We are eight months into our fabric moratorium BUT anyone can join at any time :) The official end of the moratorium is 1 November 2011. That’s only 3 months away. Don’t know about you – but I’m getting pretty excited :)

Here’s a quick summary of the guidelines/rules:
• no fabric purchases to start a new quilt top (till 1 November 2011)

“Allowed” purchases include any item required to finish an existing project (either WIP or UFO), including but not limited to:
• batting
• backing or binding fabric
• fabric (if nothing in your stash will work)
• thread or notions
• fabric purchased on a plan prior to 1 December 2010 (e.g. block of the month)

So why are we doing this – the reasons are as varied as there are people involved. Some of those reasons include:
• de-stashing
• focus on finishing WIPs
• financial constraints

Want to bend the guidelines/rules a little? Sure – go for it. Some have chosen to:
• commit for a shorter period of time
• buy fabric if a really good sale comes along
• setting a budget for how much they will spend each month
• use 1 fabric from their stash each month
• purchase new fabric for volunteer projects

Threads that are related to this are:
Original thread: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-79756-1.htm
January’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-86351-1.htm
February’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-95818-1.htm
March’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-103716-1.htm
April’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112659-1.htm
May’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-119900-1.htm
June’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-127656-1.htm
July’s updates: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-134537-1.htm

So now… it’s update time. What have you been working on? What have you (or have not) purchased?

Cheers

I'm in pretty good shape as far as purchases go. I did buy fabric for a quilt for an aunt who was diagnosed with cancer. I didn't have anything in my stash that seemed cheerful that wasn't a kid print. But that's been my only new purchase outside the guidelines! :-D :-D

Edit: Just reread all of the rules. I guess my purchase fits in the nothing will work category. :-D :-D

I may be in real trouble next weekend. The Battle mountain Quilt Guild is having a quilt show. I will try to be good, HONEST I WILL. We have worked really hard to get vendors and they all have show specials. I do not NEED anything.

I was tempted by several sales last month but I resisted :)

Working on my hand quilting project is definitely keeping me busy.

Bought two yards of "tool" fabric to finish a quilt for hubby. Also spent 35 cents at a garage sale for a bundle of flannel which turned out to be two different sizes of quilt blocks. Made two quilt tops by adding some odd pieces of flannel that I had on hand. That's all for the last two months. I'm pleased with myself!

i haven't bought anything! i've been busy on my DDs wedding king sized for months, so haven't had a real need to buy anything.

I never joined ...I knew it would be like a New Years resolution that I would break...probably have bought 100 yards of fabric this year...see good sales..eat at my wallet and my mind

I'm starting again! After I got the job at the quilt show at the end of May, I failed miserably in not buying. And now that my closet is completely full, I'm starting my moratorium again! :D :D

I joined but did buy some fabric last week from a LQS. Two half yard cuts for a quilt I have been collecting fabrics for and some Moda from the clearance section. The Moda was marked down to $3 but when I walked over to see what was available the clerk said I could have any of the marked down yardage for $1 a yard. Needless to say with Moda being my favorite fabric I finished two bolts. I am definitely on the fabric moratorium bandwagon and don't plan any more purchases for the rest of the year.

I am redoing my sewing room (moving cabinets and changing the orientation) so I had to empty the sewing room. Nothing like lugging bin after bin out to get an idea of what I really have. I told DH that I BETTER get real busy and real creative once the room is put together.

I'm joining. I spent way too much in July and for the first time since I started quilting I don't feel good about it. I've got to put the brakes on and quick. Im in.

Okay. I'm in for the next three months. I have little willpower, so wish me luck.

I have known for months about the class with Harriet Hargrave sponsored by the guild. I have been able to get into the class, so I did need to purchase some of the items on her materials list including a book, a variety of batting, and threads I did not have. I did buy extra needles since I seem to break a lot of them. She does have muslin on the list but I always have several yards of that on hand.
This is a class on FMQ on a regular home sewing machine. I am excited about it.

Haven't posted in a while, but am still in. This moratorium is doing me a world of good. I do think my purchasing habit has become a lot more balanced as a result. It doesn't feel like a diet at all, more like a long-term change that feels really good.

Earlier this week I went on an outing with my quilting guild to our LQS. My first fabric purchases in months: two yards of WOW and three FQ, all needed to finish a WIP and start the next project. Was tempted by a few other fabrics, but stayed good. I have so many beauties already at home that are longing to become quilts.

I also started handspinning this Spring. Oh no, another craft to buy lovely things for... but I've been pretty good on the whole, definitely not overbuying to the extent I was with quilt fabrics last year.

Oh wow. Harriet Hargrave is one of the teachers I'd love to experience. I bet you will have fun!

Oh my gosh. I have learned so much in the last 2 days. Harriet is a marvelous teacher. She put us on a fabric buying diet for 6 months. We are to finish what we have and practice, practice, practice quilting. Really THINK about what we need to be better at our craft. Some point soon I am going to need batting to finish some of those WIP's/UFO's. I now know why I was having some problems with my quilts and how to solve them. I can now do machine feather wreaths. They aren't perfect but I can do them, with practice they will get better.
One important thing we learned: one batting does not fit all quilts.

12 days in...no fabric purchases....avoiding fabric shops/ departments, and QB BUY, SELL, TRADE!!!!

I still have not purchased any fabric for a new project since I joined this "Fabric Moratorium". There have been several times I have been tempted, but, so far have managed to refrain from buying. I am working on a couple of comissioned quilts right now, and have been able to use only stash. However, when I get paid for these, I will be putting that money away until January, and then replenish my stash, as it has been hit rather hard due to this Moratorium.

Its been 13 days and I am taking it one day at a time.

I'm in "kind of".Have only bought 4... 1/2 yd cuts for a top I started last mo.Thought I had enough fabric, but needed a bit mor. It will be 90% from stash. Also had to buy cutter blades.Other than that, have cut back so much!
Joann coupons no longer tease me into shopping.E mails adv....from on line stores are deleted un opened.
Have donated a lot of fabrics to Linus & don't feel I need to replace it.
Still amazed at just how slowly stash is used.....it never goes down! Stash is here to stay!!

Join us for September's updates at: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-149950-1.htm