2014 Fabric Moratorium Moratorium
 

For the record, I purposely didn't post this in the "Challenge" section for good reason. There will be no challenge for me in 2014 because I'm not going to commit to a fabric-free anything. Why set myself up to crash and burn. I'm better off buying a little fabric once a month or so, than doing a face plant off the wagon big time, after depriving myself for six months or so. That's when I spend the big bucks. So, if you want to find me in 2014, I'll be trying to climb out of my stash, just in time for the post man to deliver another goody box from Connecting Threads, 1,000 Bolts, etc.

You are my kind of quilter.....:)

Finally, a moratorium I can live with. Where do I sign up?

I second this!!!!

Igt does me no good to say that I won't buy anymore
fabric. However I can do my best to limit the amount
that I do buy.

Just been hunting through the bins of stash for coordinating tone on tone or solids for some projects. Well, I just don't have them! Decided to hunt down those fabrics that say "what did you ever buy me for???". They will be bagged up for the local Free Library's garage sale. Voila! Space for those coordinates - buying with a purpose? . . . Guilt free!

I agree---even though in 2013 I really did quite well with the moratorium...I only purchased what I absolutely had to have either to complete a commissioned project or backings- quite a few backings this year I managed to purchase good quality wide (pfd- prepared for dyeing) fabric & dyed my own- so saved a lot. I still have an abundant stash to work out of but do not plan to stress over it this coming year- I will continue to try to put my stash to good use- check there first= but will not feel guilty if I visit the quilt shop & find something new I really want. :) life tends to be stressful enough without adding pressure ...

At some point during the past year I decided to put myself on a fabric/anything quilting related budget rather than a full on moratorium. All in all, that worked well. Some months I don't buy anything and others (like when I visit Lancaster for a few days) I buy a lot, but I think it all evens out.

I know I'll never use all the fabric I have, but then along comes a new project and it needs just a little something different so I buy more. Ugh. I think for 2014 I'm going to put something on my sewing room wall where I record all the money I spend. It will be interesting to actually track it and see how much I spend.

hmmmm ... that's a really good idea. :thumbup:

before i start, though, i'm going to raid my furniture and pockets ... buy a pile of stuff before 31 Dec ... and start fresh.

hey!
you didn't say we couldn't/shouldn't cheat a little. LOL LOL LOL

I might be able to think about this come January, but right now all I keep getting in my emails are ads from my surrounding local quilt shops announcing their Black Friday sales!! Yikes!! Of course, I am sure there are lots of sales online this coming weekend too. I know I will buy, I have to buy, but hopefully I can restrain myself to an acceptable limit.

Yeeeeeehaaaaaww! Excuse me while I try and get up out of my stash room......it gets a bit difficult at times.......lol!!!!

I clip coupons and shop in bulk to save on groceries. I shop sales to save money on clothes. I pack my lunch to save money instead of buying take-out. I buy gas with grocery card savings. I economize on everything. BUT FABRIC!! If I like it and see a potential use for it, I buy it. I like not having to go out to buy fabric for a project when I feel like starting it; today is a perfect example with all the (bleeping) snow we're getting. I can shop in my stash. Will I use it all up before I die? Heck no, but my friends will have a ball going thru it!!

I like this kind of moratorium!

I NEVER go out shopping on Black Friday. I did it once back in the 1980's
went to KMart to buy a suitcase and a toaster.

That took me 6 hours to get the 2 items and get checked out. I swore NEVER
to do that again. So far I haven't.

Since our girls are all grown and out of the house now (2 live out of state) we
just give the them money because they prefer that to gifts. I try to make them
little things, but they don't much like that.

I usually wait at least a week into the holiday season before I venture into the
stores.

I am with you on this, I know if I say I will purchase nothing... it will weigh on my mind. If I give myself a allowance it has a chance in being more successful.

I think a budget might be a better idea. I did a lot better with the moratorium than I would have without but still not that great. The idea of a running total on all quilting related supplies might help too. Trying to be more realistic.

I think for 2014 I'm going to put something on my sewing room wall where I record all the money I spend. It will be interesting to actually track it and see how much I spend.[/QUOTE]

It could also scare the h*** out of some of us:D

Ha Ha!!!! I'm with you on that one Patrice!!!

LOL! I just went to the LQS looking for a particular colour in an FQ for a project and bought $90 of stuff!!!! OMG!!! What was I thinking!! - well :shock: I wasn't but I was smiling when I got home with my meager bundle :o

I really like this idea, but I think it may scare me once it gets a few entries. ;)

I'm with you - besides my daughter says to buy fabric now because when I retire I won't be able to afford to buy as much and I will have a great stash built up. :thumbup:

Just to make sure I understand, we are down to terrorizing ourselves to avoid purchasing fabric?

As I understand it, it's a moratorium on moratoriums. Kind of a double negative thing.

