fabric hoarding
 

Hi All,
About a week ago I was reading a very interesting post about a bunch of fabric being sold by the daughters their deceased Mom--Kansas City, I believe the post was from. Such interesting responses--and then I was off for a wedding and have lost track of the post. Anyone remember where I could find that post? I'd love to go back to it. Thanks.

It's in the Links and Resource forum.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/links-r...c-t278753.html

It is so sad. As I mentioned in the thread, our church group also received fabric from a family who just needed to clean out their mother's home since she had to be placed in a nursing home. I am trying to down size but I am way no near that stash.

I have a bunch too. I'm not taking time to count it. My Daughter and oldest Granddaughter will be in charge of what to do with it.

Yes, I really enjoy my stash. It makes me happy just to see all that fabric. It's not big enough to call it hoarding but it's substantial. Let my daughter and friends sort it out.

I am trying to reduce my stash as my brother intends to throw it in a skip.

This can happen to anyone if they don't leave their wishes in writing (preferably in a will or similar). Just telling people isn't enough. There was one story (on this board I believe) recently where a son burned all the fabric instead. Spite, indifference, or ignorance can lead to your spoken wishes not being followed.

About 2 years ago, I had an "aha" moment about my stash.....I needed to stop buying fabric until I had used a lot of it up making quilts. I am a scrap quilter so needed and bought lots of different fabrics and because I belong to a group who makes baby quilts for children in the hospital and everyone knows I'm a scrap quilter, they give me their scraps....scraps on scraps on scraps. I took the "scrap therapy" workshop so now most of my scraps are uniformly cut.....but still a real lot of fabric....bins and bins of it. I don't want to leave it for my daughters to have to clear out. I'm doing it a little at a time, giving fabric away that I won't use to people who will. Hopefully that'll make it a little easier on the girls when it no longer matters to me. I have to say, though....it's been fun to find scrappy patterns that will use up all those carefully cut scraps. I am enjoying it.

Me, too! Sometimes I go in my sewing room and open the closet doors and just feel the fabric and look at the colors. I have a ton of fabric, but not nearly that much! And I am using a lot of it up. I only buy fabric once a year at quilt fest and occasionally some go-withs in between. Other than that, I sew out of my stash most of the time. I like being able to do that. I can start a project on Sunday night at 7:00 if I want. I just start going thru my fabrics and pulling the ones I want. So much nicer than having to wait until I can get to the LQS

I was under the impression when I started quilting that you HAD to have a stash!!! Everyone had them and you weren't really a quilter if you didn't have. Well, I wish someone had convinced me not to buy all the pretty fabric I saw and thought I needed. I am now trying to downsize and finding it VERY DIFFICULT and extremely stressful. I will probably never use most of the fabric I have and have not and will not purchase more fabric without a specific need and pattern for it. Most of the fabric I have now is older and great for scrappy quilts, but I paid top dollar for it. Shame that it will be sold, given away and/or considered not as good as it once was. I am going to whittle away at my stash, but I will never use it all. LESSON LEARNED!!! I hope someone else might learn from my mistakes. There is ALWAYS PRETTY FABRIC ON SALE!!!! If you missed this sale there is another.....just wait and work on your current project. New patterns, new fabric and tons of ideas are always available. One does not have to do it all NOW. Just my 2 cents.

amen, msewinso

In an effort to downsize before a move to another city, I took 16 trash bags full of fabric to a lady at church. She is in a group that makes quilts for one of the homeless shelters in town. She was glad to get it and I haven't missed it. Win-win (0:

I've put sticky notes on some of my stash so my son knows who to give it to. My son teases me, any without a sticker is going in the box with me.

I too am trying to use up my stash and not buy anymore. BTW berryberry....too funny!!!

LOL on what your son says. Hubby tells me I can't die till I used it all so he tells me to get more.

As many have said, it is wonderful to open the closet door and find what you need. I recently moved and I too wanted to downsize my stash. What I did was compact some of my bins of fabric and also donated some that I really, really would not ever use. Why keep it? Let another individual use it. I donated some to a group of students who were making little pillow case dresses for children in Africa. They made 30+ dresses and barely made a dent in what I gave them. They gave back all of the unused fabric. ;) My goal is to empty one bin or the equivalent of one bin this summer..... by making quilts, donations or ......... ? Problem is....I keep seeing new fabric that I just know I would use.

