Just wondering -

Do any of you buy ONLY enough fabric to complete a project ?

And have that project finished BEFORE getting any more fabric?

I have heard that some people actually do this.

But I don't know any of them.

If I operated like that, I would certainly have more available space in our house! AND a lot less money tied up in fabric!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared007.gif there are actually people like that????

I don't know anyone like that!!!!!!! :wink:

That just sounds like crazy talk!!!
Someone would actually decide to do that!!!
Impossible!!!

I feel sorry for folks like that - they miss all the bargains and limit their imaginations. Some of the best quilts don't come from pattern books.

I only buy for one project, only work on only one project, but I never have room in my sewing room.

It is called a limited income.

Wanna see my stash and then form your answer? lol

But, I do understand those that are on a limited income and only buy for what they are making. I'm sure hubby would LOVE it if I did that.

I feel that way, too :D .

I think we all understand living within a budget, but this is how I spend my fun money.

edited to add:
Terri, my husband would agree with your husband.

I used to buy fabric that way, and then Hancocks went out of buisness in a neighboring city, now I have so much I'd probably never have to buy fabric for another project :mrgreen: Just the other day I bought some more at a garage sale and have no clue about what I'm going to make with it---LOL

Circumstances dictate a lot of actions. Personalities control just as much. I have fabric for quite a few projects, some of my own purchasing but a lot from a friend who shares my tastes and loves to shop. Also, just for the record, I hate shopping and that helps curtail stash building. Sometimes limited choice is fantastic for creativity because it forces you to look outside the box. I bought specific border fabric for this quilt but getting it home it no longer did anything for me. I then shopped at the massive amount of fabric at my disposal and choose something I had previously thought unsuitable. Shopping changed my perspective and as a result I had yards of fabric that became a thorn in my side.

Ditto here

I would hate for DH to find out there are quilters who only buy for a specific project. He thinks it is an addiction that can't be helped until I get a "fix" and buy some material!

I am not a shopper, don't spend money on things I don't need, so I don't feel guilty for indulging myself on material. I am a scrap quilter, and I love sitting in the floor with my stash around me deciding on what to put in my next quilt. OK, I am a little crazy, but my material sometimes tells me what it wants to be placed in.

I have a quilt made with 4 in blocks that is King size. I made it 3 years ago and it has a piece of material from every quilt that I had made and a lot I have made since. No 2 pieces are from the same piece of material and I could probably make another one now.

I LOVE MATERIAL!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ninnie

When it comes to fabric, the word "ENOUGH" is not in my dictionary :D Besides, I deserve it !! :lol: :lol:

I sometimes buy for a specific design.... but I'm pretty sure that my last purchase of 17 yards for a 100"x100" quilt WAS a bit much. :mrgreen:

How is it possible to pass up a sale on fabric?
I dont need it but what a bargain, I will use it someday.
Then I build that stash Im so proud of. But it is still small compared to others I have seen. Must buy more.
And gadgets with coupons? Joanns has all the stuff to stock up on things I wont use now but surely will in the future, right?
Im hooked.
Books and magazines, so much fun to drool over. 100 quilters could not make all the quilts in their lifetimes but cant resist, this one has something I havnt seen before, buy, buy, buy. Later looking thru a few and realize I dont even remember looking at it before. Its like a new magazine again.

I probably have enough fabric to last another lifetime! Will I quit buying fabric??? Hmmm, don't think I'll answer that one.... :roll: :roll:

hmmmm well I started just buying for what I was working on. I now have 2.5 18 gal tubs of fabric. I know since I just moved the fabric out of the plastic XXL bags.
I have done this on a limited income. I have had to give up other wanted items never bills.
My biggest problem is I am getting rid of all unused "stuff" trying to downsize, nope cant do it with my quilting supplies.
I now have my retirement activities all planned LOL

After over 50 years of fabric collecting, I have started to purchase ONLY what I need to do a project. I will not allow myself to go shopping unless I have a certain project in mind. I try to use what I can in my stash, and purchase only what I need to go with it. I have too little space for more and not enough time in my lifetime to use what I have.

