Fabric Stash Organisation

I mentioned in a post earlier this year that one of my aims for 2021 is to make better use of my fabric stash. I'm not limiting myself with a rule of not purchasing any new fabric as I firmly believe that making good and careful fabric choices is integral to the success of a project. I don't want to settle with 'that fabric will do because it is in my stash' and then end up not wearing it because the fabric wasn't quite right. That doesn't feel sustainable to me. However, sometimes a really interesting a unique fabric choice is right there in front of you when you take the time to think about it and you don't need to buy something new.

After a slow start to the year I've suddenly found myself full of motivation to sew and create and was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with all the inspiration! To help me plan out some projects and match up fabrics with the ideas in my head I spent some time last weekend sorting through my stash. A few of you expressed an interest in how I organise my fabric stash and as I was reworking it I thought this was an ideal opportunity to share.

My organisation method certainly isn't ground breaking or particularly exciting but a basic easy to access method is what works best for me. I think my stash is fairly modest compared to some. I'm definitely a sewer who predominately starts with the pattern before the fabric so I tend to purchase fabrics with a project in mind rather than on a whim. The fabrics in my stash generally had a purpose at one point but either I didn't get around to making it (because lets face it the sewing time I hope for in my head is far less than I have in reality!) or I went off the idea. Quite a chunk of my stash are sentimental pieces which were either gifts or I bought on a trip and has a special memory. In particular I've got some African wax prints which my sister and best friend brought home for me and a couple of pieces of Masai fabric which members of the tribe gave my boyfriend on a trip to Tanzania. They are the traditional cotton plaid so I'm hoping to make him a shirt or pyjama bottoms from these but in general I find it so hard to decide on a project for these special pieces! Do you?

My fabric stash is in the hamper on the right of the photo, under the globe! 

Ed and I live in a small flat and my sewing space is in a corner of the living room so I try to make sure everything is hidden away as much as possible so we can both enjoy the multi-purpose space. My fabric is all stored in a big bamboo hamper in the corner...well I say all but there's usually a few pieces that won't fit. I am happy to report though after a month of sewing from my stash it now all fits back in there comfortably! The basket is great for keeping it all hidden away but it does mean it is not easy to see what I've got in there. So I created these easy reference sheets so I can see what I've got at a glance without having to empty the whole thing.

A sheet of knit fabrics

I've tried a couple of stash organisation books and print outs and while they were great they weren't quite right for me. I know a lot of people like to use an app like Trello. I might try using this for my patterns but with fabric I need to be able to touch the fabric. A lot of these methods tend to include a lot of information right down to washing instructions and personally all I need to see at a glance is a sample, the fabric type and the length and width of the piece. You might like to include a note to say if it is pre-washed or not but I make sure everything is washed before it goes in the basket so I know they are all ready to go. The only other information I include is a pencil note of any ideas I have about what to make with the fabric. Once I've used a fabric I cross it through with a sharpie and remove the sample or adjust the quantity if I've still got some left. 

I considered putting the swatches into a book or making a sort of flip book of individual tags (like this one on the Colette blog) but I find this sheet method works best for me as I am able to spread them all out easily and see what I've got at a glance. I find them much more inspiring to look at this way. I can also keep them vaguely organised in groups of knits, denims e.t.c. I think that these sheets might actually be a habit I've picked up from work! As a Costume Supervisor you put together a 'Costume Bible' for each show you work on. This contains all the information about every costume in the show; where you bought those shoes and what size down to what buttons were used on that dress. You compile a sheet per costume and staple a sample of each fabric to the sheet, making a note of the price, width, quantity and source. These sheets I've made are actually very similar...I feel like I've just costume supervised my fabric stash. I guess I'm missing work during the pandemic more than I thought!

I could put the sheets in a folder to contain them but I like having them loose and stored in a tray on my desk so they are easily accessible. 

I then keep a 'To Sew' list and a 'Sewing Ideas' list in the reminders app on my phone/iPad, which is great as I can update them when I am out and about. I quite often have sewing ideas while daydreaming on a train. 'To Sew' is projects that I've got fabric ready and waiting for and 'Sewing Ideas' are just thoughts or projects I need to buy fabric for. I never end up making everything on either list as my tastes and the seasons change before I get round to it but it helps to keep me focused. If an idea has been on there for a long time and I'm still excited about it I know it is probably something I'd get use out of or enjoy making.

Looking back at my Instagram I can see it has been pretty much exactly a year since I started using these methods. I think they are working out for me well. Since starting these sheets I have found my stash decreasing or at least staying at a manageable size and feel more on top of my sewing projects and ideas. How do you keep track of your fabric stash and plans for it?