Gemm

I'm a couple of days late (oops!) but welcome, everyone, to another year of focusing on reducing stash in the Fabric Moratorium 2026 thread!

I'm back once again to moderate this thread to the best of my ability and once again I'm "making do" with "scraps" from last year's message! I would like to add that while I might moderate the thread, it is nothing much without your contributions of ideas, links, reflections and pictures, whether you speak up regularly or just pop in now and then. We're always happy to have you come hang out with us here, whether you're actively stash-busting or just checking to see if this thread might be for you. :-)

I'm the owner of a stash that has fluctuated in size over the last several years. I love being able to make a beautiful quilt out of what I have, but I also have a serious weak spot for thrift stores and the free table at my guild meetings. I have loved the stash-busting ideas, support, and company on this thread since I discovered it a number of years ago and am looking forward to continuing this journey with you. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you would place yourself on the fabric-collecting spectrum! Some of us measure our stash-busting in tens of yards - others chip away at stash a fat quarter at a time.

The following is still heavily borrowed from Iceblossom's intro from 2022 because it covers pretty much everything. :-)

We have general guidelines, but please just do whatever makes sense for you. Although we call it the "Fabric Moratorium" the main idea is to avoid adding to our stash and hopefully reducing it, so any efforts in that direction are worth celebrating.

Here are some general guidelines:

Try not to purchase fabric "just for your stash" from January 1 until U.S. Black Friday (November 27, 2026).

When you start a new project or are looking for something that "goes" with what you're working on, shop your stash first. If you don't have anything that will work, then feel free to make a purchase. Hopefully at least some of the fabric for every new project will come from your existing stash.

As the year progresses, post your updates here so we can encourage, commiserate with, and support you! Post tips on how you organize and use your stash, ideas, and projects you are planning or have completed using your stash, as well as your questions or deep thoughts about stash, purchases, and fabric in general. :-)

Also let us know about falling off the wagon, as everyone enjoys a great story about excuses to purchase fabric! Exemptions are an acknowledged part of our journey here, whether it's to celebrate a birthday or to commemorate a trip or event, but sometimes fabric purchases or acquisitions happen "just because." They all make good stories and there is always someone ready to boost you back onto the wagon when you're ready to continue your stash-busting journey.

Pictures are always wonderful!

As stated, these are just guidelines; there are no Moratorium Police here! Please do whatever makes sense for you and your stash. Just start using all that gorgeous fabric in your stash; after all, that's what you bought it for!

Here's to a fantastic stash-busting 2026!