Too Much Fabric!!! | Organizing My Stash + Making a Swatch Book

[@makiyaki9329]

Should I be organizing my own sewing stash? Yes. Do I instead watch other people clean out their sewing stuff? Also yes xD

[@rhonddalesley]

Do we also want to take any sewing stuff that other people destash off their hands to add to our already mountainous ones? Yes, we do that too 😂

[@joancatu4712]

Brainstorm brain brains ?!.

[@joancatu4712]

Readings ready readying ?!.

[@joancatu4712]

Assignment assistant position pessimistic parent's 🏠 parentally asawang ASAP Korean's Korea Korean BBQ chicken chili 🍕 pizza chilling foods food ?!.

[@joancatu4712]

Yes or No question questions questioningly ?!.

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

Project idea: patchwork dress out of the fabrics you think you're never going to use!

[@danaondrackova3431]

that would look like Sally dress from Nightmare before christmas. I want that!

[@spailpin710]

I'd buy that! :D I love unique pieces of clothing, and if they match literally every style of print/fabric at once without looking bad, that's a plus. 10/10 would wear in case the idea turns out pretty haha

[@Elizabethsnow125]

Or patchwork stuffed animals!! In case you have smaller scraps

[@danaondrackova3431]

@@Elizabethsnow125 YES THAT!

[@danaondrackova3431]

@@Elizabethsnow125 that would actually use all the cabbage scraps I saw every sawing girl on youtube have somewhere in their room :D

[@mrs.johnson8033]

My 7 yr old just read the title of this video over my shoulder and said perplexedly, "how can you have too much fabric?" I guess I've trained her well. Ironically, I have been working on organizing my fabric stash this week as well.

[@alaskacosplay]

Your 7 year old is correct. How can you have too much fabric when theyre all beautiful and you can use them to make beautiful things.

[@bekytg9393]

Parenting done right.

[@shmhermans]

As a poor student with only a big drawer as storage space for al my sewing supplies, I'm so extreemly jealous! Owning that much fabric and having so much space for just supplies and sewing is an absolute dream! You talking about bolts of fabric and the "small" under 5 yards pieces, just seems so surreal for me XD

[@sapphirecamui6447]

Don't worry too much about it! You'll get there! Start small with what you have. You need the basics first. The basics are some shears/scissors (a a beginner, the paper or kitchen scissors are OK-ish, in time you can get proper fabric shears that will last you a life-time and you don't need more than 1 if you take good care of them); another basic are thread and needle - sewing by hand is therapeutic. As for the fabric? use your old sheets, curtains and table cloths. Even your old clothes can serve as fabric if you have enough imagination ;) I often salvage the buttons off garments that i transform. In the past, people used their own bodies to measure stuff, so a measuring tape/stick is not mandatory. I know in some countries, you can find unused lenghs of fabric and other sewing supplies in thrift stores and at estate sales for really cheap. These include sewing machines in working condition (or that need only a good clean and oil, sometimes a visit to the mechanic), commercial patterns, sewing books, so on. I was lucky that the year i started my sewing journey i found NEXT to the trash some fabric pieces, a box full of thread, a measure tape, and some sewing magazines (burda). My neighbor has NO idea how happy they made me, and how much of a treasure their dump was. One of the fabrics is now a fancy skirt that i cannot wait to wear. I was watching some youtube channels with dumpster diving at the time, and i think their luck rubbed onto me, lol. And you know what? i have no shame and no regrets to check the trash for treasures ;p My comment is meant to inspire you and give you some ideas of ways to find sewing supplies. Also, remember she didn't buy all this in a single day, but over the years, starting at least 5 years back. ;)

[@lilibeth1947]

@@sapphirecamui6447 If I remember correctly,she's been sewing since she was a teenager.

[@sapphirecamui6447]

@@lilibeth1947 This was the first video of this creator i watched, so i only repeated what she said. With so much sewing experience, one can expect a large fabric stash and of other supplies. Those of us who just start out, can't compare with those who sew for 5, 10, 20, or more years.

[@LedgerAndLace]

This comment could have been my own . . . back in 1990-something. You'll get there--and then you'll marvel at having all that fabric and everything that goes along with it!