I have two tall bookshelves, a dresser, a chest of drawers, a tote bag, and a large tub filled with fabric. I probably have maybe $350 invested in all of it! I started building my stash when our local Wal-Mart closed out their fabric section (they brought it back!) and was selling all of their fabric for $2.00/yd! Most of the rest came from yard sales, estate sales, or was given to me. What I don't use in my lifetime will go to my quilting group, where two of the ladies do charity work, such as prayer quilts for cancer patients.

Donna

I've never had a stash and, honestly, don't want one. I am not a prolific quilter. I'm not overly fond of scrappy quilts. I buy for each project only. I'm very happy not having a stash. I don't have the room for a stash and after reading so many quilter's laments about being stressed by their stash, I think having a stash would just complicate my quilting life. I'm happy for those that love and use their stash - it's just not for me.

NJ Quilter, (I am from NJ originally!) I feel the same way, except I do like scrappy quilts and make them, but, as far as having a lot of fabric, I'm glad for those who want it and like it, but, it isn't for me either.

My son says all my sewing stuff is going to 1-800-GOT-JUNK, haha. I am going to put something in the file with my will that it is all to go to the local quilt shop for them to disburse.

When I started my adventure in quilting, I had very little disposable money. It was very difficult to begin and work on projects. Fortunately, there were several place where I could purchase awesome fabrics. Needless to say, my stash steadily grew. I can now shop my stash, or, when necessary, I purchase fabrics needed for specify projects.

It is very liberating to have a somewhat large stash at my disposal to begin any project that lights my creative fire.

Nothing overwhelming here, just a significant quantity to at least make a beginning on any project of my choice.

AnnieF - my sentiments exactly.

imsewnso said it perfectly "there is always pretty fabric on sale". I have a nice size stash, too much for DH, but it's ok for now. I have decided to only buy the fabric I need for sashing or borders. I told my niece I wanted to make her a quilt and pick a color and she picked mint green, one color I have very little of in my stash. So I think I will pick out what I do have and then just buy fat quarters on sale to compliment the white background. I am making do....

Thanks for all the responses. I just find this a fascinating topic. I was given a bunch of fabric from a deceased lady's stash and have enjoyed it. But it weighs on me to think of my DH and DD having too much of anything to disperse after I am gone. I needed box and got out my Xmas fabric stash box, emptied it, and now have 3 Project Linus quilts in the works. I enjoy the feeling of "using up". We all have different ideas on this. Guess that's what makes it such an interesting topic.

imsewnso, that is what all the quilters were doing, back then, that you MUST have a LOT of fabrics. I do have a bedroom closet of fabrics to use for scrap quilts. I am not a color expert and felt scraps went together, like an English flower garden. My plan is to cut everything in specific sizes and donate the scraps from doing so. I will not live long enough to make all the quilts I really like, so scrappy charity quilts is my mission.
I do not even enter fabric stores just because I have enough and only buy the fabric for a certain baby quilt if it is deemed necessary. Lucky for me I have not had to purchase any in a couple years.
Jan

I have sewn for years but quilted for only a few years. I try to go through my fabric and purge what I don't want every so often just like I do my books and other belongings. There are churches in the area that sew quilts, and a group that sews bags for people ending up at places like Ronald McDonald houses while their loved ones are in a medical emergency. I've read on this board of many other worthy groups that make donation quilts and items. Why keep what you have no interest in using when others can use it?

Having said this, I do feel like I need to be more careful when I am turned loose in a fabric store......

My hoarding/stash of fabric is large, according to my children. My youngest son said he will put a dump truck up to the window and start throwing. I've told them I have quilting friends that need to be called first.

KathyM

My youngest gd looked at my stash one day and said "Gran will you ever use all this" I told her probably not but she can do what she wants to when I'm gone but right now it makes me happy.

I enjoyed shopping for my stash when I had an LQS nearby. Not a lot of fabric, but a piece here and there that really appealed to me. Now that I have no LQS to shop in, I just buy fabric on line for the quilt I'm working on. I don't have room for a large stash. I did make one scrap quilt entirely from my stash, and that was kind of thrilling, but other than that, I've never been able to just go to my stash and pull all the fabric needed for a quilt; I've always had to buy additional fabric for specific quilts. I have been able to substitute a stash fabric for one that isn't working, rather than having to wait and buy something, and that is a good feeling. I don't find it too worrisome to think of my children disposing of my stash, because there are so many groups that would appreciate fabric donations.

Without specific instructions family and friends may simply throw everything in the trash. It's a huge job going through a lot of quilter's stash, notions, threads, etc. Or maybe just burn it all. Not out of spite or any meanness, just not knowing what to do with it. Ask yourself this, would you want to sort through someone's massive stash of anything other than quilting stuff? I would not. But then, if you're gone it doesn't really matter to you what's done with it, right?

