File Your Fabric To Make It Easy To Use
Anyone that enjoys sewing or dabbling in the textile arts knows how easy it is to amass a large collection of fabric. The temptation to pick up just a yard or two, even without a specific project in mind, is often too much to ignore. While there is nothing wrong with purchasing fabric just because you like it, it is important that you have a good organization system in place. This ensures that you actually use your fabric instead of letting it collect dust.
Know Your Fabric's Enemies
Dust and sunlight are the main enemies to any stored fabric. Dust can settle onto the fibers and eventually lead to stains. Sunlight can bleach fabric, resulting in uneven color. Insects pests and moisture are other concerns. This means that the best place to store fabric is under cover. Plastic storage tubs protect your fabric from dust, pests and sunlight. The only concern is that they can trap moisture inside. Tossing a few silica gel packets into the tubs solves the moisture problem. Select tubs of uniform size so they are easy to stack.
Develop a Filing System
One of the simplest ways to store fabric of varying lengths is to file it. You can purchase comic book boards online or from comic book shops. These acid-free boards are the perfect size for wrapping the fabric around. Fold the fabric lengthwise until it is the same width as the board. Next, wrap the fabric around the board. Fold under the final edge so there aren't any frayed strings showing. Finally, clip this edge down with plastic clips or plastic-covered paper clips. Skip the sewing pins, since the metal can rust and stain the fabric. You can then tuck these "files" upright in your storage tub.
Make It Easy to Use
Take your fabric storage a step further with swatch cards. Start with a stack of index cards. Next, cut a swatch from each fabric as you file it. The swatch should be about half the size of the index card. Staple the swatch to the card and then above it write down how much of the fabric you have, the material it is (cotton, polyester, etc.), and the fabric name or supplier. You can organize your cards in an index card binder, an old rolodex, or by hanging them off a binder clip. If you have several tubs of fabric, consider numbering each tub and writing the tub numbers on the cards, too.
Maintain the System
Once filed, the system is easy to maintain. Each time you purchase new fabric, simply wash and iron it as you would normally. Then, make up and index card and file it away. As you use fabric, mark the new yardage available on the card so you are never caught short. You can even use this index method to keep track of other materials, like trim and ribbon. Visit a fabric store, such as fabrics from Fabrics Etc, for more information.