Keeping your fabric stash and scraps organized is something every quilter struggles with at one time or another. For me, quilt fabric organization feels more like a journey than a destination. I’m constantly evolving and adjusting how I organize my quilt fabric and my fabric scraps. My approach to fabric storage is better now than it has ever been, but that isn’t to imply that it’s perfect. My hope is that I’ll say the same thing in 3 years when I look back at how I keep my quilting cotton organized now.

In this blog, I’ll share a few of the things I’ve found that work for me, including:

How to keep track of solid fabrics
How to fold any cut of fabric neatly, regardless of its size or shape
A look at my current fabric storage bins and shelves
Scraps, scraps, scraps

Before we dig in, I do want to acknowledge that there are hundreds of fabric storage ideas out there. What I’m sharing here is what (currently) works for me. Like most things in quilting, fabric organization and storage is about what works for you.

How to keep track of your solid fabrics

Solid quilting cotton is the paint of the modern quilter’s palette. Because I don’t dye my own fabrics, I often spend hours searching for just the right fabric in just the right hue and value for my current work in progress. Color is central to my work as a modern quilt designer, so the struggle of finding just the right color is a common one for me.

Something else I (used to) struggle with, is running out of a color, wanting to buy more but not knowing which fabric manufacturer it came from or what the color’s name is. Kona Pickle isn’t the same as Paint Brush Studio Pickle or Century Solids Pickle. To solve for this, I tried keeping Post-It Notes with the fabric. I also tried making a fabric key for each project. But, both of these labeling solutions where hard to do consistently.

TIP: LABEL YOUR SOLID FABRICS BEFORE YOU PUT THEM IN YOUR STASH

Then, I heard about Pentel Arts Gel Roller for Fabric. These permanent gel pens write on fabric really easily. (Again, they are permanent.) I use these pens to write the fabric manufacturer and color name of the fabric in the seam allowance as soon as I bring the fabric home from the local quilt shop or open up the happy mail. This has been a miracle fabric organization solutions for me. Now, I never have to wonder, “What is this fabric?”

Instead of writing the full fabric manufacturer’s name, I’ve given each manufacturer a code using the first letters of its name, like this:

CS - Century Solids
KO - Kona Solids
PBS - Paint Brush Studio
R+B - Ruby and Bee Solids

You get the idea.

Fabric Storage Solutions: A look at my current set up

I know that the IKEA Kallax shelves are a popular choice among quilters for fabric storage. The standardized shelf size and low price is a big part of the attraction. Buying new shelves isn’t possible or desirable for everyone–myself included. I’d rather spend money on fabric than on shelves to store it. 😉 I’m a big fan of using what you have or buying second-hand.

At first, I kept all my quilting supplies (fabric, notions, etc) in some storage totes. But, I soon outgrew those. I happened to have a storage cabinet in my basement that was not in use. So, I decided that I’d made that work. I’m shocked at how much I can fit into this one cabinet: all my fabric, rulers, notions, sprays, back-up sewing machine, etc. I’m able to accomplish this by finding storage solutions that help me to maximize every inch of this cabinet.

TIP: FIND STORAGE BINS THAT HELP YOU TO MAXIMIZE YOUR AVAILABLE SPACE

To use my storage cabinet wisely, I measured my shelves and headed to The Container Store. I found a stackable storage bin that was the exact depth of my shelf and that would allow me to stack two bins on each shelf. I can fit dozens of fat quarters in each bin, and I can also store yardage. If you don’t want to buy storage bins, you could use shoe boxes or corrugated cardboard boxes. Or I’ve even seen some quitters sew bins out of fabric.

I know many quilters like to store their fabric on open shelves—using the fabric as decor in a way. While fabric is pretty to look at, open storage has the potential to expose fabric to the sunlight and dust. Both sunlight and dust can cause discoloration over time, and dust, in particular, can damage the fibers. Storage cabinets with doors provide a layer of protection for your fabric. But, again, this is really up to your preference and what you have on hand.

How to fold any cut of fabric neatly, regardless of its size or shape

Once you have your shelves and storage bins, it’s time to get your fabric organized. May sewists use different methods to store different cuts of fabric. Many quilters put fat quarters in bins and store yardage on comic book boards or even purchase bolts of fabric. This approach means you that also might need different shelf sizes and heights.

I mostly buy yardage and occasionally purchase fat quarter bundles. So, I selected storage bins that could accommodate all sizes of fabric cuts. I’m able to store fat quarters, large yardage cuts of fabric and even 108” wide backs in my storage bins.

TIP: MAKE YOURSELF A FOLDER BOARD TO AID FOLDING

During high school, I worked in the men’s sportswear department at a department store. Needless to say, I folded lots of sweaters and t-shirts. To keep the displays neat and consistent, we used a folding board. I leaned into this experience to help with my fabric organizations. I created a folding board for myself that was ensure that my folded fabrics fit perfectly into my storage bins. I cut a piece of heavy cardstock into a rectangle a few millimeters smaller than my storage bin in width and height.

I use my folding board to fold my cuts of fabric and remnants. Then, I place the folded quilting cotton into my storage bins in order of the color spectrum.

Scraps, scraps, scraps

If you scoured the internet, you’d probably find more ideas about scrap organization than yardage. Quilt making generates lots of scraps. Some quilters cut their scraps down into common sizes, like 2 ½” or 5” squares. Some quilters have bins for each color of fabric. I don’t do either of these things.

I have 4 scrap bins measure 14” x 9” x 7” and have lids. I put cool colors (blues, greens, violets) in one scrap bin; warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) in another bin; and grays (whites, grays, blacks) in another bin. The final fabric storage bin is where I put my quilt binding remnants. I reach for these binding remnants when I make scrappy projects.

TIP: DESTASH REGULARLY

I recently sent a box of my solid scraps to a fellow quilter who was looking for solids to use in making mini quilt wall hangings. It felt good to get rid of some clutter and to know that it would go to a great use. If you have fabric you’ve lost interest in or scraps that you don’t think you’d ever use, ask your quilting community if anyone wants your scraps or consider offering your fabric stash on Feel Good Fibers.

Fabric organization is a journey

Whether you have a “fabric museum” or are a scrap fanatic, creating a fabric organization method that works for you will ensure you have the space to focus on what you enjoy: quilting. Whether you use what you have or buy new storage, be usre to align your fabric organization with your fabric usage and purchasing habits. Then, find ways to keep yourself organized – label your fabrics, create a folding board to help you create consistent fabric bundles, create a scrap sorting process and stick to it.

Like most things with quilting, there’s more than one way to approach fabric organization. So, experiment and find what works for you. What’s important is supporting your creativity and protecting what brings you joy.

Let’s sew.