If you had to rely ONLY on your stash, and could NEVER buy anymore quilt related or sewing related treasures anymore, How many quilts could you make? Also, for notions or other supplies, how would you "substitute" household things for what you would normally buy? Like - you need a bigger sewing table - what would you use that you already have at home? New patterns - could you see a design in flooring, or a scene out the window, etc? You get the idea!

I think I'm good for the rest of my life on fabric and patterns. I might have to figure out a substitute for thread, however. Any ideas?

Good grief, I can't estimate in numbers that big!
I recently found a deal on batting and stocked up on more than I can currently imagine using.
As for patterns, when I sit in workshops I gaze around the room and find decor that would work in a quilt then copy it (I'm not much of a note-taker).

fabric is woven threads

I think I could make at least 100 quilts from my stash. I have already designed several of my own patterns so I could keep right on doing that. I just use graph paper and pencil or a variety of rulers and plain newsprint paper. If I need a bigger table to sew on I would just go sew on the folding table we have.

Hold on while I regain my balance and digest the 'can't buy any more fabric' idea! My kids will be (gulp) tossing fabric when I die, unless I live another 60 years and really don't buy any more.

If you went that far, you would be back to doing everything by hand.

I have enough in my stash to last me quite awhile. But if I got tired of using the same fabric, I would be interesting in swapping here with other people for a variety....which I may do anyway later. Would that count? You would not be buying any new fabric, but would be having to pay postage.....

My "stash" consists of 2 clear shoebox size totes with scraps from the few quilts I've done. None are more than a fat quarter. My one big piece of fabric is 2 yards I just bought for sashing on my farm exchage blocks. If I can only work with that, I guess I'll have to start cutting up the bed sheets!!

I'd be fine forever. The stash is big!

I would be fine for a few years. But I can't imagine not buying fabric. My kids would think there was something wrong with me.

If I continue to use my stash like I do now and make twin or lap size quilts, I could make well over 150 quilts. I even have enough thread, but would have to be careful choosing colors to match fabrics and saving large pieces of fabric to piece backs. My problem would be with batting. I have only a partial roll of Warm and Natural left.

I have lots of fabric, but why would you ask such a mean question? I would be so sad to even think I could not shop for fabric anymore.

I tend to do smaller art quilts, so I am always looking for "other stuff" to add in.

I *might* get one quilt, if I could use a sheet for backing and an old blanket for batting...

Oh my...I need to stock up!! :lol:

Oh my, I think I would be set for the rest of my life...lol
Fabric, patterns, books, threads and other notions. I dont know why i keep buying more I already have more ideas than i will ever get too.
And as far as using the stuff that we have in our house, lol me and my daughter live in a small apt and I already got rid of my dining room table and set my cutting table up in the kitchen, and found some nice stools with backs at the thift store for 2 bucks a piece and we use the cutting table as a place to eat when I dont have it covered in a project...lol Hey it was either the dining table had to go or the cutting table and of course I wasn't going to let go of the cutting table because it hurt my back to cut to long on the dining table.

My stash is ok, but not huge even though DH and my kids think it is. If I had to use it for tops and backing, I could probably get 40 quilts. I would be ok on patterns, but don't have enough thread (I should get more just in case). Batting would be the big problem. I have already told DD, for heavens sake don't throw anything out when I'm gone. Give it away. All she would have to do is pass the word and it would all be gone in 2 days!

I have alot of fabric to make scrap quilts . Backing would be pieced and when I ran out would find fabric from other people or in old clothing. I have alot of thread and patterns but would look to other people for more. I would use old blankets for batting.

id be fine forever also

I'm smack dab in the middle of refolding ALL my fabric on fabric boards. I had no idea I had so much. I have a pile of fabric I know I'll never use so it's going to a new home. I have oodles of fat quarters, quilt kits, jelly rolls, charm packs, and fat eights. I told myself not to buy any more fabric unless it's a deal too good to pass up. One thing I'm glad I did buy so much. The fabric tickets I found in with some of the fabric bought at various quilt shops says $3 and $4 a yard for Jinny Beyer, Moda, Michael Miller, Blank, and other quilt shop quality brands. I couldn't touch that price now days for these fabrics. I really think in a few years good quality cotton fabric will be $20 or more per yard.

