Fold or unfold?

You probably have knew that I have been slowing making progress arranging the fabrics via IG. Today, I though I'd share this fold or unfold idea with you. 

A couple of years ago, I did a very smilier {fabric storing system} alike fabric bolts in the fabric shop, but it didn't least very long time. It was so nice to have all the fabric rolled up and stack nicely together. I used the scrap pieces of the non-toix mat boards, but it didn't work out as I had less fabrics to fold and unfold.   

Sometime back in October or earlier, I want a change! This change allowed me donated many items to the donation center, this change also allowed me be honest about myself and my stashes, and also the amount of "collectable" items that I went and hunt them down when I can over the years!  Maybe you were right, maybe it is a phase and a stage of life for a change.  

After doing some research and study, I decided to give the fabric bolts folding system another try and though it might give a change to the studio, which I was hoping cleaner and less clutter. I ordered two packages of {comic back backing boarder}. Each pack comes with 100 counts, so that was 200 pieces to start out.  Don't under estimate the stash, soon the 200 pieces ran out. 

For the first 200 pieces were mainly folded with the DS collections and some 2 yards fabrics. If I wrapped all the fabrics with the backing boards then I would probably need at least 800 plus pieces to do the job, so I ordered another 2 packs and the this order was the it, as I told myself. 

Before the second order arrived, I went through all the fabrics on the shelves. Any print that is grater than 18" got pull out set aside as the priority pile then any prints that's a bit shy than 18" got set on another pile {so they might get a change}. 

I keep all the DS collections together and sat them on the top two shelves and arranged them by each collection. I think someday, I will work into these collections and get them in color orders, but not quiet brave for doing so!  The center two shelves are for the print that's grater than 18" {some are included 18"}. In fact, I realized that how much the low value prints and blues I actually stock up and very limited in other colors.

The bottom two shelves are the pieces that is either 18" or  less than 18". I keep the dots, Ginghams, stripes on the same pile. It is just the way how I work around with them. On the right side store, I keep the fat quarters or less than fat quarter size together. 

All the early days cotton and linen blended finally have a place for them. Some are for garment making and backing fabrics.  The wooden box was builded when I was in school.

These two storage units are sat on top of the handmade wooden box. The left metal piece was for fat quarters {here} and the right storage {here} is for my {Etsy shop} related items; business cards, post cards, postage, memo, shop tags, etc.

The space is slowly looking less now{really?}! It used to pile up with lots fabrics, tools papers, boxes for different sewing supplies, etc. You might not be able to tell from here, but this change has slowly making progress, but not soon enough.  The {IKEA Kitchen Cart} was full with the craft supplies, but after narrow down lots of items into one cart and the second cart is free for fat quarters now and top of the compartment is for w.i.p. fabrics.

On the right side of the studio is some old book cases, where most of sewing books, sewing supplies, office stationary, handmade gifts from friends, some bits and bobs and some vintage sheets and of course down below more stashes.

Here are the thoughts for this comic back baking board folding system and some of the shelving system I used.

Studio Space Fact:
My studio is located in our second floor and it is a small loft space. It is about 4'x8', which is closed to a rectangle space and small. It seemed a perfect space for what I need when first moved in, but I have some wish list added on after serval months of spending times actually in it, such as wall space and storage units, better lighting, etc.

Storage Units:
The bookcase I used is from IKEA and it is the {Bill bookcase series}. It is a very nice sturdy book shelves. On top of the bookcase, I used two medium sized {L shaped metal bracket} to mount the bookcase in the wall. The L shaped bracket came with the bookcase pack did not hold on strong, for the purpose of storing fabric.  Also note that it is carpet floor, so it is not even. The bookcase allows to divided into 6 pretty equally in spacing for the the fabric bolts {precut size 6 3/4 X 10 1/2}. It is estimated to fit around 600 mini fabrics bolts. However, this is going to depend on how much of each fabric yardage you have. Maybe it will only fit 500 or 600 plus.

On the right side of the fat quarter storage is from IKEA and it is {GNEDBY Shelf Unit}. This is originally designed for the CDs and comes with 12 little compartments. Each spacing is adjustable to the desired space {length wise}.

Comic back backing board: 
After the arrangement and satisfy with the studio new look. I have some honesty and thoughts about   the folding system. Is it worth it? If you asked! For me, Yes! I needed a change and really want to go for something that's new and possible to give myself an idea for what I have in the stash. Now, I can view each print much better and could easy to pull out the fabrics that I am look for.

How I folded: 
It is simply easy; I take the fabric print then fold in widthwise, so a 42" wide fabric folded in half is 21" than half of that 10.5". I wrapped them with the comic board side and pin with a smallish sewing pin.

However, here are some facts that need to take into consideration.

Fact #1:
The {comic back backing boards} cost $11.49 per a pack (comes 100 pieces) and the discount for 2 packs is $18.48.  This surely added up the additional expenses. For four packs for the boards were $36.96.  This additional cost might not fit in all the budget that you are looking for. That is why, I stop here. {If you have extra allowance for it, I'd say go for it! It is such a nice system for someone who owns large fabric collections, but if you don't have the extra budget, I'd say, think about it before you go for it. It could be a big black hole that might never know where to reach the bottom.} 

Fact #2
The backing board folding style actually takes quiet a lot more spacing on the shelves than I though. I used to fit all the cotton and linen blended and other 2 plus yardages to the same bookcase, but now some of these prints are not fitted!  For limited wall space I have here, it is quiet difficult to fit another bookcase that is desired!

Fact #3
For some of prints are just at 18" or slightly grater than 18". Once I have cut them shorter than the 18" length, they will return to the same folding formula and be in the stack stash again.

I surely loving how organized and big change the studio turns out, but guess it is a never ending process, since, there's always a better than this way!

Hope this fabric thought help out some of you who have asked me over the Instagram and please let me know if you have more questions. I will try to help out!

xxc

edit: {Thank you} so much for your words and they all are so sweet! I felt I have over dose the sugars you send me lately. :)  A heart felt {Thank you} to you!