I'm often astonished at how much is posted in Buy/Sell/Trade. How does someone find themselves with 30 or 40 yds of fabric to sell at a time?. 6 yds of this and 10 yds of that. I guess I just have to be pleased with myself for having more self control - or is that really just a far smaller pocketbook? I check it out all the time and buy frequently. But... what do the rest of you think? Is it just me?

No, I also wonder that.

I am a person who buys what I need for a project. When I finish a project I select a few "nice size" pieces and put them in my ONE scrap bin. The rest go to the ladies from the Guild who make charity scrap blankets.

So, to see all the fabric folks have ... it would stress me out.

I guess that's the best part of quilting -there's enough room under this big, beautiful quilt for all of our differing approaches!

People buy large quantities for many reasons. Some yardage is purchased for projects that don't come to fruition; some is bought at a great discount and passed on, either here or via ebay, etsy, etc.

I'm sure others will be along to tell their stories shortly, but everyone has one. I highly doubt in most cases it's a matter of self control. ;)

I could fill my home with fabric and be a very happy camper LOL I do try and exercise a little bit of self control though. It is nice to be able to go to my stash and pull out enough fabric for a quilt :D:D:D

I for one love fabric and buy much more than I need, but not to the point to sell yet. I have bought bolts at good prices and buy from the board alot.

I inherited my mil's fabric when she passed. She owned a quilt shop and kept some of every fabric in the shop for herself plus loads of extra stuff. I already had a room half full of fabrics for projects I plan to do. I have 3 sewing rooms complete with machines and all the stuff needed to sew in each one :) It's not a hobby, it's a life style for me :) I always feel so loved and special! Of course the word spoiled is used a lot for me too :) I don't sell anything tho. I just haven't felt like figuring it all out.

I don't know about anyone else with large amounts of fabric to sell but I can speak for a friend who does not post on this board, but who inherited a huge amount of fabric from a relative who had a custom sewing business and apparently routinely bought out fabric stores going out of business. She was only able to rescue a couple trailer loads of the fabric and some of the sewing machines. Most of the fabric was on the original bolts. She sold most of it in a series of sales at anywhere from $1 a yard on up to much more for the silks and fur.
She still has a couple of armoires (sp) full but most of the 'good stuff has sold.

I am pleased they are selling. I now can't really afford fabric at the LQS due to the price increases. I do shop at Walmart now but there is almost no selection and some of it is of very poor quality. I do think we all come from varies back grounds and varies income brackets. I am holding on to everything I have as our income has significantly decreased over the last 3 plus years and I will not be able to replace it with the same quality. That said I have been working my way through my stash and I am happy to find $4-5 a yard fabrics here on the board.

some people buy lots thru craiglists sort thru and keep what they want and then sell the rest thru here.

When people find out I make quilts they will "unload" some of their stock pile on me. I think it is to clean out their closet because they don't need it or want it any more.

Ok so here is my story. I started quilting one and a half year ago and fell in love with it. It is mainly as a hobby but every now and then i sell quilts but not much (hoping now to be able to do more). Since me and my husband are thinking to go back home (Jordan) in three years, i started hunting for good bargains of fabrics especially by the bolt and all kinds of books and notions (the whole nine yard) so i can take with me since we don't have any of that back there. Most of my hunting was through craigslist and estate sales and local shops going out of business. Fabric is not cheap as we all know so to get Moda fabric for example locally (no tax and no shipping) for $4-$5/yard is a deal. I don't buy cheap fabrics because i will never waste my long hours on something that i intend to keep for a long time and enjoy, and ofcourse i can't afford the high $ priced fabric. If i make bargains for large amounts and buy the whole thing, there has to be something that i don't like (just not my taste) so i sell here because i know someone will love it:)

I've only bought from the sellers. I have always been very pleased on what I recieved. I look in the classifieds everyday.

I have often wondered too, I am more likely to give away fabric than sell it. But I do have a bad habit seeing fabric on sale that I believe will make a wonderful backing so buy 6-7 years. It has to be a great sale, but I have bought the fabric. Trying very hard to stop doing it, for no other reason it is just a waste of money.

I am pleased they are selling. I now can't really afford fabric at the LQS due to the price increases. I am a person who buys what I need for a project. I don't have a lot either I just get as I go and I do a lot for charitys too. So when I am on the hunt I come here and for the most part find what I am looking for for an awesome price. It does my heart good to see so many share and sell for a really good price. It makes my quilting days go futher.

