I buy fabric much like a person buys a piece of art to just hang on the wall and look at. So sometimes I just take my fabric out, look at it, and if I don't want to cut it, that's fine with me.

I can so relate to this thread! I rarely used any stash and just kept piling it up. Then last year (after retirement) I decided that I needed to change my ways. I started with BH's Celtic Solstice--and while I did need to get some FQ of orange and neutral--I had plenty of greens & blues! Since then I've dipped into my stash for some other projects-even a whole table runner! And I'm got my fabric for BH's next quilt--had to buy some cause I just did not have enough of the pink--but feel like I'm making a start.

And I'm saving all strips to use in a log cabin that is very scrappy.

I was like you, just buying what was new at the LQS, so I have quite a stash...but now I am retired and financially unable to spend too much one fabric. I only buy fabric if I can't find something in my stash to finish a project...

My friend struggles to use her fabric stash too, so I was amazed when she gave me 20 2.5 inch strips of Amy Butler fabric so I could teach a class at a local secondary school. I ended up making the quilt, which was used as the example, and gave it back to her for her daughter. She was shocked and delighted that her fabric had found its way home.... meanwhile, she has never given me fabric again, it must have been too stressful for her!

Make as many charity quilts as you can, still caress your fabric and still keep buying when the notion takes you.

I also love my stash. But my stepdaughter and husband have decided to come for Thanksgiving. She said she can't wait to get into my stash for fabric to make handbags. We don't do a big feed for thanksgiving. It's just my husband and I and we are both in our upper 70's.My husband told them to come on down. Now I have to protect my stash as well cook dinner. Like most quilters, my stash was bought for certain projects. We don't have much company, so I'm already getting stressed out.

I have fabrics that I like so much I've reserved them for a quilt for MYSELF, but I don't think I have any fabric that's not destined for a quilt sooner or later. I love my stash too, even like to just go look at it, but I love fabric in quilts even more than I like them neatly arrayed on a shelf. It's easier to pet them that way, LOL.

I understand. I bought fabric 4 years ago to make pillowcases because I thought my DS and DDIL would be visiting at Christmastime. The finally are coming and no I don't want to use the fabric or even make the pillowcases! How nuts is that?

I have what feels to me like a lot of fabric, but I tend to buy blenders when they are on sale, then when I see a focus fabric I like - will get that. Since my eyes tend to go to similar colors that I like, I can always come up with enough stash to create a project around that focus. I want to use my fabric - and love working with it. It bothers me to have something wonderful just lying around doing nothing. I love to pore through what I have and audition projects. I really never put together a "kit" unless I'm getting ready to start on it right away. I don't want to take anything out of the mix in case I come up with something even more fabulous!

I bought bunches of specialty kind of fabrics for pillowcases - love to make them. But being me, I can't make just a gorgeous pillowcase, I have to make it more so and monogram the cuffs. This takes them from fast to some time. And my embroidery machine is not being good - or the thread - whatever. But I will say the recipients love them. A friend had a significant birthday and she asked for no gifts, but a week after her party I made her a pair of my pillowcases and she just loved them. A month later she was going to stay with good friends and she asked me to make her a pair to take, so I did. I charged her $35 and she gave me $60. She thought they were great. So, now I have a use for the fabric that I bought for that very purpose.

I have started using up my HUGE stash...for the very reason stated above...it is going to end up in a jumble in a thrift shop when my kids cart everything out...

I have been buying fabric for years and years. I feel very enclosed in my sewing room now because of the amount of fabric. I've decided enough is enough. I'm glad that I found Bonnie Hunter and her scrap system. Now I don't feel guilty for all my fabric purchases because they are going to be used!!!!!!
I made a queen size quilt for my bed and dived into my reproduction fabrics. It hardly made a dent in it. I'm going to have to live a long, long time to use up my stash.:thumbup:

A familiar habit for many from the sound of it..Self included...

Well you could leave it to me and I would keep it and pass it on down to my friends.

There are times I'm reluctant to use certain fabrics, saving them for something special at another time. However, when we downsized from a 3-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apt. I had to make some tough decisions about my stash, it was very tough; however, I passed them on to a dear friend who passed on what she couldn't use to another friend who belonged to a group that made "quilted covers" for children in local hospitals, so I know the fabric will find a good home. Money is tight with my husband on disability and I'm on SS, because I was unable to find work; so I was thrilled that I was able to make a full size quilt for our DGD for Christmas. What a wonderful feeling when she was presented with the quilt, she hugged the quilt, then hopped down to give "MiMi" a big hug and kiss, telling me that she loved it very, very much. To me that's what quilting is all about, making something that someone can love and appreciate. I made her a couple matching pillowcases, which I'm told she uses all the time. She is such a sweetie, we are so fortunate to have her and that she is such a delightful, loving and lovable, smart little girl with a big heart.

I am trying to use up as much of my stash as I can. I bought it to use and I am trying my best to do it.

I've had fabrics that it was very hard for me to use. But then I remember the woman I met who lived near a creek that flooded her house. She lost most of her treasured fabrics. The ones she had never been able to use. She told me "If I had made some of those fabrics up, I could have enjoyed them. Now they are gone. Use your fabrics and enjoy them." I've tried to do that."

When I moved my stash out of totes and onto bookshelves I started making far better use of it. My problem was more not being able to easily audition the fabric, rather than not being able to cut it. Now my quilts come totally from stash, not to say that I don't still buy fabric but it is ruler folded and put out so I can look at and appreciate it.