Large quantities of fabric

[TrishWSU]

How do you deal with it? Since I want to make a LOT of diapers I'm tempted to order some fabric in bulk (like 10 yards!) But the thought messing with that much fabric at one time kind of scares me. I had 2 yards of fabric and I had a hard time getting it layed out right to cut it. Do you cut it into smaller sections once you get it? Any tips and suggestions welcome.

[Mickiswing]

I like to roll mine

Try to get the bolt too, if they'll let you!

If I have a lot or fabric, I'll roll up one short side, then use clothespins to secure the roll. When I'm ready to cut, I only unroll what will fit on my cutting surface. Just unroll as you go.

If I ever get my hands on a big piece of cardboard, I'm going to make my own 'bolt' to roll the fabric up on.

[happeeevraftr]

:

[Lynski]

:LOL It's a big scarey mess! I have big rolls of PUL. They come on rolls that are as tall as me! I leave it on the rolls and cut of small pieces as I go. I also have a 6 foot folding table as my cutting table. The fleece is worse though, I usually buy 10+yds at a time and it comes folded in half and roughly rolled. There's no great way to store it that I've found. Everything else is folded and put on shelves.

[whimsy]

nak

i think fabric stores will give you empty bolt cardboard if you ask for 'em

I set my wad o'fabric on a chair next to the table where I'm cutting. If it's really slippery, I will get some of DH's clamps and clamp close to the end so it doesn't want to fall off.

Once I get my pieces roughly in place, I cut off the chunk they're on.

[Jachut]

I have about 15 yards of hemp here atm, I cut it into bits because I prewash it a few times before I sew with it and I could not handle 15 yards in the washing machine and dryer. So although it's wasteful I tend to cut it into three or four lengths.

I store it all folded in Eliza's wardrobe. Coz her little clothes hanging dont take up much room.

[Belleweather]

I cut with a rotary cutter, and put the mat on an old door that I picked up on freecycle, so I really have the whole space of the floor to lay things on. Plus, the rotary cutter goes through multiple layers of even the thickest fabric, so I can fold fabric over and cut multiple dipers at a time. Once they're all cut out, I bundle each one up with masking tape, and write what it is (like 'VBAIO sz. small') on the tape and put them in a bin by the machine. The left over fabric gets stuffed, rolled or folded into the closet.

But then, I used to sew period costumes for a living, so ten yards of fabric is no longer intimidating when you've seen 24 yards of velvet in a skirt.