Mess Management Monday: Craft Room- Fabric Organization

I tried EVERYTHING to organize my fabrics- neat stacks fell over, baskets overflowed, and even folded and stacked in a dresser made them impossible to find. So here's what I do now:

 

The dressers are full of most of my fabrics.  That's 4 dressers, 5 drawers each, storing about 25 yards of fabric in each drawer.  Of course they don't ALL have fabric in them!  The dresser on the right has finished products ready to ship, and the fabrics that I have more than 3 yards of are stored on top of the dressers. But I will show you that another day.

How it works:

I used to fold the fabric cut ends together- kinda like you fold towels or sheets, but EVERY time I wanted to cut it, I had to unfold the whole thing and refold it.  I'm too lazy for all of that, so I would end up with a huge pile of fabric at one end of my cutting table. 

Now I fold it just like it come on the bolt- selvage ends together, and fold it using a plastic template as my guide.  

Prince Charming cut this plastic piece for me.  It is 6" by 22". If I did it again I would make it 24" so it would be easier to pull out when I am done.

When I get to the end, I simply pull out my plastic piece, and fold it in half. 

All my fabrics are stored by category, then by color.  Categories include solid color cottons, cotton prints, minky, terry, upholstery, flannel, etc. 

 

All of my fabrics are easy to access, and put back in the right place, and I don't have to unfold and refold every time I take a fabric out.

The only rule you have to remember is when you fold directional fabric is to start folding from the TOP!  When you unfold it to cut, your fabric will be facing up, otherwise you have to turn your pattern upside down!  I made this mistake more than once!

I even have a drawer for the fabrics I am selling in my etsy shop since Prince Charming asked if I would sell some of my fabric before buying anymore!