I used to work at a national fabric store (where with sales and employee discount it was cheap) and I was sewing and not quilting so I would buy a large amount as some items could easily use up 4-8 yards for an outfit or gathered dress (Think Daisy Kingdom) and the intended child just out grew the pattern size before I got to it. Mostly it was UFO's I never got to or changed my mind. I just cut off what I want and am selling the extra yardage I don't want.

Well as a fabric hoarder..who doesn't sell any of it...LOL.

I didn't understand the 10 yards at a whack either until you make a few queen/king size quits and you need backings. I used to have two totes a fabric before I started working at a LQS...and have since quit to open my own LAQ business.

I digress...another thing is that if you get something on sale for 3$ a yard..it's hard not to buy all of it because you think you could use it for something right?
I have gotten batter about that....unless I know I can use it for a backing. I only buy LQS material myself..so to get a good deal on it is really hard to pass up.

But I tend to only buy 2-3 yard cuts of pieces I like..unless it is for a specific project.

Some people just like to shop, gather, collect. Others like to sew.

I have a huge stash, i dont' sell any unless i got it along with something else at a tag sale and i know i will never use it. I like being able to shop my stash to make a quilt.
About 90% of my fabric i purchased on sale or at a garage sale,the rest i just couldn't resist.

I, too, am glad that members have an outlet here for their "leftovers". As I said, I am a frequent buyer. It must just be my scrappy approach that can't imagine a use for 10 yards of material at a time unless it was solid black, or white or bolts of muslin.
For those that fall into the realm of inheritance or estate sale, or store closing, or Craig's list and Goodwill - just scoring a bargain - I say more power to ya. Passing on the score is also a wonderful thing.
That said - I rarely buy more than a half yard at a time. I'm a scrapper. I buy rems and occasionally a 2 1/2 yard piece for borders. Hence my astonishment.
I'm not trying to make anyone uncomfortable - just finding common ground.

I am just happy to be able to find things I am looking for here...

I buy any quilting notion that is half price or less on clearance. I have enough of the basics like rotary blades, needles, pins, rulers, and mats to last me for years. I don't have to worry about high prices later on. Now I'm buying good thread when I find it on sale. I found Isacord thread on sale today for $3.59 for 1000 m spool. This is excellent thread for machine quilting and embroidery.

I really enjoy checking out what people have to sell, its very interesting to see, I have purchased the end of the bolt a lot because it is at a discount if you buy it that way, thus, I end up with more yardage that what I had intended to get

I haven't sold yet but do have plenty to sell if I so choose.
When my aunt passed, my uncle asked if I wanted some fabric. When I went to get it there were 11 large totes. I
have purchased full bolts at store closing sales. Two years ago, I went to I went to an estate sale of a lqs owner. Fabric was $1.00 a yard. I bought several bolts of moda.
I don't feel guilty if I still buy more. I work hard, have a good job. This is my hobby, my passion and my only vice.
All of my stash is now organized in a glass front cabinet. I smile everytime I walk in that room.

You could not have said this better. This exactly how I feel.

I have a lot of fabric because i am ADDICTED to it!!!! If i see one i like, i get as much as i can. I have gotten quite a bit that is on sale, some at 1.00 yd! You never know when you will have just the right fabric for that special project.

Fabric just seems to come to me. People know I make quilts for charity so they donate fabric. I also go to yard sales, estate sales, Goodwills, thrift stores, and store closings. When my stash gets too large, I start giving it away. I don't think I have ever sold any of it on this board but I have given it away several times if there is a real need. Yesterday I went through my stash and collected two garbage bags of fabric that I don't think I will use and will take it to a local church that does lap quilts for a nursing home and what they can't use, they will pass on. And in turn, they will give me their children's prints for more children's quilts. This is how my stash keeps growing. I don't think I have bought fabric from a store in almost a year.
dog lover

Heres my confession - I have an addictive personality lol - I love to shop bargains and I love to match fabrics. Thus I have waaay too much fabric. Also I helped my sisters MIL sell all of her quilting fabrics etc (she was 82 at the time and she had piles of fabric still in the shopping bags stacked in her garage (she parked outside lol) I kept alot of it that I couldnt sell at the time for payment for selling and organizing her items (she had many keepsake quilting and Thimbleberries BOM and quilt kits but they needed to be matched up) I also helped clean out all of her excess household items so she could get ready to sell her condo since she had to go to nursing home. I was able to turn over about 3500 to her in cash to use for her expenses. I was also able to keep her several items for her to work on while at the nursing home, put together a quilt for her from blocks a friend had embroidered for her and have it quilted, had a king size quilt quilted for my sister and BIL. Also dontated about 6 quilt kits and extra fabrics to the church quilting guild.

