Quilters, fabric artists and seamstresses generally have a love of fabric.  That’s sometimes why they’ve gotten involved in these hobbies, then turned them into businesses to justify all the fabric they collect.

Image: sxc.hu

How to disguise the fabric as they bring it into the house and then where to store it once it’s there becomes a challenge.  What are your techniques and where do you store your fabrics?

My cousin uses some of her fabric (that which overflows the sewing room/office) in the living room as part of the decor.  When I walked into her home, my eyes immediately focused on the fabric and quilts stacked on shelves.  Even though she couldn’t display all of this so you saw the full design, the colorful fabrics were very appealing on shelves.

Penny Halgren, at How to Quilt, has some interesting suggestions about Storing Fabric for Quilting that might help you.  Most of these also would apply to storing fabric for any type of sewing. 

If you wonder how to sneak your fabric into the house, check out Penny’s Clever Fabric Hideaways.

Do you have any suggestions?

Are you a Memorial Day bargain hunter?

Well I’ve got a doozy for you!

Fabric.com is having a big online sale today only, with 30 - 65% off all sorts of goodies like craft and quilting cottons - even pricey upholstery material!

You don’t need any coupons, but the sale does end tonight at midnight - so hurry if you want to snag some fabric :-)   They also have free shipping on any order over $35 - and you don’t need a coupon for it either.

image: Fabric.com

Alrighty, the fabric has been washed and dried.  Just to refresh the story, this is the fabric that the salesclerk was adamant would run if I put it into the washing machine.

Let’s take a look at the unwashed fabric first:

The unwashed fabric

And now let’s see how the washed and dried fabric fared:

The washed fabric

The edges have a slightly pink tinge, but other than that - the fabric looks just fine.  I didn’t do anything different, just washed it on warm with detergent and rinsed on cold.

The result?  Fabric that I can handle without sneezing or causing rashes

images: C Findlay-Harder

One of the perks of moving has got to be rediscovering my stash!

It’s inevitable that fabric gets pushed down to the bottom of a box, or to the back of the closet.  Reorganizing my fabric has given me a chance to “find” different fabrics that, I must admit - I had totally forgotten about

image: C Findlay-Harder

I’ve got fresh ideas for clothing, decorating and crafts - and all without stepping foot into a fabric store (which is probably sensible…)

So when was the last time you “rediscovered” your stash?

Now if I could only remember which box my scissors and pins are in…

My post, Cotton vs. Polyester Blend in Quiltmaking, has drawn quite a few comments since it was written.  I’ve enjoyed the various opinions quilters and fabric artists have expressed.

Image: sxc.hu

The early quilters used mainly cotton, wool or linsey-woolsey fabrics because that’s what was available.  In the latter part of the 1900s, polyester and poly/cotton fabrics became available and were popular.  However, the traditional quilters looked with horror upon this new innovation and felt to be a “purist,” you must use solely cotton.

Many quilters still prefer cotton, so much so that it’s difficult to find in some quilt fabric stores, I’ve been told.  Others like a combination and still others prefer simply poly/cotton fabrics for their work.

Here are some comments I received:

Cyndi says: The more options, the better! Bring it on!  Seriously though, although I tend to prefer pure cotton (many of my fabrics are plain muslin that I paint or dye), I love variety. I agree with your assessment that cotton was used because that’s what was available. Now, however…

According to Gina: I made a quilt with the theme being the very beautiful colors that appear in the high desert behind the Sandias in New Mexico in the late summer and early fall. To find the colors I needed, I had to use synthetic blends. I think one should be free to use whatever is needed, but I would also say that some synthetics tend to fray more than the pure cotton. Watch out for some that also will not stand up to wear as well as neighboring pieces.

What has been your experience with various fabrics?  Do you have any preferences?

This is a super-cool concept!

Spoonflower custom prints anything you design onto premium cotton fabric. So you can create your own quilts, aprons, potholders, baby clothes, hats, curtains, purses, and anything else you can think of!

There is no minimum yardage order, and each yard is $18.  For a truly homemade personal gift, that sounds pretty interesting to me.   All the details are available on the Spoonflower website.

I’ve been a fan of Kaffe Fasset for as long as I can remember - it must be because my mom knitted me sweaters from his incredible patterns

I’ve also completed several of his needlepoint projects over the years.  They’re luscious, but not for the first time stitcher!

Kaffe Fasset also works with fiber art designers to create gorgeous quilts as well.  Glorious Color carries the complete line of Kaffe fabrics and even full kits to create bed quilts.

Check out some of these yummy fabrics!

“Jade Lotus Leaf” :

“Asian Circles “:

‘Dancing Leaves “:

Yummy!

images: Glorious Color

Deborah responded to my Memory Fabric for Quilts and Clothing post with an interesting comment:

I have every patten I ever sewed (40+ years). I WISH I had every pattern that my mother had ever used to sew for me. But what I really regret is that I did not save a fabric swatch to go along with the pattern. That would have been a great memory. But I can describe the fabrics

Image: sxc.hu

I thought, What a wonderful idea…saving fabric swatches to attach to a pattern.  Or if you don’t have the swatches, create a Memory Fabric Journal.

Describe your fabrics and attach that to your patterns or ones your mother used. Or start a Memory Fabric Journal with photo copy or sketch of the pattern cover and description of the fabric, why you made the item, and when you wore or used it.

This can be somewhat literary or of scrapbook design.  It’s open to your imagination.  But it will be fun to refer to and bring back memories of “sewing and quilting times” in your life.  Your descendants would enjoy it, too.

Well, I’m mostly moved into my new house.

Most of the walls are painted - we’re still living with tottering stacks of boxes - but that’s how moving goes!

image: C Findlay-Harder

I’m still trying to figure out the best way to store my fabric though…  I used to store it in big, plastic totes on shelves.  But now that I’m getting a bigger studio, I’m looking at different ways to handle it.

Should I stick with my tried-and-tested totes and shelves?

Upgrade to a fancy metal mesh basket system that mounts on the wall?

Dump it all in a heap and let the dogs sleep in it

Well, I know which one the dogs would vote for, but for now - I’m going to keep thinking…

As I look at this picture, the red fabric with larger floral design reminds me of the first apron and skirt I made when I was 7-years old.  My 4-H Club leader was teaching me to sew on her treadle sewing machine and chose easy patterns.

Image: sxc.hu

The fabric came from feed sacks my aunt had given me.  There was enough to make a drawstring apron as well as a skirt with a casing and drawstring to gather it around my waist.  I was so proud of these and wore the skirt in the Dutchess County 4-H fashion show our club participated in.

In fact, I still have the skirt.  I must get it out of the box of memorabilia and compare the fabric to that in this photo.

Do you have memory fabrics from earlier quilts and clothing?