[@LedgerAndLace]

@@sapphirecamui6447Great advice! I've gotten entire bolts at thrift stores, flea markets, and even fabric stores for no more than $5. Moving and estate sales are also a great place, especially for seniors who are downsizing.

[@woochles]

I am glad to see a video dealing with garment fabric rather than quilting stash!

[@woochles]

Also, I ended up stapling swatches in an find this works pretty well.

[@caroll.4607]

I found some 9-squares that had been put together, and I'm thinking 70 years or so ago. I put it together and gave it to the son of the woman who I believe made it. He had no idea she did this work! He was thrilled to have it! Yes, 70 years. Lots of stuff like this in my stash. Breathe in the freedom!

[@Zeppylvr]

I'm a quilter and you can NEVER have too much fabric!!! You just buy more shelves :) Personally, organizing my sewing area inspirers me to keep sewing...you have a beautiful sewing room and making swatch books will not only save you time but money also....great job!!

[@pamelaarbour3368]

love the swatchbook idea

[@aryabaviskar2137]

I would kill to have that much fabric on hand whenever I needed it without buying new things...

[@ladymcbethy2223]

I feel ya.

[@itsmydayoff2106]

Same!!!

[@ElizabethJones-pv3sj]

As a former stash collector (aided by working in a fabric shop which regularly had $2 per metre clearance fabrics) who is trying to work through the stash you will always find a hole in your collection that you need to fill to do this particular project.

[@danaondrackova3431]

I was like "but it looks so neat!" and then saw the finished result and thought "that looks WAY neater!" :D

[@eileenlavoie5723]

There is no such thing as too much fabric, nor is there a time limit on how long you can keep it. Space, sadly, does create limitations that must at times be addressed. Unless of course you are fortunate enough to have the means to build your own warehouse!

[@bknesheim]

One problem is that I more than ones I have bought something new, because I could not find the piece that I had somewhere.

[@Gwynarra2]

This year I resolved not to add to my fabric horde and to make an effort to use what I already possess. Recently I made a skirt out of black wool that I bought 25 years ago using a vogue pattern my mother bought in 1980.

[@rhonddalesley]

My first thought for a swatch book that’d work for me is the plastic pockets with 12 sections that people use for collecting Pokemon/football cards etc. That way I can move the swatches around, pair with contrasting colours/fabrics, put all fabrics for planned projects in one pocket etc. It’d also be the best for me because I almost love organising my stash as much as I love having it, and using it, plus, once I use a fabric up, take the swatch out and make room for more 😂 As if all that isn’t enough, as every new haul comes in, time to move it all around again, yay!

[@joygoncalves4917]

LOVE this idea.

[@WindspielArt]

I'm totally sure that collecting art supplies (and fabric is an art supply too in my opinion) is its own hobby, so no you dont have to much fabric you only have a big collection! Other people collect stamps or hippopotamus figurines xD

[@deaguirrrock]

Hippopotamus figurines 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chromakeyskies4997]

Love the swatch book idea! I'll have to do that for all the fabric I'm slowly collecting-I mean storing for projects I"m definitely going to do.

[@alexispablo6854]

If you already did a garment with one of the fabrics you should add a polaroid of that garment and also some important details that you has experience wwhen using it, so you don't have to unknownly try to make a bodice on chiffon or other nightmareish fabrics or take a lycra commission if you machine can't sew it

[@_xxsimoxz_7310]

Feels so great to have 3 videos of yours within a week!!! 😍

[@davidhutchison3343]

I've always said - you can never have too much fabric - but in your case !!! Love the idea of the swatch book. I've organised my fabrics by colour, as this suits my needs, but it still takes time to go through each collection. A swatch book will solve this issue.

[@kimberlyxu58]

I only buy fabric when I want to start a new project, but sometimes, some projects never started lol

[@aprilhill8738]

The final product was SO SATISFYING to see. I recently moved and organizing my new craft room was amazing, everything has somewhere to live now, and it just feels good to be able to find things without a lot of searching/digging.

[@leeyakiwchuk863]

You must just feel amazing! How long did you just stand and look at the finished product of your efforts?

