When I am getting serious about my stash my first step is to sort. When I sort it is down and dirty and requires only cardboard boxes and the fortitude to lay my hands on every bit of fabric in my studio. I suggest a nice long audio book for this.. as a rule this is a 10-20 hour adventure!
While it is much more exciting to go buy storage bins, cabinets and baskets; until you know what you REALLY have this can be a waste of money. Not that you can’t ponder on what would work for you once you get this beast ready to go back in it’s cage!
I happen to be swooning over this Liatorp system from Ikea, but am also finding some significant sun damage on some of my fabrics stored not even near a window and am thinking that a closed door system might be best when creating my new studio, if not as pretty! And as you might note this means some of this fabric has been just sitting there for a while.. ahem… I really need to get my act into gear!
How you sort if really more based on the type of quilter you are and is also a time to reflect on what is working and not working for you. If you happen to buy lots of FQ’s but then never seem to use them it is time to look at this for what it is… and decide to change or just call a moratorium on the purchase of these lovelies since perhaps they are not really working for you. Same goes for kits, patterns or tools.
Generally I start with 5-10 moving size boxes.. the type/size for books. You don’t want them too heavy when filled and fabric is heavy! I also designate box for swap/sell and for donation. In my case the fabrics are going into the boxes for the move this time but usually I just use this as a sorting system so that I can get things off the shelf, see them, lay hands on them and see if they still speak to me.
My basic categories are:
- Fat Quarters – I break mine apart by color and not collection. Break up those pretty bundles and USE THEM!
- Kits – I am not a huge kit person but for some this going to be multiple boxes!
- Yardage – Enough for a quilt back?.. I unfold each piece to see what I have going on there. If feeling really ambitious I note on them how much so i don’t have to do this again… 65
- Bolts- Yeah, remember I used to own a quilt store…
- WIPS ( works in progress… a large and shameful variety)
- Scraps of note – what?… i have favorite scraps!
So here we go!… get those boxes ( I get mine at Lowes).. and let’s get started! As I fill up bags with fabric that no longer needs to be in my stash I am going to be listing it up on the BAQS website ..and heck I might just give some away… would you be up for that? After all one quilter’s trash is another’s treasure!
Are you enjoying this series… getting anything from it? If so please share it with others so we can grow the the BAQs community!
I have bought a new sewing machine and I have started making weighted blankets for family’s with Autism, OCD, Hypertension, ect . This yard would go a long was for me. Thank you for your consideration. Mae
I just went thru my stash and gave 4 boxes of fabric to a friend whose guild makes quilts for their county’s Child Protective Service. I still have way too much fabric, but I am diligently working at getting it down to a manageable level.
Thanks for this great tip on sorting. I am also going through mine & donate to a church.
We just moved twice—built a new home but sold our old home before the new one was finished. So much work! My stash is organized in clear plastic bins by color and I have a big closet with them stacked on a shelving cart with wheels. My studio was the last room to get unpacked, but it’s functionsl now. Ready for more fabric—ha! ha!
I’m collecting scraps for a quilt I’ve been trying to make for a year, Yellows/blue/green/creams.. I love it all just send them my way Maddie…
What a great way to attack your stash no matter how hard it will be. I think every single one of us are guilty of not wanting to break apart a pretty bundle or pack, well at least I am so bad at this. If we all adapted just one of your ideas our own stashes would be so much more manageable. Looking forward to your next instalment Maddie
I enjoy any fabric. I enjoy making quilts. I like to use the quilts that have the pattern and fabric all in one bag.
You are moving? You poor thing. I still haven’t recovered from my last move, so I get you. Accumulating stash is a real vice, isn’t it? And apparently, I love my vices….I don’t need any more. At all. Well maybe more threads for strictly decorative purposes. Stop me, someone, please!
Just added “pick up moving boxes” to today’s To-Do list! I’ve attempted to de-stash before but had no method to the madness…looking forward to this!
I have gone through all the fabric that I had a couple years ago. Daughter and her family moved in with me to help me through the next year and brought all her stash. Also a friend and an elderly family member brought a bunch of their stash to me. Will be going through all the fabric in the longarm room and clearing out anything that can’t be used in quilting. I love seeing how you sort your fabric. Gives me great ideas to clear out my own stash.
Always willing to take other quilter’s fabric. I usually find a use really quick, as I also sew dolls clothes and other small items.
When I decided to take over a corner of our very large kids living room for my sewing studio – I found a bedroom set at one of those online garage sales – it was white – so would work anywhere. I put the desk and the one dresser back to back to create a large cutting/working table and storage, I took my mom’s old sewing machine cabinet and put my own sewing machine on it, I have a vintage Singer in a cabinet as well – I used these pieces to create a nook in the corner of the room – where 2 windows were. The other large bedroom piece went to another corner for more sewing storage. If what I had didn’t fit – it was donated. I also embroider – so I put aside an entire deep drawer for threads. It is wonderful now to see what I have. I have those large 15″ x 15″ essential storage boxes (clear) to store WIPs – sometimes I want to work with bright batiks, sometimes I feel like the challenge of PP, sometimes I want a no think project. This way I can easily pull what I want to work on 🙂
I have most of my fabric sorted by colors, when I have finished longarm if for the day I will pull a color down and resort so I have shades back together again. While I’m good when it comes to sorting I’m awful about putting away where they belong. My New Year’s Day tradition is to take everything out of my pincushion and toss bent or rusted pins and needles.
I would love to win some fabric. I am afraid to use mine because we are retired and living in Mexico. I never realized that having material shipped to Mexico doubles the price. If I would have known that part I would have given all my non cotton material away and brought down only cotton. I also would have sold my Viking Designer 1 and gotten a Brother because that seems to be all they sell or repair here except treadle machines. To get my designer fixed I need to ship it to the states and back to a repair stop. So really think before you move to a new country.
