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Fabric Conent and Care How do you keep track in your fabric stash?
radollrose   Intermediate WA USA Member since 9/9/10 Posts: 10	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/17/11 6:48 PM When I'm at the fabric store or ordering online, I always note what the fabric is made out of and if there are any special care or washing instructions. My problem starts as soon as I have the material at home. I can't remember any of the information! How do you keep track of what you have purchased as far as fabric type (poly/cotton blend, ITY, 98% linen/2% lycra) is concerned? I wish fabric stores supplied tags like you find in RTW clothing! Other than taking a picture of the end of the bolt, do you have any suggestions? ------ Shannon in Seattle
JennaF Advanced Beginner WA USA Member since 5/10/10 Posts: 362	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/17/11 7:03 PM I have a fabric swatch book that I use. I'm on my phone so I can't link, but if you click on my name, you can find the tip I wrote about it. I included a download to the print out/form that I use. ------ http://www.seamstressintraining.blogspot.com
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2468	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/17/11 8:09 PM Well, either I just remember, or I can pretty much tell by looking at it. Corduroy, canvas, and broadcloth are pretty obviously cotton. Linen is linen. If either of these stretches, it has some Lycra/Spandex in it. If I have any doubt (is this suiting 100% wool or a wool-silk blend?), I'll pin a note to the fabric saying what it is, when I bought it, and how much I bought. I typically ignore the fabric care instructions that come on the bolt. Sometimes fabric stores re-use their bolts so you can't be sure those instructions actually go with your fabric. And care labels are often wrong or unnecessarily conservative. I use my own judgement about how to care for the fabric I've purchased. -- Edited on 6/17/11 8:10 PM -- -- Edited on 6/17/11 8:12 PM -- ------ ~Gem in the prairie
SheBear0320   Advanced MB CANADA Member since 4/8/08 Posts: 2790	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/17/11 8:26 PM I keep a swatch book similar to JennaF -- I got the template from somewhere here on PR (it's different than JennaF's). I write down the info right on the receipt when I buy it -- I pre-treat fabric once I get it home and then fill out the card making note that it's been pre-treated and whether there was shrinkage. In the case of fabrics I'm unsure of how they'll wash I was a test strip first before washing the whole piece. I pay little attention to the care codes on the fabric bolts -- I'm willing to experiment. I do this for both my personal and business stash. ------ Sheila "sewing very slowly to fill an empty closet" 2012/2013 Stash Busting Sew-Along: 27.25 yards sewn (as of 05/15/13) 21.75 yards purchased (as of 05/15/13)
KatieA Advanced Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 5/30/05 Posts: 356	Login to reply to this post In reply to stirwatersblue Like this post Date: 6/18/11 5:15 AM Quote: stirwatersblue Well, either I just remember, or I can pretty much tell by looking at it. Corduroy, canvas, and broadcloth are pretty obviously cotton. Linen is linen. If either of these stretches, it has some Lycra/Spandex in it. If I have any doubt (is this suiting 100% wool or a wool-silk blend?), I'll pin a note to the fabric saying what it is, when I bought it, and how much I bought. More or less this. I wash everything as it comes through the door - in the machine, on an appropriate setting - so cotton and cotton blends on a cotton setting, silk, viscose, polyester on a machine hand wash setting, wool sweater knits on a hand wash setting, and wool wovens I don't wash. I never use the dryer for big garments (husband uses it for t-shirts, undies and socks, so occasionally a t-shirt of mine will get in there, but those are cotton so no biggy). There is the odd thing I cannot remember if it's viscose or cotton, so I make sure it stays in the low temp wash. It wouldn't matter to me if a blend was wool/silk or just wool, if it was e.g. a woven to make trousers, as I'd be dry cleaning the finished garment.
mastdenman   Intermediate CA USA Member since 1/12/04 Posts: 5843	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 6/18/11 11:23 AM Stash cards I keep track of stash by placing a swatch on a 3X5 card. The fabric is identified on the card by length, width, content, where I bought it, and where it is store. It also gets tossed into the washer and dryer before it gets put away. The cards are saved in a plastic container. That way if I want to go stash shopping, I just pull out my cards. It's really convenient. ------ Marilyn January 2009 to January 2010 81 yards out and 71yards in January 2010 to the present 106.7 yards out and 146.5 yards in. January 2011 to the present: 47 yards out and 69 yards in.

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