
Helpful Tips on How to Organize and Store Fabric
Here are some great TIPS on why you should store fabric in a closed storage as opposed to just leaving your fabrics laying around. You’ll also find tips for organizing your fabrics before storing them in your chosen places/containers.
Time to organize and store fabric in your sewing space…
Store Fabric To Keep Protected From…
Direct UV Light Exposure
Have you ever noticed when fabric has been exposed to sunlight for quite awhile that the fabric color actually fades? The UV rays are what does the most damage to fabrics. This damage, which happens over time, can be seen on draperies hung in the house or outdoor furniture cushions. If you leave un-used fabric anywhere where direct light can land on fabric, overtime, the fabric color will fade.
Moths
Have you ever had clothing or other household fabric accessories damaged from moths or other bugs? Colorado, where I live, has moths. Moths are a pain, they like to hide in dark spaces. I have found them in the creases of my patio chair cushions and have found evidence of them in my closet. They leave behind a mess too! If you leave fabric laying around, moths will find a way into the fabric to ‘chill out’.
I remember my grandma keeping moth balls in her closet to keep the moths away! I don’t like the smell of moth balls and refuse to keep them in my closet. As a result I have had a few shirts over the years that have gotten ‘little’ moth holes- moths eat the fabric!
High Humidity Levels
Fabric should be clean and DRY before you store it. I would assume that fabric purchased from the fabric store is clean, other than whatever chemicals are used during manufacturing process. I only know that when fabric is in a high humid environment there is a possibility of mold growth. Luckily, Colorado is mostly a dry environment.
We try to protect our household fabrics and clothing from Sunlight and Moths, ‘SEW’ it only makes sense that we should protect our unused fabrics as well.
Tips for Organizing Fabrics BEFORE Storing Them
Whether you have fabric to be used for crafts, apparel, or quilting it would be helpful to think about the ways you’d like to organize your fabrics.

Organize Fabric by TYPE and WEIGHT. This will make it easier to label your containers and certain fabric types have different storage requirements to minimize fabric damage during storage. Examples of types: Cotton, cotton-blends, specialty fabrics such as silk, leathers, or knits.
One more question to determine BEFORE storing/organizing- Should fabric be HUNG or FOLDED? (More info for this question-coming soon…)
How you choose to organize fabrics, after separating by types, is up to you. There is no right or wrong answer.
Maybe you’d like to organize fabric by color or theme. ** I’d suggest to organize fabric by ‘amounts’. Perhaps you have many fabrics in which are measured in ‘yards’ like my batik fabrics; or perhaps you have a bunch of fabric scraps or particular fabrics for a certain project.

A few ‘storage’ articles for further reading…
These articles mostly talk about CLOTHING storage BUT it would only make sense to follow these tips for storing fabrics too especially if you plan to store fabrics LONG term.
This article talks about the Best humidity, ecology and atmosphere for storing clothing.
If by chance you are an ambitious beginner seamstress and have a stash of leather, read… How to store leather.
This article is from a storage place and talks about storing fabrics/clothing for long term. Some great tips here!
Suggestions on where/what to store your fabric in…
Furniture that has drawers or shelves or an Armoire

A HUGE thanks to my aunt for sharing the above picture of her organized fabrics!
Another great article that has tips for organizing AND storing fabrics!
Plastic Containers
I purchased these ‘Greenmade’ containers at Costco. I did find them available at Amazon too!
GREENMADE 27 gallon storage container 3 pack
More storage ideas coming soon…
I hope this article left you with some great reasons why you should organize and store your fabric! Now you are ready to start some sewing projects!
Thanks for reading and Happy Simple Sewing to You!
For any questions about this post you can contact amy@amyssewingstudio.com