well...today was my first purchase since 1/1/11 - $85 at the LQS - all was 50% off so like to think I saved a lot! Not sure how many yards - was going to post a pic tonight but camera battery dead so is now charging. will try to post tomorrow. prob won't buy any more for a while. (haven't we all said THAT before!)

If I didn't keep a budget ,I wouldn't be able to keep a clear record of how much I have involved in each quilt and would end up losing money. I have to remember all the rest of the things that I'll need that will go with that fabric.

There are months when I spend nothing at all, and other months that I'll spend 150-400. Most of the time I shop only on sales. I LOVE Connecting Threads for their fabrics, and I do most of my shopping online since my LQS has recently raised their prices to no cheaper than $13 a yard and more if it's batik. I can't afford it. I'm a teacher and don't make that much!

That being said, I do have a rather large stash. I've been sewing ever since I can remember (and I'm almost 28 now), and lots of people have given me fabric, or I've thrifted it from used clothing. In my entire stash I don't think that there's even a FQ of fabric that I've paid full price for. My grandmother also passed her stash on to me when she could no longer see well enough, and so did my husbands grandmother. When I do buy for a project, if a pattern calls for 3 yards, I'll typically buy 4 or so to allow for human error in cutting/sewing/seam ripping. The leftover all goes into the stash. It builds slowly and over time.

The important thing is to remember that it's not a race to get a huge stash and to BE HAPPY with what you have.

This month has been more than usual as the quilt shops have been having sales. $300.00 :lol:

Way too much but still cheaper than therapy!!!

I don't get nervous.....but my DH does! :roll:

Some months I don't spend anything!

I'm fairly new to quilting, it's been two years just this past november.

I can only purchase what I need for my classes. I started quilting with a beginner class in Nov 2009 and then in January I signed up for 3 classes over the winter session. Then in the fall, 3 more. And so on, and so on (just this past saturday signed up for 3 more for the winter 2011 season).

So I buy what's required for the classes and as fat quarters are only $4.75 I'll usually buy 3 or 4 once in a while, that go together, to try to build up my stash.

I think most of us might say way too much but what that really means in quiltspeak is not nearly enough. I used to be an Assistant Manager at Fabricland and that was a dangerous job but I loved it.

I run hot and cold. I buy what I consider too much and then keep myself from buying until I "forget" when I see a really good deal and that starts the ball rolling again. :oops:

I've been quilting since I retired (8 years), and have more fabric than I can use! When I see something I really like at a quilt shop, I might buy it for our guild's charity quilt group that I belong to. 1.5 yards will make a back for a cuddle quilt, and less will do for blocks or sashing or binding. 3 yards if it is really cute! I get to shop, but don't have to store the purchase and get to play with it by making charity quilts. Tax write off, too! I never did scrappy quilts, but just took a class from Linda Ballard (4 patch for the 90's) and I've become a convert! I had purchased a fat quarter of every fabric in the line of a friend (Rob Appel of the Cotton Ball in Morro Bay, CA) and ended up with 39 different fabrics that were good colors and interesting patterns each in themselves, but were hard to put together in a non-scrappy quilt. I cut them into rectangles as instructed in LInda's class with a white background and they magically transformed into triangles and squares and a wonderful quilt without ever cutting a triangle or square! I'm going to take the ribbons off all those beautifully matched 8 piece fat quarter collections and get busy mixing and matching and use up some stash. This is fun!

Do you actually think I'd tell?!! :roll:

Amen sister!

Who can resist flannels they are so beautiful nowdays.

Who can resist any of the fabrics? There are so many beautiful fabrics now

perfect answer

Have been quilting for so many years, but it is all so joyful! Today is a snow day here and I am still doing my annual reorganizing. Do give away some fabrics just don't want anymore, but for the most part love what I have chosen and the fun memories of shop hops little trips with my best quilting buddies it is just the best. Plus the many gifts made and given.It is my passion! So who's keeping track of $ spent haha. I sew I sew so off to work I go! None is purchased on credit cards. I don't drink or smoke or gamble or compulsive shop for any other items and quilts are soo useful. Enjoy our hobby sisters!

