Organising my Fabric Stash + Making a Fabric Catalogue!

[@The.Spoonie.Witch66]

So glad I’m not the only one with six years worth of projects in their mind! 😆

[@juniperjr2017]

Ii really like the idea of cutting out swatches. l've cut myself off from buying fabric for the next few years. I didn't realize my stash until I made an Excel spreadsheet of it all 😮 😂

[@bhavens9149]

Happy Sewing in the new year! :)

[@susannaharnhart4910]

Whyyyy is this my favorite type of video?? The dopamine rush when I read the title!

[@CatsCostumery]

I also love watching them 😂

[@stevezytveld6585]

Beautiful fabric. I like the organizational style of the fabric bible - very cool. I've been sewing only since lockdown (thank you, and thank you YTU), but already I've developed a love for wool and have a slightly intimidating stash of wool to turn into garments, lol. Just in case I miss you, all of the very, very best of the Season to you and yours. Cheers! - Cathy (&, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@CatsCostumery]

Wool is also my favourite! Happy holidays to you too ❤️☺️

[@liav4102]

The height of relatability! I also like to pet fabrics and dream of what they will be when I finally get the time and skills. It also needs to be reorganized lol

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

I need to get around to cataloguing my stash

[@jenniferbailey1580]

I’m currently stuck halfway through a move and this title? I’m there… oh, you say you are basically me a week from now. If the fates smile time-wise

[@CatsCostumery]

Wish you all the best luck, it’s worth in the end 😂❤️

[@ColleenMarble]

You're like me - so many projects, so many possibilities. My stash is shamefully huge, even after getting rid of nearly half of my fabric a few years ago. I have started sorting by fabric type, then by color. And I have stopped buying synthetics, for the most part. But I'm a sucker for a beautiful fabric, especially when it's on sale or second-hand.

[@tygress12]

I love love love this video. It’s so nice to see all the different fabrics you have. Where I live the only fabric store is Joann’s and their selection is very limited and hit or miss. They have zero wool or linen (real linen that is). You mentioned a good linen store in the United States that has good sales on linen. Would you mind letting me know which one it is? Id love to look online at what they have. Also, any suggestions on where to fine good (hopefully discounted) wool online? Thank you again for sharing your stash of beautiful fabric.

[@stevezytveld6585]

{commenting for the algorithmic boost} If you're lucky, the local Value Village will have a fabric section (right beside the bedsheets). I've been able to find destashed wool. You have to look on the regular, but sometimes you get lucky at the local charity shops. Because, back in the day, your city/town/village would have had a fabric shop of some sort... that stuff either ends up in landfill or at the local charity shop. Thank you Granny's... The only American shop that I know of for linen is Burnley and Trowbridge (unfortunately outside my budget). And I know that Mood has free patterns, and apparently decent prices for their location. Good luck with the hunt! - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@CatsCostumery]

The linen place is called fabrics-store.com I’ve had good luck with them but always recommend getting swatches since I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same experience! If yours on their mailing list, they also send you discounts and sales. I don’t have a source of wool in the US I’m afraid 😔

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Oh, you know it's gonna be good with an introduction like "Welcome to chaos!" I have a potential solution for that gorgeous grey cashmere-wool blend: Onion skins! I bought a brown striped wool to make Victorian silliness out of and when it arrived it was way more of a grey tone than I liked, and I'd been collecting onion skins for aobut a year for dye experiemnt purposes and it did a gorgeous job of making the grey brown into a lovely rich warm tone. And it's one of the few natural dyes that doesn't require mordant or anything, and far as I can tell it's about as stable a dye as one could expect, definitely not transient like turmeric.

