Dearth of interesting fabrics
04-19-2013, 06:49 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Northern Minnesota
Posts: 488
I love having so many choices in fabric! I feel lucky to love my stash AND have my pick of current fabric lines... my only problem is deciding what to make and being patient while I focus on finishing UFOs.
04-19-2013, 07:02 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Richmond, VA.
Posts: 348
There are times I go into the fabric store and just don't see anything I like and then there are other times I think I'm trying to buy out the store. There's 3 LQS shops within a 20 mile radius (God bless them!) and each has a different specialty. Some days I'm into the more traditional, and some days I'm into more bright lines.
It may help if you try some different shops to see the different lines and examples of those lines. Many times I've thought why would anyone buy that fabric only to see it worked into a beautiful quilt. It took me seeing it used verses me thinking of a project to get the beauty of fabric.
It may help if you try some different shops to see the different lines and examples of those lines. Many times I've thought why would anyone buy that fabric only to see it worked into a beautiful quilt. It took me seeing it used verses me thinking of a project to get the beauty of fabric.
04-19-2013, 08:17 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Alabama
Posts: 486
In some ways, I have had similar experiences as the original poster. I've been super excited to have the day off, have extra spending money, and make a long trek to a fabric store, only to hunt and hunt and hunt for something to buy. I chalked it up (mostly) to being in a quilting slump. But I am also a quilter that does not have young children in my immediate circle of family and friends and thus I pass by on all the kiddie stuff.
As for the inspiration part, I have found that if I flip through an older magazine, I can see a pattern that was done in calicoes that I know I can make look more timely by using my own stash. Scrappy quilts become more interesting to me.
Here is an example of something that motivated me. The pattern, called Pulsar, was published in a magazine 18 years ago. I used up a good amount of leftover scrap stash for it and then only had to hunt for the dark blue border fabric.
As for the inspiration part, I have found that if I flip through an older magazine, I can see a pattern that was done in calicoes that I know I can make look more timely by using my own stash. Scrappy quilts become more interesting to me.
Here is an example of something that motivated me. The pattern, called Pulsar, was published in a magazine 18 years ago. I used up a good amount of leftover scrap stash for it and then only had to hunt for the dark blue border fabric.
04-19-2013, 08:18 AM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
In some ways, I have had similar experiences as the original poster. I've been super excited to have the day off, have extra spending money, and make a long trek to a fabric store, only to hunt and hunt and hunt for something to buy. I chalked it up (mostly) to being in a quilting slump. But I am also a quilter that does not have young children in my immediate circle of family and friends and thus I pass by on all the kiddie stuff.
As for the inspiration part, I have found that if I flip through an older magazine, I can see a pattern that was done in calicoes that I know I can make look more timely by using my own stash. Scrappy quilts become more interesting to me.
Here is an example of something that motivated me. The pattern, called Pulsar, was published in a magazine 18 years ago. I used up a good amount of leftover scrap stash for it and then only had to hunt for the dark blue border fabric.
As for the inspiration part, I have found that if I flip through an older magazine, I can see a pattern that was done in calicoes that I know I can make look more timely by using my own stash. Scrappy quilts become more interesting to me.
Here is an example of something that motivated me. The pattern, called Pulsar, was published in a magazine 18 years ago. I used up a good amount of leftover scrap stash for it and then only had to hunt for the dark blue border fabric.
04-19-2013, 10:09 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 1,053
This is an interesting thread. Like several of you, I've bought lest and less fabric recently; had chalked it up to the fact that I have a great deal to choose from in my stash, and the fact that many of the prints that are very popular right now just don't appeal to me much. It may be, though, as one person suggested, that you just go through stages as a quilter and this is one of them. I doubt I've bought $150 worth of fabric in the past six months--and that mostly backing. The quilt JenniePennie posted is stunning, by the way.
04-19-2013, 06:42 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 4,961
LOL, I try to keep my purchases to $50.00 a VISIT! I wanted to work in the muted tones but didn't have any to use - I usually buy bright. I was lucky to find a whole line on sale - from 40% to 90% off. Bought 85 yards of fabric that day and have been working happily from that stash ever since. As I find other fabric that works with those tones I buy a yard or two so that part of my stash is happily evolving.
04-20-2013, 12:24 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England Alton Towers
Posts: 6,673
I adore fabric but now adays so expensive. Without the backing and batting. I have just priced how much it will cost to purchase fabric for the labrynth walk quilt. Here in UK £150 due to the prices goin up so much. What. Do I do dye my own?
04-20-2013, 01:37 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: central indiana
Posts: 686
My problem is that I love too many different types of fabric design. I wish I loved one like clear brights so I could develop a "style". Met one woman at a retreat like that. She scoured the stores for clear brights and made the most beautiful and original designs.
I have never found a quilt store with inventory I did not love. I often do not find much at Joanns because their colors are often muddled but there is usually something. Not that I buy it but these trips encourage my creativity. Even our "modern" shop makes me think about design in a different way.
I have never found a quilt store with inventory I did not love. I often do not find much at Joanns because their colors are often muddled but there is usually something. Not that I buy it but these trips encourage my creativity. Even our "modern" shop makes me think about design in a different way.
04-20-2013, 02:55 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,395
I've been trying to use stash first and mostly succeeding. However as you all know there's always that one fabric you don't have or don't have enough of. . .
I'm discovering that the ones I'm drawn to are focus fabrics but the ones I always need more of are the blenders and ones that play the supporting roles.
A long time ago a friend told me to always get coordinating colors at the same time (or at least the same season) or you may not be able to find the right ones later as the color pallatte changes each season. ie. the lime green from last year will be more blue or more yellow next year and won't match. Of course it will resurface five, ten, twenty years from now as the "new" color of the season. Lol!
I'm discovering that the ones I'm drawn to are focus fabrics but the ones I always need more of are the blenders and ones that play the supporting roles.
A long time ago a friend told me to always get coordinating colors at the same time (or at least the same season) or you may not be able to find the right ones later as the color pallatte changes each season. ie. the lime green from last year will be more blue or more yellow next year and won't match. Of course it will resurface five, ten, twenty years from now as the "new" color of the season. Lol!
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