:oops: I think this is one the quilting police just might get me for. Seriously! I just realized I don't have a stash. Never did apparently. I was looking for fabric to sash a quilt with, and, yes, I have tubs and bins and bags, but - - - I have three king/queen WIPS sandwiched and partially hand quilted; several large tubs that contain PIGS with all the fabric for tops, backs, thread for the tops and hand quilting, batting - and of course, I can't cannabalize any of that because, you know, I'm going to do all of them -- eventually; I have a tub of pieces from handkerchief size to maybe 1/2 yard size (scraps I guess) but nothing large enough to sash an entire quilt with; a box of doggie bandannas (um, must do something with those); boxes of thread, embroidery thread, hand quilting thread, a whole box of markers, dye sticks, crayons (my new thing); a tub of cut out fabric for applique, with the fabric to sew them onto; several yards of tan, flimsy fabric (where'd I get that? must be MIL inheritance :?: ); but no fabric that I have for just -- whatever? Did you ever hear of such? Oh, my goodness gracious! I feel like a fraud. A quilter with no stash. Must run to the fabric store immediately.

what a tradgedy!!!! happy shopping :)

A stash is NOT necessary to be a quilter. The quilt police are more concerned about how you put a quilt together than whether you have a stash. There are a lot of quilter who only buy what they need when they need it.

That said, a stash is a lot of fun and enjoyment. Just looking at all the beautiful fabric stacked on the shelf is comforting.

do you see a trip to marshalls in your future?

Hey, I'm one of those that intentionally has no 'stash' to speak of. I buy for projects only. That said, I do over-buy when I do, so any left overs become stash but other than that - nothing. It works for me. I'm not into scrappy quilts so I'd never use a stash for much of anything other than the odd block for hug quilts or the like and what I have on hand works for that. No shame in not having a stash. Less to store and then try to figure out what you're going to do with it!

I agree with NJ Quilter. I do have a stash, but find it useless most of the time. I always seem to have to go buy just the right fabric for borders, backing, and edging. I don't do much applique so don't need small pieces, even fat quarters. And I hate scrap quilts (too OCD for that). So don't be in any hurry to waste money where you don't need to.

Gasp! You mean you're actually supposed to use your stash for sewing? I thought it was just for accumulating and admiring. I use my stash for the main ingredients for my tops but shop for sashing and backing.

Whew! NJQuilter, sandybeach and Barb44. I'm so relieved. I don't actually piece quilts *did I just say that out loud - here of all places?* I like to applique, hand quilt and that kind of stuff, but I hate to sew on a machine. Does that make sense? I'm not good at it, so I do as little of it as I can get away with. Anyway, I just buy what I need for projects, and I throw away scraps. gasp! So I did make a trip Saturday to Hobby Lobby for sashing for my quilt, and I bought fabric for that only. I saw some lovely fabric with lilacs printed on it that I actually covet, but it's really expensive to buy just to have, so I left it there for someone who knows what to do with it.

we all have our strengths and weaknesses. we all should do what makes us happy. the quilt police do not come along and say that they have never seen a pieced quilt from you!

One reason I started quilting was to use my DW's stash. I always thought she had too much fabric. Well she still does and I have used a lot of it. I have found that out of the fabric there is not enough that matches to make a quilt. So I must go buy more. My DW is more of a scrappy quilter than I, we have found out. I perfer to find a pattern buy the fabric and make my quilt. Of course I always over buy and now have my own stash. Learned you can not have too much. I tend to complete a project and want to go to the next one.