Hey readers!
For forever, my fabric has been sitting (*somewhat* folded) in a heap on my bookshelf
Okay, it’s a total mess.
I just don’t know what I have anymore! 1.5m of silk chiffon gets buried under 3m of double knit, my interfacing is all wrinkled (and you can’t iron fusable interfacing!), and there’s a pile of lining that has fallen out the back of my shelf an is on the floor.
Not too terribly inspiring, is it?!
So, I figured since I basically want to live in a fabric store, why not make mini bolts out of my fabric that will fit in my shelf! So, perhaps I will shop my stash before I shop the shops (well, it’s a hope anyways) :P
Now, what to use as a bolt… Fabric shops often give away their old cardboard bolts, but they’re way to big for my shelf. I’ve seen some folks use comic book boards, which is an interesting idea, but I want something sturdier.
So, I went to Spotlight and found large sheets of poster board. You know the ones with the hollow bit in the middle? From one big sheet ($7 for one) I made 6 22cmx26cm rectangles that fit nicely in my shelf.
To demonstrate how to fold the fabric, let’s use 2m of nice quilting cotton. Fold the fabric in thirds so that it’s about 5cm shorter than the height of your board.
Place the board close to the end and wrap one end around the board.
Then (the funnest part) tightly wrap the fabric around the board like a bolt and secure with a nice pin.
Now do this to all your fabric and BEHOLD YOUR FABRIC LIBRARY!!!
I’m now living in my sewing room in case you’re wondering where I am 
This was a great exercise not only for the organization, but it gave me a chance to get reacquainted with my stash and to neaten all the edges. This is huge, folks. I’m now in the habit of not putting fabric back on my mini bolts unless it has a straight edge. Nothing worse than having skraggly bits all over the place or trying to find the straight grain on a jersey knit because you cut of the selvedge!
How do you organize your fabrics readers? Any tips for the rest of us?
**Kelly over at the Simple Sewist had an excellent point – make sure that your shelf is well out of the sun, as your fabric can fade on the edge that is exposed…never thought of that! Thanks!
**Another reader, lakaribane also had some concerns (she’s a trained museum tech!). ”I like the concept but as a trained museum technician, I worry about a lot of things for your: sunlight, the pin, the nature of the plastic of the board. If your sewing room is very humid the pin will rust, if it gets direct sunlight, the exposed edges might fade. Maybe for the To Be Sewn Next list?”.
**A great tip from reader Emilyannfrances! ”I sometimes get lucky and get a leftover cardboard tube from the fabric store I shop at. They just give it to me. I use this to roll the cut out pattern pieces of a current project. I then wrap an old cotton sheet around it and place it on top of the 3 filing cabinets in the room. I don’t have a stash so I can’t say if this method works for others but it will keep a current project from getting wrinkled or full of fold lines. Just make sure to dust off the cardboard bolt before using.”
I’m thrilled at all the feedback and it got me thinking. I’m not too concerned about the pin rusting (since Perth is uber dry), but the nature of the plastic is a good one…I don’t keep them stored for too long like this, but if you do, you may want to use the acid-free comic book boards since they are archival. I was thinking I may want to put the fabric in a box on my shelf as well to avoid fading.
Relax and Enjoy,
Kat
I was thinking of doing a similar thing but in the drawers of my tall fabric cabinet that are a similar size to filing cabinet draws. The poster board as a base is an inspired idea!
Yes! The poster board works great because you can cut it to whatever size you want! All the best
Fabulous idea!!!
Thanks, it works great!
I need some kind of solution to my ever-eploding fabric stash and this looks promising!
Yay! I really love it. You could put the mini bolts in boxes too, if you prefer.
Yes I have fabrics in plastic storage tubs but this would make them more orderly!
It looks lovely, Kat, but just be sure your fabric won’t fade along the edge that is exposed to the sunlight.
*Very* excellent point, Kelly and thank you. Luckily my shelf is way out of the sunlight…but the Aussie sun would fade it faster than you could say “fabric shopping” if it were. I’ll put your comment in the post.
That’s excellent that you have your fabrics out of the direct sunlight. I have mine folded much like yours, but tucked away in a cupboard. Granted, it takes me a LONG time to get to some fabrics so mine might have more chance to fade on the bolt than yours.
We’re moving into phase 2 of house extensions which means I need to move my stash..I will need to put it out if sight for a short while, but when I can unpack, I will have cardboard ready to do this! Thanks for another excellent idea!
YAY! Congrats on your house renos and hope your fabric won’t be in the dark for long! Would love to see pics of your fabric library when you get settled back in
It looks so nice and neat. Easier to get inspired this way. Great idea indeed
m.
Thanks, Maria!
Love it!!!
I like the concept but as a trained museum technician, I worry about a lot of things for your: sunlight, the pin, the nature of the plastic of the board. If your sewing room is very humid the pin will rust, if it gets direct sunlight, the exposed edges might fade. Maybe for the To Be Sewn Next list?
Hi and thanks for the comment and nice to hear from a trained museum tech! Yes, I have had some concerns voiced that were similar to this re: edges fading and have put this in the post because I think it’s a valid concern. I was thinking of perhaps putting the bolts in a box. Perth is pretty dry, so I’m not worried about rusting. The nature of the plastic is a good one, though. I think that’s why some people use acid-free comic book storage boards. Will put that in the post too! Thanks
Oh my. I think I know what I’m doing this holiday long weekend. What a great idea! And, yes when you see your fabric your less likely to go out and buy more… wait, no that won’t stop me, but still it’s nice to see it all lined up like that!
haha…glad you liked! I was thinking about putting them in boxes to avoid facing as a couple readers have raised valid concerns about this. It won’t stop me from buying new fabric either, I think it may encourage me so I can look at it all!
You have a nice set-up with the shelves. My workroom is also my home office so books crowd out the fabric.
I sometimes get lucky and get a leftover cardboard tube from the fabric store I shop at. They just give it to me. I use this to roll the cut out pattern pieces of a current project. I then wrap an old cotton sheet around it and place it on top of the 3 filing cabinets in the room.
I don’t have a stash so I can’t say if this method works for others but it will keep a current project from getting wrinkled or full of fold lines.
Just make sure to dust off the cardboard bolt before using.
Excellent tip!!! Hope you don’t mind if I put it in the post
Please do, I’m glad to help. Another thing you can do is lay the cut pattern pieces on top of the cotton sheet and then place another sheet on top of it before rolling around the cardboard bolt.
Once the garment is in construction it can be laid flat on a clean area covered top and bottom with the old sheet.
Love the idea – and what great feedback too! Maybe I’ll go with the comic book boards and then into boxes. At the moment it’s all folded in boxes and when I’m perusing I have to go searching and pull everything out!
I think that’s a great idea..the mini bolts will definitely help that. Yeah, I think the feedback is really great and benefits everyone.