[@minkaf4243]

The details are what makes this stand out over other videos about fabric organizing. Thank you.

[@chrisg7891]

1000 yards of fabulous potential!! NO SHAME IN THAT!!

[@leila_h_photography]

Over 1000 yards of fabric is not a thing to be ashamed of, it's the absolute dream!! 😍😍❤

[@alaskacosplay]

My fabric stash is just a shelf but yours is a huge walk in closet! Your sewing closet is really now my dream closet for all my costumes and fabrics because I often get a lot of yardage of fabrics for my dresses. Do I have a messy fabric stash? Yes. Should I organize it? Yes. Do I love watching people organizing their fabric stashes? Definitely yes. The swatch book is really a great way to organize and get inspiration from your fabrics. In the 18th century, Marie Antoinette has a book like that (it was called a wardrobe book) and she would choose the fabric of the dress she wanted to wear and she would put a pin on the fabric she wanted to wear so that the dressmaker or whoever was in charge of her wardrobe would know what dress to get for her.

[@saraht855]

omg that looked like so much effort. I sorted my fabric into boxes of "stretch" "non-stretch" "lace" and "other" and felt like an organised queen. I have recently decided that when it comes to stashing, it's not a problem how much you keep unused, because if you never get through it, it just becomes some other person's stash. Having received many left-over bags of yarn (sometimes with half finished projects) I am very happy to carry on the tradition when I get old and can't craft any more

[@joygoncalves4917]

Nice idea. Relaxing way to organize.

[@MrCaRolMiLler]

The closet looked great in the end. Just one thing, be careful with paper clips. If the relative humidity in the air of your sewing room is somewhat high, the fabrics are going to absorb that and the paper clips will become rusted. Don't use tape, and nothing that's made of metal. Only use plastic paper clips (clear if you can). They my break, but they won't rust and ruin the fabric. Don't use even the metal paper clips with plastic covering. 😘

[@missmeakat]

Archivist seconding that! Metal paper clips can leave behind a horrid rusty residue

[@magicattic]

I think the paperclips she used are the rubber coated ones. You can tell by the color.

[@MrCaRolMiLler]

@@magicattic I didn't notice. But even those can leak rust. It's not as immediate, or as drastic as the metal ones, but it still happens. It may never happen, but I thought it was a good idea do say something, for anyone think of using the same method. I've seen too many historical garments with pins and safety pins and tape that complete corrode, destroy, ripe... (Ps: I'm a conservator and I've spent a couple of years inventory churchs heritage).

[@sapphirecamui6447]

@@MrCaRolMiLler Thank you for the advice and input! I'm sure many people didn;t realize those paper clips were at least coated, and they might not think that the metal pieces could corrode in time. Another safe method, i think,would be to use white fabric strings/strips to tie around the bolt.

[@craftymammabear9432]

You can get plastic clips for fabric you see them on new underwear all the time. Option two it to use twine. It can go under the fold and threw some layers and tie with a cute bow on the side out of the way. More secure but less easy

[@alexritenour2026]

I am HERE for sewing stash organizing content :)

[@lajkinka]

Video where you take one of the fabrics you have for a really long time and finally find it a purpose is needed! I have such fabrics myself and it just seems that I bought them because I knew I would eventually find something to make out of them (as they fit my sewing needs) and then it never happened and I buy more and more fabric based on the specific projects I have decided to make...

[@Sewingistherapy]

I just used some I've had in my stash for 20 years. 🤷‍♀️

[@KittyHasPanda]

My mom recently made a dress for my daughter out of fabric she bought for me as a child. It may have taken 30 years, but the original project was completed!

[@ladymcbethy2223]

All those swatches remind me of my great Auntie who first got me into sewing by teaching me to make quilts ❤

[@mgonz2304]

You give me a great place to start, before it gets to over whelming. I love fabric, even if I don't know what I'm going to make. It relaxes me. Keep going with your organizing ideas, some I'll take and run with, while others its just eye candy. What doesn't work for me now, may work an other day.

