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Yes, I Filed my Fabric

Spring Clean Your Sewing Space at Made with Hugs & Kisses

None of us wake up and decide, “I’m going to be a disorganized slob today!”  Most of us start off with the best of intentions; but as the second law of thermodynamics tells us:

There is a universal tendency for all systems to go from order to disorder.

My fabric stash was no exception to that rule.  What began as a neat, nice stack quickly turned into the leaning tower of Pisa…three leaning towers, in fact.

Fabric Organization by The Thinking Closet

So, when Hannah from Made with Hugs and Kisses generously invited me to be a part of her “Spring Clean Your Sewing Space” series, I knew exactly what I needed to work on: fabric organization!

And you’ll never guess how I organized it.  (Well, I suppose if you read the title you will….)  I filed it!  That’s right.  Filed it right in my filing cabinet!  Here’s a sneak peek photo:

Filing Fabric & Fabric Organization Round-Up | The Thinking Closet

You’ll have to hop over to Made with Hugs & Kisses to see the rest.  Plus, I have compiled an epic round-up of other fabric organization ideas in case your filing cabinet has a flashing neon sign on it that shouts, “NO ROOM.”  So, in the words of my girl Gwen Stefani, “Watcha waiting, watcha waiting, watcha waiting forrrrrrrr?”  Click over now!

And while you’re there, be sure to take some time to explore Hannah’s lovely site.  She has made some of the most gorgeous dresses you ever did see.  Here are some of my personal favorites:

Perfectly VintageA Coffee Date Dress / Ahoy There T-Shirt Refashion

Handiwork by Hannah at Made with Hugs & Kisses

And if you leave her a comment, I can guarantee you’ll receive one of the sweetest responses.  I mean, come on: the girl’s blog is called Made with Hugs & Kisses for Pete’s sake!  Does it get any more sweet than that?

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!  I’ll be back soon to tell you all about my voyage this past weekend….

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49 Comments

  1. SERIOUSLY, is it weird that that would be so fun to me??! I always need a lil’ motivating boost, and google hanging/filing with you would be just the boost! Let’s do it once I return to Glenside. I know just the pile to start with (one of my bookshelves is full of–not books–a stack of rando papers). Looking forward to our filing date!

    1. It can be such a daunting task to tackle a pile whether it be of fabric, paper, or clothes…but usually, once I dive in, it’s not half as bad as anticipated it might be. Maybe we can have a paper-filing party over Google Hangout sometime…just to muster up the motivation to get ‘er done. (I have many piles of paper to be sorted, too.) Organizing with a buddy is always better than alone!

    1. Just don’t open the other two cabinet drawers. Those two are NOT so organized. In fact, they’re downright scary. (Hope that makes you feel a bit better, Carla!)

      Anyway, thanks for the kind words as always!

    1. Thanks, Samantha! You’re so kind. Looking forward to getting to know you better, as well as the SoFab community. Eek!

  2. Oh my goodness Lauren, I LOVE this idea! And can I just say that you completely understand me? I love that you said that no one starts out deciding to be a slob. At least, that’s what I tell myself every day! But you should also know that your “sloppy” pictures are looking pretty darn neat and organized compared to MY sloppy pictures! 🙂 I’m going to pin this and find a way to incorporate it into my craft room, whenever I get around to it!

    Debbie

    1. I’m so glad that this post spoke to you, Debbie! Especially the sloppiness bit. (This coming from the girl surrounded by laundry that has been folded for over a day, but still hasn’t been put away…tissues everywhere from the cold that has struck both me and my husband…sitting across from a mixing bowl with cookie dough remnants that may or may not have been a late night snack for a certain someone several hours ago.) Did I wake up this morning picturing I would end up here? Oh no. But the best laid plans…. 😉 It does make a gal feel better to know she’s not alone in this regard! So, thanks for commiserating, Debbie. And I can’t wait to see what you end up doing with your craft room when you tackle it!

