See this pile, this is how I was storing my fabric. It was fine for a while, that is until the addiction really began. I am absolutely addicted to fabric! It used to be scrapbook paper, and now I am 100% addicted to sewing and fabric! Quit shops are my new favorite destination! So I had an idea, and since I have a brilliant husband, he was able to take the idea right out of my head and build it! We used an old bookcase that was out in the garage, so it was also free!
So while he was busy building I was cutting foam core board and making my own mini bolts of fabric.
I took a piece of 20 x 30 foam core board, and cut it down to 10 x 7.5 You can get 8 from one sheet.
Next I wrapped the fabric around the bolts, the great thing about them being foam board is that you can use stick pins to secure the loose ends.
Now the shelf is done, and on the wall, ready to organize my delicious selections of fabric!
Now for all of the scraps! Wire bins sorted by color! All stored under my giant ironing board! Its great for when I am making my scrap maps!
What is your secret for fabric storage?
I’ve been doing this for years and I love it!!
I use foam board also but I do apparel, so I get 3 bolts per foam board instead of 6. If you take the store crease and fold it over again 45" fabric fits perfect. Different widths you just have to play with. In regards to the dust question, I have several bolts of very expensive beaded fabric, so I wrap mine in cheap plastic wrap after I bolt it. I just make sure to place them in the rack between inelastic-wrapped bolts so they don’t stick together. I keep all my bolts on a bakers rack I got from Lowe’s for about $ 75. It holds a lot of you lay them perpendicular to the shelves on their sides, and those bolts fit perfect without sticking out all jagged and you can pull what you need without disturbing anything else.
Oh and I also write how many yards are on the cardboard. I kinda of keep a record of what I have… It helps
Go to your local fabric store and take the cardboard bolts home and use them. They just throw them away. Make sure u get the ones that unfold and place the fabric on the cardboard and then fold the flaps back down. Not the solid ones. Not much work to do. And if that’s your addiction, mine is far worse. LoL….I need help🙄
Thanks for the great tip about folding the fabrics. We have just moved, and so I’ve got gazillions of cardboard boxes, and am now cutting them up to size to create my bolsters of fabric. A couple of years ago I bought a 200 hundred year old linen press but not the whole thing…(I wish!) ..just the cupboard from the top, with big drawers that can hold a lot of heavy fabric. Apparently there had been a flood and the bottom drawer unit was ruined, so I snapped this sad lonely cupboard up for a ridiculous £50 and started using it for my stash. Now I have your tip about folding them using templates measured to fit, I have no problem with the fabrics falling about and getting really untidy. I’m so grateful for this fabulous tip. xx
I LOVE THIS IDEA!! I was looking at how much the plastic boards are to store fabric and thought there has to be something else. Then I decided to use cardboard and since I had just received a recliner and the box it came in was really big so I planned to cut it up and use it for my fabric bolts. And at our recycling depot there’s a steady supply of large pieces of clean flat cardboard that I can go collect and make as many as I need. Then I read your article and what a better idea, it won’t bend as easy as the cardboard and will be a more firm bolt for all my fabric and it is available at our local dollar stores and I know that there’s NO WAY it’s had food or dirt or anything on it. So Thank You, I’m going to do that and the fact I can use pins to hold the fabric in place is great! Thanks for the idea!!
I never thought of the foam board.
Thank you!
I use cardboard the same way. I have s fabric addiction to. And it was free. And works same way .
If anyone was still wondering….I did something similar with my Mom’s fabric. I folded it in thirds and it perfectly. Foam core board can be bought just about everywhere, including Dollar Tree. It’s usually next to poster board. Hope that helps.
my question is how do you keep dust off the fabric? i love your idea but im concerned about material getting dusty
Where did you buy the foam core board?
I came up with exactly the same idea – love it! This is so inexpensive and you can see what you have. It is very neat – says the neat freak! Looks wonderful.
Love your sewing room.
How did u make your big ironing board?
I store my fabric the same way but instead of foam board I use those rectangular inserts comic collectors use. They are the perfect size, so no cutting involved, they’re also archival quality. They appear to be made of a heavy card with a plastic like coating. They are inexpensive as well. I too pin the end of my fabric but not into the actual card.
I use hanging shoe organizers from IKEA. I have a section for each major color, and a section for batiks, courntry plaids, animal prints (child prints) etc.
I go through my fabric fast so I use cardboard to wrap my fabric. I usually buy by the yard, so I know how much I have and sort by color.
Mines a question…which I may just need to pay with…but wondering more details on the folding on to the boards. If I fold my fabric in half lengthwise, it would be around 11 inches so still too wide for a 7.5 × 10 board. Can you give more details on this…
My husband hung decorative curtain rods on the wall, I use Café curtain rings to hold my fabrics 1 yard or less.
This idea is stunning! Thank You soooo much! I’m struggling with tons of fabric in my workroom with no idea how to solve it… Until now! :) You’re amazing. I’ll try to recreate Your idea – I’ll let You know if it worked for me :) Have a nice day! :)
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I purchased some foam board to organize my fabric. Thank you for the organization tip!
Thanks so much for the great idea. Your studio looks fabulous! I particularly like your giant ironing board!
Ruth Rodgers
July 28, 2019
Hi,
fantastic idea. Please can you tell me what thickness board do you use.
Ruth