When you store fabric do you....

[lady serena]

When you store your fabric in plastic tubs do you first wash and dry your fabric or do you put it in the tub straight from the retailer/wholesaler? My fabric is starting to become uncontrollable and I'm going to invest in some plastic tubs to store it in and was wondering about the question above.

[Adriana Rose]

I try to wash the stuff that I am gonna use straight off, but if its just getting added to the stash I toss it in a tote with some cedar balls with out washing and then I wash it when I am gonna use it

[gem]

If the fabric is for a current project, it goes straight in the wash when it gets home. If it's just for stash, it goes upstairs to be stored first. Large cuts I wrap on cardboard bolts (you can get leftovers from fabric stores), and small cuts I roll, just like they sell remnants. I HIGHLY recommend rolling, vs folding, if you're going to store your small cuts in bins; it's SO much easier to see what you have and to sort through everything, than it is to paw through layers of folded cuts.

Now, if I bought fabric for a current project that somehow got abandoned (happens ALL the time! LOL), then I'll bolt/roll it and put it upstairs with the rest of the stash. But I don't pre-wash my fabric just to store it, because the prepwork for fabric takes a good chunk of time (it takes me almost half an hour to press 4-5 yards of fabric, and I'm not going to do that just for fun!!).

I can always tell whether a fabric has been pre-washed, as the cut edges will fray into a soft tangly fringe. Unwashed fabrics still have clean cut edges.  Some people serge their fabric, or sew the cut edges together before they wash, but I'm too lazy!

[DonaCatalina]

I don't wash fabric until I'm ready to use it. And I do serge the edges before washing. I got into the habit because sometimes you barely have enough fabric for the project and you can't afford to lose any to raveling.

[Cilean]

If it can be washed I do so and then iron it and then fold it to go into bins. If it is silk, and will not be washed, then I take a sample and put it in to a bin or wrap it on a cardboard roll.  Now if I am making a ton of things quickly, like a shirt set for the family? I have a Currently Working On Bin, everything goes into that or I will lose my pieces, I safety pin all pieces together as well because you know how it is, you will be busy for a month and then where did piece 2 go?

Cilean

[LadyShadow]

I have a Currently Working On Bin, everything goes into that or I will lose my pieces, I safety pin all pieces together as well because you know how it is, you will be busy for a month and then where did piece 2 go?

Cilean

As I cut everything out I have learned to use a small piece of paper and a pin to label each piece.  And then I use a canvas bag for each project to help keep the pieces and extra fabric together until I am finished.  I lost too many pieces, so I had to change my ways 

[Dayna]

Everything gets serged and then washed, dried, measured, marked and stored.  I'd rather know if something is going to run, pucker, etc.  B4 I decide to make something out of it.