Hi Michelle, I keep all my fabric in solid plastic containers with lids. I also keep those packets you were talking about. I have a couple in each container so if there happens to be any moisture hopefully this will help. I haven’t seen any issues yet. Also I run a dehumidifier in the summer months in my sewing room. Thank you for all your info ! 😊
Thank you, Michelle, for your thoughts of protection. As always your warnings are absolutely appreciated. May I aks you to make a video about washing quilts? I am wondering about the use of quilts. I hear often „to cuddle up in or witha quilt“. How do you use quilts in bed? Just for decoration during the day? And how do you cuddle up with them? But if you sleep under the quilts you‘ll have to wash them regularly. Do you machine-wash and dry them? Here in Germany I know nobody who sleeps under a quilt, they are just decoration. Sorry to bother you with such stupid questions. With kind greetings, Berit
Berit, I make quilts to be used. Several of my family members have requested rag time quilts and these are used to cover up on the couch when watching television. We have some in our camper and I will wrap up in one when reading a good book in the camper if it is cold. I also take a lap size quilt in the car because I am always cold. My son and his family as well as my brothers and sisters use them to wrap up in when watching television, sitting on the patio, or when sleeping in bed. I use quilts for decoration also. I don't use and wash all of my quilts regularly, especially my antique quilts. I use a variety of methods to wash my quilts. Many are washed in the washer on gentle with quilt soap. Older quilts are washed by hand by letting them soak in the tub and carefully handling it with a sheet under it. I use a variety of techniques to wash my quilts. It just depends on the quilt. Color catchers are always a must!
Some of my fabrics I have stored in clear plastic containers. Sadly, some were in direct light. I ended up with bleached stripes on some fabrics. I had to cut those stripes off and use the remaining fabric. Ugh!
Pet owners need to protect their fabric from their pets! My cats love to curl up on a pile of fabric and get their hair, dander, and what-not all over it.
Great topic. Dust is an issue for me, so I keep most of my fabrics in something that has a lid. Excess light has also been an issue so I try not to leave my fabric exposed for that reason too. And finally pets - my cat loves to curl up on fabric, so just another reason to keep the lids on, and make kitty her own mini quilts:)
Thanks Michelle for the good advice. I do have all of my fabrics stored in plastic containers. However, they are not in direct light so they are protected from fading. Having the fabric stored in clear plastic makes it easier for me to identify what I need. My eyes arent what they used to be. 😊 Thanks again for the tips. Have a great day. 😊
Michelle have you tried storing fabric vertically instead of horizontally? From the look of your cabinets you can get a dish stack shelf to put above your fat quarters and other folded fabrics. This’ll give you double the space to use also easily get the quarter without having to disrupt the other fabrics.
I store my fabric vertically in wire drawers behind closed door. Easy to find and pull out the fabric I need. Sorted by colour ,with my few theme fabrics separated. Vertical storage was the best thing I learnt from Marie Kondo.
I am glad you did not find anything definitive about plastic cause that is how my fabric is stored. Like you, I don't have an issue with humidity, so I don't worry about it. I am in and out of it fairly often and none seems to ever be hurt. The one thing I don't do is use hand lotion and go mess with quilts or fabric. I have heard back on Simply Quilts that some of the stains you see on old quilts might have come from hand lotion being on women's hands. I do not know if that is a solid fact, but it makes sense to me.
Thank you for the information!😊 I think if you have a control environment such as heating and air conditioning plastic containers are okay. I have not had any issues. Light is the only thing that I have had to deal with. So far no critters! I always enjoy your videos Michelle. 🐛🐝🌻🌻🌻
Thanks for all the tips. Question...my fabrics are on an open shelf in our basement where I sew. There is only one small north facing window in the room 9n the same wall but not over the fabric. The room never has direct sunlight. Should I cover the shelf?
I have the same situation and have not covered my fabrics. I have not seen any damage from sunlight over the years but remember to keep the humidity low in the basement. I also keep all my pets out of the basement so no pet hairs or dander on them.