I have 30 27 gallon tubs so I obviously don't buy "per project". Never have, probably never will, but I love being able to design projects based solely on yardage already in my stash (I don't do scrappy). My income is also limited, but fabric and batting are the only extras I buy and quilts are all I give as gifts. It balances out. I call it a health expense...mental health! :)

LOL. I keep saying I am going to make a project just from my stash. For some reason, I never have just the right fabric even for a so called scrap quilt, so off to the store I go and of course I have to pick up a couple of fabrics, just in case I don't like the one I chose.

I havent been quilting long and was tied up in the same project for awhile but give it time my stash is starting to grow. :)

Let me address this, as for the last three years I have been under the poverty level. My fabric comes from estate sales, thrift stores, sometimes e-bay or Walmart. I combine with the quilt shop fabric I have left from better times, and with affordable fabric on sale. I never buy fat quarters, except for swaps, because I can generally get at least half yard for the same price. I have no problems dyeing fabric that may not be a color I need, but adaptable and inexpensive. One local e-bay seller I picked up from gave me yards of extra when I told him I was a quilter - his mom quilts, too.

If I see a great bargain, it will come out of the grocery money, and I will eat just macaroni or rice for a week. I also noticed an ad on Craigslist where a woman offerred to swap fabrics. It may be a way for me to upgrade. The classified section here is also a great resource.

I do have a large stash from better times, but if I were starting out, I would definately look for options to grow my collection. There are swaps here monthly - maybe if you get a bargain on something, you can trade strips or charms for other colors. I am proof positive you can increase your stash frugally. You just can't increase your stash on an austerity budget AND be a fabric snob!

I've heard there are people like that.LOL Not me though.

You know I am happy for all the folks that can buy as they please,I think you are fortunate. I do as Moonpi(,except for the eating part,DH and DM would probably hang me up to dry.) :shock: :lol: :lol: when I can. Everyone in this hectic,dont know if you will have a job today or not in this world of ours, just isn't able to do a lot of actual buying form Hancocks or whatever. I have a lot of Quilting Goodies gotten before I retired. Because I knew I would not be able to get them Now. Believe me unless you are prepared like a lot of savings,pentions have your house paid for, money is scarce. circumstances of a persons life is just that. If you can't buy you can't buy. I don't get to buy the material I want,I usually have to adjust to what I have. When I do have a special quilt to make I buy that material. Always buy more than what i need. But Yes I only buy when I make a quilt. Reason,I have to plan ahead for the money.
But most of my material is gotten at fleamarkets,yardsales ETC. I know there are a lot of quilters like myself but I also know there are some that cannot even do that. Praise the Lord that they even have food and a roof. I have reread what I keyed to see if I sounded hurt,angery,I dont think I do because I am not either one.This is a wonderful board to vent,ask for help material and spirit wise and I hope that never changes.
BillsBonBon

Here I am!!:)That is exactly what I do!LOL Here's the facts of why...I am too cheap! The only time I buy fabric that is not for a project is an occassional fat quarter. That is it. I buy from a list for a specific project(s)...and, sometimes that will continue for awhile depending on the project. I stack my boxes and baskets w/a tag hanging off the fron't of them to tell me what project it is for and if there is still a need to fill on the inside of that:). Sometimes we are in a mood to applique, sometimes something crazy and then other times a sampler...any which way-I am ready or almost:)I'd love to go to a fabric store and just buy 3yrds of this or 3yrds of that...but, even if you gave me a $100 to do that....I'd never be able to decide. I'd stand there for days trying to debate if it was fabric I actually could use, if it is just cute at the moment....and will it be outdated before I'd get to it...then the practical side kicks in w/'you have plenty to do at home'....which works unless I find something I have to make now...which causes me to buy for just that project:)I wish I could just stack fabrics! Maybe someone needs to hold my hand and pull me thru the process to the register!LOL Skeat

Hey Teri
I know you are moving back to the states next year, even with the military all that stash can be burdensome to pack and ship, so if you want to start early to lighten your load a bit I still have room downstairs!! Now how can you beat an offer like that?!!
Muriel
Ak. Angel

Come on over, Skeat! I'll take a hand in your 'training' :D !


