While I don't have a gigantic stash (in comparison to some of my friends who have been quilting longer), I have enough fabric to last a lifetime. I have my fabrics sorted, more or less, by color and stacked on open shelves that never get any direct sunlight. I love working in my sewing area and being able to look up and just see all the fabrics sitting there. All things considered, I really think Alex's storage solution of the wire baskets is probably the best answer but in my case, it would be "out of sight, out of mind". I kind of have that problem with my fat quarters which are housed in an old Asian cabinet with lots of little drawers (lined, so the fabric isn't in contact with the wood). There are 30 drawers and I have sorted by color, value and with drawers for specialty fabrics, but I still need a cheat sheet that I have on the side to remind me what fabric is where.

I have my fabric on shelving. If it's part of a UFO then it goes in a Large food storage bag with pattern and threads purchased for that quilt. otherwise my FQ's are in little baskets and my scrap bag is more like a scrap storage container (large 3 drawer). My sewing room is in the basement, to control my lower level environment I use a dehumidifier during the summer. I don't worry about natural light, my space is located behind the window wall.

My storage could use some updating, I'll have to ask the Quilting Fairy for a real good wish!

I have most of my fabric sorted in clear plastic bins (with lids) on shelves in my sewing room. They are sorted by color. If I buy fabric specifically for a project, I don't mix that into my stash.

I need more bins.

I was so proud of how I was storing my fabric (in plastic storage drawer units) but I am having a hard time remembering what went where and then have to rummage through everything trying to find what I know I have somewhere. I am thinking bookcases would let me see what's there but I'm concerned about the fact that my sewing room is in the basement. I'm wondering if that might not be too much exposure. Gloria

A returning question How to store our lovely fabric... I have tried several options: Random piles on chairs In old suitcases In bookshelves and now in lovely tin bokes with labels on the front. I have to admit, I thought it would look more tidy with the fabric in boxes, but I miss looking at them all the time. Fabric on a shelf is like a piece of art! I guess I will take the fabric out of those boxes and find something else to put in them...like shoes...makeup....sugar..what ever but not fabric :shock:

pam7040 wrote:
Pam, our son finally left at age 25+ and DD must have been about 20 when she left. There is no room for them to come back and when they visit over night, one of them has to sleep on a sofa. We're not sure how we ever had room for them. I guess it's like "If you build it they will come". If there's empty space, I will fill it!
JoAnne

Joanne, DH has the small spare room for his hobby, our son shares his hobby interests and took over the dining table. I has a table in a small corner of the family room, with my fabric stored in various places. I am waiting for one of the kids to move out, but I'm not holding my breath.

I always say that I have a long way to match his collection. Pam[/quote]

Pam, my husband keeps telling me that my hobby takes up too much space (only two bedrooms). His takes up almost all of our 3 car garage, except where I park my car and "my" washer and dryer. He did say something this morning that almost made me laugh out loud (I kept my cool). He said that he has almost every tool that he wants. He always used to say that he only needed only two more tools. He does make beautiful furniture, although it's quite costly.
JoAnne

I am very fortunate to have a DH who also has a hobby (woodworking) that always seems to require new "materials".

JoAnne in southern California[/quote]

Joanne, I had to laugh out your post. I have a reasonable small fabric stash, as I haven't been quilting for too long.

My husband buys and makes model aircraft. (NOT the remote control type.) Our entire roof space is taken up with unmade kits, many many hundreds of them. He is actually very supportive of my quilting but also not in a position to comment about any money I may spend on fabric (usually its his money). I always say that I have a long way to match his collection. Pam

eeyoretown wrote:
Shirley, I told my DH what you wrote, he laughed and almost choked. You see, I have many, many times the number of yards of stash than you have. I've been working these past two weeks to pare it down by choosing a good portion of it to donate to a charity. I always find it difficult to not buy every single piece of fabric that I like. I admit it, I am addicted to fabric!

Years ago DH built pull out shelves for me, floor to ceiling and wall to wall. It's grown from there but my "wall of fabric" is sorted by color then in categories, eg. holiday, novelty, children, baby. I used to have my sewing machine facing that wall because it's so pretty to look at. Alas, I grew out of that room and had to move the machine into another. Now I have a fabric storage room and a sewing room. I am very fortunate to have a DH who also has a hobby (woodworking) that always seems to require new "materials".

JoAnne in southern California

IKEA's the best and only 45 minutes away from my home. I have their Klik Klak sleeper sofa, and two chairs. both assembled by me. Just make sure you have a vehicle long enough to transport the long boxes home in..

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/

Re; IKEA instructions - they are absolutely the BEST! No words, just pictures that are easy to follow. In my house we have a routine whenever we get something from IKEA that needs assemble. I read the instructions out loud to my husband (I am much better at deciphering visual things like that) and he does all the work. How great is that?

Love the Pie Safe!!! And I didn't know Ikea was in the states, thought they were just european!!!! Are the instructions good or crap like the ones in our furniture purchases!!!
Lynn

Hi!
I recently reoranized my sewing room and stash. I wanted to have some sort of bookcase or cabinet that had glass doors. I looked at lot's of different things but fell in love with a 1890's pie safe that had the mesh/punched tin replaced with glass. I collect vintage furniture, so this was as much about love of the piece itself and the function I wanted.

A couple of pictures of my stash in it's new home are in my personal pictures in my profile.

Also, I recently spent the day at IKEA (what a great fun place that is.. but don't get me started ) Anyway, they have a lot of cabinets/bookshelves that have glass fronts that show off beautiful fabric. They have a wide range of sizes and prices.

I folded each of my pieces of fabric to the same size and grouped by color. For smaller pieces (like 1/4 yard left-overs or fat quarters) I folded them and put them in pretty baskets.

Good luck!!