I used to hv a sewing room in a brand new house and it had only one window that I kept covered w a black blind whenever I wasn’t in there. I made a quilt w a black background and hung it on the wall next to the window wall (window on east wall, quilt on south wall. The quilt was large, so I folded it over a curtain rod attached to the wall. It was there maybe 16 years. I know that sounds like a long time, but it didn’t seem so, at the time. I just regularly vacuumed it off. When I went to move, the whole exposed side was faded and MUCH lighter than the back side! 😱 Also, I had folded yardage (I had been collecting 1 yard pieces of fabrics I loved) and they were stored on a shelf on the north wall. Well, all the folds that were facing out faded dramatically so I had to cut around that to use it bc the faded part was too damaged to use and it was very obvious what had happened when I unfolded it. The whole stack! 😮😢 I have also had pins get rusty. Another danger is soot from a wood stove. I had stacks of brand new baby clothes on the closet shelf in that same room, behind closed doors. The soot got on all the exposed folds and edges. After trying EVERYTHING I finally tried oxyclean, and that got it out. The only thing that worked. At first, I didn’t think it would work because nothing else had. So I made a paste of it, and put it straight on the fabric of a couple of test garments. It actually took the color out of those spots as well as the soot! So be careful and don’t put it on too strong! What worked best was to put it in water and just soak the clothes in it. It stays active for six hours only, and then it becomes inert. So you don’t want to mix it up ahead of time. Also, rinse out the oxyclean thoroughly bf washing with detergent. I found if I added detergent in the same water, the clothes came out sticky. 😬
Thank you for the tips. I keep my fabric in the closet, they are kept in plastic totes. Some are kept on a closet organizer shelf. Do you think it would be safe to keep scraps in a cleaned metal coffee can?
Maybe you cd put some contact paper on the shelf first? Contact paper is vinyl. I had foolishly put tung oil finish inside some drawers, thinking it wd protect the fabric from the wood tannins. Maybe it did, or maybe it didn’t; but the tung oil or the wood, perhaps, (one of them) discolored the clothes that were touching the wood! 😬
I love your videos. So informative and a reminder to all of us quilters. Some thoughts-- ~~Instead of a clean sheet to store your finished quilts, use a pillowcase for each one. ~~use acid free comic boards to bolt fabric, then secure it with a plastic alligator clip instead of a pin. ~~I store my projects I'm working in the plastic 12 x 12 cases. They stack well. If you buy the various color ones, it's a little added protection from light, but still store them out of direct light/sunlight. ~~Instead of using pins when storing, use clips. Even coated paper clips works well to hold things together until you pick that project up again. ~~If you are going to store fabric on a wood surface, such as a cabinet or bookcase, that has been stained, by sure it has been polyurethaned or some other sealant, as the stain will seep into your fabric. ~~If you purchase or receive fabric from yard sales, estate sales, or gifted from your friend's cousin's MIL (LOL), etc, be sure to wash in hot water, dry and iron it prior to adding to your stash. This should kill any potential critter issues and allow you the ability to visually inspect your fabric. I, personally, don't buy or accept fabric because you don't know where it has been stored or if critters/bugs have been in touch with it. Nice gestures from others could potentially spoil your whole fabric stash.
I didn't think about wood staining fabric. I need to move my batting! 😳 I also need to check my WIPs for pins. Thanks for the good advice!
You are most welcome!
Another excellent video and useful information!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Michelle, I keep all my fabric in solid plastic containers with lids. I also keep those packets you were talking about. I have a couple in each container so if there happens to be any moisture hopefully this will help. I haven’t seen any issues yet. Also I run a dehumidifier in the summer months in my sewing room. Thank you for all your info ! 😊
Thanks for sharing!!
Isn't it wonderful that we never stop learning! Thank you - always, Michele & friends🤗
I agree! I love learning!
Thank you, Michelle, for your thoughts of protection. As always your warnings are absolutely appreciated.
May I aks you to make a video about washing quilts?
I am wondering about the use of quilts. I hear often „to cuddle up in or witha quilt“. How do you use quilts in bed? Just for decoration during the day? And how do you cuddle up with them?
But if you sleep under the quilts you‘ll have to wash them regularly. Do you machine-wash and dry them?
Here in Germany I know nobody who sleeps under a quilt, they are just decoration.
Sorry to bother you with such stupid questions.
