How to Store Fabric for Your Next Sewing Craft
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The right storage solutions can make all the difference, whether you enjoy sewing your own clothes, drapes, bed quilts, pillow slips, or thrifty handbags. Storing fabric the right way can preserve its quality, protect it from sun- or moisture-damage, and keep your space well-organized and ready for sewing projects. In this guide, we review how to store fabric for sewing activities to keep it in pristine condition so you’re always ready to craft!
1. Find the Right Location
The first step in learning how to store fabric is finding the right storage space. The best place to store sewing fabric is a dry and dark closet or temperature-controlled space with limited sun exposure, since fabric fades in color if exposed to too much sunlight and high moisture or humidity levels can cause fabric to develop mildew. Not only does mildew give fabric an unpleasant musty smell, but it can also cause the fabric to rot or break down overtime. Overall, choosing the right storage spot can save you money by preserving fabric until you're ready to use it in a sewing project.
Tip!
Keep fabric, yarn, and other craft/sewing must-haves well-organized and easy to find with the help of our guide: Organizing a Craft Closet: Everything You Need to Know.
2. Opt for Covered Plastic Tubs
Plastic storage tubs with lids are the unsung heroes of fabric organization. For starters, plastic containers are smooth to the touch, which also means they won't snag on delicate fabrics. Their impermeable composition also protects fabric from exposure to moisture or humidity, keeping it fresh and ready to work with. The lid design makes it easy to stack multiple tubs of fabric on top of one another without worrying about crushing the fabric, and lids also keep out pests like rodents or moths to prevent holes in your fabric. We recommend looking for clear plastic storage containers so you can see which fabrics are in every container (saving you valuable time!).
Tip!
Lidded plastic storage tubs are especially ideal for protecting animal fabrics (think wool, silk, felt, leather, and fur) from moths and moth larvae. Cotton and linen can also benefit from lidded plastic storage because moths opt for these natural fiber fabrics as well.
3. Know When to Roll & When to Fold
When determining how to store fabric, you typically have one of two storage methods: folding or rolling. Both of these methods can help preserve sewing fabric and prevent permanent wrinkles, creases, stretching, or misshaping. To determine the best storage method for your fabric, start by considering the types of fabric you have to work with.
Most fabrics can be folded or rolled without a problem, but some are more prone to creasing or wrinkling when folded. These include fabrics like polyester, vinyl, cotton, or linen. The rolling method helps prevent deep creases in these fabrics that can occur with the folding method. In addition to material, you also have to consider your storage space when deciding how to store fabric. Folding might be the best option for shallow shelving, drawers, or storage tubs. In contrast, the rolling method might be best if you have wide/deep shelves, drawers, or storage tubs, because they can accommodate the length of the fabric roll. Rolling fabric also takes up less volume than folding.
4. Organize by Color, Pattern, or Size
Organizing fabric by color, pattern, or size (yardage) can help you keep track of your fabric selections, including where everything is stored, which fabrics you have plenty of, and which fabrics you need to stock up on. Sorting by color can be aesthetically-pleasing to the eye (peep the variety of blue fabrics pictured above!), while sorting by pattern makes it easy to locate your go-to designs (think paisley, gingham, or floral). Sorting fabric by size usually means by the yardage it comes in, which can be especially helpful when you know you need a specific fabric size for an upcoming project.
We couldn't talk about how to store fabric by color, pattern, or size without bringing up labels. When it comes to organizing your sewing fabric, labels are your friend. Even if you use clear plastic storage bins, it's still helpful to have labels. Label your quilt scrap bin, your curtain upholstery collection, your flannel material fabric, and floral-patterned fabric options. Nothing is off-limits as long as it helps you stay organized. Labels will also keep you accountable to continue placing new fabric in the correct storage spot, so you never misplace it.
Tip!
Discover more organizational tips with these 6 Functional Craft Room Ideas and Clever Ideas for Craft Room Organization.
6. Display Fabric Swatches to Showcase Your Selections
Consider this fabric storage tip before you run off to the craft store for another roll of paisley fabric. It can be all too easy to forget the types of fabric you have to work with when they're stored away. Save yourself time and money by keeping fabric swatches at-the-ready. Arrange fabric swatches in built-in storage compartments on your sewing table to remind you of your options. You can also keep fabric swatches in a clear craft case that you can sort through at your leisure. Making something for a friend? Take the craft case with you and let them pick out their favorite fabric options.
Tip!
Don't have see-through storage bins for your fabric? Run a needle and thread through a group of fabric swatches that pair up with fabric in a specific storage container. Tie the thread around the container handle or simply place the fabric swatches on top of the container so you can visualize which fabrics are where without going through each individual container.
7. Keep Rolled Fabric in Baskets
If you want to know how to store rolls of fabric in a way that's visually-pleasing and functional, baskets are the way to go. Opt for tall decorative baskets that can accommodate the visual height of fabric rolls. Wire baskets also provide a sturdy structure to store large amounts of rolled fabric. Depending on the length of a fabric roll, you may be able to position them on shelves. But you can view the individual colors and patterns better when they're displayed upright or lengthwise.
Tip!
There are a variety of specialty filing systems designed for rolled paper/fabric, including carts with individual cubby holes for rolls to stand upright or specially designed racks that allow rolls to lay lengthwise.
If you plan to store folded fabric on a shelving unit or bookcase, make sure you position them with the creases facing outward (as pictured above). This method creates a seamless look while also protecting the ends of the fabric from fraying as a result of accidental swipes or brush pasts. You may want to place a piece of cardboard in between each folded fabric to make the stack more durable and to protect each fabric from pressing against each other. This ultimately keeps fabric neat and tidy until you're ready to use it.
Drawers are another method for how to store folded fabric. Instead of stacking one on top of the other like with shelf storing, this method requires you to stack them sideways, with the creases facing upward. This method allows you to see each fabric option without having to rummage through layers of fabric. Drawer organizers can help separate and organize fabric in drawers to help them hold their shape even when the drawer isn't completely full.
If you have extra closet space, why not hang up some of your fabric? Pants hangers with clips or rods are perfect for displaying and storing your sewing fabric. Tiered pants hangers allow you to hang and display multiple fabrics without taking up additional closet space.
Store and display your current projects with pride by opting for a wall-mounted drying rack or fun blanket ladder. Both of these storage methods allow you to suspend multiple pieces of fabric at a time. This is a great storage method for projects in progress, as you don't want to mess up intricate stitching or cause unwanted wrinkles in the fabric.
Amp up your sewing fabric organization by creating your own project kits. Outfit a plastic tub with fabric, matching thread colors, sewing supplies, and inspirational photos and you're good to go!
13. Store Trim on Rods
Trim is a sewing fabric essential, whether you're adding fringe to a statement rug, adding trim to a quilt, or lining the edges of a homemade pillowslip. Therefore, it also deserves its own unique storage spot. Some sewing tables come with built-in rods to hang and store trim, ribbon, or yarn. But you can also get creative by repurposing paper towel holders! The rod storage method allows you to unravel as much trim as you need while holding the spool fully in place
Tip!
You can also use this storage hack for spools of yarn. Check out Creative Yarn Storage Ideas (With Photos!) for inspiration for your next knitting project.
14. Don't Forget Your Fabric Scraps!
We couldn't conclude this list without mentioning how to store fabric scraps. These are proud mementos of projects' past that you will repurpose… you just need the right project. Until then, we recommend tossing fabric scraps in craft storage drawers or a quaint fabric storage bin. If you really want, you can organize them by color, material, or pattern for future projects.
Tip!
Check out 12 Ideas for Sewing Room Organization to get more savvy organization tips.
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