Ask Penny Halgren

These are creative storage spots designed to hide fabric from anyone who  doesn’t understand why you need it at all!

 
• A box labeled “Christmas ornaments” or “baby clothes”
 
• In the freezer wrapped in butcher paper and labeled “meat loaf”
 
• Go shopping with a friend, trade bags before you get home, then declare “This isn’t mine, I’m just holding it for a friend”
 
• The trunk of your car
 
• A wire hanger covered by a dress or blouse – this is good for about 2 yards
 
• In plain sight – on an open shelf, neatly folded and color coordinated to your room décor
 
• In the attic, if you have one

It’s all in fun! Although I will admit to spreading my fabric in various places all around the house. 

Somehow, if it’s a  little in a bunch of different spots, it doesn’t look like you have “that  much.”

For some real tips for storing long lengths of fabric: Storing Your Quilting Fabric

These comments came in from quilters:

Hi Penny, 

When I shop at a quilt shop I ask for the cardboard that's at the end of the fabric.  It has the fabric # and sometimes the name. 

I then measure the fabric as I fold it over the cardboard & then mark it at the end of the cardboard. 

I have shelves that are tall enough to stand up the fabric or you can lay them down. 

Fondly, Joan Dean

An  additional suggestion to storing fabric:

I use 8.5''x11'' cardboard,  fold the fabric then wrap it around the cardboard.

With smaller amounts  of fabric, and folding it properly, I can get 2 pieces of fabric on 1  cardboard. Then, I store them standing up in a plastic milk crate (you  can get these in assorted colors).

The milk crates stack up and I have  them stacked 4 high. I put the fabric in color-wheel color order. I  keep them in my closet. I can see all the fabric, they are protected,  and its looks very pretty when I open my closet door.

Linda