I stash because of rising prices. I suspect eventually that there will be times where I will not be able to afford material (have two girlies going to college in 2 years, etc).

My stash, which is not very large, is made up of fabrics I have found on sale, mostly REALLY GOOD sales. I have several grouped together to be used together (like kits) and others just grouped by colors. I love making scrappy quilts, but, since I am still fairly new to quilting, I don't have a lot of actual scraps. I now have enough of a stash to have plenty of variety in my scrap quilts.

Usually, when either I or my mother buy fabric, we buy for each other as well. Generally, if one of us runs out of a specific fabric, she can get more from the other. I had to get some from her a few months ago to complete a quilt. Just a couple weeks later, I was making her a bargello and needed more of the fabric I wanted to use for the border, so I shopped from my stash. I had gone back to store where the fabrics were purchased to see if I could get more, but they were out on both occasions.

If I wasn't into scrappy quilts as much, I would probably just buy for specific projects, too.

I agree. I hope to be quilting for many, many years to come. I am working right now, so I can afford fabric. However, when I retire, I won't have as much income and the prices may be beyond what I can buy then.

I have a stash because:
- I inherited a lot from my Grandmother and her side of the family.
- I cut up a ton of clothes/bedding
- I've gone to thrift stores
- I've been given a lot from friends/the home ec department in the school
- I buy on SALE. :) In my entire stash there's probably only 8-10 yards that I paid full price for.

Not stashing is probably a very sensible decision. Fabric tastes do change. I have fabric in my collection that I wouldn't buy now. On the other hand, much or it was either given to me or purchased on sale for less than $2 a metre so I am gradually using it in Community quilts or as backs. Storing large amounts of fabric does take up space and I am always amazed at how many quilts can be made from a fairly small pile of fabric. Do what works best for you.

ME TOO! Doesn't happen too often in KY! LOL During the ice storm I had no power so I couldn't have used my machine but I could have sewn by hand! Back then I wasn't sewing much so I just played games with the kids and cooked 3 meals a day! Boy that cooking 3 meals a day was a change for me! LOL I cooked Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for about 10 people on our gas stove. Just had the top part to use. We ate really good though. :) Wouldn't mind being snowed in now-we have a generator. :) We were able to take showers with warm water unlike some because we have a gas hot water heater. We were very blessed. :XD:

I have very limited funds and have a very small stash but I can see what you are saying. I do love looking at all of these stashes that people have and I just drool. :shock:

Reading through other's responses has brought me to a conclusion. I don't have a stash, as I said earlier, however, I have quite a few WIPs. For me, those have taken the place of a stash. Since I don't do my own designs when the urge to create strikes I go and sew on one of my projects.

I have thought many, many times how nice it would be to just think about making a quilt, shop my stash and then complete it (or at least the top). I admire those that can do that. Especially when the need for an 'emergency' quilt comes up.

I have however, a sort of toy stash. I purchased my sewing machine, my spinning wheel and other 'stuff' that goes with that, as well as knitting needles and supplies when we had two incomes. I'm glad I did that because now with just the one income I have the hardware and just have to get materials. It is much easier to afford fabric and yarn than a machine or other tools.

I don't usually buy too much fabric anymore since I have a stash. My mom usually buys it for me. My goal this year was to use my stash up. Still might be quite a while! :-)

Ditto!

I have two buckets - one that is all self made kits and the other has sizeable pieces of fabric that have been left over. I pull from these when doing something small - like a block for my calendar wall hanging.

Just today I purchased all the fabric for a specific quilt - including the book and backing fabric. It's the Camelot line from In the Beginning - I have everything I need to make a Merlin's Magic blue wall hanging; it will go (with the book) into a large ziplock bag and into the kit bucket. That is the first time I have intentionally bought something to put in that bin that I know I won't make until later. But this particular fabric is BEAUTIFUL and I knew I wouldn't be able to get it later so I just did it. I even pulled the $$$ from "Mommy's Mad Money" so no one is any the wiser!!