  3. 🙂 You know I LOVE this! great idea Lauren, I love everything about this! I would be opening the drawer every 2 minutes just to look at all the fabrics ha!ha! 🙂 read the post before but couldn’t leave a comment from my iPhone again! 😉 now, let me go and unpack my fabric from these old plastic bags 🙂

    1. I’m happy to hear that this project spoke to you, Ingrid. Although I shouldn’t be surprised! After seeing your stellar kitchen jar organization and craft room, I know you have a love and appreciation for order. 🙂 And you have plastic bags full of fabric? When can I come over and help you sort through them? (Ha ha. That sounds strangely fun to me.)

    1. I feel like we need to notify the Italian government or something…and let them know their leaning tower of Pisa isn’t as rare and unique as they may have initially thought…. Hmmm…. (Should I make the call or you?) 😉

  4. Oh Lauren! This is so cool!
    I definitely have to remember this, when I buy more and more fabric… Until now I have just a few bigger pieces and a lot of scraps, so I can easily store it in a box, but I KNOW the day will come, that a box won’t be enough!! It was the same with ribbons, buttons, washi tape, paper… And, no, nothing of this is organized and stored neatly – what did you think!?! 🙂

    Love, Midsommarflicka

    1. Ha ha, yes that day will most definitely come…. I only started sewing in September, and already I’ve acquired enough fabric to need “a system.” Then again, I try to remind myself that most creatives live in a constant state of mess and chaos, so even just having one organized file drawer makes me feel like I’ve made a huge accomplishment! 😉

    1. Thanks, Katie! Although now Mark is wondering where to store all of our extra files. Oops! 😉

    1. Props to you for making some headway on your sewing area. Oh how quickly they can get o.o.c. I’m glad that you found some helpful inspiration in my round-up! I had a blast putting it together.

    1. Thank you, Mish! The feeling is so mutual. Loved reading your most recent Five Minute Friday post. Just stellar work, friend!

    1. Aw. 🙂 Thank YOU, Hannah, for the invitation to participate in this fun series. I had a blast! (And my formerly-chaotic leaning towers of fabric thank you, as well, for the kick in the pants to get organized.)

  5. Wonderful idea, Lauren! I loved all the other examples that you showed too. I spent yesterday cleaning up my sewing room and the half of the master bedroom that has been taken over. I’ll have to see about putting some of those fabric organization ideas to use!

    1. Oh, how I’d love to see your fabric stash, Cindy. I bet it’d be even more thrilling than a stroll through the fabric section at Jo-Ann’s. Glad to hear that some of these ideas have you intrigued! I definitely thought of you when I came across the dresser without drawers idea (I remembered you saying that you stored some of your fabric in dressers)….

  6. HaHa you said “filing” and I read “filling” so I HAD to take a look especially after reading your introduction. I thought what the heck is she talking about. But it sure struck a note with me. I am in that same dilemma and it is driving me ABSOLUTELY crazy. I have always been an organized person with just about everything I do, but ever since we bought our second restaurant (with living quarters above), I have had NO time to organize the 2nd floor. Everything is just THERE. And the best is that the 2nd place is bigger than the first. My office here is a disaster but when it was located at the smaller place (an area of 8 x 10) everything was perfect for me. Now my office is 12 x 15 and I just cannot seem to organize it so I feel comfortable.
    Thank you for every now and then posting an “organization” blog. It gets me moving again with determination that I can beat the darn place into what I want it to look like. (And get rid of “Stuff” I don’t really need or use anymore). One of your last one’s was with the contact paper and I’m still covering boxes so they all match. (The original Contact Paper works better than the Dollar Store brand I found out.)
    Your filing idea is really clever! What gem # is that one? Even if your fabric pieces are too large to file, you could still cut a swatch and file the swatch like you show. Good One Kiddo!

    1. Lol. I’m just imagining all of the hilarious possibilities for “filling” fabric. I filled my fabric with…beans to make beanbags. Or goose feathers to make a mattress. Or potpourri to make housewarming gifts. Hey, those ideas aren’t half bad! 😉

      Isn’t that interesting that a bigger space doesn’t always mean more organized? Sometimes, I wonder if smaller spaces are better for organizing because it’s such a necessity; you can’t really get by otherwise. But hang in there. I’m sure it feels discouraging to not have the time to really tackle that 2nd floor like you want to. Just take it in small bits (like you’re doing with covering the boxes) and before you know it, you will have made great strides.