Who doesn’t love free stuff….especially fabric! 😀
The thought of moving is overwhelming and exciting. And. The thought of getting into a new place all organized and shit is the most exciting of all! Knowing where everything is for once…. and all color coordinated and stacked up all nick a pretty.
And yes. Fabric is passed around, finished or not, is a wonderful thing
Reading this makes me think… Perhaps I need to pretend I’m moving… that maybe the right way to truly go thru it all and get it put away properly… that would also make room for more fabric. There is ALWAYS room for more fabric.
I have my fabric… well, most of it, in dressers card catalog style… oops just dated myself. Keeps sun and dust away. And as crammed as they are, I never say no to free.
You don’t have to have owned a quilt shop to have bolts of fabric…even bolts still wrapped in plastic!! I love to purchase my favorite solids that way and I don’t seem to have much of a problem using up the whole bolt of those!! Since I am a SABLE, I’ll pass on more fabric…although it pains me to say that!!!
Ok, I give up. SABLE?
On Quilter’s trash is another Quilter’s treasure
Ahh, the sweet pain of it all. Finding those lovelies that have just been waiting to see the cutting mat, and those ugliest ( was I in my right mind when I bought these?). This is where inspiration comes from. Discovering the old and thinking about the possibilities. Like unearthing raw gold, not smelted yet, but to see the possibilities! Did this about a year ago when hubby knocked a wall out to expand my sewing room for my longarm and make room for my beloved tredle that my loving children bought me for Christmas last year. Sorted and sorted and grouped fabric together for projects. Have completed all of them! Would love some extras to add to my stash
I recently had to read apart happy of my sewing room for electrical work (that was going on under the house, but to run the lines had to go through my sewing room), ugh. I’m telling to decide if I want to change anything before putting it back. I think the fabrics from the shelves will end up in bins by color. They are mainly my nautical collection.
I just spent last weekend sorting by color the small stash that I currently have with me. I was forever going though the bags, boxes, containers looking for a piece of fabric I wanted to use. My larger stash is in containers in storage that I sometimes go through but I certainly do not have enough room where I am now to have it all with me. When I was packing up to make my last move I gifted plenty of boxes of fabric, supplies, trims to other quilters. Some I wished I had kept but space was limited so I bid it a fond adieu and hoped that another quilter would create something wonderful.
I love looking at those cabinet storage units that I see on other’s blogs and wonder do the fabrics get sun/light damage. Some of the stashes I see online are quite extensive so I’m gonna guess some of that fabric sits for quite a while. I wonder if you use some sort of film filter on the glass would that help minimize any lighting damage.
Winning a giveaway of free fabric is always a rush especially when it will be LQS quality and anticipated loveliness in fabrics I probably do not own (from a former LQS owner no less). I also do not mind purchasing destash fabrics also when I want it.
Wishing you the best with your sorting/packing. I listened to audio Elizabeth George mysteries or Maya Angelou or some other mystery writers. Some public libraries offer an audio book service now so it is as easy as checking out what you want to listen to and cranking up your computer to hear over the sounds of wrestling with boxes of fabric.
I “downsized” – that is, I moved out of my guest bedroom & into my daughters now vacant, much bigger room @ actually have most of my machines set up. I had my son put up the Craft wall from The Container Store, which has been great.
Yes Maddie, I too would LOVE to have a bit of BAQS gold <3 to add to my works in progress….or, to start a new one 😄 Of course I will purchase some, I know I will….but if I should be blessed with a give away, that would be awesomeness too!!
Before I bought my condo, I moved at the end of every lease! It was the best way to purge EVERYTHING and keep me from buying too much stuff. I’ve been in the condo for almost 10 years & I’ve never had so much crap! I’ve been trying to get rid of stuff too. Unfortunately, I almost never say no to free stuff… 🙂
Free stash? Omg, yes! Have been finishing up Holiday gifts and am almost out. Unthinkable. Even made cat blankies for the local shelter with leftover bits and pieces. Time to restock the shelves!
Thanks for walking us through this process. I have fabric that needs to go to someone else, for sure. And I know there is fabric that I haven’t laid eyes on in years.
I love scrappy quilts, so I have fat quarters with two or three pieces out of them. Where do y’all donate those kinds of fabrics? Will thrift stores take them?
Thanks so much!
Celia
I could always use free fabric!!! All the quilts I make, I donate to charities. I am on Social Security, so free…is good!!!
Wish we were downsizing but in our area we’re kind of priced out. So making due here. I’ve been making quilts with my stash in mind and using things I purchased and now say “what was I thinking” to piece backs. It’s like reversible quilts!
Free is for me!!!
Moving no fun but does make you clean out the cobwebs.
My favorite audio books are Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series if you haven’t discovered them yet. At the moment I am listening to Darynda Jones who has a series about a smart ass, coffee drinking, ADD, private detective who sees dead people. No, really, it is funny. Good luck with your move. It is a great way to lighten the load of things not necessary.
Enjoy the upbeat attitude, but still miss the store.
would love some free fabrics, but I am in a downsizing mode for a move… so I may also have some freebies!
Love getting someone’s scraps/stash it’s like a secret gift
Who doesn’t love free fabric. The stuff I don’t use on quilts, I use for bags!
I happen to be stash cleaning tonight. Just because. I’d forgotten about some lovely travel treasures I still want to use…from the Isle if Skye and Liberty of London. I have a basket of Japanese pieces gifted from a Tokyo traveler. And I have a bunch of stuff that no longer I spires me in any way, shape or form. Off it goes to become charity quilts or inspiration for someone else. Letting go is cathartic!