[@ColleenMarble]

Love your video! I just did the same thing and posted about it on my channel. I think what you said is so true: There is no one solution that works for everyone. I don't have a big closet like you do, so I had to get creative with dresser drawers and an old cabinet. But no matter the space, the principles are the same. You have to find ways to make the most of the space you have and to improve efficiency, otherwise you'll just never use some things, and you'll feel frustrated in the end. Also, you have to decide what you actually want or need to sew and whether the fabric you have is actually worth keeping, I ended up getting rid of HALF of my stash, and it's so much easier to find stuff now. (I sorted by color.) I actually feel more inspired and creative than I did before, and that's a good thing. Hooray for organizing!

[@LadyB_20]

Its like you have your own fabric store now. Can't wait to see other projects you have planned.

[@thetimelesscostumemaker1266]

I am right there with you regarding fabric and notions. I own over 1000 yards of fabric and a bunch of it I have had for 25 years. Some fabric I inherited from my Grandmother's house. It was obvious she had it since the 50' and 60's. I also own several medium size rubbermaid bins holding lace, bias tape, and ribbon. Not to mention the multiple containers holding my zippers and buttons. But I figure it will all get used eventually when creative urges happen so it is all good. Loved seeing you fabulous sewing closet, it is awesome.

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Thank you for all the details on how you organized your stash. A swatch book is a great idea. Also, your bangs look super cute. Of course, your hair looks cute, however you do it. In this week's video, Rachel Maksy was bemoaning her own bangs & saying anyone with bangs should be supported & encouraged (not those exact words, but close). You seem great with hairstyles. I admire that.

[@originalstitches6125]

Awesome video, me too, I have a 40 year collection of fabric and many more than 5 yrs. I find it inspiring & sewing almost every day

[@sofiagarrahan395]

WOW that was so much work!! It must be so relieving to see the fruit of your hard work and seeing everything so perfectly organized😍 In conclusion: I loved your video! And if you were to do a part two... I would be one of the first ones to watch it 😅

[@jocelynleung7480]

I needed this video lol *looks at messy sewing room* It's humbling to know that even the sewing goddess Bella has her moments

[@joygoncalves4917]

Love the swatch book. I can NEVER imagine anyone Ever using all that fabric.

[@elaineforan4751]

Another idea instead of using paperclips is hair pins. I use the u shaped stay pins for pustules. They can take a lot of fabric, are longer than paper clips, wont snag the fabric when being removed and are rust resistant.

[@bknesheim]

Ref: 16:40 Just a small note on paper-clips. Over time they will rust and can then staine the fabric rader badly. Offcourse you will never have fabric laying around that long. :-) I have found that a string work better over time, and holds the fabric more securly in place. Using a nice ribbon make the rolls look rader nice all stack together.

[@AshleyRJones8]

This was very helpful! I'll be working on my craft room organization soon and think I'll be able to implement some of your idea's. 🙂

[@Noel.Chmielowiec]

So satisfying to watch ❤️ I want my stash to look that beautifully someday. And I'm definitely making swatch book, it's so clever

[@kyliecunningham8057]

Imagine the amazing creations you could make entirely from your stash! :)

[@cacofoniacraft]

15:59 I'd like to add a sugestion for whoever needs it. Use plastic paper clips (as what you used seems to be). The metal ones can rust and leave stains on the fabric.

[@donnamcwhorter2542]

Plastic alligator clips work great.

[@dominatrix0216]

Thank you for those ideas. I think I can finally clean up my area now....I do however hope to one day have an actual sewing room.

[@janeharris6925]

I no longer sew but like you I have multiple yards of fabric. Unlike you, I never managed to organize it after a lifetime. Kudos to you! You will go places!

[@pneumarian]

I've been decluttering my house, (I'm pretending to do it for Lent, but I had actually already started,) & my sewing room is near the end of my first pass. Unless someone can talk me into doing the Utility Room first, the Sewing room will be started next Thursday at the latest. I'm not sure if I'm more looking forward to the finished product, or dreading the process, but it needs to be done.

[@sarahheri7027]

oh, this was just the video i thought i'd enjoy to see from you LOL thank you so much, i enjoyed this more than i should have...