Have been quilting for so many years, but it is all so joyful! Today is a snow day here and I am still doing my annual reorganizing. Do give away some fabrics just don't want anymore, but for the most part love what I have chosen and the fun memories of shop hops little trips with my best quilting buddies it is just the best. Plus the many gifts made and given.It is my passion! So who's keeping track of $ spent haha. I sew I sew so off to work I go! None is purchased on credit cards. I don't drink or smoke or gamble or compulsive shop for any other items and quilts are soo useful. Enjoy our hobby sisters!

With state taxes going up here, I can't see spending much and paying more! It is holding me back from the fabric stores as well as others!

Last year hubby worked alot of overtime so I spent more than usual :oops: he is still working OT but I've been really cutting back because there is only so much time in a day and don't feel the need to compete with anyone.
I'm trying to finish UFO's and WIP's before I buy more,although the rule was broken this last weekend,when it was my B-day and hubby took me to a quilt shop :wink: But what I did buy would be for other planned projects that I already had part of the fabric for and a few patterns.
It was alot of fun but now I'm gonna try and stay focused :D :D

I've started out this year keeping track of what I spend each month. It may scare me.

I don't want to know! I am hopelessly addicted to fabric. I think I have enough in my stash now to keep me busy for a long time but if I see a good sale on something I really like someone probably should tie me down. LOL

I mostly just buy for the project I am working on at the time. I always buy a little more then I need to help build my stash. Income level took a downward dip so I'm on a spending diet. I went into WalMart on Tuesday and just bought the rick rack that I came in for. And oh ya my M&M's

as little as possible, usually now only buy what I want for the quilt I'M making, most of us have far too much that doesn't match when rqd to.

I did very well, so far this year....I think I have spent only $1.56! :) I'm not a big spender to begin with. I usually buy what I am needing at the time. I have a very small "stash".

Angie

I haven't really bought any fabric for a while. That is to say, nothing like 100.00 etc. I won't be buying any for a long long time.

As it is, my stash is betwee 6,000.00 to 10,000.00 more or less, but that is over a period of years of collecting and buying. Mostly sales at Hancocks and my LSQ. Some Christmas and Novelty from Joann's.

I did all my buying in preparation for our retirement and good thing lol.

All my fabric is where I can see it, in a large cabinet, ceiling to floor and in one closest on three shelving units with mega flannel etc for backings. My baticks are in a chest of drawers. I can actually see it going down slowely lol. I know I have to stop buying as I don't want to just buy because.

usually when I buy it's about $100 at a time. I have a fairly large stash, but I like to share with my dd's- all are newbies and need "stuff". I'm getting ready for a big de-stashing as my dil is moving and has a craft room with a nice walk in closet that is screaming for some fabric on the shelves. And of course, I will accommodate.

(right after I make 2 pairs of curtains for the windows from sewing themed fabric I bought for myself- but she needs it more!)

the last few months I have spent well over 1000 but this is not normal in any way shape or form. This was done to help me with my project for the soldiers.

Generally I will only buy if I have a project or if I happen to wander into a store with fabric and see something I really like. Since I live in the woods it is not to often that I wander in.

My stash grow crazy 2 years ago when visiting my brothers in Maine. I found these lovely ladies that were having a yard sale with lots of quilting fabrics so low I had to buy some of it. My brothers, who were with me and do yard sales all the time told me I should make them an offer for all they had. I felt bad to do that since their prices were so good but as things went, the boys took over the sale and I ended up buying every bit of cotton they had. I had to ship it home because I didn't have room in the car to carry it. Even with all the shipping cost, I ended up paying only 33 cent per yard. The rest is history.

And this my friend is how your stash gets growing! Good luck in your building but remember to always look for deals and never settle for fabric you don't really like because it may never get used.

It's fine to build a stash if you get a smoking deal on fabric at a store or come across a yard sale, but it's also important to remember that trends change and every year there are new fabrics to drool over. And that will never change.

It's a good idea to have something in mind when you buy it or you'll be wondering what you were thinking when you see it again later.

And I'm with the people who say it's not good to use others' volumes of fabric as your guide.