Several years ago, I started putting stickers on every piece of fabric I brought home showing the yardage for that piece. If I use some off that piece, I change the amount on the sticker. I've had a few garage sales and with all fabric priced the same (say $2/yd) the sale went very smoothly. I also sold quilt books the same way ($5 hardcover, $3 paperback). This way my daughter will have an easier time when I'm no longer around. Whatever is left is to be donated to listed groups.

I keep track of the quilts I make each year. Last year I made 16, 9 of them were from my stash. I no longer purchase for my stash -- I purchase (if needed) for a current project only. I've reduced the number of quilts hanging in the closet ready for quilting. That group is down from 10 to only 1 left. Having fabric is fun but not necessary! If I had to do it over I would only purchase for specific projects!

It took 6 full size pick up trk loads -they dbl stacked the totes plus I filled my car 3 times as well. This was just my fabrics. It took 2 days to move my sewing rooms,and only 1/2 day for the rest of the house. My BFF's husband is on her to thin out the excess at their house, so we are doing a big yard sale. I will be selling lots and lots of fabrics that date back to the mid 60's to just last week6-8 machines, plus 3/4 of the household of furniture and kitchen stuff I no longer need or use.My nephew's will be the one's to take care of my things after I pass and I just can't leave this burden on them. I have been donating fabrics to one lady that makes quilts and clothing for children in need. And for the Christmas give away through her church. If I was able to make 1 quilt every week I would have to live at least another 60 yrs to use up all the yardage and scraps.

My stash is also too large. I was given a bunch plus I have leftovers from many projects. I have quit, for the most part, ha, buying pretty fabrics. That sounds terrible but I only buy backgrounds and accents. I'm also piecing my backings. I'm sending out one top at a time to be machine quilted and I'm still hand quilting. My stash is still too big but we're getting there. Did I mention DH is still buying me fabrics? Oh well!

Unless the heirs are retired how much time can they take to close out your home. A week at most, probably less if they come from a distance.

I don't know about the details of that particular story, but I have an older friend who is quite concerned about her stash when she passes on. She actually is borderline on having hording disease and the fabric is not saleable. The dogs have gotten to it (use your imagination), pests have gotten in it & it is severely deteriorated. Her illness does not allow her to see how bad the fabric has truly gotten. She says she plans to use it, but every time she starts a new project, she can't get to much of anything in her "stash" so she ends up just buying new fabric. It's very sad to see my friend have such an unhealthy attachment to stuff that is contributing to her own respiratory illness & on more than one occasion, the injury of her animals. The reality is, for health reasons, the only viable options are to throw out or otherwise destroy the fabric.

I've gone the opposite direction with my own fabric. I keep it all in one large plastic tub & find uses for it as quickly as possible -- even if that's charity quilts. I try to buy just a bit more than what I need for each quilt and figure the quilting store is the best home for the many fabrics I love to sort through at the start of each quilt. I can spend hours at my LQS'es almost getting lost in the fabrics because they're all so very beautiful. It's a special treat for me with each new quilt. :)

I'm teaching my BFF how to quilt and she has NO stash so she is starting to buy more than she needs for her projects. I actually cautioned her to keep that in check. Speaking from experience.

I started collecting fabric when I was making clothing and now have a collection for quilting. Unfortunately, when people found out I sewed (or did other crafts) they gave me fabric and craft supplies when family members passed. I didn't have the heart to refuse these items because I knew what an emotional and difficult time it was for them. I amusing some of the fabric for projects, but will be donating some also. I've given some of the craft material away also. As for my personal fabric stash, I've stopped buying any yardage (unless I absolutely have to have it) and have been using what I have.

I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who deals with this (I refuse to call it a problem) blessing.

It's not my stash I worry about it is my sewing machines and embroidery machine. Nobody I'm close to sews.

I am at the same place as many of you. I have way too much fabric. I am in the process of sorting it all and donating what I won't use or even if it's iffy. I quit buying fabric quite awhile ago unless it was a necessity for the particular quilt I was making. Last year I did a purge also. But in the meantime, others have since given me more fabric because they know I sew. Most of mine has been gifted to me. So I don't feel bad about any money I spent. And I don't mind gifting it to others. I have only been quilting a few years but have always sewn. Last year when I did the purge, it was a relief. And it was sort of like taking inventory. I appreciated knowing what I had. I sorted what I kept according to color. What a blessing. But it needs to be done again.