Choosing and Preparing Fabrics

Most stitchers naturally fall somewhere between these two approaches—and many of us move between them depending on the project.

Treasure Hunting

Perfect if you enjoy discovery and spontaneity.

You might:

• Keep baskets of fabric scraps.

• Store threads together without much organization.

• Let unexpected combinations inspire your work.

• Enjoy the excitement of rediscovering forgotten treasures.

Benefits

• Encourages experimentation.

• Leads to surprising colour combinations.

• Makes every project feel like an adventure.

Curating

Perfect if you like a little structure.

You might:

• Organize threads by colour.

• Keep different thread weights together within each colour family.

• Bundle fabrics into coordinating colour groups.

• Create ready-made collections for future projects.

Benefits

• Faster decision-making.

• Easier to build layered colour palettes.

• Creates harmony while still allowing variety.

• Makes it easier to combine different thread weights and textures.

My Hybrid Approach

Today I use both.

• I keep curated collections of threads and fabrics organized by colour.

• I still treasure hunt through baskets and drawers when I'm looking for something unexpected.

• Organization gives me efficiency.

• Treasure hunting gives me surprise.

Both have a place in my creative process.

Remember

Your organization system should support your creativity—not become another project to manage.

Whether your supplies live in beautifully curated colour collections or joyful baskets of creative chaos, the goal is the same:

To make it easy to sit down, choose your materials, and begin stitching.