[@Midlife_Manical_Mayhem]

not sure which i am more jealous of... the closet or the contents. i was already jealous of her work space. (and her talent) (and how pretty she is)

[@MomAsol]

You have some beautiful fabrics collection I like this organization ideas, thanks!

[@katherinec6031]

The paperclip solution is genius!!

[@andreamartinez504]

hey just a suggestion, i love love the way your organized it all just maybe when writing down on your swatch book, you could use a pencil or erasable pen idk if thats what you used but incase you use some fabric and you could replace the amount you wrote down originally

[@jeniferalvarez2914]

You’re sewing area looks great! I love how you folded your fabric and how you rolled your lace!!! Wow! That’s so much fabric! You could open a fabric store 🤣

[@amys9881]

So satisfying 😍 I did something similar to fit my fabric in my filing cabinet and it feels so nice and neat and clean now!

[@ceragowans]

I love the idea of storing fabric in a filing cabinet! That would totally cut down on dust, too!

[@911nmg]

This turned out so well! It looks so organised and practical, I'm amazed! Also, it would be really fun if you showed us the swatches and what they inspire, a look through

[@michellecornum5856]

Ah, yes. how to keep track of Limited Engagement fabric. I am finally coming to the close of cleaning my sewing room. I am up to the "What the heck is this crap?!" stage. It's exhausting, but I am SO CLOSE! Yep, it does take a lot longer than you thought. I knew the fabric sorting and folding would take some time, I figured a month. (It took a year -- Monday through Friday, for at least 3 hours while the grand babies were napping). Then I figured the rest would take another weekend. (Psh! We're 3 months into my second year.) BUT I'M NEARLY DONE!!! I really appreciated this, on many levels.

[@Grace_x68]

Great tips, thank you.

[@artandcrafttherapy]

I loved the lace part 😘🍄

[@kachnickau]

I reorganized my stash several times, but no, I do not want to know how many meters I own, enough that I looked up how much I spent in just one of the fabric store I go to (but thankfully I was buying mostly there) over last five years, but still :D too much, already manage to buy more this year, dang it. Amazing video as always

[@katherined.7643]

Can you do some type of mystery garment? Where you pick a random fabroc and make something from it!!

[@ceragowans]

This is fantastic! Also shows me that I should get to all those projects I've been procrastinating...

[@carolharper1241]

This is so satisfying 🤩

[@cherrylee1103]

oh my. i believe i may have a similar quantity of fabric. i am definitely making swatch books.

[@stickman1215]

Very satisfying! I have yardage into the four figures (I’ve been sewing a long time) and am planning on emptying the entire closet and reorganizing. There are some pieces that are in my catalog that I’m unable to locate. I’m looking forward to it - yet not!

[@catherinerw1]

Wow! I effectively had a de-stash yesterday, gave away most of my cabbage and coleslaw via Freecycle! (Another way to manage the "my fabric overflows my storage" issue).

[@mo0nstonegirl]

Soooo satisfying 🙌

[@margarettaborodach5018]

Inspirational! I have been needing to do something similar. Thanks for sharing!

[@pv6450]

I somehow get emotional attached to some of my fabrics. I know, silly. I need to seat ash some cause if I have not made it after a few years it is not going to get done. Thanks for sharing your organization journey.

[@biazacha]

When I really love a particular fabric is hard to get rid of everything that is left from the project but it's too small to actually do another one with it; my solution was make scrunchies or coin purses and I realized that after turning them into something I feel more at peace to let it go so I've been sending cute gifts to the pals I couldn't see personally in the past months. :)

[@LedgerAndLace]

NOT silly at all! AND if you want to hop down a different "rabbit hole" check out journal makers and fabric collages for inspiration. Nik The Booksmith, Jibid Neary, Michelle White, Amity Bloom are a few good places to start. Many more in the Junk Journal community, but those are some of my faves. :-)

[@craftymammabear9432]

If you want to use up some fabric.... Could use the smaller stuff to make a patchwork quilt and take some Christmas pics in your victorian wrapper by a fire place or tree with it. For the big stuff.... Pick at the ones you have had the longest and look at three untill one of them tells you what it wants to be.... Orrrr think about if you would EVER want to use them as a top side and if not you can organize them into a lining section. That way you will turn to them first when you need to line your garments

