If Your Fabrics Could Talk?
 

What would they say about you and your projects?

Mine would say that she tends to pick favorites, batiks, bright, and tropical colors over all others. Some of us early fabrics are like the last girl picked for the softball team. What was she thinking? We lay on the shelf in folded order waiting for a peek outside for a possible project.

Tell us what your fabrics will say about you?

Mine would say.... She loves us so much, she can't decide on a project. Truthfully, my stash is full of focus fabrics with very little blenders. I try to buy blenders but just can't manage to get to the cutting table with them....much less to the checkout counter. lol

Mine would say, " the pressure, help the pressure is killing me. There is so much above and below me. If I scream loud enough maybe she would choose me? Here she comes... Please! Please choose me I'm not in here to tightly. She taking me out to use.. what to make mask??"

Mine would say "She's a slob" lol

Mine would say why does she only use the newer fabrics piled up in the sewing area and hardly ever comes into the closet to choose us

Mine would be a resounding chorus of “please play with us!” Also, “if your organized us, you could see us better...”

It does -- it says let me out! let me out!

I've seriously reduced the size of my stash over the last 10 years. Everything that's currently in it I wanted to keep or at least felt I could possibly conceivably use it within the next 5 years (not that I "only" have 5 years worth of stash).

Today one of my quilting group ladies is coming over to shop the stash. Or at least see what I've pulled for her as options as we meet out in the driveway. She's making a roman stripe donation and wants a consistent piece for the HST so needs a suitable piece about 2 yards long. Her first thought was solids so I pulled a few of the pieces that are large enough, and then a few "reads as solids" and now I'm going to hit her with a couple of "and now for something completely different" or what I call inspiration choices -- one of which I think she's going to take and another she probably won't use for this project but maybe for a different one.

We have a running joke because she really hates about half the fabric I love, and although she rejects it she starts thinking about it... and then a year or so later the conversation starts with "do you happen to have any of the fabric left".

If none of these are right, we'll both be able to figure out what we need to be looking for.

Mine would say thank you for finally using us! The person who bought me originally loved me and had good intentions, but as the years went on realized they had more fabric than she could use. These fabrics were passed on to me and I intend to use them. As we all know quilting can be an expensive hobby and I am thankful that I was gifted so much beautiful fabric even though it is considerably older. Last night as I was working on a top with Thimbleberries fabric I was thinking to myself, I hope this does not look too dated when I finish. Also thinking so what! a handmade quilt is always a beautiful thing.

Mine does talk to me. They things they say:

"I want to be a (placemat, table topper, quilt, wall hanging, etc.)."
"No, don't use me for this project. I won't play nicely with your focus fabric, but thanks for thinking of me. See you later."
"Nice to see you again. Yes, I'm the perfect coordinating fabric for your project."
"I don't really like you much either. Perhaps you should put me up for adoption."
"I'm so glad you like me so much that you've used me in several projects. So sorry there isn't enough of me left for this one."
"Oh, what an honor to be picked for this greeting card for your loved one!"
"Oops, you're going to need more of me. Hope you can find it, since you've already cut all the pieces!"

...

Mine would say "I am really getting old just laying in this bin-please pull me out and use me up in a nice quilt before I am out of style"!

My stash is extremely heavy on the bold, focus fabrics.

My fabric would say "Lady, please buy some blenders or some solids. It is getting awfully loud up in here." : )

"Scraps"
 

"I'm sooo glad you found out that even a square inch of me would add a nice touch to my next block!!"

Wow! Love the fabric conversations!

Mine would say, "Hey, remember *me*??"

I've just been through some of my bins, re-folding (so they don't forever wrinkle in one direction)...and met a few 'old friends' -we had quite the reunion!

Mine would say I play well with others. Give me a chance

I'm sure mine are saying "She still loves me" (when I come across and pull out an older one while looking for something)
"Hey, don't pass me over " (when I pull one out only to put it back")
"I knew you hadn't forgotten me" (when I actually pull out an older one, measure it and use it!)

Mine would scream "Get me out of here". Meaning I do not want to sit in this tote/drawer any longer!

Mine would say, "How come she always uses the Kaffe Fassett fabric? We don't stand a chance against that beautiful fabric."

Mine would say, "Your the one that brought me home, for what, to sit in this bin and watch you sew all those projects." or it might be in the bin, silently thanking me that it is not getting covered in dust or pet hair anymore like when it was sitting on open shelving.

Mine would be saying "how come you use all the blues, purples and greens and hardly ever play with the oranges and pinks!"

Mine would say " you are stuck at home and haven't left the house but 5 times in the last month, how come you aren't in your sewing room using us up? Quit messing around with other things, like TV, phone, computer, or or nothing at all and get some of those projects you bought us for made already!!!
They may also add "you spent the first week of isolation cleaning, sorting, organizing, discarding, and generally doing a make over of your sewing room and have only made 1 item (By Annie Catch all Caddy), about 15 masks, and started a string quilt using scraps. In a months' time, not much to show for yourself, lady!"
I suspect my stash is a bit annoyed with me, I know I am.

You’re too funny...
which reminds me that my room needs to be cleaned this weekend.

"What?" More fat quarters? You haven't use up half of what you've had for awhile, and here you come with more. Quit dithering and just get something made!

Mine would say"where are we? In a dark store room, hidden in boxes. Have we died? We havent seen anyone for over a month!" I'd love to use it during this stay at home time, but all my furniture stands between me & the fabric. I was supposed to be moved by now, but Covid-19 put a halt to that.

"Gosh, you're forgetful! I've been sitting right here and you've overlooked me every time."

Just the name of this topic made me smile. My fabric would say it's happy to bring me so much pleasure even if I just look at it. In these days of isolation I'm glad I make you happy, and that there's so much of me you have whatever you need.

My yardage says “We know it sounds crazy, but we'd rather be cut up and needled all over than to just be petted once in a while. Oh, and one more thing— those little colored dots on our selvage are reproductive organs. Our babies are called scraps.”

Mine would probably just run away screaming....

I hardly finish any quilts - just make the tops and go onto other projects.

Anita -- I count a top as a finished project, just not quite a quilt yet. I piece much faster than I quilt and the number of completed tops is getting away from me.

You are too funny!

Mine would say...stop worrying about everything else and let's spend some happy sewing time together.