are kept for”mile a minute” blocks – just start by sewing two pieces together, add the pieces in a log cabin style, round the center until it is the size you like, trim with a square – ready to set any way you like. I like what Beverly H (64) said about the way she sorts. I use bins and shelves to sort the larger pieces like she does. I have fat quarters in just plain old boxes, though-not lucky to have the ones like she described. When I make quilts from patterns and planned colors, the scraps will still end up sorted by size, and I cut squares of the sizes I will use for the several patterns I regularly make. Our group makes lots of charity quilts, mostly from donated scraps, so have lots to sort most of the time, no time to get real fancy with it, keep ‘em moving and piece those quilts!!
I sort by all: color, theme, type of fabric and project. I also use heavy cardboard with slots cut into it to hold the beginning edge of the fabric…then wrap it all onto my own “mini-bolts”. I then display these bolts on bookshelves in my sewing room so that I can see what I have when I start a new project. You can purchase “mini-bolt” plastic from clotilde, but I made my own to save money….I guess that lets me buy more fabric….Yay!!
I sort by project as my quilting space is very small. I use art bins, plastic containers that lock and are acid free. They hold about 6 yards of fabric plus book or pattern and stack one on top of the other.
These have been very interesting to read. I am a fairly new quilter and so far have limited fabric purchases to those for projects – usually. I store most of the projects in either a clear bin or lots are in Pizza boxes (clean). Just built on a new sewing room – about a year ago, so store most scraps by color or theme. Love that big closet tho my husband could not understand why I did not want a doors.
How could I see what I have??
I sort by gosh and by golly. This week it is by color in little baskets on shelves over my cutting table. I have started washing each basket full and after pressing, they go into a dresser drawer. Sounds like I have many more small pieces than everyone else. My yardages have all been washed and piled neatly by color in a closed cupboard. I now have 3 of them. The smaller scraps are pressed and sorted into shoe boxes waiting for scrap patterns to catch my eye. I will be using many of the scraps for a new pattern called ‘Grab Bag Mystery Quilt” from ‘Thread Songs’. It’s lovely.
has anyone ever thought of Value? Darks,mediums,lights it’s what’s most needed in design.
I clearly don’t have enough fabric, as I recently sorted my fabrics by colour, placed them in wire baskets that fit into three units of five and six trays, each of varying depth, without having to adopt another layer of sorting. Sounds like a good excuse to buy some more.
As for the smaller pieces, I sorted them by colour also and put that rainbow or bits into clear plastic shoe holders that hang on the hanging rail inside the wardrobe.
I did run into a bit of a pickle, however, when it came to the fabrics, FQs, and things that I had bought last year in quilt stores from Anchorage right down to the Florida Keys, as I couldn’t bear to split them up and integrate them into all the other bits I’ve had for years, so they’re in a separate basket.
I sort first by if it’s been washed. Then by planned type of project (apparel, quilt, tote bags etc.) I try to keep fabric for different individual projects together. The only sort I’ve been able to keep 100% is the washed/not washed. I have fabric spilling out of boxes and totes everywhere and my husband thinks my ironing board makes a perfect place to set his coffee. Any suggestions?
I sort by size and what the material is: lace and trim in one box, small pieces for applique, cut squares, edging trim, etc.
It all gets messed up, but it is close to what I need at any given time.
I also have two small cabinets with projects working on, and ‘flour sacks’ that I have had hanging around for years. They are the ones used in the 1930’s and 1940’s, so I keep them for special use.
Thanks for all the ideas..I STILL have a mess..but love it and it’s MY MESS..
I sort by color also but have very few larger pieces of fabric. So lots of smaller pieces of different sizes are hard to stack without them toppling over. And if the cat gets into the cabinet, well that means a little work. I have started putting fabrics that I buy for a special project in a bag or the like and marking it with the name or the project or putting the pattern with it. That sure helps down the line when I finally get to it.
I sort my fabrics by color and thema. I like very much all the fabrics about Xmas , so they are stocked in boxes by scale printing , then color value and sometimes i add some plain matching very well . Then labels onthe boxes with tips-words .
the plains also are stocked by value and color family .
the printed are by family -color and size
I enjoy to read your news
best regards
michele from Switzerland
I sort by color and type, however I have been using large empty clear plastic kitty litter containers. They help me to sort quicker and I also stack them and use them as mini workstations near the sewing machine(with box tops).
Love all the comments. Am I the only one who sorts and buys according to project? When I was doing a Red/White/Black quilt I had all the colors together.
Likewise for the blues and purples I used in some other quilts. I have been collecting pieces of fabric from when I was a teenager, Eisenhower was President when I made my first PJ’s and I still have some of the fabric. I buy plastic garbage cans and store leftovers or ideas for projects and I write on the sides of the cans what my thoughts were and the colors inside.
I don’t have a comment but have a question.
Can you use new dryer sheets for crazy or strip quilting?
I don’t do enough laundry to have enough ‘used’ sheets.
Is there anything in the sheet that will damage the quilt over time?
I sort by color except theme is kept together and I saw most of my storage methods already described. Tika (92), have you considered a divorce?
Ann in Germany
Oops–forgot to say about the dryer sheets. The only thing I can think of is that my dryer sheets are usually a little distorted when they come out of the dryer…why not just saok a box of them to remove most of the scent and throw them in the dryer?
I sort by fabric type (wool, cotton, etc.), then color, theme, fabric designer (Englebreit, Moda, L. Burch), and these are stored in various ways. I have a LOT! Some of my fat quarters (and sometimes as large as a yard) are folded on book shelves (it looks nice and is easily seen). I have patriotic fabrics in large 30gal. tubs marked “Red” and “Blue” and “Patriotic” etc. Although I have a separate “sewing/hobby” room, I prefer sewing in my light, open area dining room where I can see outside and what’s going on. Besides this, my favorite way to store the rest of my fabric is in my large collection of natural wicker and basket trunks (w/ lids) and a huge old travel trunk (complete with travel labels). Nice looking old vintage suitcases contain batting and misc. stuff stacked or sitting in an attractive manner. (Looks like I’ve come straight from Ellis Island. Actually there is a display there of trunks, etc. that gave me the idea for my own travel like stuff.)
I also sort by color first, then of course have Christmas, flannel, childrens themes etc. But the only thing I do differently is how I store it. I have mostly bookcases in my sewing room and a doulbe closet with shelves. I take my larger fabrics and fold in half lengthwise. Then I take my 6″ wide long ruler and start rolling it on it. When at the end slide the ruler out and fold fabric in half. should measure about 12″ in length. You can stack your fabric neatly this way and see every color and style at a glance. When you want to match a piece of fabric with other fabrics you can take it to your shelves and easily match the colors in your main fabric. I also have bought some three draw plastic units on wheels that tuck nicely under my cutting table that I store smaller pieces of fabric by color. The tiny pieces I cut off of my projects I use a cardboard box that I leave on the floor next to my cutting table. I donate those pieces to friends that do lots of smaller projects. No waste here! Strips and leftover bindings I put in plastic shoe totes and label and store on another bookcase. This also works for precut pieces you will use later on specific size cuts. All these plastic shoe boxes are labeled and easy to find. The bookcases work nicely for all those books and magazines you can’t part with too that I put in holders first.
I sort most by color, but have some put together as prospective quilt projects