Confessions of a Fabric Hoarder (Now Slightly Reformed)

How I wrestled my scrap pile into submission… and lived to tell the tale

There comes a moment in every quilter’s life when you fill a bin…

…and your fabric or notions immediately fight their way back out.

My bins skipped that step. They were already losing the battle.

For years, my scraps and fat quarters lived in what I lovingly call “creative chaos.” Which is just a polite way of saying: I had no idea what I owned but I was 100% sure I needed more.

So one day I thought I should reorganize my scrap bins and pull out larger size fabrics such as fat quarters or about that size. I had no idea the amount of trips and orders for plastic boxes and comic boards it would take me to complete this task. A task I really didn’t have time for.

Step 1: Denial (and Several Trips to Hobby Lobby)

This journey started innocently enough.

“I’ll just grab a few containers,” I said.

Fast forward to:

• Multiple trips to Hobby Lobby… because the boxes were the cheapest there ~ $2.99

• An online Hobby Lobby order of 20 more boxes

• Dragging my girls to Hobby Lobby in the middle of the week to grab just a few more

• A special order in store order of another 20 containers like I was outfitting a small retail store

Total count: approximately 71 boxes 😳

Were all of them necessary?

Let’s not ask questions we don’t want answers to.

Step 2: The System That Changed Everything

I used:

• Sterilite containers (13 1/8” L x 7 5/8” W x 4 1/2” H)

  → They interlock which is basically quilting magic

• Comic book boards (6 3/4” x 10 1/2”)

  → Cut into FOUR pieces each with a paper cutter

Yes… FOUR. Because we are efficient and slightly obsessive.

I used a paper cutter to cut the one comic board into 4 parts to make perfect for me size boards for my fat quarters and that fit perfectly into the storage box.

Step 3: Folding Like Everything Finally Passed Inspection

I wrapped each piece of fabric around the boards so they stand up nice and straight—like everything finally passed inspection and is ready for use.

Neat. Visible. Ready for action.

Then I sorted them by:

• Color

• Theme

• Mood (because yes… mood matters in quilting)

• Florals with florals

• Blenders with blenders

• And those “I had a vision at the store” fabrics… finally assigned a mission

Step 4: The Unexpected Emotional Spiral

No one warned me about this part.

Because here’s what really happened:

• I found fabric I didn’t remember buying

• I rediscovered fabric I loved

• I remembered projects, moments, even people tied to certain pieces

My mother loved bicycles and flowers…

It was like a scrapbook… but made of cotton and questionable purchasing decisions.

Tea Wallets I made with the fabric I found.

Step 5: The Aftermath (aka Fabric Nirvana)

Now I can actually see what I have.

No digging.

No guessing.

No rebuying the same fabric because “this looks familiar but maybe I don’t have it.”

And the best part?

When inspiration hits, I can pull fabrics fast—which means more creating and less digging through bins like a raccoon.

Real Talk… Is It Worth It?

Short answer: YES.

Long answer:

Also yes… but maybe pace yourself unless you want your mail carrier judging you. I also used this time to find a new to me favorite t.v. series… Castle.

If You Want to Try This…

Here’s my advice:

• Start small… unlike me

• Grab a drink (you’ll earn it)

• Turn on a good binge-worthy show

• Pick one category like scraps or fat quarters

• Get a few boxes and comic boards and test your system before going all in

• Be prepared to fall in love with your fabric all over again

Final Thoughts from Your Newly Organized Friend

I didn’t just organize fabric.

I reconnected with it.

And honestly?

That might be my favorite part.

Now if you’ll excuse me… I suddenly feel the urge to start five new projects because I can actually find things.

Oh….. and one more thing, no need to ingore your love ones….

Let them join the fun!

Meet Tinker… Tinker the Stinker

Until later… keep creating

~ Angela McPherson