[@afrozasultana1934]

This is fantastic ideas 😃😃😃😃😃

[@nicole.h.c]

If you ever just clean your sewing room, you should film it 😂 its so satisfying lol

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Ok if you’re embarrassed then I have no idea what I am!!! Over 20 years ago my parents decided that they loved me and stayed at an auction to the end and bought someone’s stash!!! We’re talking 10 good size boxes with lovely fabric ok and some not so lovely. I have shared and made things from the stash plus added other things to the stash. I don’t want to know how many yards of fabric I have but I can guess it’s a ridiculous amount. I would love to have an area to put everything together nicely and the idea of having a record of all the fabric would be great. Maybe someday I will have an area just for sewing with room for an organized fabric stash.

[@MomAsol]

Great idea thanks for sharing

[@Pukeko5]

Don't be embarrassed by how much you have, we are all addicted too. Great suggestions for organizing :)

[@TheVespertilia]

I did a swatch book for my laces, I should do something for my fabrics too even if my fabrics are always in front of me while I create 😅

[@ericamoreno9545]

That’s a really great way to organize, what do yo do with the scraps?

[@Keeper0fmyHEART]

I would write where the fabric was purchased, date purchased, and cost. Great way to know where to go to get it again and since you like totals well whats the value of your fabric hoard.

[@NelBrandybuck]

Space constraints in my teeny tiny townhouse currently constrain me, but I imagine that if I had more space for my sewing I would easily end up with 1,000 yards of fabric and all of it will be white linen.

[@sewathome]

This video could also be called "Confessions of a fibre-holic" 😆

[@Dafniforfree]

I've tried to organize my fabrics or at least have fabric samples organized on files with descriptions! I usually try do that when I buy from shops where I know the price nd the fabric type and I know I can request it again cause I mostly go to dead stock fabric shops and they usually are what you get you won't ever see aahahaha except that one fabric only you enjoy to buy.

[@skitdavitt]

That stash is swoon worthy

[@susanrobertson984]

My cousin asked for fabric scraps as part of an interior design course and I was able to come up with 37 swatches of different fabrics and blends without duplicating two kinds of poplin for example. 🤭

[@flyingpanda3997]

Because of the 'too much fabric' problem I'm trying to make 2021 the year I sew through some of my stash and also not buy any new fabric. I also did a lockdown fabric purge and donated all my wtf /ugly fabric to the Op shop so I don't have to look at it anymore.

[@philomath_25]

you need it!!!!😁 we all need over 1000yrds of fabric... 😔the problem is where to put it... 😔

[@ericarainae]

.... looks at my fabric basement and the 10k plus yards of fabric...... yeah... alot of fabric....😊

[@pheart2381]

I pinned my swatches in so if I need to take the swatch to a fabric shop I just unpin it and throw it in my handbag. Pin it back in later.

[@nadineduerksen6556]

oh baby you need to be a quilter and triple that amount!

[@jrenee3550]

My type A self is HERE FOR THIS LOL. Excellent! Does it feel like a weight off your shoulders now?

[@mrpeentje]

You should challenge yourself to make something out of your least favorite fabrics!

[@sharpduds]

*other historic costumers* I have too much fabric! *possess precisely 34.4 km of fabric™* *Bella Mae* Imma organize a few bolts of yardage! *does the maths* I own over one thousand yards of fabric!

[@verydollthings]

There's never enough fabric!

[@TheFalconoflight]

[@stephanief.2808]

No shame in a stash that amazing!!!

[@bravehearticus]

So your fabric stash is basically a haberdashery in a closet. Goals right there

[@nancywilson8736]

Quilter’s can have more than that.

[@logandodson1484]

You should start a closet organization business

[@bellemeri8155]

Please, please say that you got acid free cardboard to put the fabric on because otherwise, the cardboard could cause issues with long term storage of fabric and cause it to deteriorate.

[@veronicapersson9124]

My mess is about 20 year and that whit my fabric and other thinks....lol