How do you store your fabric?

Thanks for the information. I'll stop in at one of the fabric stores to see if they have some of those tubes left over. Not sure where I can get acid-free tissue, maybe at Michael's Crafts? Kathy P.S. Sorry if you see another post from me with the same request. I thought the first did not go thru under a different email.

Those places that store wedding dresses (a dry cleaner?) would have acid-free tissue. Also, as far as hanging your fabric- use or make your own padded hangers. This should prevent creases if the padding is thick enough. Or perhaps a skirthanger with clips? The clip itself may indent the fabric, but that should be on the edge which would either be trimmed away or not visible when the finished stitching is mounted. Good luck! MM

Hi Kathy,

I bought one of the quilt tacking guns that shoot the little plastic ties thru the fabric. I make tags on my computer to include all info about that piece of fabric (including if it was purchased for a special project) and I serge the edges. I then hang them on skirt hangers ( you can store TONS of fabric on one hanger) place in garment bags and hang in the closet.

When looking for a piece, it is very easy to just unzip the bag and flip thru the corners of the fabric, where the tags are. I have had absolutely no problems with this method and like the fact that I can store huge amounts of fabric in such small space.

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

Thanks to everyone. Some great ideas. Who knew that all those old skirt hangers (and pants hangers too) would come in handy some day! I did look for my old clothespins and have decided I need new ones --- they're pretty moldy/dirty looking --- can't remember the last time I used a clothespin.... Probably the Dollar Store has them. Kathy in MIchigan

Not *tons*, but significantly more weight than you can get onto a hanger in the form of garments. My "ironing valet" collapsed, and my clothing and fabric arrived at my new home jumbled together at the bottom of the "wardrobe box" the movers had hung it in.

After I got bopped on the head a few times, DH put braces under the shower-curtain rod spanning the laundry room, but the closet rod appears to be sufficiently over-engineered. The builder meant my sewing room to be a child's bedroom, and probably allowed for tots swinging on the closet rod.

Joy Beeson

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I now have some tissue, clothespins, skirt and pants hangers and am ready to store my fabrics. Just have to find a cheap garment bag or other suitable cover for it all. I suppose even a plastic garbage bag would do by cutting a hole in the bottom and hanging it over the hanger. There would be air circulation from the bottom while providing dust cover. Had a brainstorm to also make use of my old folding, accordion style clothes dryer -- the kind that is about

4 foot tall and 3 foot wide that has rods at several levels. The rods are covered in a white plastic material so I would think that would not stain fabrics. The rods are probably fine for clothespinning the fabric, but too narrow to just hang the fabric over them without putting creases in it.

Kathy in Michigan

An old pillowcase? Two old bath towels sewn together?

Eimear

Just a quick thought - how about an old sheet as a dust cover for the hanging fabrics? I wouldn't use a plastic bag - even with a hole.

I actually have some organdy covers that slip over a hanger and cover things like tablecloths, or fabric. They originally were given to me by my then little nieces - to cover my good silk sarees that were on hangars (folded over the bar like on a pants hangar). The girls bought pretty stiff, sheer, organdy, and sewed essentially a slip-cover with an opening for the hangar hook -it's about 3' long, and a bit wider than the hangars, and they colored on them with fabric markers, trimmed the seams with lace. I'm sure it only took a few minutes to make, but they've come in very handy over the years (even though I've not been married to their uncle for some time now, and almost never wear a saree). However, it seemed something like that would work as a dust cover for your fabrics.

Have fun, whatever you do.

ellice

I sew old skirts into cloth bags and used some for Clothes [dust ] covers , opened the upper part , folded inside out , made 2 seams on the side nad a Button Hole in the middle of the fold, dress over clothes hangers ,,,, mirjam

Where are the pictures of you in a saree Ellice?

C

I'm with Cheryl. Inquiring minds want to see!

