Hello everyone,
My stash is Huge. One room (12x12)in my home is totally taken with fabric and quilt related stuff. I have 10x 20 storage unit 3/4 full of fabric and some yarn. I also crochet alot too. I store the fabric in plastic storage totes. I also use the XL,XXL Ziplock bags.I tell my hubby I'm going for fabricshopping,he says where ,I say mini storage. I won't live long enough to use what I have, but it is an addiction!!
Mary in Louisiana :)

How in the world do you know what you have? Do you have it in any kind of order, Ex: by color, fabric type, etc? How many quilts do you turn out in a year? I'm just really curious.

Hi Becky,
I have it sorted by color, holiday ,fabric lines. If I buy for 1 quilt,that will all stay together. animal fabric stay together. But no matter how hard you try it will still get messed up. Every now and then Hubby and my Girls will help me straighten up. I finished 16 quilts this year. I do alot of scrap quilts .I have 6 to put the binding on. also have many ufo's. I have 4baby quilts to get done. But that will be next year,ha ha.I have quilting 9 years.

I would quilt 24 hrs. a day if I did't need to sleep.


Mary in Louisiana

It definately got bigger this Christmas, I received some wonderful fat quarters for presents from two of my best friends. Yum.........

I used to sew early 1800's era outfits, and have all the cotton and wool scraps left over from that. I have lots of fabric in my yard sale travel trailer sewing room that I can hardly get in. Enough to keep me busy the rest of my life, too. But I do NOT have it organized yet. That has to wait for Spring so I can stack the boxes outside to sort them. So, in the mean time, I go buy more. :lol:

I have only been quilting for a year. I don't have a sewing room; I use a corner in the living room that is about 3 by 6 feet. I have a shelf that is about 18" sq with 4 shelves. My stash consists of a large green storage crate I keep in my bedroom. I don't buy as much extra as I started out buying. I seem to find a fabric I like and then go get the other colors to go with it. I have an attic room I could take over but it is cold in winter and hot in summer, also only two small windows Also I can't hear anyone if they come.
I can get along the way I am. and the only thing I want to get is a large folding table.
I have a bad :lol: habit of setting things down and spend lots of time hunting., because of this I now have 3 good pairs of sissors. I use my coffee table for cutting.. I just throw down my cutting board.
Is anyone else in a small area,tell me about yours

Mary, my stash isn't as large as yours but thats just from lack of money, sometimes--haha--I just love buying fabric, maybe more then putting the quilts together :oops: I've got about 3 totes full of odds and ends and one tote completely full off fabric for certain quilts I just know I'm going to do one day :mrgreen: just as soon as the holidays are over I'm going to the fabric store, just never know what I might need!!! I've got to get some backing for a quilt that I just finished-----never ending isn't it :shock: gail from Colorado

I have a room that is 8x10 that holds my sewing machine(s), ironing board, and LOTS of fabric!!! Sometimes I can even see the floor. I have fabric for quilts as well as garments for my grandkids. I hope to make LOTS and LOTS of quilts in the coming year! :)

I've got quite a bit although it doesn't take up a whole room. But then, the room it is in is about 20 X 36. I have four kitchen (wall) cabinet sized cabinets full of fabric. Then I have several plastic totes. I also have 2 large CD holders full of fat quarters. I have about 15 stackable plastic crates filled with fabric (turned sideways so they are like a tall shelf). Then, I have a canvas shoe holder in the closet stuffed with fabric. My larger than fat quarter fabric is folded selvage to selvage, then folded again. Then folded over my 6 X 24 inch ruler repeatedly (over the 6 inch length), the length of the fabric. Then slide out the ruler and fold it in half. Sounds complicated but it isn't and it keeps it neat. Folding goes super fast and you can see the fabric on the shelf. I have some plastic shelves where I keep my scraps, sorted by size and shape. I sort my fabric by color or type, whichever is predominate (I have my blue fabric, but I keep my blue batiks with my batiks, for example). I also sort by fabric collections if I have some from the same collection.

