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From: sanda
Date: 06-05-2006, 09:25 AM (1 of 12)
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I have not had any time to sew and now have alot of stored fabric. Where and how should store fabric? Can you get pests in fabric if stored too long? I have been keeping fabric in a old dresser. Any suggestions? Thank You. |
User: sanda
Member since: 01-03-2005 Total posts: 16 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-05-2006, 09:31 AM (2 of 12)
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Hi Sanda, I have my fabric in plastic tubs and rolled up on shelves. I also have some velvets and silk hanging from hangars. I have never had a problem with pests but I think it depends on what type of fabrics you have.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Mom of Six
Date: 06-05-2006, 09:45 AM (3 of 12)
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The biggest problem is sunlight. Keep it out of sunlight or it will disintegrate and fade.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: paroper
Date: 06-05-2006, 10:12 AM (4 of 12)
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You do what you have to do. I had mine stored in large plastic tubs (12 of them) in a Horribly hot garage for about 7 years because I was in Mom's house and there just wasn't room. I finally took it all out of the tubs and have put it on shelving in the sewing room. It looks fine. I did sort it by color and fabric content when I stored it and that might have something to do with how well it stored, however, I did this so that I could pull down cottons or wools when I needed them without having to go through everything. The outside of the tub was labeled by fabric content. Even the wools came through just fine! They tell you not to store in plastic but I can see no difference in color or fabric quality after being stored in the tubs. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 06-05-2006, 10:58 AM (5 of 12)
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The reason you don't store in plastic is -- at least with some textiles -- the plastic gives off some kind of gas that damages the fibers. By the time that happens to fabric I expect you will likely be dead and gone. People get crazy over this preservation stuff. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:03 PM (6 of 12)
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I don't know. I could see where it could really mess up acetate...everything does.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: ellymolin
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:04 PM (7 of 12)
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I purchased a lot of cotton fabrics when a small fabric store was going out of business, I'm not sure how old some of these fabrics were, but some had a fold line where they were on the bolt & no amount of washing or pressing would take this out. The fabric was still strong, I used it to make sheets & pillowcases, and a few nighties, but I put lace on the line, & it wasn't noticeable. Has anyone else run into this? I still have some bolts left, & if anyone has a solution to the problem, please let me know. Thanks, Elly |
User: ellymolin
Member since: 01-13-2005 Total posts: 37 |
From: paroper
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:11 PM (8 of 12)
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They had probably been bolted and sitting on their ends for a long time. That is kind of like a shop worn dress. You might white vinegar. Sometimes that will remove things like lines from old hems.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Patty22
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:14 PM (9 of 12)
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The problem with storing in plastic is when a tight seal (let me repeat - tight seal) is made and a micro-environment is created. Natural fibers are organic and need to breathe or they will deteroriate (basically they just rot). Keeping fabric out of sunlight is also important as the damage caused by UVL can not be reversed. I store some some of my fabric and quilts in rubbermaid tubs in my basement (along with sachet packets of lavender that I made). The tubs are not air-tight, however I know that if there was an accident with my sub pump that nothing would get wet. This is the best that I can do and I feel it is safer than storing the tubs in my attic where the change in temperature and RH ever season (cyclic effect) would cause more problems to the fibers. I also run two humidifiers in my basement to keep the RH down. As a museum person, I agree with Pam.....for the individual storing their own collection, one does the best one can do. The key is not to create the airtight seal. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: Patty22
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:19 PM (10 of 12)
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ps........you wrote ......- Can you get pests in fabric if stored too long? Pests, such as moths are not attracted to the fibers themselves, but to the dirt attached to these fibers. Your best bet is to make sure everything you are storing is clean. If your room is clean in the first place, you will not need to worry about pests. If you are storing in a dresser, line the drawers as wood is acidic and can burn natural fibers. If you are storing over long periods of time, refold your fabric. An ideal situation would be to lie your pieces out flat, but if you need to fold and don't want to crease the fabric (creasing can cause fibers to break) you can put some waded up tissue paper inside the folds. Make it a point to periodically go through the drawers and to refold your pieces. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: MissTaraTara
Date: 06-05-2006, 01:52 PM (11 of 12)
| I don't store fabric in plastic bins, but I store just about everything else in them. I use them for elastic, piping, stabilizer, etc. I did use my husband's drill to make a few small holes around the top of each bin because I also use these bins to store thread and I read in a sewing magazine article that the chemical gas build up would be very bad for it. My fabric, however, is stored either folded or hanging in various closets around my home. |
User: MissTaraTara
Member since: 01-24-2006 Total posts: 227 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 06-05-2006, 06:17 PM (12 of 12)
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Elly, it could be fade marks. If the fabric sat for a long time in a window or under flouresent light they can get faded at the seam. There is not much you can do when that happens except cut around it or cover it up. I did try a permenant marker on a solid piece once & it made it less noticable.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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