I have been on a very serious reduction journey since I moved from house to condo nearly 10 years a go. The first few years did not show much reduction in stash, but when Covid arrived, I was no longer going to work daily and my part-time teaching online was assigned to full time faculty by command of the administration across the whole university. In the end, I was left with lots of time and lots of UFOs and lots of patterns I wanted to try. Thus I began to dig in and I finished just about one quilt per week for a year. Now, many of those were WIPs, UFOs or half finished quilts that were donated to me. Finishing those made a BIG difference in what was housed in my sewing room and allowed me to see that by using my 40 hour a week job time as quilting time I could accomplish more that I expected.
Yes, I have slowed down considerably because .... I want to and I have some other interests I want to pursue. Bottom line, when I moved into my condo, I had 7 of the big rubber maid tubs stuffed with fabric. and I am down to about four and a little more. I want to use up what I have and be able to accept unfinished quilts from others or have the freedom in my heart and soul to take advantage of free tables or estate sales. I also know that I do not have decades of time to be quilting and I don't want to leave a stash for some one else to dispose of. I have a yearly goal of fabric in each year. That keeps me "shopping my stash first". I mentally have about $75-$100 per month for quilting which usually is used for backing and now and again having a piece long armed.
I returned to the first posting of the 2025 Moratorium and re-read the guidelines and it was refreshing to be reminded again of the importance of doing what works for each of us as individuals. We each have our own comfort level of stash reduction. I am sticking to mine and you, dear quilty friends, are sticking to yours.
it is time to stop talking with my fingers and to get back to quilt making for the afternoon and evening.