My stash is large enough to keep me entertained for a very, very long time. If you haven't visited Ami Simms site, "I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours," here's the address

http://www.amisimms.com/stash.html

It's interesting to see how others have organized their stash.

I've started cutting my scraps into strips of different widths and then filing them accordingly. I wish I had started this a long time ago. I've been cutting and cutting and I still have a basket of scraps to go through. Eventually I'll be ready for some strip quilts, I hope!

Hi to all
Where about in Louisiana do you live? I am originally from Louisiana. I thought that it was just me with all my materials. I am glad ladies to hear that I am not the only one with big stash of material. I took over the boys old bedroom for sewing when they left home. The room is at least 10 by 12. On the long side of the wall I have storage boxes to the ceiling all the way across with material, I use the clear kind so I can see what is in them. Then I have a closet in that room full of sewing material. I have started a second row of plastic containers full of material and it is about 3/4 of the way across. I have this great big trunk that is full of matieral. and now I have the dining room table stacked a foot and a half to two foot tall all the way around it with the colors seperated into groups. I have to do my cutting on a bed or the coffe table. Now I am teaching two of my granddaughters to sew. My husband says the reason I am doing that is so I will have an excuse to go buy more material. I think he knows me pretty well after beeing married for 41 years. My one granddaughter and I have sewing machines set up in the living room on tray stands. My husband and one of my sons said gee I thought that those were for eating on. I have every thing you could possible think in the way of quilting material and sewing gadgets.

Earlene

hellcat @bright.net

Hi Earlene,
I live about 40 miles north of New Orleans in a small of Abita Springs. Where did you live in La. I glad I am not alone with the size of my stash.

Mary in Louisiana

I was born and raised around Leesville and Ft. Polk which is about 55 miles from Alexandria. I am glad to hear about your stash. None of the people I know in Ohio sew let alone quilt. My husband is from here.

Earlene

Just bragging here...

My sweet husband made me feel so special this week-end. I had just bought a bagful of fabric to add to an already full stash and was feeling a tad guilty. His comment... I don't begrudge you any money you spend on your quilts. Wow! I reckon he does know how much pleasure I get out of the shopping. Anyway, I had to share. Now my stash can grow even more! Tee-hee!!!

Now Earlene...

Iffum the table is stacked that high, and the TV tables are taken up with sewing machines... where do you all eat?

We must have our priorities... Now me, I have just started, so I only have a couple of quilts worth of fabric saved up. I am still at the stage of only having one or two (well maybe three) quilting projects going at one time.

tim in san jose

we eat at the kitchen table. The only time we use the dinning room is at christmas and thanksgivig. This year we didn't use it because my boys decided to take turns fixing holiday meals and giving their dad and me a break from all that work.
we have four kids and 17 grandkids. The kids decided it was time that they started doing some of the work.
Ear;eme

Hi fabric addics. I have a room with open shelves and frabics sorted by color and some by designer and others by theme. If i never saw another fabric shop for the rest of my life I colud still leave stuff to my grands. I have 3 machines, one on loan and two set up in the sewing room. I bought this house because of this room,2 walls of open glass and storage under the stairwell. My boyfriend finishe the room for me as a gift on year andthe table is customed to my size.I am short and the commerital tables are too hi. Now that I live alone my cutting board is perminately set up in the dinning room, if some one comes to eat we throw a table cloth over it and sit. I want a quilting machine and that will have to be in the living roon . I also have books and ctafting projects on one wall. My friends tell me it is quilt impressive how orgnized I am, hte room is about 10x15 and was once either a sleeping proch or mud room I am not sure which. I live in Fla, but my ex's family grew up in Ft.Polk. Their name was Allen. got to go nice chatting

Truly spoken fabric is an addiction. :lol:

Hi Ruthie.....I, too, have been sewing since I was very young. My mother taught me. There were a couple of instances when my mother was hospitalized for several years with TB that my father even helped me. Because most of my sewing over the years has been clothes for either myself, my boys, or my grandchildren my method of storage has been slightly different. I also have a very small area. One of our two BR (10X12)has a queen size bed for when the grandchildren visit. That takes 3/4 of one wall and extends about 3/4 across the room. I have a computer corner on the same wall as the bed. Opposite that is the 12 foot wall with a window. My sewing machine is in front of the window. To the right of that is a space about 1 1/2 ft wide which contains some plastic storage units for my small sewing items. To the left of the sewing maching is a table and to the left of that is a small dresser which is full of fabric. On the wall my husband put two shelves which hold plastic boxes full of assorted fabrics, xstitch supplies and other misc sewing stuff. The closet also has boxes of fabric and misc sewing stuff in amongst the clothes. There are only two closets in the house. My big resolution this year is to find a way to better organize my STUFF! The problem is finding a place for the stuff I don't use very often but don't want to throw away. Forgot to mention that under the bed storage units are all taken up with fabric or yarn or crochet cotton plus music I don't use but don't want to throw away. And I get mad at my husband for being a pack rat!! :lol:

So you see, Ruthie, I guess we're not too different.

Judyjo

JudyJo I do not know how many grands you have but if you ditch the big bed and get a loft (upper bunk) bed then you an store underit. My Grandson is in a small room and his mom do that for him. the dresser and a desk with his computer are under his bed, opened lots of floor room. Then she bult floor tho celling shelving along another wall all this stuff is there. the closet doors came down and shelving ad hanning space in there. I also have a couple of inflatable matresses that I use for company. the kids love it, they pretend to be camping if I light the fireplace. lol. I live in a 20's bonglow and I have no closets. I turned a 7x6 room(?) into the closet. but now have no guest room . owell it works for me. All who love me know that the sewing room is the heart of my house, not the kitchen.I have been sewing so long I have forgotten when I started.
good luck with your reorgnazition. Quiltnurse

Hi, I am new to the group and also a beginning quilter. My stash however is advanced. I did not know how large it was until I bought boxes to put it in so we could move and was amazed at how many it took. The boxes I bought are not real deep but are long and it took 16 of them and we have found it is not enough. My question is if you don't put fabric in your closet what is if for?

If I were able to organize all my sewing and hand craft things, expecially the fabric in one location, it would take at least a 15 x 20 room, floor to ceiling. But, who's going to admit to that much "stuff."

Yes, but the color isn't quit right...

My stash is small,
it fits in tub
it pokes it's head out
asking "What's the hub bub?"
Sew I say "Come here,
I've plans for you”
and if you're not big enough,
your brother will do.
If neither of you,
I'll look for your mother
At the fabric store
there's surely another.

Yeah, just got inspired by the stash when reading about other's.

Cute Steve! A quilter AND a poet! :mrgreen:

Yeah, just your typical quilter, cook, baker, musician, composer, writer, poet here (forget the day job).

Hi, I have about 4 totes full of fabric, a bag full of receiving blankets, 4 quilts started and a closet with supplies, cutting board, sewing machine, buttons etc... My hubby just sighs and rolls the eyes when I say I need more material, but I am trying to get thru some of it before I buy more. I owe my DIL and both grandkids quilts for Christmas I have to get done....
Deb :mrgreen:

MY STASH FILLS AN 8-FOOT LONG CLOSET; 3 BIG STORAGE CONTAINERS, AND I THINK THERE'S MORE IN DIFFERENT CLOSETS. I SORT BY COLOR WITH SEPARATE AREA FOR THEME OR FOCUS FABRICS. IF YOU DIVIDE THE LENGTH OF YOUR SHELF BY 2 (OR 3), ADD A LITTLE ROOM FOR SPACING; USE THE AMOUNT YOU GET TO CUT A FORM SAME LENGTH AS THE CARDBOARD THE FABRIC IS SOLD ON; MAKE IT AS WIDE AS THE MEASUREMENT FROM YOUR SHELF (I USE .75 THICK STYROFOAM THAT'S USED TO INSULATE HOUSES. FOLD YOUR NEW FABRIC ON THAT FORM AND THEN SLIDE THE FORM OUT; FOLD PIECE IN HALF;IT ALL STACKS NEATLY ON YOUR SHELF

I have a hutch in which the top half is full of my fat quarters, and the bottom half is filled with my dh's old cotton shirts that I plan to make a quilt from some day, as well as some solid fabric yardage.