I do have a tendency to buy fabric with projects in mind but I am now to the overwhelmed part so I am selling off excess in order to keep just a few things for my to do list. I still have a ways to go. I am getting alot better about not going to sales at all (JoAnns is running a sale now lol). Dang the coupons :cry: I am fighting the urge but so far staying away lol.

thats my story and I am sticking to it!!! :lol:

I wonder the same thing

I like to keep a large stash to audition different fabrics to use in the quilt. I cannot simply go to a store and buy fabric for a whole quilt, just maybe the larger pieces I would need. I collect the fabrics first, then figure out where to put them. I don't think I'll be selling fabric soon. I can see how your tastes might change and you have a large quantity of fabric to sell. Sometimes you sell books because you've made things from that book and don't think you'll make it again. Other books you might sell are about a technique you've perfected or have moved on to doing things a different way. I do have some books to sell some day.

I inherited far more than I can ever use when my sister lost her battle with colon cancer. I like finding homes for books, patterns, fabric so that they will be used & not trashed when I am gone. I have sent quilt items all over the world & made many quilting friends.

although i don't have any fabric longer than 3 yards.(other than a bolt of muslin,bought with coupon!)

i try to get sales for backs of quilts. i use muslin a lot, for anything over a lap or toddler quilt, it is just to dang expensive to put 5 yards of fancy fabric on a larger quilt. i do love muslin, mostly tea dyed.

i impulse buy too, usually 2 yard pieces. i fall in love with it..and then may not use it for a year.

i appreciate the ones who can pass on deals here to others.

Some of us are old(er) and have been accumulating for years and years.

Then we start looking around and realize that we probably will never get around to using it all.

I am glad they are selling!! I can't afford the LQS prices, but I love to make blankets for children. I have also sold stuff from time to time, to get the funds to "buy" something from the board that will finish off a project. Works well for me...keep those sales going ladies!!

I know the saying "It's not a bargain if you can't use it" but hey, I'm a sucker for quality fabric at bargain prices. I'm at my LQS, and they have and empty the bolt sale on already marked down fabric. What could I do. I was a victim.

I know my reasons for having so much "extra" fabric is:
1 - Bought more than I needed because I didn't have a pattern in mind.
2 - Style of fabric (traditional, contempary) that I'm drawn to has changed.
3 - My favorite colors have changed.
4 - Bought fabric for a certain project but could never find the remaining fabric I needed - lost interest.
5 - I fret over a project so much that it takes me longer to complete - therefore I know I'll never get all the quilts made that I have fabric for.
6 - Bought fabric just because I loved it - then discovered it was lust not love.

I really could go on and on for my "reasons" not "excuses", but I think you get the idea. :-D :-D :-D

I'm in this category!

Sometimes I come across a bit of fabric and wonder WHAT in the world was I thinking. It's not my taste now, but would be great for someone else. Now..Where is that fabric with the beach boys on it? LOL

In my rather long past, I have purchased fabric when I was unhappy,

thought I could get a project done in 1 or 2 days before a big event like a holiday or birthday

I love the colors

I love the pattern

I love both the colors and the pattern... lots of reasons!

I have had the joy of purchasing fabric from board members and met the nicest people. The fabric has been great and at a lower cost. I figure as these fabric prices keep climbing, the board will be a great bargain for adding to my wonderful, colorful variety of fabric.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Yeah to those who sell on this board. :-D

We all have a different stoy as to how we acquire or use fabric! I have been sewing and quilting for many years so that is how I came by mine. Now in a pattern of downsizing and getting ready to quit in a few years. I like to buy from the board members first, if possible, to help fellow quilters and second from the local places to keep them in business. I have sold a few things that were no longer needed. It works both ways.

i love the look , feel and texture of all fabrics and do buy extra just in case , self control other parts of my life but fabric no way