Donna in Virginia

More good ideas! I'm sure I can find some old sheets or skirts or whatever to make into dust covers. A good excuse to get out the sewing machine. Thanks! Kathy in Michigan

And a wonderful `excuse` to change your skirts collection !!!! mirjam

I was trying to think when I last wore a skirt! I think it must have been a family wedding ten years ago! I only have one in the closet, and that is part of a three piece navy suit, which is saved for emergencies. I probably can't even fit in it now!

G

On 3/6/08 6:19 AM, "Cheryl Isaak" wrote:

Ah, they are in albums here - somewhere. There are plenty of them. When we would travel to India, it was usually for 6-8 weeks at a time. And given our "intermarriage" so to speak, and being in the south, which is more conservative than a northern city like Delhi, I would wear sarees or salwar kamiz (the long tunics with pants under, either the pants that are loose, or some really cool ones like jodphurs - where the calves/ankles are tight). Once you get the hang of it, especially when travelling around, sarees are pretty comfortable. But, it would depend on what, where we were. Now my friends say that jeans are much more common on women, a lot more western dress. The likely most bizarre Ellice in a saree set of pictures is when we went to the famous Temple of the Sun God -very, very old. Carved with scenes of village life - and the whole temple ie essentially like a giant chariot. The carvings, hoever, are very kama sutra like - including brothels, and people indulging in various entertainments - so to speak. That particular day, I was wearing a saree, and, well, I'm the more serious photographer, so I was climbing around with our guide. But, there are pix of me. Of course, I was younger and not fluffy then.....It helped a bit with the blending in thing as we travelled - given that I am so fair, and have extremely pale eyes - we frequently would attract quite a gathering of kids - if we were hiking around some tourist site that wasn't a major place full of westerners. Or in some of the villages way off the beaten path.

Ellice

LOL - Well, at least one box of sarees is very accessible - not with me in them however. But, you could admire the blouses which I don't think I could fit one boob in, let alone all of me. The first tailor that was hurriedly making blouses, petticoats and some salwar kamez for me- we were goingto visit some relatives around India on my first trip there - told my SIL "it won't matter, they still won't think she's Indian" . DMIL used to tell me that she liked how I looked in a saree, being comparatively tall - especially in south India. Hardest part - ready made petticoats not long enough, and being careful to buy sarees that would be long enough (width of fabric is the length). I lent one to a goddaughter last fall - to wear to a wedding - we had fun teaching her how to wear.

I'll look - there is a possibility of a box with those photos actually being in the house, as opposed to in the storage unit. Tee hee - you should see the Hindu wedding photos...the then DFIL said our wedding in the states took longer than one in India - complete with 2 sarees for me, jewels and orchids in the hair (my US hairdresser and florist had a great time making up a flower thing for my hair - and I did get to wear a very modern art looking ruby pendant hanging on my forehead. But, no mehndi on the hands and feet because we were also having the Jewish ceremony later the same day in synagogue) At the wedding - it was at a large SV temple in Pittsburgh, and there were some busloads from Ohio in to go to services. Our wedding was the first inter-whatever at that temple. At some point in the lengthy (3hr) service my DMIL lead a little procession of myself and some others to go into the sanctuary and do puja (prayers) at the deities. But, these busloads were also entering - it was hilarious - people were stopped in their tracks at our little procession of the fair, redhaired/green-eyed bride in the obvious wedding saree, and the accompanying mix of folks in our lieelt parade.

Anyhow, I have gorgeous sarees as most of mine are silk, only a few "daytime" ones. I'm planning to hang a couple of them on the very high wall over the fireplace - like a tiered banner. I've been thinking of uses for some others, and I actually bought some for doing curtains in the living and dining rooms.

So, when I find some pix, I'll scan them and finally put some up when I reload my picture page.

Ellice

Well then,, go try it on. And if it doesn't fit or is hopelessly out of style, give it to a charity thrift shop and go buy yourself a new skirt to have in the closet "just in case". You know perfectly well that if you don't have one available, some occasion will arise when you really, really need one, and you will have to go shopping in a rush and buy something you don't really like. (And probably have to spend more money than you had planned.)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

What a great idea! C