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!

Cloth Lover !

 {Kumiko Fujita:Rainbow text prints}

 {Lecien: basic dots}

 { Love Osaka}

 {Sugar Flower}

 {Personal 1st stash from 2006}

 {DS collections}

{Feedsack Fabrics}

Are you cloth lovers? I think 99.999999999999% who visit here, are!  I hope you'll like this post today. I have been wanting to challenge myself to write this post for a very long time! I hope at the end you can share your two cents with us!

I have stashes that have been sitting around for a very long time. When I finally have my own studio space last summer, I realized my stashes are very big! I will never compared to other people, but to myself! It has been growing and will continue to grow! I really don't want to fill the shifts, but the empty space is getting less month after month.

Recently years, I've getting into different idea about colors, patterns and designs on the cloth. Each year seem more simplify and clearly knowing what really I would repeat using the same print from project to project. So lately, I narrow down to a few thoughts on my notebook and I'd love to share with you!


Do you go with designer only? 
I do! I have almost all the Denyse Schmidt fabrics and continue to purchase her fabric line as she releases! I love the retro and classic colors that she uses. Of course, all the stories behind her each fabric lines is really attache to me. The charm and the colors always plays well with other fabrics as well. However, I rarely use them!  I am so afraid one day I will run out! So the true is I used to purchase a full yard bundle and plus a fat quarter bundle. The fat quarter bundle is to play with and the full yard bundle is to keep!I called myself the royal fan!

Do you get peer pressure when you buy fabric? 
Oh! I am not really  actully a peer pressure buyer! Although,  I don't really have friends to sew with or shop with, but I have many Instagram friends would show their stashes when they have acquired new stash  I always ask questions when they share their new stash. Maybe simple question like do you like the new line? how's the color? how's the cloth texture?  When I see the same fabrics flowing around everyone's photo. I start do a little research on the colors and the designs then I would go ahead purchase some prints.

What kind of fabric attract to you?
If you ask me a few years earlier, I'd say anything Denyse Schmidt. I probably didn't realized what fabric designs and colors that I am attached to until 3 years ago. I was getting fabric that think I must have at the time. I wasn't a picky buyer! Now, I am attracted to fabrics that have nice contrast in colors and simple designs. Since the earlier stashes that I purchased likely are in large prints. It is hard to do the fussy cuts, play with paper-piecing and hard to see the nice design of the fabric when the face got cut in half.

Do you buy a full line fabric anymore? 
Yes! But not always! It is hard to keep the fabric budget when try to buy the full line of fabric. If you have noticed that the fabric price has gone up so much in last few years. When I first started I paid $7.25 a yard and now it is $11.25 in retail store or you could find some online store for $10.50 or $10.75 a yard. But the true is, it will not stop me getting new fabrics! I look at getting new fabric as investment to my works. I always need new colors in the stashes and there will always be one of the colors that I have been looking for. I don't remember when was the last time purchased the full line of fabric, but have eyeing on few collections that recently released. I really like a few fabric shops out there that are selling fat eighth bundles, fat quarter bundles. I could get a taste of the fabric line before invested big money into something that might not work later. There's always more "want" than "need"!

Where do you buy fabric? 
99% of the stashes I have is purchased are from online shops. Yes! There are many oopys purchases! There are time when I received the fabric is not what I thought from the listing descriptions or the cut is funny! Sometime the half yard is cut in 17"wide rather than 18" wide or the fabric isn't being handle nicely! Likely I step away that shop. I've always wish I could live in a city that runs many great fabric shops. The  only time I could shop in an actual fabric store is when I travel during the summer! I always make a stop or two in the local fabric store and just get a fat quarter; sometimes, I could get a few prints if the store carries great collections. I do wish to build the stash in the shop rather than in the computer monitor.

Is it worth to collect feedsack? 
It is a very hard question to answer! I say Yes to cloth lovers who likes vintage look and uniqueness. Feedsack fabric is hard to come by these days. The price is very high if you purchase from some online shops! I have been very lucky, since I lived in many small towns and was able to discovered feedsack in the thrift stores from time to time!  I also have friends who are feedsack lover as well and they live around the world. They often kindly share their treasure with me and it helps to build the collection. Feedsack fabric do carry its own distinct colors and patterns that the reprint fabrics cannot mimic. They also have nice textures and the history that come with it.

Do you like the fabric world now?
Yes more than No! I like the how each designer come with their own personal collections and expended their concept into the next collections. I also like being able to have options!  Recent years, mix and match is very popular! I love to see everyone's mix and match in their quilts, bags, patchwork, clothes. I think that's where the personal creative start! The No part would be; Gosh! I can never catch up with so many great prints! Again there's always more "want than need". I try to be careful with all the new fabric shopping! It is easy to go on hundred of dollars if not careful planned!

What's your fabric shopping cart looks like?
I have a few shopping carts that fill with fabrics that I "want"! However, there are more window shopping than actually purchasing now. It is nice to be able to see all the want fabric together!This year, I try to be a picky shopper when purchase fabrics now! I have been going with more basic designs, small scale prints, and colors that I have almost none such as oranges, purples, browns, greens. I even have add a few charm packs to the shopping cart and thinking maybe I could start with a charm pack and to see the colors and texture in person before inquire the large bundle, so I won't feel bad if I purchased the full bundle and wasn't quiet the same.

Last, Do you like Japanese fabrics? 
Yes! I do! Some of the Japanese fabrics come with very rich colors. I can't stop tell you how much I love Suzuko Koseiki's collections. I love the finest fabric texture that she uses in her fabric.  If you have noticed that many American designers have used Japanese fabric printing company to print their fabric collections! Yes, the quality is great and I like how all the fiber woven has not flaws in them so far! It seems like some of the Japanese fabric price has marked higher than other fabrics. It is roughly $4-4.5 a fat quarter ( Also could seen some are priced at $5.00, but I have seen $3 a fat quarter 30's reproduction in the retail shop. However, I am not encouraging or discouraging on the fabric consuming. I really think it should work on best of your personal need! Sometimes, a little "want!

And you?

xxc