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Member since 5/10/05
Posts: 2641
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Posted on: 4/2/06 3:12 PM ET
As I was reading through a different thread, I decided I was going to gather up all my fabric, roll it up and try to store like-fabrics together. I have three fairly large bins that I store fabric in. After rolling all my fabric and putting it into the storage bins, I see that everything fits with the exception of one 3 yard cut of white denim (which I have project planned) and all my lining fabric. The lining fabric isn't much, I can probably actually store it in one of my empty plastic kitty litter pails.

I have decided that before my stash gets out of control, I am going to limit myself to just these three bins of storage. I'm telling myself that if I can't store it, I can't buy it. I'm hoping this new way of doing things will encourage me to sew more and spend less. Yeah, right.

I figure if I can't control the urge, I have three fairly large cuts of fleece in those bins. If I can sew those up real quick, I can clear out enough space for more fabric. YAY!

Has anyone tried this method before? Perhaps the more important question is; Has it worked?
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http://theramblingsoftcm.blogspot.com/
Numbers for 2013:
Yards in stash: 606.25
Yards in: 22.75
Yards out: 10.50

Numbers for 2012:
594.00 yards in stash
4 yards in
10.25 yards out

Numbers for 2011:
601.25 yards in stash (I'm sure this number is off by a few yards)
Yards in: 137.50 (Seriously? I'm over 100, and it's only JULY? Ugh!)
Yards out: 88.75
  
Member since 6/6/04
Posts: 1042
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Posted on: 4/2/06 3:24 PM ET
In reply to SexiSadi
I try to do it this way. Most of the times it works. Just very occasionally I find this piece of fabric that has to come home with me and does not fit the bins right that minute. Of course fit is a loosely used term. Bins do not have to be completly closed right?
It also controls my scrap hoarding. Make room by getting rid of scraps that you thought at the time you could use for something like ...............whatever and never do use.

Gilraen
-- Edited on 4/2/06 3:33 PM --
  
Member since 3/19/04
Posts: 2557
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Posted on: 4/2/06 3:28 PM ET
I've used this with my quilting fabric stash, and it's worked quite well. But then I discovered PatternReview and started collecting garment fabric, which is starting to pile up in its own stacks! Actually, I'm starting to run out of places to store it (piled on the spare bed does not count!) which is really motivating me to stop and sew it up before I get too much more.
  
Member since 1/27/06
Posts: 827
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Posted on: 4/2/06 3:43 PM ET
Right now, I have my "stash" piled on top of a drafting table in my sewing/photography/painting/collage/lapidary/beading/slide sorting room. But I usually buy fabric with a specific project in mind, and will tie all fabrics, linings, buttons, patterns, etc. up together with string. This doesn't mean I can't change my mind later if I think of a better use for or combination of the fabrics. But my pile of stash fabrics is beginning to wobble a bit - it's about two feet high, by one foot deep, by three feet long. Having it tied in bundles does help somewhat to stabilize the pile, but I need to come up with a better solution. (How about just sewing it? What a concept! )

Regards to all,

Sophiecat
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
Laurel Ulrich
  
Member since 4/16/04
Posts: 2060
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Posted on: 4/2/06 4:53 PM ET
In reply to SexiSadi
Yes, it works for me. A few years ago my fabric was taking up space in the closets in two bedrooms. After I purged and reorganized I limit myself to the fabric that fits in the 4 ft closet in sewing room. My husband and stepson refitted it with deep shelves and I rolled my garment fabric, the quilt fabric is folded and projects and embellisments are in clear plastic containers. It does help me to set a space limit.
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 4/2/06 5:27 PM ET
In reply to SexiSadi
I think it is a great idea. If the stash is well organized you can fit a surprising amount in a sensible amount of space. When the stash gets out of control it's like anything that is out of control, it's a drag. We need our stashes to work for us, not against us.

I'm having an opposite problem right now. I found a cabinet to organize my stash in and I have a smaller stash than my carboard boxes were leading me to believe. There is a lot of empty space in my cabinet! Thank goodness I ups is bringing me more fabric soon.
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 4/15/05
Posts: 1290
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Posted on: 4/2/06 6:04 PM ET
I do the same thing now with my alloted hanging space in my closet. I have an odd space above the dresser in my closet where the carpenters installed a rod by mistake. My fabrics reside there on the thickest size plastic hangars so I can maximize the space. If my stash starts to extend past the edge of my dresser and creep onto the floor of the closet or other places, I know it is time to sew more and buy less.

I like hanging fabrics up because I see and touch what I have every day , and can think up things to make with it. The shelves above the rods will yield alot of space for sewing materials when I get around to throwing out all the old teaching materials. But that will be a big job involving climbing up and down a ladder a hundred times.

Once I recover from cleaning out the shelves, I will be left with some large clear bins and milk crates turned on their sides for rolling more fabrics. With me, out of sight means all but forgotten, so I think I will use only one clear bin for interfacing and get a few more milk crates for when my fabric runneth over. I used sturdy, stackable milk crates in my classroom because of their handy size. I hope they are big enough to hold several pieces of fabrics.
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Elizabeth
  
Member since 5/10/05
Posts: 2641
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Posted on: 4/2/06 6:54 PM ET
Well, so much for that. :blush:

A few hours ago, my husband says to me "hey, why don't you and the kid run off to the fabric store so I can take a nap". Thanks for twisting my arm, Jeff! Everything I bought, I bought for her clothes, so it doesn't take up much space. I already have her patterns cut, so it shouldn't take me long to sew them up. That's the great thing about sewing for children, the garments sew up so fast.


------
http://theramblingsoftcm.blogspot.com/
Numbers for 2013:
Yards in stash: 606.25
Yards in: 22.75
Yards out: 10.50

Numbers for 2012:
594.00 yards in stash
4 yards in
10.25 yards out

Numbers for 2011:
601.25 yards in stash (I'm sure this number is off by a few yards)
Yards in: 137.50 (Seriously? I'm over 100, and it's only JULY? Ugh!)
Yards out: 88.75
  
Member since 3/25/02
Posts: 903
Send Message
Posted on: 4/4/06 6:30 AM ET
What a concept.....sewing the stash and limiting it from taking over the house. I might just have to try that sometime.
Right now I can barely fit myself into my sewingroom as the stash has taken over and is constantly shoving me out.

I guess I'd better take control and try to reclaim my space before I don't have room left to actually sew anything up.
  
Member since 4/8/03
Posts: 419
Body Type:
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Posted on: 4/5/06 2:41 PM ET
Claire,

I feel your pain! Stop buying before its overwhelming....someone should have stopped me years ago! I have solved the problem by just moving it all to a bigger closet!
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Carolyn
My blog: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/
"I've always maintained that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility. Choose your words carefully ~ Susan”
  
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