Dina

One of my non-quilting friends asked me how much fabric I had in my stash. I told her I didn't know and was unwilling to guess because all of my stash is folded neatly on bookshelves, and I didn't know how many yards were in each piece of fabric...plus I sure wasn't going unfold anything.

She suggested I just count how many different fabrics I have. So, I did, counting anything that was over one yard...as I have my scraps and smaller amounts out of sight.

It turns out that I have 211 different fabrics!! I am horrified. I have only been quilting 3 years. How did I buy this much fabric?? I'm thinking that maybe I don't need that trip to the fabric store that I had planned for tomorrow.

Am I unusual or do I fit right in??

Dina

nativetexan

I"m afraid you are not unusual, not at all. I am trying to use up my stash as much as possible and not buy new. I have many, many quilt tops to finish up also. but I keep seeing things (fabric) laying around my sewing room and grab those and start cutting and sewing. Then I must finish those, so the tops of old still wait. But i'm getting a bit better and grab one every once in awhile.

Dina

I guess I shouldn't really be horrified....but I am certainly surprised that I have this much fabric. I tend to finish one project before I start another, but it looks like I sure could start a lot of projects without ever leaving my house! I guess I need to spend some time grouping fabric instead of just grabbing one fabric and buying stuff to go with it.

Dina

dunster

I'm also horrified when I look at my stash. But then when I start to pull fabrics for a quilt I wish I had more to choose from, because I make 99% of my quilts from stash.

jillnjo

I love my stash, but it seems that whenever I consider a new project, I always want something extra that isn't in my stash! I just rearranged my fabric shelves and was again amazed at the lovely things I own and then forget it is there! It's so hard to have everything easily accessible. It hides from me!

ging10ging

I don't think your alone. I would hate to have to count my fabric and I always promise myself not to buy anymore and even now when I am in a boot for an injured Achilles I order online there is always something I like. Don't feel guilty just enjoy yourself. Sue

lynnie

I've got more than that, so join the crowd, march right along with us and hold your head up high.

Jan in VA

That's the whole point!!! At least in MY world, and I encourage it in others. For instance, I often sew at night (not yet - still another few weeks after surgery before I can do that!), I sew on the weekends, I sew when the shops are closed and it would really cramp my style if I had to run out for the right thing at those times. For instance, I just recently completed a curved log cabin quilt in graded shades of reds/golds/teal that had at least 50 different fabrics in it -- ALL from my stash. I'd have spent hours and hours if I had had to shop for those fabrics. Yuck!

Looks to me like you are off to a great start in your quilting career!

Tartan

How did you buy that much fabric? One yard at a time. I love my good stash!
Jan!!! Glad to see you up and typing!

NikkiLu

You are not alone! I bought a pattern a couple of years ago that called for 30 batik fat quarters. I did not even know what a batik was - even though I have been sewing garments and quilts for over 50 years. So, I started buying batik fat quarters - then decided that I really liked batiks, so started buying bigger pieces and bigger pieces. Then, I read on here that you should pre-wash your batiks, so I dragged them all out and started hand washing them. I hung them on lines in my utility room and removable lines in my living room (with a fireplace) to dry - this was winter. This process took about a week to do them all. I then folded them up and put them in piles of 25 each. Surprise - I had over 200 different pieces of batiks!!! I was shocked too! I should add that I have bought more but have lost my sewing room to my son who got a divorce and no place to live.