I have two large baker's racks filled with smaller yardage (half yard cuts up to three yards.

I have 19 bolts with yardage over three yards.

I have ten quilt tops in my closet waiting to be quilted, one on a hoop in the process of being hand quilted, one partially machine quilted that's waiting for me to finish my client quilt, one simply waiting to have it's binding attached, and three quilt tops in the process of being completed.

Lastly, I've just cut the pieces out for a wall hanging that I'm taking a class on in a couple of weeks.

Oy vey!!

LOL

Hi Mary! My stash is not that big yet, but i am working on it! I am originally from Thibodaux. I was just there over Labor Day weekend and di my best to help support the quilt shop on Magazine St in NO. My sister and mom and lots of other siblings are still in Thibodaux, but I escaped :lol:

Hi Vickie,
Glad to to know you are working on your stash. It is a life long job. I buy fabric just for the joy of it. The colors just stir my soul. Buy th way I live just north of the lake in Abita Springs. There is also a grat shop in Kenner on Williams Blvd.

Mary in Louisiana :lol:

I don't think I have ever been to that shop Mary but think I went to one years ago on BAyou Manchac. My sister knows all the neat places to shop for fabric.

Vickie,

Where in N.C. do you live? My Baby brother livea in Albemarle.


Mary

Mary, I am in Raleigh in the middle of the state.

I have 3 under the bed clear storage bins full of quilting fabric, plus a small tub of scraps and a large dresser drawer full of fabric that is designated for specific projects.

I'm somewhat new, so I don't have much. I have a kitchen garbage bag where I toss my strips that my daughter tosses around to choose colors for her quilt. I did buy a small box of old fabric at a junk shop recently. It has some wonderful stuff in it, including two original feed sacks that I can't convince myself to death by cutter yet.

I also cross stitch, no that's a separate issue. I have silk thread coming out my ears from Vikki Clayton. She has beautiful silk floss and perle, ribbon and more if anyone is into crazy quilting. And it is cheap and she is a doll to work with. You can find her at www.hand-dyedfibers.com. Tell her I sent you! She's also got some hand dyed silk duponi that she is selling now.

I'm desperate for more scraps. I'm hoping that I'll be able to come across a stash soon :) I don't have proper rulers or a cutting board either. I am hoping I'll be able to find a cheap one sometime soon.

I have too much stash :lol: At least that is what my family tells me.. I have a 10x14 room.. It does have my clothes hung up in there but the rest of the room is filled with totes of fabric.. I organize the totes by the dominating color.. It is the only way to keep it all organized..

It definately is not a perfect system.. I would love to have a room filled with cedar shelves.. I want to be able to put it all up where I could see what all I have and how much of it.. I have a bad habit of buying something I already have :cry:

:? :P Well ya might say as Big as Dallas but not quite still working on it and quilting along Merrily!!!!

I wonder...how much of the earth y'all could cover with your stashes? Or how many times around they would go. I have a healthy stash...a large boot size storage box full of stripped fabric (thanks to my big sister), the bottom 3 shelves of a floor to ceiling book shelf, 2 large storage tubs that the lids won't close on...several plastic bags full designated for matching clothes for the girls Christmas complete with matching outfits for their baby dolls. Lots of remnents found at yard sales designated for Christmas Stockings, and shelf sitter doll clothes (big cardboard box of leather scraps and remnants in variety of colors to make shoes for shelf sitter dolls), hhhmmmm I think thats about it.