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    Home » Easy DIY » Cleaning & Organizing

    February 14, 2013 | By Jami

    Tips for Fabric Organization

    Organizing Fabric

    Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

    Yeah - I'm happy to report that after almost two months of start-and-stop organizing, my fabric closet is done and my stash is significantly reduced. Whew, it's a pretty good feeling, you know?

    How good? Let's review (or avert your eyes if you need to, it's nasty...):

    Fabric Shelves-before

    *shudder*

    I know I shared the picture on the left before, but the photo on the right is all new - I just didn't want you to see the whole, ugly, truth at once. I had not one, but two out-of-control fabric shelves. Believe it or not, it had started out organized in piles of like fabrics: prints, florals, whites, vintage, etc.

    If there's one thing to take away from these photos it's to limit piles. Oh, and eliminate - a lot.

    And so I learned and applied these two principles to this fabric stash.

    Fabric Organization

    upper wood shelves

    Ta- da! Can you believe it?

    All neat and tidy - with labels to make things easier to find. This is the same section of the main shelf that is pictured on the right in the before picture!

    lower wood shelves

    And this is the lower part of the shelf.

    I didn't put them side-by-side so you'd be able to scroll down and see the "whole" shelf - complete with only three fabric piles total.

    I think these will be manageable since they are large fabric pieces. We'll see, if not I can always add more boxes later.

    burlap storage box and gym basket

    Speaking of boxes, I was really inspired by blogland to make the shelves not only functional, but pretty since they are kept in the same closet as our treadmill. Might as well have something nice to look at while working out, huh?

    I've had the vintage gym locker baskets for years - they used to live in our son's room - but not enough to fill the whole shelf. I did have cardboard boxes, though, which I simply covered with burlap to disguise.

    Here's how to easily convert a cardboard box into a cute storage container:

    1. Use a box-cutter to cut the top closing flaps off (this is for open, easily reached storage).
    2. Cut a piece of fabric to the exact outside dimensions - top to bottom sides and all around (not all of my boxes have fabric on the backs, though- use what you have) and serge or zig-zag the edges to finish. Two notes here: First, if you want to sew a hem (or use iron-on tape), cut extra top-to-bottom to be able to turn some under and second, I used burlap cut from coffee bean sacks, but obviously this is where personalization comes in - use the fabric you like.
    3. Spray all sides of the box with spray adhesive (or the just sides you're covering) - outside. Seriously, even if it's cold - walk out, spray the box and walk back inside to adhere the fabric. It's okay - we're not in a hurry, it will still be tacky.
    4. Smooth the fabric onto the box, adjusting as necessary to line up the edges (the bond will be removable, so it's easy to adjust).
    5. Add a ribbon across the middle of the box. I didn't want anything too permanent, so I simply used long straight pins to attach the ribbon - into the fabric and the box itself.
    6. Attach coordinating labels - this is a key to pretty shelves. Glue, tape, pin, or tie them to the ribbon or box. Use a site like PicMonkey to make your own set and print out or use store-bought labels like the Martha Stewart Home Office chalkboard labels I used because I had been given them (they're not available to be linked to yet). And always use a Chalk Marker (like this one at Amazon) so that the labels don't rub off - they'll come off easy enough with a damp rag if I need to redo any of my categories in the future.

    The best part? When you've got a stash of fabric, it's easy to use what you have to create these boxes - ha!

    So, total cuteness for FREE. Okay, I did at one point pay for the burlap (the coffee bags were only, like $2 though) and I've had the ribbon for so long it's like it was free - right?

    Wire Fabric Shelves-after

    I added more burlap-covered boxes to the wire shelves on the other side of the closet along with a couple of woven baskets and I was able to add in some boxes for craft items since I eliminated so much fabric - yay!

    I kept the labels the same so everything goes together nicely.

    (And let me just say here - it's not easy to photograph in a closet. at. all.)

    full closet shot

    Even though it's not the prettiest picture (probably why I saved it for last - if you're reading this far, I know you're dedicated!), I wanted you to see what we see now when we open the closet doors.

    Adding the little shelf for the items that were throwing about on the floor went a long way to cleaning it up, too. It also houses the TV box that was on the wood shelf in the before picture - along with the messy-looking cords.

    I'm happy to have something nice to see when I'm one the treadmill (doing my easy workout!) and I'm ecstatic about being able to find a fabric I'm looking for easily - plus have room for loose craft items.

    Most importantly, since almost everything is contained in a box, this time I think I can maintain it!

    How do you organize fabrics and crafts?

     

    Disclosure: affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn't change your price. Click here to read my full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy Jane says

      February 20, 2013 at 6:59 am

      I have been working in my craft/sewing room/ office this past week and have made huge piles of like things but now, after reading this article I am very encouraged. I LOVE the burlap on the boxes, I do not have burlap, however I do have grain sacks, which are not cloth but they are a woven plastic and I am now considering putting those on front and maybe sides of boxes to actually make the room look more country/ more ME ♥ :D. Love this article, thanks so much for the encouragement and ideas. 🙂
      Blessings ♥

      Reply
      • Jami says

        February 20, 2013 at 1:57 pm

        I think they would look great with the feed sacks, Nancy Jane! Have fun with it. 🙂

        Reply
    2. GoneCountry says

      February 15, 2013 at 5:54 am

      Great job! Getting organized takes a bit of work but the end results are always fabulous and the time saved looking for items to start a project is SO worth all the work!

      Since we are living in a 5th wheel right now I have my fabric, yarn and craft supplies each stored in their own clear storage container which are then stored on shelves in our cargo trailer. Makes it easy to find what I'm looking for without having to 'tear' the cargo trailer apart!

      Reply
    3. Lee says

      February 15, 2013 at 12:02 am

      It looks fabulous, I have to sort out my small studio soon, I love the way you have labelled your boxes.

      Lee

      Reply
    4. Dawn Murrietta says

      February 14, 2013 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks Jaime for sharing. I have the same job staring at me as we speak. My college daughters moved back home after 5 years, the sewing room has been dismantled.....darn....(love having them home though) so the reorganization begins. I hauled a very Lg. old dresser in and plan on re-doing it. Well, what I mean is hang some material in front as it does not have any drawers. I'll try and post a pic when I'm done.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        February 15, 2013 at 7:29 am

        That sounds very creative, Dawn - I look forward to seeing it!

        Reply
    5. daisy says

      February 14, 2013 at 4:09 pm

      It looks so much better! It'll make things so much easier for you! Great job!

      Reply
    6. Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside says

      February 14, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Great job! I'm doing the "start & stop" on some of my organization, too!

      Reply
    7. hsmominmo says

      February 14, 2013 at 2:21 pm

      Wonderful! I have a counter piled high with fabric, needing a new home - I'm asking my daughter to save diaper boxes for me to cover and use as my new storage bins. Thank you for letting peek in your re-vamped closet!

      Reply
      • Jami says

        February 14, 2013 at 3:40 pm

        Oh, man, I was wishing for diaper boxes! I just had to scrounge around for whatever I could find. Lucky you. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Becky says

      February 14, 2013 at 1:00 pm

      Bravo! I bet this feels good to have done.

      Reply
    9. Jill Flory says

      February 14, 2013 at 11:57 am

      Great job! I just organized my fabric recently too - again. Seems like it doesn't take long till it needs it again around here!

      Reply

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