K x

Wow, my sister is like that, but she gave up quilting about 6 months ago and is giving me her fabric to make a couple of quilts for her grand kids. Who can complain about that. I buy fabric if it calls to me and some if I need it. Who am I kidding most of it calls to me. Tee Hee.

I suppose I also belong to the Fabricoholic club (a sub-category of the quilting hobby to some, an OCD sickness to others, lol) My fabric purchases turn into projects, unless I find a project and (oh darn) don't have to buy the perfect fabric. :D

I buy what ever is on sale that calls my name, seek out going out of business sales altho this past week I stayed away from a 75 % off sale because the economy in Michigan may once again cause me to loose my job so I have a small stash I can quilt from adding only a piece or two to match up.

I used to buy when I could find a nice sale going on,but for the past few years I have slowed down on buying. I am trying to work on UFO's,and use what I have before buying any more. I do go look,but hardly ever buy,but if I am trying to finsh something and need a piece that I can't find in my stash they I might buy then. I haven't even got my sewing machine fixed yet. I keep putting it off because I would have to go to Kansas City to do that. I know if I go up there I will just trade up,then get in trouble when I get back home. I have a jonme 9000 the moter went out,it is 12 years old. I want to trade up so am wating to make sure I have some money when I go. Wating for my ship to come in......ha or I win the lottery..

When fabric was on sale in the past, I bought 4 yds of the ones I liked, because I knew they'd never be available again. Generally speaking, the fabrics on sale were the end of season ones. Sometimes I buy fabric that's NOT on sale that I don't need for a current project, because I like it and I figure it's not going to be around when I do want it for a project. Some designs last, but most of them are only here for a season, so if you love them, you have to buy them when you see them, or they'll be gone forever.

I understand what you're saying about limited budgets, and I AM being careful right now - and have been for the last year or so. I'm mostly sewing from my stash - but I have a lot of left-overs from those 4-yd pieces I've bought over the years at the less-than $9 per yard we're paying now at the LQSs, so my investments in fabric are paying off. I bought them when I COULD afford it!

I NEVER buy fabric I don't need --- and I may be struck dead for that lie before I hit the "Submit" button LOL. I don't go crazy like I did when I first started quilting (and was working) but sometimes a fabric just calls out to me......Some people buy jewelry; I'm not a jewelry person. Some people spend money to gamble. Some people collect fine art. I'd rather buy fabric.

I generally buy enough fabric to that I like together to make an entire quilt. I do buy some others but not much. I have picked up stash from different places over the yrs. My stash is not huge but I could make do if I had to. mostly I find I don't have enough neutrals to go with everything else. I always seem to need whites, off whites, and things of that nature.

Lynette

I wish I only bought fabric for a project. I find too many good deals! So I am staying away from any kind of place that might sell fabric! I have an addiction! The thing is, people offer fabric to me as well, and I just cannot say no! I am trying to be better about this, but I don't spend money on other vices, so I feel justified. :?

Anyone that needs to make more room in their house can send me some of their stash. I have a full cupboard to fill up. I've only been collecting for about 1 year.

Ditto

I don't think I can stop buying. I must buy fabric

I love being able to pick up a pattern and just be able to pull all the fabrics from my stash. I have done that many times. I will also pull most and then pick up some to finish it off. If I see a good sale and the fabric calls my name, I pick it up. I am blessed to have lots of shops around me that have offered fantastic deals and I have rather large stash. Had a favorite store close in March and I picked up several hundreds of yards of fabrics at great price. In theory I don't need to buy anything for a very long time but......It calls my name!!!

LOL
Oh, don't worry about my stash! I pack it very nice and neatly into boxes and the military puts in in a HUGE container and ships it for me. Safe and sound! :)
But, thanks for the offer. IF I need to, I'll keep you on the list of people who are willing to protect my stash. :) :)

Count me in, too, Terri! LOL
Do you know FOR SURE where you'll be moving. I think you said Little Creek in a previous msg. My son and family are about to move to Centreville,VA, so after you move, I may be able to actually meet you some day!

They are still saying Little Creek, VA, but who knows.......I just want Mainland, USA,,,,well, not California....sorry about that those that are in CA,,,,beautiful state, but don't want to live in San Diego.......