How do you store fabric?

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I buy up lots of fabric for future projects. Trouble is, they will sometimes sit in the storage closet for a year or more. Then when I go to use them, they are creased in the folds, sometimes impossible to remove. Especially linens. I've thought about hanging them over closet rods but it seems they would still crease over the rod and wrinkle in the drape of the fabric over time. And also the weight of hanging several fabrics, one on top of the other. My latest thought is to press them and roll them, but have a hunch they will just flatten out over time and then have more creases than before. Right now I have them rolled and stored standing upright in a large plastic bag with a dust cover over the top. But I know sooner or later they will just crumble down. I'm thinking the best way is to roll them over long tubes like wrapping paper comes on, but covering the cardboard to prevent staining of the fabric, and storing them flat, but where??? Under the bed seems like a good place, if I can get the dust bunnies out of there first. So my question is what do you do to store fabrics so they don't collect wrinkles and creases? And do you label the fabrics as to fabric content and stitch count? How? Pins?

Appreciate your help! Kathy T.

Reply to
Kathy
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Unless you are really storing them for years and year, hanging them over a padded roll in the closet works very well. Take a cardboard tube, cover it with padding, and then with calico/muslin. Hang your fabric over that. (I store finished, unframed pieces that way)

Linens are usually the easiest to remove folds from - dampen and press with a very hot iron. Just make sure that it really is pure linen.

I have fabrics which I have had stored for ten years or more, and except for aida, have almost never had a problem getting creases out. Aida on the other hand, can be a major b*tch to get the creases out.

Considering that I have damask tablecloths that are more than 100 years old, (and these have been pressed many, many times) I have never had a problem with folds coming out. You really don't have to worry about them 'crumbling'. Just make sure that your rolls are tightly rolled.

You can pin the content and count onto the fabric, but you have to be careful since any dampness can cause the pin to rust and leave a stain.

MargW

Reply to
MargW

The only fabric I worry about when it comes to folds is pure silk. For some reason, that fabric does *not* like to be folded! I wind up wrapping it around long postal tubes with muslin to protect the fabric. Silk mixes, tho, don't give me the same problems. Go figure.

Reply to
fran

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