You must be a really new quilter. I have only been quilting since last August and I have three of the clear plastic totes that are like 18 in. tall by 18in wide by 24in long. I have room for one more tote under the day bed in my sewing room, so after that I will have to stop for a while untill I use up enough to make more space. LOL

Oh, My head is spinning :shock: I can't think that hard right now!!!!

:idea: I'd have someone else buy it for me... :lol:

I have enough patterns to last two life-times, maybe enough stash to make a dozen quilts, but I can't imagine living without having a "fabric-fix" now and then!

haha - no no no - that would NOT be allowed! You are are pretty well "stashed up" I see and some of you are very creative regarding finding patterns. Would you be going back to using scissors cause your rotery cutter would be worn out? I would definitely be lost from not being able to buy the latest gadgets! but - when one comes down to it - do we really NEED them? 100 years ago they didn't even have ANYTHING that we have today and they made beautiful quilts that we still cherish!

I would be set for a very long time, except for the batting. I only have about 35 yards of batting around here, that would only get me maybe 20 quilts.
After that, the sewing machine needles would run out. Then the thread, but fabric wise, I could sew for a very long time.

MoMoSews, where ever did you find the kitty? I love her.

I'm a fairly new quilter and I have never bought anything without a specific purpose. I don't want to invest too much money in a hobby that I may get tired of.

At least 30.

it's a good thing i'd never run out---otherwise people would be running around NAKED b/c i'd be snipping away at scraps from their clothes!

As far as fabric, I would be fine for a very long time. Well, not fine, but I could sew. It would be so hard to not buy more fabric. I don't have a stock pile of batting, so I would have to get creative there.

Just even thinking about this question makes me feel like I need to rush to the fabric store again, or at the very least, start ordering like crazy on the internet.

I have told my kids that when I die, they have my permission to sell all the stuff in my sewing/craft/sanctuary room, and all go on a cruise. I am sure there would be enough for tickets and even souvenirs. Yes, it is that much stuff.

When I read the title, my first thought was what is hanging in my closet that I could cut up LOL not be able to buy material? Why that is just not sometihing I even want to think about. Mly biggest problem would be thread, I guess I really do need to stock up on thread.

this is too funny to me :lol:
I can just picture a bunch of quilters
going through all our fabric, deciding what we can live without then taking apart certain pieces just for the thread lol
I would be stuck, since we moved, im rebuilding my stash... this time without the ability to raid grandmas boxes lol

The first quilt I made was cut out with scissors. I used cardboard templates too. If I had to do a quilt that way again, I wouldn't make another quilt. I was only 21 when I started that quilt and that much cutting was hard on my hand then. I didn't hand piece that quilt but I did hand quilt it.

Ummm, let's see. Is that doll quilts, twin/queen/king?
If I made only queen size, it woud be around 20-30 I guess.

With what I have in the house right now, I would probably be done by the end of 2012. I think I have enough to make about 10 or 11 good sized quilts. If I were to make bed sized that would dwindle to about 5. :-(

I have enough for anout 3 kingsize quilts but thats include my fabric for making clothes. If we talk about just the quiltingfabrics than I guess I can make just 1 kingsize quilt.

I think i would find a way to sharpen my rotery blade. I would find a rock or something and do it caveman style what ever worked...cut everything with a scissors are you crazy...lol I would never get all that fabric used...lol.

I'm pretty stocked on all the notions, I'd be short piecing thread, but I'd really truly tank on batting. I have enough for maybe one 'tweener size (lap/twin). Fabric, well, I know I'll never get to use it all, especially at the speed I'm keeping. And even tho' I shouldn't, I keep my "fixes" on charms or FQ's.

(P.S. I don't think I'd like to live in that world you're suggesting. :P )

I'm set for quite a while. No need to substitute. I hope I am allowed to buy thread though or I'd have to use staples.

I have yards and yards of fabric so I could probably make about 50 quilts - maybe more - most likely have enough thread also - the batting - well, enough for maybe 20... rotary cutter - I COULD use scissors if I had too...

Oh you are sooo funny....no wait....that is a perfectly reasonable option! :thumbup: