I have been sewing and crafting all my life, I still have some pieces left over from my wedding dress, dresses I made for my daughters, ultra swade( cowboy chaps for my son), fabric I recieved from my grandmother, some from yard sales, sales on QB, some bought for future project and changed my mind, Some bought just because I really liked it, and I always over buy the yardage because I live so far from my LQS and Joann's that if I need more I know it will be gone by the time I get back to get it. Your stash will build over time time. My stash started about the time I made my first doll cloths, about 60 years ago LOL and it is still going and growing. I do go to my stash first when I start a new project.