How To Sort And Store Craft Textiles And Fibres

If you’re into sewing, quilting, weaving, felting, knitting – or any kind of fibre craft – you know how quickly materials can take over your space. Fabrics pile up. Yarn gets tangled. Scraps sneak into every drawer. 

Whether you’ve got a whole craft room or just a corner, organising your textiles and fibres will save you time, space, and stress. Here’s how to do it without making it complicated.

1. Start with a Clean Slate

Take everything out. Yes, all of it. Lay it out so you can see exactly what you’ve got. This step is part organising, part reality check. You’ll probably find things you forgot about – and realise just how much you never actually use, or how many duplicates you have.

As you’re getting everything out, create categories, putting like items together into distinct piles:

• Fabric by type (cotton, wool, linen, etc.)
• Fabric by size (yardage, fat quarters, scraps)
• Yarn by weight or fibre (acrylic, wool, blends)
• Yarn by quantity, such as single skeins or jumper weights. Keep these together.
• Roving and raw fibres
• Haberdashery and notions (zips, buttons, trims)
• Works in progress

Purge Ruthlessly

Be honest. If you haven’t touched that scratchy yarn in five years, you’re probably not likely to want to work with it in the future. Likewise, If you’ve got fabric you bought on a whim and still haven’t found a use for, it’s probably not something you should keep. Only keep what you’ll actually work with, devising potential projects for long-forgotten materials. If you can’t think of anything you’d ever use it for, let it go.

Pick a Storage System That Suits How You Work

We’re all individual, and what works for one person won’t suit someone else. Your storage system should be one that suits your workflow. A combination of the following might help you get organised:

• Clear boxes are great for seeing what you’ve got. Label them clearly.
• Magazine holders or ring binders can work surprisingly well for storing smaller fabric lengths (maybe fat quarters) by folding it like documents and sliding into plastic sleeves to keep the dust off.
• Pegboards or wall-mounted racks can hold tools, ribbons, and small bits where you can see them.
• Drawer units or trolleys help keep things mobile and compact.
• Hanging shoe organisers can store yarn, roving, or rolled-up fabric easily.

Keep your most-used items visible and accessible. Store less-used items out of the way to free up space. If you have multiple, diverse interests that use bulky or expensive equipment, you might find your passions go in cycles. Whether it’s machine knitting, loom weaving or quilting, self storage for your tools collection would be good for both machines and stash when you’re taking a break or directing your interest elsewhere.

Store by Project or Type

Choose what works best:

• Store by colour if you work visually.
• Store by type if you reach for the same materials regularly.
• Store by project if you’ve always got multiple things on the go.
• Store your fabric scraps, which are sneaky clutter-makers. Have a dedicated box or folder, and try sorting by size or colour. If it’s smaller than your palm and you never use tiny bits, you can probably throw it out.
• Save the yarn ends you cut off after weaving in. They’re really handy for stuffing small toys or items like pin cushions – plus they look quite decorative in a tall jar or glass vase.

The aim is to stop wasting time hunting for something you know is in there somewhere. In the craft room or area, set up fitted shelves or freestanding shelving units where you can see what you have.

Protect Your Materials

• Store natural fibres in airtight containers if moths are a concern.
• Use cedar blocks or lavender sachets to naturally deter pests.
• Keep fabric out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
• Don’t overstuff boxes. Wool and natural fibres need breathing room.

Label Everything

Even if the containers are transparent, add a label. You’ll save yourself hassle later. Include details like fabric type, measurements, or intended use. You always think you won’t forget, but you probably will and it’s frustrating.

Maintain It

Set a monthly “reset” day to do a major tidy up, put everything back in its place, bin what’s unusable, and reassess your stash. If shelves and boxes are getting full again, it’s time to declutter and remove some items to a self storage room near you, which will end up being similar to your personal craft store. It’s a wonderful thing, and gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘shop your stash’.

You’ll spend less time digging – and more time making. Happy crafting!

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