The colorizing has begun - this is how I tackle fabric sorting. First, identify the best storage options available to you and expect this to change over time. I like the upgrades and enjoy revisiting fabric prints when this occurs; it often sparks new ideas for projects and gifts.
Next, I have several different types of collector fabric lines from some of my absolute favorite designers. I keep mine separated because I like to use them together in projects, rarely adding from other lines except what I consider to be basics, but my collection is fairly extensive. If you have a general stash, limited space, and/or are not interested in the first division, it's unnecessary. These aren't rules, just organizing options from someone that has spent quite a bit of time growing the sewing room over many years.
Next, I put each piece into general color categories. For the 30s, I use blue, green, red, pink, orange {I swore I'd never know what to do with 😆}, yellow, black, brown, and cream backgrounds of varying colored conversational prints. Don't worry about values of your fabrics yet, there is plenty of time to create subcategories after folding occurs.
When you hold/fold/touch it, what is your first instinct? What is your overall read (majority color)? If you don't know, take a break and look at it from far away when you return or add multicolor to your sorting list. You can always change your mind and this is for your benefit. Don't stress about it or take too much time on this element because there are additional sorting stages...and fabric can be moved. Take a deep breath, you've got this.
For now, I'm leaving the fat quarter "shoe box" for Dear Jane fabrics alone though they're getting wonky again with some pinks and purples squished in there. I purposely left the blue FQ in the middle of the pinks to demonstrate what feels like one color initially. It will stand out from the other prints if it needs to be moved. I used to keep all multiple color fabrics in their own pile when I began sorting 30s; it gets easier over time.
The new and oh so tall cabinet has vertical space available, which I am definitely not accustomed to. This is a great opportunity to learn a new folding technique. I'd like something easy and consistent, regardless of fabric size. Then the Heather Ross fabric has to move again. Great news - a long, also new cabinet was cleared in today's 30s sorting session. The length should be perfect for yardage. I'll get to the Aneela Hoey, Liberty of London, Kaffe Fassett, and Tula Pinks after the two largest (so far!) collections are complete. I'm leaning toward moving basics to the first Heather Ross cabinet; just a glance is usually all it takes to grab my coordinating basics, so keeping them to the back of the room should not cause any access issues. The "small" cabinet is the one with the solid doors at the back of the photo to the right.
Happy Sorting,
Heather
Moving forward, my sorting needs to occur before I begin folding to avoid issues. When adjusting piles by color, I start with dark on the bottom. I don’t worry about the shades of colors, just know there will be some variations that I used to lump together, darkest first, then I save the cream backgrounds, white backgrounds & multicolored for last since they may play a role in the final Jane layout.