With kind greetings,
Berit
Berit, I make quilts to be used. Several of my family members have requested rag time quilts and these are used to cover up on the couch when watching television. We have some in our camper and I will wrap up in one when reading a good book in the camper if it is cold. I also take a lap size quilt in the car because I am always cold. My son and his family as well as my brothers and sisters use them to wrap up in when watching television, sitting on the patio, or when sleeping in bed. I use quilts for decoration also. I don't use and wash all of my quilts regularly, especially my antique quilts. I use a variety of methods to wash my quilts. Many are washed in the washer on gentle with quilt soap. Older quilts are washed by hand by letting them soak in the tub and carefully handling it with a sheet under it. I use a variety of techniques to wash my quilts. It just depends on the quilt. Color catchers are always a must!
Thank you Michelle! I have some quilts that are pinned for quilting that I keep putting off… I need to check them! Eek!
Yes!!!
So many things to think about. Thanks for the reminders.
You bet!
Some of my fabrics I have stored in clear plastic containers. Sadly, some were in direct light. I ended up with bleached stripes on some fabrics. I had to cut those stripes off and use the remaining fabric. Ugh!
I am so sorry that happened! We do have to protect our fabrics from things we didn't even think about.
Pet owners need to protect their fabric from their pets! My cats love to curl up on a pile of fabric and get their hair, dander, and what-not all over it.
Agreed! Especially if they are making donation quilts. Many people have allergies.
Absolutely!
The best advice is to use it before theres a chance of damage! Do i do that? Of course not! Who can keep up with all of ?
LOL!
I enjoy all your videos. I store my fabric and projects in acid free plastic containers in a closet.
I think you fabric is well protected!
Great topic. Dust is an issue for me, so I keep most of my fabrics in something that has a lid. Excess light has also been an issue so I try not to leave my fabric exposed for that reason too. And finally pets - my cat loves to curl up on fabric, so just another reason to keep the lids on, and make kitty her own mini quilts:)
We must protect our fabric investment!
Always great information. Thank you for all your research.
Holly you are most welcome!
My grandmother kept her quilts in a baby crib. They were folded neatly but in such a way that they could get air circulation.
That is such a great idea!!!
Thanks Michelle for the good advice. I do have all of my fabrics stored in plastic containers. However, they are not in direct light so they are protected from fading. Having the fabric stored in clear plastic makes it easier for me to identify what I need. My eyes arent what they used to be. 😊 Thanks again for the tips. Have a great day. 😊
Thank you Heide!
Thank you for some great tips and information. I enjoy your channel
Kym, Thank you so much for watching my channel!
Great tips. I need better storage for my fabrics
Protect that investment!!
Michelle have you tried storing fabric vertically instead of horizontally? From the look of your cabinets you can get a dish stack shelf to put above your fat quarters and other folded fabrics. This’ll give you double the space to use also easily get the quarter without having to disrupt the other fabrics.
I store my fabric vertically in wire drawers behind closed door. Easy to find and pull out the fabric I need. Sorted by colour ,with my few theme fabrics separated. Vertical storage was the best thing I learnt from Marie Kondo.
Great idea!
Thanks so much for sharing!
I am glad you did not find anything definitive about plastic cause that is how my fabric is stored. Like you, I don't have an issue with humidity, so I don't worry about it. I am in and out of it fairly often and none seems to ever be hurt.
The one thing I don't do is use hand lotion and go mess with quilts or fabric. I have heard back on Simply Quilts that some of the stains you see on old quilts might have come from hand lotion being on women's hands. I do not know if that is a solid fact, but it makes sense to me.
I'm the same way. I always clean my hands before touching the fabric. That's why they hand out gloves at the quilt shows.
Interesting!!
Thank you for the information!😊 I think if you have a control environment such as heating and air conditioning plastic containers are okay. I have not had any issues. Light is the only thing that I have had to deal with. So far no critters! I always enjoy your videos Michelle. 🐛🐝🌻🌻🌻
Thanks Fern!
Thanks for all the tips. Question...my fabrics are on an open shelf in our basement where I sew. There is only one small north facing window in the room 9n the same wall but not over the fabric. The room never has direct sunlight. Should I cover the shelf?
