Some of us have it, some of us want it and some of have what only seems to a hopeless array of unrelated fabrics living in the the same general space making them feel more bothersome than useful.
We are talking about a useful stash of fabrics and notions that allow us to create wonderful projects no matter the hour and without the delay of having to run to the fabric store to make the vision in our heads come to life.
Over the next couple posts I am going to explore how to curate a stash that makes sense for that type of quilter/sewist/craft person you are. For some this might mean a thinning of the heard so to speak and for others this might mean creating a shopping list that helps you fill in with fabrics that will make the rest of your stash sit up and take notice.
I think of it a bit like how I work in my flower gardens. My roses as always better off when I get in there and really prune back what is non-essential so that they can flower in the most abundant way.
COLLECTING – CURATING- CULLING
I also add a new plant here and there to add spark and variety or when an older plant just has not worked out. I don’t feel bad about pulling out these plants that did not work and don’t linger in guilt since that just keeps me from creating the best garden I can. I just try to learn why that plant was wrong for my garden not make that mistake again.
If you would like to “play along” now is the time to cast your eye over your stash, your whole stash, open those bags tucked in corners, that fabric shoved in boxes and take some photos, your smart phone will do for this task, take some photos and then look back at them.
What makes your heart leap and what makes you feel squirmy and uncomfortable? Start there…. then let’s meet again and get started on curating the sort of stash you dreamed of and that does your quilts proud.
In between time tell me about your stash, is it your useful servant or more of a petulant employee?
I try and go through my stash a few times per year. Over the past year I’ve made several quilts just from my stash — 4 quilts for nieces & nephews, and 2 quilts for online workshops. That has taken my stash down a great deal to where I now have empty space in my drawers. I’m working on a handful of projects for Christmas, and once I finish up, plan to really get in and reorganize. Looking forward to following along with this!
I recently inherited two large garbage bags of fabric from a friend’s sister. It came from the estate of a fellow quilter in her guild who had passed away. It was musty so I imagine it had been stored for some time. I sorted and kept what I thought I might use. I truly am not drawn to much of it finding it more old fashioned for my taste. I already had more fabric than I know what to do with. And then we moved and downsized. I have not managed to get it all organised since despite having a nice sewing room. I bought another machine, or 2 and now the room is too small. With no options outside this room i know I have to do some culling of ‘stuff’ or I may never get inspired to sew again. I think the idea of displaying my fabric on a bookshelf and putting my big stuff where the fabric once lived in the deep cabinets might work better. Thanks for all the great ideas here.
I also moved this summer, but the house sold much more quickly than I expected, so I had to just shove stuff in boxes and get them out! So now I am trying to be thoughtful about what I want to keep as I unpack my fabrics and paraphernalia. I am still relatively new to quilting, and I have found that my tastes have changed since I started, and have learned more about what is possible. Also, moving to a new space seems to have affected what I like well enough to keep, too! Thanks for a timely read!
To be honest the best things that can happen to my stash is when my sister is cleaning out her stash! Then I come home with boxes and boxes of great sets, have finished projects and Fabrics all ready to go into project. Just this summer I came home with two Banker boxes full of precut batik squares and strips. My fingers ache with creativity and my carpal tunnel surgery cannot come quick enough! my generous sister cannot resist giving me fabrics for whatever project I’m interested in tackling. I call it the make one keep one projects she provides the fabric and I do the sewing she gets one and I keep one.
I have an empty flower bad with a couple little wildflowers growing. 🙂 I would love to have a shelf of stash, but I have to buy only what I need at a time for each project. It’s what I can afford which is not uncommon I found when I met 2 other quilters while going to get treatments at an infusion one day. All my meds trump my hobby most of the time, but when I do make my quilts or projects, they shine! And I am happy and that’s ok!
I purged my stash in 2013, when I realized my focus was more about buying and owning fabric than making quilts. I now maintain a very carefully curated stash that never fills more than one Ikea bookcase. Except when I pile fabric on top. Or save old shirts in the closet for a memory quilt….or….. I’ve found the only solution is to be ruthless about fabric that doesn’t bring you joy, no matter how compelling the story behind it might be. I haven’t gone through everything in a year so this is perfect timing for me! Thanks, Maddie!
Rachel, your first sentence describes me exactly. I constantly ooh and ahh about fabric combos, picture a great quilt, make the purchase and carefully store the goods. On to the next fantasy! Thanks for sharing.
I have at least 3 full quilt kits that I love and have never started. I love taking classes and buying fabrics but find it hard to get motivated to work by myself.
For sure, moving helps identify out the things that need “rehoming” and the discovery of lost friends was fabulous! I’m still reviewing my collection of wonders! Many have moved on and, I admit, some are still lost. I’m still working full time and I’m trying to schedule myself time in the sewing room to finish moving in as well as creating. Ahhhhh the challenge of more, but not yet neat, space!!
Some great advice from Freddy Moran that I follow works well. Go through your fabric every 3 months/4x a year. Touch it, feel it, re-fold it, sort it & organize it. If it’s lost that loving feeling, donate it to your guild, a charity or an organization that teaches women to sew. Most importantly, when you find a fabric you adore, buy it and use it immediately so that it doesn’t get lost in a box. I started following this practice about three years ago, and find that I use what’s in my stash more often than I buy fabric. I’ve ‘rediscovered’ some really great fabrics AND I actually know what I NEED before heading to my LQS!
I destash on a regular basis but then I buy a lot of thrifted fabric. I’ll replace the marginal fabric with prettier stuff.
I just bought my first retail coordinated fabric, Riley Blake’s Curiosities by Amanda Herring. I wanted to get my skill level up to a point that I wouldn’t ruin $100 worth of fabric.
I am just swimming in plaid remnants so I will use up the majority making some Storm at Sea blocks and then donate back the rest to the Great Thrift Shop Beyond.
I moved my shop a few years ago and ***STILL*** have boxes that need to be unpacked. Less and less is staying as I go through the boxes. I’m a longarm quilter and don’t piece much for myself any more. In order to make the cut, something must be a basic essential or make me swoon.
I moved from Marylandcto Texas in June. I now have a dedicated sewing room with a closet and built in shelving. I THOUGHT I had some significant purging before I moved, including corralling friends to help me make almost 50 pillowcases for charity (I recur “kits” from my stash), but am continuing to thin the herd. There is a lot of “nice” fabric, but it doesn’t make my heart sing and my tastes have change. Accordingly, I am continuing to purge by making charitable items (more pillowcases, pet beds for the shelter) and selling yardage Nd supplies via Facebook groups). I WILL get my room organized and running efficiently!
Sent off a comment too soon. Starting again…..I de-stash pieces quite often. I find if a fabric has been in my stash too long, my tastes will have changed and I no longer love it. I went through a several year period of using almost exclusively batiks and now I’m totally over them. Trying to keep my stash as lean as possible.
I moved homes 18 months ago and thinned my herd considerably. At the same time I shopped like mad since retiring changes your financial picture. (I’m a quilter. I love scrap quilts.) Since then I’ve put myself on a year long fabric embargo. No purchases unless needed to finish a project. I still have a lot, but I’m happy with it.
Good idea