roselady

I have really had to face this problem too. I have had to get into my sewing room to clean and organize after some rushed projects done back to back without time to put things back in order. I have no room left to pile things and still have room to cut and sew. Every spare corner, closet, space under bed, bookshelf, under cutting table, has been used. The thing is I have so many "kits" that I have put together that I love and can't wait to use, why do I still want to buy more???

TanyaL

Change the way you quilt. Don't make the quantity of quilts that you used to, concentrate on quality. Dye your own fabric. If you only have enough of a pale colored fabric for sashing or backing and you need a dark, dye the pale colored fabric. Start doing fabric painting and making quilts out of your painted fabric. Spend more time making your fabric perfect, then spend time sewing your perfect fabric. When you buy, buy plain muslin. You can be 10 times more creative, spend 10 times as long making a quilt and spend one tenth as much money. You go through a lot of fabric making even 1 quilt per month, making more multiples the fabric you use, the money you spend. Slow down your process by using a more creative process, more labor involved process. There can be a lot more to making quilts than buying, cutting, and sewing fabrics.

rusty quilter

I take a good long look at my stash, and that usually slows me down considerably. Now, I buy only if I need a fabric to "go with" the others from my stash for a project. Not glamorous, but it keeps me mostly out of trouble.

auntpiggylpn

This is exactly what made me stop buying "just because"! It took me almost a full week, working at it for a minimum of 6 hours a day to get all my fabric organized and my sewing area (which is a 9' X 10' room with a small walk in closet) put together. I purchased 40 sheets of acid free foam core board from the Dollar Tree, cut it into 9 pieces and wrapped the majority of my fabrics that were over 1 yard in length. I used all 360 pieces and still had fabric that I had to ruler fold. Anything less than 1 yard got folded and put into a Sterilite 5 drawer plastic thingy. And I still have fabric in plastic bins. That was in July of 2012. I made up my mind that I had enough and if Iwasn't going to use the fabric after I bought it, then it was a waste of my money. I have managed to make 2 quilts completely out of my stash and have only purchased the needed amount of a fabric if I don't have anything in my stash that will work. I still go to the quilt shows, my favorite LQS, Joann's, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and any quilt shop that I come across in my travels. I still like to window shop and see the new fabrics. The only impulse buy I have had in the past 6 months was a FQ bundle at the APQS quilt show in Grand Rapids and that was only because I was told to buy it! I am still a fabric addict and probably will be forever. I just know that it is a shame to buy beautiful fabrics and have them sit on a shelf or in a plastic tub.

Nilla

This really resonates with me. I feel as if I'll never use all the fabric I already have, and much of it is lovely fabric. I think I'll use you as inspiration to help me cut back on buying. Thanks!

noveltyjunkie

Ditto. Moving helped me stop buying everything!

zennia

I am learning to like scrap quilts. Make do with what I have. Its hard but a waste of money to keep buying more and not using it.

DOTTYMO

I agree with Mimibug123 the only wayicouldstop would b to die. . I have tried to reduce and only buy for that project ..ha ha this just meant I either do more projects at one time. Or I collect big boxes full of the fabric and pattern ready to do. I love stocking my material an some i find impossible to cut up. The later go as backing on quilts for me. Going to a show where they end of bolts I try to keep away think I must buy from my friend's shop, but oh it's beautiful it will look great on my shelves or even in a quilt. ..... Sold

gspsplease

I have been on a fabric diet for a year, after over indulging last January (curse those on-line shops!). But I fell off the wagon twice -- once in October when a LQS held a closing down sale, and then last week when another local had a 50% off sale on half their stock. However, I do love shopping from my stash, and making quilts without needing to go to a store, with plenty of choice as well. This is my only real vice (no drinking, smoking or gambling, and definitely no fast women) so I figure I'm still reasonably virtuous.

Handcraftsbyjen

Stop? Are you crazy? I don't stop (and sometimes I need to!). Lol