I can't go on a fabric moratorium!

I'm trying to eat better but I have a bad Starbucks addiction - I was going every morning before work and treating myself to a mocha as my morning "meal". Which is expensive (almost $5), in addition to being a pretty rotten breakfast. But I have stopped spending money on Starbucks by telling myself that if I skip Starbucks that morning I will save enough money to buy an "extra" half-yard of fabric. That way I don't feel deprived - I'm not denying myself anything, I'm simply choosing between two different treats! Easy choice, too - fabric wins hands down. Plus, in my mind, this means I get 2-1/2 yards of fabric for "free" per week!

So...I'm definitely not on a fabric moratorium, in fact, a fabric moratorium could be hazardous to my health!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;)

I'm with the rest of you -- I really don't plan on purchasing any fabric (especially after ruler folding all my fabric and hanging all the backings (found 28 of them). I feel that I have a much better idea on what I have so I plan on using as much of that as possible but will not feel guilty about buying what I need to finish a project.

Absolutely! I refuse to deny myself fabric in 2014. If my credit cards experience a total melt-down and the fabric gnomes take total control of my house, I take full responsibility.

I'm thinking of a kind of fabric diet--plenty to live on, just fewer extras. Batting and backing and borders are necessary food groups--I'll just cut back on desserts. That doesn't mean I can never have birthday cake or cherry pie on the fourth of July or :insert your necessary, once-in-a-while indulgence here: , but I will recognize that it IS an indulgence, enjoy it, and move on without guilt.

I appreciate your self control!! LOL!!

A total moratorium on buying quilt fabrics is a no-no here, :D. I do have a lovely stash which I will not be able to use up for sure. I go "shopping" through my stash first before starting a project. I call it "cashing in my investments." THEN I buy only what is needed to finish the project. If I do buy anything not related to a project, it is usually tone on tone, blender and neutral colors which are always useful. Hard not to buy fabrics since there are so many neat ones out there :).

I think I'll join your club. I keep telling myself I'm not going to buy any fabric what so ever until I finish some of my ufos and make the quilts I have in mind with the fabric I already have - but, next week I have to go north to do an inspection and I won't be far from one of the most beautiful quilt shops in the nation! You can't be that close without going there and I can already hear fabric calling my name............

I totally agree!

Love it!! I don't drink Starbucks but hey that's where I save my money for my "free" fabric! Husband will love this one!

I cannot stop buying fabric and I currently have more than I can ever use.

I retired in August and did just that - bought lots of fabric during the year to add to my already large stash. I'm glad I did. I don't really have the extra cash now for fabric, plus I find I don't want to leave the house. I enjoy staying home working my way through my stash. I was able to make all my Christmas gifts without having to purchase additional fabric. I like the idea of this fabric moratorium moratorium - I won't feel guilty if I do get to a quilt shop and find something I can't live without.

Just like one of resolutions is NOT diet!

I did a moratorium in 2012: no fabrics bought unless they were to finish a project I'd already started....and I broke it only once, to make a favorite coworker a baby quilt. Got a lot done that year on the UFO's!!!!

I TOTALLY agree. With my recent move, I have an extra $200 to spend. So I have to be careful with what I spend. Love the bargain shipping at Fabric Patch. $3.00 priority flat rate shipping for purchase up to $75.00. Mostly getting batik tonals which my stash sorely lacks!!

I agree. I tried to do a moratorium this year - no luck. Too many good deals. :)

But I really enjoyed all of the modes of rationalization we all came up with in the other moratorium, and I had NO trouble contributing. As for 2014, I just reorganized my stash and I have to admit that I have no room left in the cabinets. It is full up. Time to use it coz if I don't and keep shopping, I will soon run out of working space. I wouldn't call it a new year's resolution but rather an eye-opening realization. Sigh!

We can start a new thread "Fabric Hoarders - Up to Our Ears in Fabric But Still Buying and Loving Every Minute of It".

:) I don't feel guilty tossing scraps in a scrap bin I'll never use. I don't feel guilty of the many rulers still wrapped in plastic or the notions still in the packages that are in my sewing room. So there is no reason not to by fabric and kits that just sit on a shelf. It is my shelf.

I tried to do this in 2013. I did pretty well. I tried to buy only what I needed to complete a project. I mostly shopped in my stash. I quit buying quilt backs too. I use something from my stash and piece it. Some of my backs have gotten pretty elaborate. I plan on trying to do a lot of the same in 2014. I also tried to finish 2 UFO's before I started a new project. My UFO pile is almost gone. Good luck to everyone trying to use up their stash.

Martina: I had a lot of fun with the moratorium because the rationalizations were so much fun. Trouble is when you go into it knowing your going to buy it takes some of the fun out of it. South has a good idea, we could all get together and wallow in our vice, complete with pictures of course. Start out with pictures of our stash, then document all of our purchases. I think that would be fun.