      And I like your idea of cutting a swatch of some of the larger cuts of fabric. I’m definitely going to use that! Thanks, Karen, for gem #468.

  7. Here a comment. There a comment. Everywhere a comment. E-I-E-I…. Ok, anyways. I left you love at Hugs & Kisses, and followed a link to leave another lovely lady some love. Thanks for all the great ideas! Maybe I’ll get good and motivated to keep up my migration to the garage.

    1. Ha ha! Loved your little comment jingle, London, and the fact that you’ve left so many lovely comments! Thank you! And don’t give up on that migration of your craft space. It’ll be worth the elbow grease to have a space of your own to bring your creative ideas to fruition! After you hit up that Goodwill sale in a few weeks, I have a feeling that will give you the extra nudge to make some major progress.

    1. Lol. Glad you appreciated it, Laura! As someone who didn’t really thrive in science class, I even surprised myself with that little intro! (Wish I could have had someone like YOU for a science teacher; boy, would that have been fun.)

  8. That is so clever Lauren!!! great idea…I love how fabrics look in there and you can have a great view of them and don’t have to mess the rest to the one you want!. Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

    Hope you are having a lovely day

    Hugs
    Cami @ TitiCrafty by Camila

    1. Yes, I’m thinking this will be a much more sustainable system…and one that will be less prone to mess or “leaning” as my 3 towers of Pisa were. 😉 So glad you like it! Hugs back at you, Camila.

  9. Lovely idea! I have a couple garbage sacks filled with fabric. Mine tend to be a little bulky for filling (got some polar fleece). I put them in garbage sacks so they wouldn’t get dusty. I don’t have a machine right now, so going to be a while before I look at that fabric again. Headed over to check up on your filling cabinet idea!

    1. Ah yes! I remember hearing about those amazing sacks of fabric you have. When you do get a machine, I wonder if a system like the Tupperware containers or dresser without drawers might work best for the bulkier fabrics. Excited for whenever that day does come when you invest in a sewing machine, Bethany. Oh, how the heavens will open up with new crafting possibilites! (As if you need any more project ideas than you already have spilling out your brain.)

  10. Lauren, I LOVE this idea!!! You’ve definitely got my organizational gears going with this one! With my new space, I can’t wait to get to started on the organizing part!

    1. I’m honored that this post has set your organizational gears in motion! I’m so excited for you having the new joyosphere space to play with…create in…and organize!

  11. Although I have no sewing ‘room’, nor sewing skiils, nor loads of gorgeous fabric to be stored, you have me drooling over that filing cabinet filled with fabric. Heading over now!

    1. Thanks, as always, for the encouraging words, my friend! And I’m excited to learn about your interest in taking a sewing class someday. Watch out world! If Christine gets behind a sewing machine, her creativity will know no bounds.

    1. Why thank you, Katherine! I was really inspired by the original fabric filing idea by Karen from Sew Many Ways. I just had to try it out for myself!

  12. Brilliant! 🙂 I really do love this — such a great way to be able to tell at a glance what fabric you need, or want to use as well as keeping things tidy and organized! 🙂
    Kenley

    1. You’re right…it really is like fabric “at a glance.” And I need systems that keep me tidy and organized. Otherwise, I can quickly tend toward mess and disorder. Hopefully, this will keep me in check!

  13. Oh my! You had me drooling with the title alone…and then that sneak peek! Love the idea of filing fabric. I think my file labels would read “Yummy”, “Ahh”, “Need more of this, “Drool Worthy”. I will be visiting Hannah’s place to revel in your inspiration. I had a beautiful organized sewing space until I lost my sewing room. Now I have a table in the living room with buckets (yes literally) of fabric underneath the table. It’s a bit sad, but at least it’s out in the open so I can drool over lovely fabrics while doing household chores.

    1. Ha ha! I love the idea of giving the fabric labels like “Drool Worthy” and “Need More of This.” I might add to that mix, “Feels like heaven,” and “Mmmmm good.” And I love your optimism over being able to enjoy more fabric swooning while doing chores now that your fabric is in buckets in the living room. You’ve got the best attitude, Jessica, let’s just call a spade a spade!

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