[@CatsCostumery]

Oh my gosh that sounds like such a fun project!! Time to start collecting onion skins 😂

[@Beth-ch7pj]

So many beautiful fabrics! I was particularly intrigued by the idea of that striped satin Edwardian walking suit, or the liberty silk pajamas. But whatever you make will be interesting im sure 😁

[@LuluRushCosplay]

I would love to see the peach gow. ❤😊

[@lucyj8204]

Greatly looking forward to seeing the green velvet Merida! Love the catalogue idea. I'm usually quite good about keeping very little in stash but when I win the Euromillions and have a fabric room I will recall it. Have you considered storing your fabric vertically within each box, Marie Kondo style? It means you don't have to get everything out when you want to get just one thing out.

[@CatsCostumery]

Yes I would love to! But I found I had lacked in motivation by the time I got it all sorted 😂 a second phase to this project I think

[@isabelledionneartiste]

I'm not sure because the lighting probably don't show well the colours, but you could combine some of the ivory looking speciality fabrics to make a fantasy dress. It would have great texture.

[@CatsCostumery]

Yes! I love combining textures in fantasy inspired dresses ☺️

[@aquaaurora2747]

13:40-13:43 That was the dress I wish I could have bought! If you don't wear blues as much will you sell fabric from this bin?

[@CatsCostumery]

Maybe! I’ll take a hard look at it because I’d rather the fabric was used than languishing in the closet ☺️

[@paigeelias1701]

Do you mind sharing the store you order the white linen from?

[@Ella-iv1fk]

Yes, I was wondering that too, and the wool on sale stores

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Same question...

[@castelcatjerome]

I was also wondering which shops have periodic sales on linen and wool!

[@CatsCostumery]

The linen store is fabrics-store.com! I recommend getting swatches - I’ve had good luck with their fabric but can’t guarantee your experience will be the same 😥 If you’re on the mailing list, they periodically send out emails with sales and discounts. I have a more comprehensive list of stores over on my Patreon - I’m reluctant to recommend much openly since ordering fabric can be so hit or miss and I don’t want you to have a bad experience 😔

[@katecapek3116]

I admire both your organization and your choice of fabrics, but true hoarders have hoards like old dragons...

[@cherylf7333]

Sure you could sew up that leg slit...or you could make a dress for your dream dnd character and that leg slit can show off a dagger strapped to your thigh and cool over the knee boots...

[@katecapek3116]

I like the way you think.

[@CatsCostumery]

This sounds amazing 👀

[@josefinebrannlund7297]

💜💜💜

[@sarahbrooklynstudios7187]

Do you have any recommendations for fabric or yarn shops in London or Bath? I’m only going for a short time so can’t get around to all of England.

[@CatsCostumery]

I usually shop at Goldhawk Road but it can be a bit overwhelming - there’s loads of shops there! Soho still has some older shops that are beautiful like the Cloth House, and Liberty is always amazing eye candy ☺️

[@aka_zandiie]

So great to see your stash! Also this may be silly, but where did you get your sweater?? I have been searching for the perfect black knit sweater and yours looks like exactly what I have wanted!

[@CatsCostumery]

Mine was just a plain H&M one I got in a sale a few years ago! Not much help I’m afraid 😥

[@michellecornum5856]

I just want to.put my fabric away . That might be the next quote I frame.

[@sannabengtsson3044]

Med ålder att would you have du kan göra full Victorian Winter out fett😅

[@elizharber3564]

✨🧵

[@cathrynpindzola9578]

I'm not crazy about cutting the fabric swatches-seems a waste of time and fabric. What about photos? Also not as bulky as swatches. Especially if you want to do the catalog on a spreadsheet.

[@avocadowitchknits6629]

I've taken photos of my fabric to keep track of them. But making a spreadsheet? That's bloody genius! *opens excel*

[@bleuumscarlett7977]

The pro for actual fabric swatches is that you can feel it and see how it looks in different lights. It might not be an important info for everyone though

[@CatsCostumery]

This is true! I tried to cut in discrete places but especially for the shorter cuts, seemed a bit of a waste 🤔 I’ve heard of people making photo albums on their phones too! An excel spreadsheet sounds super organised too 😂