Hi Pamela,

When you say "space storage bags" I assume you mean the kind where you use a vac to suck out all the air and compress down the bulk...if that is indeed the case, then it depends on the type of fabric.

I have stored lots of things in these vac bags and have found that in some fabrics, it can create very deep set creases that can only be removed by washing and drying (dry cleaning didn't work). This is mostly a problem with fabrics with a deep texture or nap such as velvet, chenille, some high relief brocades or other type textures and/or embroideries and some delicate fabrics like lightweight silks.

Basically, after much trial and error, my personal rule of thumb has become "If you can't throw it in the washer and dryer or steam the heck out of it to remove deep set wrinkles and restore the texture, don't put it in a vac bag."

When I have large pieces of fabric to store I ask for empty bolts from the fabric shop (either the flat ones or the pole type and I cut those down) I put my fabric on the bolts, wrap them with craft paper to keep them clean, write the yardage, brief description, where I bought it and the purchase date on the paper and tape on a swatch so I don't have to unwrap things later to find what I want. Then I stack the bolts on a closet shelf, slide them under a bed or stack them in large plastic bins with tight fitting lids.

Whenever I buy a large amount of fabric in the store I ask them to put it back on a bolt for me to save having to do it myself later. Even if I am going to use the fabric right away, I have them put it back on a bolt and then I save the bolt for later use.

I also keep a 3x5 index card box with a card for each bit of stored fabric with a swatch, description, and storage location noted as well as swatches and storage locations of any coordinating fabrics/trims/threads I may have bought. That way when I am ready to start a new project, I can easily locate what I need by going to the card box.

This method has worked well for me and keeps the fabric in good shape. Even when living in a small apartment I did this - its amazing how many 45 inch flat bolts you can fit under a bed :-)

Vel

I have my wools in space bags, along with scented herbal sachets just in case bugs get in. What I found for the wools is that it does not compress much if at all, and so far, the wools are able to shake off wrinkles that might get set in. I also found that some older space bags actually don't hold their compressed sealed shape for very long, but the newer ones seem to hold seal better.

I otherwise keep my fabrics in various boxes or in a pantry converted to fabric storage, again with scented herbal sachets.

Hi, Pam! I stored all sorts of fabric pieces (anything from a small scrap to several yards) in freezer bags organized by color into larger boxes for YEARS AND YEARS and they never discolored, like some warned me. However, the baggies and bolts full got WAY out of hand, so I sold and donated a TON and now I only keep on hand what one and a half closets (full of tubed bolts) and 10 bankers boxes full of scraps (rolled and tied) can hold. I can see every piece I have - no need for index cards anywhere (as I'd start that practice and inevitably give it up). I drool a lot in fabric stores rather than buying now, but it serves me better in the long run.

I've had to resort to space bags just to keep the moths at bay. Nasty little buggers will still get into rubbermaid bins.