How many years did you spend stocking up on fabric before retirement?
#51
My WHOLE LIFE!!!! LoL
Had to Edit this: about lets see I'm 57 - 16 = 41 so not my Whole life just the last 41 years of It! I'm sure some of you have done better than that. And I DON'T mean that AS an insult But as a COMPLEMENT!
Had to Edit this: about lets see I'm 57 - 16 = 41 so not my Whole life just the last 41 years of It! I'm sure some of you have done better than that. And I DON'T mean that AS an insult But as a COMPLEMENT!
Last edited by icon17; 09-04-2012 at 07:19 AM.
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Southeast Georgia
Posts: 2,526
Probably 20 years. I've been through the mauve, peach, burgandy, forest green, williamsburg blue stages, and still going. I like applique and scrappy, so I don't have a problem throwing a few "outdated" colors in there. I figured I couldn't go wrong with Christmas fabric. I was right! I had to have blenders, so I do. I also figured that I'd need solids, so I built a pretty good stash of those. With the prices of fabric now, I'm glad I have it!
#53
#55
i don't think I will every run out of fabric. Nor am I done collecting fabric.
I do find it necessary to purchase the new fabrics while I try to use at least one fabric from my stash for my projects.
If I am doing smaller projects it is easy to find something from my stash for backing.
I do find it necessary to purchase the new fabrics while I try to use at least one fabric from my stash for my projects.
If I am doing smaller projects it is easy to find something from my stash for backing.
#56
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: sonoma county CA
Posts: 134
I just bought what I wanted and thought I had a use for, and then didn't get around to actually sewing much of anything... hence the stash! After I decided not to be embarrassed about it, I did more recreational shopping without guilt and referred to increasing fabric collection as my 401s (S for 'stash') everyone has to save for retirement after all. Now I have a new grandson and need to shop some more since my 401s is sadly -) lacking in cute fabric, let alone cute little boy fabric. If I were to advise anyone I'd say buy basics first - use your coupons for rulers, etc and a whole roll of batting if you have space and fabric you love. Get a good sewing machine while you have money coming in that you can spare. When you do retire try to put some of that stash into everything you make - but you may have to supplement buy a trip to the fabric store.
As for the mistakes - my local senior center runs a crafts/fabric thrift store. Some of my old calicos are going to take a ride as soon as I can find them (luckily I wasn't buying during the mauve trend)
My 401s is healthy and thriving.
As for the mistakes - my local senior center runs a crafts/fabric thrift store. Some of my old calicos are going to take a ride as soon as I can find them (luckily I wasn't buying during the mauve trend)
My 401s is healthy and thriving.
#57
I agree with bearisgrey that you should stock up on money and not fabric. If you stock up now it seems like you are doing it as a "job". Wait until you have time to leisurely shop and really enjoy the task. Also, taste changes. I have things I bought five years ago that are not what I want to be making today.
#58
I don't understand why people do this yrs. ahead & planning to use it in retirement. Our tastes chg. so much. Fabrics become out of style. Newer & better things come along.
Unless you're retiring in the next yr. or two, I don't understand the need to stock up for the future.
I used to make my kids clothes so when I come across fabric I didn't use, it's is the type that requires heavy ironing. The new stuff is so much nicer & I don't use any of the old stuff. Just something to think about.
Unless you're retiring in the next yr. or two, I don't understand the need to stock up for the future.
I used to make my kids clothes so when I come across fabric I didn't use, it's is the type that requires heavy ironing. The new stuff is so much nicer & I don't use any of the old stuff. Just something to think about.
#59
I spent about 6 years stocking up. I was lucky to have a Mill End on my way home from work and their prices were great (usually $4-$5 a yard). I used the 60% off coupon and stopped in often. I was buying great brand fabric at $2.12 or so a yard. I tend to not follow trendy styles in anything and the same goes with fabric. I buy what I like and I still like it 20-30 years later! I also like scrappy quilts so I don't need large amounts of any single print. I am very glad I have a selection of fabrics to choose from. My last two quilts were done totally out of my stash; fabric, thread,backing, and batting. I have TONS of white-on-white and beige-on-beige which is a big help.
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
I didn't start quiltmaking until after I retired but I used to make all my clothes so always had a lot of fabric. I winnowed much of that out over the years by not allowing myself to buy fabric just because I loved it. I now have a reasonably small quilting stash, which includes yardage of neutrals (black, white) which I like to have handy. I don't really want a huge stash. For one thing, I don't have a place to store it and for another, it makes me anxious to have all that fabric "leaning" on me, demanding that I make something with it!
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