I have the same situation and have not covered my fabrics. I have not seen any damage from sunlight over the years but remember to keep the humidity low in the basement. I also keep all my pets out of the basement so no pet hairs or dander on them.
Deborah, indoor lights can damage fabric also, especially if they are bright. I personally would cover them up to protect them from light and dust.
I used to hv a sewing room in a brand new house and it had only one window that I kept covered w a black blind whenever I wasn’t in there. I made a quilt w a black background and hung it on the wall next to the window wall (window on east wall, quilt on south wall. The quilt was large, so I folded it over a curtain rod attached to the wall. It was there maybe 16 years. I know that sounds like a long time, but it didn’t seem so, at the time. I just regularly vacuumed it off. When I went to move, the whole exposed side was faded and MUCH lighter than the back side! 😱
Also, I had folded yardage (I had been collecting 1 yard pieces of fabrics I loved) and they were stored on a shelf on the north wall. Well, all the folds that were facing out faded dramatically so I had to cut around that to use it bc the faded part was too damaged to use and it was very obvious what had happened when I unfolded it. The whole stack! 😮😢
I have also had pins get rusty.
Another danger is soot from a wood stove. I had stacks of brand new baby clothes on the closet shelf in that same room, behind closed doors. The soot got on all the exposed folds and edges. After trying EVERYTHING I finally tried oxyclean, and that got it out. The only thing that worked. At first, I didn’t think it would work because nothing else had. So I made a paste of it, and put it straight on the fabric of a couple of test garments. It actually took the color out of those spots as well as the soot! So be careful and don’t put it on too strong! What worked best was to put it in water and just soak the clothes in it. It stays active for six hours only, and then it becomes inert. So you don’t want to mix it up ahead of time. Also, rinse out the oxyclean thoroughly bf washing with detergent. I found if I added detergent in the same water, the clothes came out sticky. 😬
Indoor lights can cause damage also. If you lights are bright I would probably cover them. It will help protect them from the dust also.
Never thought of inside light. 😮
Yes, protect your investment!
Storage of quilts and fabrics in pillowcases. Especially finished quilts. Often they can be found on sale so are inexpensive.
Thanks for the tip!!
Thank you for the tips. I keep my fabric in the closet, they are kept in plastic totes. Some are kept on a closet organizer shelf. Do you think it would be safe to keep scraps in a cleaned metal coffee can?
As long as there is no rust in it….
Isn't your bookcase behind you wood? I'd like to place my fabric on shelves but was afraid to because they are made from unfinished pine boards.
No that is faux wood.
Maybe you cd put some contact paper on the shelf first? Contact paper is vinyl.
I had foolishly put tung oil finish inside some drawers, thinking it wd protect the fabric from the wood tannins. Maybe it did, or maybe it didn’t; but the tung oil or the wood, perhaps, (one of them) discolored the clothes that were touching the wood! 😬
Moths will eat any natural fibre, they prefer wools and silks but will eat cotton too
Thanks for the information!!
I love your videos. So informative and a reminder to all of us quilters. Some thoughts--
~~Instead of a clean sheet to store your finished quilts, use a pillowcase for each one.
~~use acid free comic boards to bolt fabric, then secure it with a plastic alligator clip instead of a pin.
~~I store my projects I'm working in the plastic 12 x 12 cases. They stack well. If you buy the various color ones, it's a little added protection from light, but still store them out of direct light/sunlight.
~~Instead of using pins when storing, use clips. Even coated paper clips works well to hold things together until you pick that project up again.
~~If you are going to store fabric on a wood surface, such as a cabinet or bookcase, that has been stained, by sure it has been polyurethaned or some other sealant, as the stain will seep into your fabric.
~~If you purchase or receive fabric from yard sales, estate sales, or gifted from your friend's cousin's MIL (LOL), etc, be sure to wash in hot water, dry and iron it prior to adding to your stash. This should kill any potential critter issues and allow you the ability to visually inspect your fabric. I, personally, don't buy or accept fabric because you don't know where it has been stored or if critters/bugs have been in touch with it. Nice gestures from others could potentially spoil your whole fabric stash.
Brenda, Thank you for your great post! Little little critters do worry me! They can reek havoc on your fabric and household!!!