This week, reader Mary Berti shares several tips that help her manage her fabric stash. Mary writes:

I organize my stash two ways: by color, and by the amount of each fabric I have. I put all the red fat quarters together, all blue half yards together, all the pieces over 1 yard together. I mark on an index card where I have my stash hidden for easy location.

To organize your stash it is helpful if you cut a 1-inch square from each piece as you wash it. Staple the squares to an index card, and note the manufacturer of the fabric (if you know it), the amount you bought, and where you bought it.

Take these index cards with you when you go fabric shopping to reduce duplication, and to help you select fabrics for a quilt. And when raiding your stash, note on the card how much you've used of each fabric and how much is left.

Thanks for sharing your ideas with us all, Mary!

- Sharon

Readers' Comments:

Patricia C. writes:

"In addition to sorting some of my fabric stash by color, I find it very helpful to organize it by types of fabric such as 1930's repro. prints, Japanese fabrics, batiks, African fabrics, Amish fabrics etc. I store all of the solids together, all the Christmas prints in their own pile, all plaids and checks together, and all floral prints in the same location.

"This type of sorting is far more useful to me than just sorting by color only."

March 21, 2001
Janet N. writes:

"I like to store my stash in clear zip-up plastic bags. I can easily see what category is in each bag and the bags keep the pieces neat and clean. The bags can be labeled too."

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