I am a multiple craftsperson, with several stashes,(spinning & knitting the other major one) and consider myself very lucky to have a whole room (studio) in a new house to work in. For now my sewing stash (not really a quilters stash, mostly just unstarted sewing projects from a couple of decades) I would like a real quilting stash, and the idea of it just makes me salivate ! However, what about the dust? I suppose a glass case would be ideal.

I am interested to know how you serious quilters display your stash.

Generic fabrics are kept in a painted dresser (the paint seals the acids in the wood so it does not interact with the fabric). They are sorted by color.

I have large collections of Asian-inspired fabrics, 30's repros, Christmas fabrics, and vintage fabrics that are used for repairing antique quilts. I keep them in clear, labeled totes, along with fancy fabrics for crazy quilts, interfacing, tools such as rulers, hoops, etc. I store them under my quilting machine.

Smaller, clear totes hold smaller collections of plaids and homespuns, and clear shoeboxes hold individual projects- there are usually several going at once. These all sit on top of the dresser.

I use the see thru plastic bins too. And somewhere, somebody mentioned using the zip up cases that sheets and comforters come in to keep a whole project in. (finished blocks, cut out fabric, instructions) That was a great tip whoever posted it. I am asking all my friends to save me any they get cause I don't buy a comforter very often. Or the new giant ziplock baggies would work for that too. Also I need a seperate place for washed and unwashed fabric.

Good Ideas are coming, thank you. Until I get the 'dream studio' glass case that I can mount on the wall, for inspirational ideas, I think I am going to just stack the stash on narrow shelves in the cabinet part of my sewing hutch (have a china hutch, which I use for sewing stuff). I love the idea of being able to see all of my handspun yarns, balls of color, jars of collected plants for natural dyes for the handspuns, as well as oodles of varying colors of quilting & sewing fabrics, and artistically displayed button boxes,notions, and tools for all my textile art mediums. As you can tell, I'm really inspired by visual display, this is so I can go into my Play Room and escape... just lose myself in my creative juices ~

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somebody mentioned using the zip up cases that sheets and comforters come in

Silly me. What was I thinking? I just threw out a bunch of these when I was cleaning. Didn't even think about the quilt stash.

I store mine in plastic bins. I like them because they stack nicely. I use the smaller ones for individual projects and larger ones for the general collection. I also have one where I keep finished tops until they get quilted. I have two in there now and will soon add a third. Time to start quilting!

Hi,

I'm a full time quilter with lots of fabric. I keep most of my fabric in a closet with lots of shelf space so I can close the doors and keep the light and the dust out. For projects in progress, I use the sets of plastic drawers, usually come 3 high. I have a label on each drawer with the information about the contents. I keep everything that has to do with a project altogether until the project is completed. Anne

I use the old kitchen cupboard upper cabinets to store my stash. I fold it all the same way, stacked in "color families" so it is easy to pick out of the stash for the latest project I'm working on. I also store some in an old Hoosier style cabinet, I mostly keep my background shades of fabric in that.
Jami

I use a closet with lots of shelves for my stash. I try to keep them sorted by colour, but the bits and pieces, leftover strips and small chunks end up in baskets or bags and it's harder than I'd like to find what I want. It works for now. I like doing scrappy quilts the best, so I always use some of the same fabrics in several quilts until it's gone.

About storing, I have found the canvas shoe holders very handy and strong and have several in my cupboard. They just get hung over the rail and you then sort colour in each shelf.

Ooooh, I love the canvas shoe holder idea !