Okay, so today I messed around with something called “stock yardages.” Sounds fancy, right? It’s not. Basically, it’s about figuring out how much fabric you got left for different styles. I’m trying to keep better track of my fabric stash, so I don’t end up buying more of what I already have (which happens… a lot).
Getting Started
First, I grabbed all my fabric. Seriously, ALL of it. It was a bit of a mountain, I’m not gonna lie. Then, I sorted it by type – cottons, knits, silks, you get the idea. This alone took a while, because, well, I have a slight fabric hoarding problem.
The Messy Middle
- Next, I unfolded each piece and measured it. Good old-fashioned measuring tape – nothing high-tech here.
- I jotted down the yardage (or meterage, whatever your preference) on a little piece of paper I stuck to each fabric with a pin.
- I created a simple sheet and then categorized my fabric with project.
It was tedious, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. Fabric kept sliding around, the cat kept trying to “help,” and I may or may not have stabbed myself with a pin a few times. But, I powered through.
Making Sense of it All
After I had everything measured and labeled,I put all the information for how much to use the fabric for each style,so that when I want to create new style,I don’t need to check all my fabric stock.
It’s a work in progress, and it’s definitely not a perfect system. But, I feel like I’ve got a slightly better handle on my fabric situation. Now, when I’m tempted to buy that gorgeous new print, I can (hopefully) check my inventory first and see if I already have something similar. Wish me luck!
