I've been hanging around here for a couple weeks, loving every post, but I feel like I'm in the minority in that I am not a "stasher." By that I mean I don't purchase fabric without a distinct purpose. I save all my scraps, of course, and I will occasionally purchase a bit extra, particularly if it's a fabric I truly love. But I don't go out and buy just for the sake of buying. I learned this long ago with my knitting, and I feel like for me, the same goes for quilting: if I don't have a plan when I buy something, it'll never get used. I don't mind having a few "pets" in my stash, but it's like any other animal--it gets to a point where the care and feeding is simply overwhelming and no longer enjoyable. ;) Realistically, I can only complete a handful of quilts a year. If something enters my stash now and doesn't see the light of day for five years, I may not even like it anymore! I also don't make a lot of money, but I like to use good materials. It saves me money to only purchase what I need, when I need it.

There are lots and lots of reasons I prefer to buy fabric on an as-needed basis. I'm not at all judging or disparaging those who have huge stashes, but it's definitely not how I approach my hobby.

What are your reasons for stashing or not?

Because I like a fabric and may use it, if not immediately, then in the future, when it would not be available. A lot of times I see a fabric I would like for a project, only to find it came out more than a year ago and is no longer available.

And because I can. Someday I may not be able to afford to buy the fabric I want. I can now, so why not?

I am not a stash collector either. I may have a few extra pieces of something that I love, but without a plan of some sort it does not get purchased. I find I feel shameful if I have a plethora of something and others are going without. I am a practical type of person and I need to use it to create something useful for myself or someone else. That is just me (smile).

I do pretty much exactly as you do. I have limited space and found from previous activities that it doesn't pay to grow too much of a stash. I love hand quilting and since I work full time and go to school it can take me up to 6 months to finish a quilt. At that rate it doesn't pay to get too much ahead.

That being said, I do have 4 shoe box size plastic bins with FQ and charms that I have fallen in love with. I justify these knowing if I need a quick all machine done quilt I have a supply to go to. I am now on a no buying restriction. Nothing can come in unless something goes out. Space and time are my enemy.

I am too limited on space so most are purchased with a particular project with a few FQ I just had to have. But I am looking to the future since retirement is just 10 years away so starting to getting organized and making room.

I commend you for not being a stasher. Lots of times I find the piece in my stash isn't big enough for the project I chose to use it on. Being practical is a good thing, so never doubt yourself for that. My closet is overrun with fabric waiting to be used for something; and sometimes it is inconvenient to not have room for other stuff. Of course I live in a 70's ranch style home that doesn't have alot of extra storage to begin with. Again, I commend you!

I don't have my own stash as my mom made quilts, she doesn't have time anymore, and as I don't have my own car or a job that will give me extra money as it all goes toward college, I have to use whatever she's got left. A lot of it is stuff that was given to her that she didn't use and I look at it and go, I don't know what to use that for so it goes back to the bottom.

I do however have a few little scrap pieces that I really liked and put them in my own little box or small pieces that my aunt gave me that were left over from a quilt she made, funny, I get a lot of triangles from her...

I'm on the same minority train as you! It just goes against my conservative nature. There are times when I wish I had a stash with a particular color or design to go to but I don't so I make a special trip to Hobby Lobby and get what I need. I've been told I'm not a real quilter because I don't have a stash????

My "stash" is more earmarked. I have a tendancy to buy what I need for a specific project so when storing it, I have less of stash sorted by colors and more of stuff put together like kits. I buy it because I find a particular fabric that I really want to see made into a particular pattern. When it's time to start something new - I usually just go to my cupboard and pick the next project from what I call my stash. If I ever get snowed in for a week or so (sometimes I WISH that would happen!) I'd have plenty to keep me busy without running out of something to do.

Nanajan, I'm sorry someone told you are not a real quilter without a stash. If you feel like a quilter, no matter what level, you are one. The quilt police need to get a life.

I commend all of you without stashes. I wish I had less.

I have a very small stash, mainly real bargains I couldn't pass up and most of it is juvenile so I can always use it for baby quilts for friends and neighbors or the NICU. My limited space also restricts me from having a large stash.
A woman I worked with had so much fabric she didn't even know what she had. She just bought and bought whatever she liked and of course, it never got used. To me that is a waste of money.
I have no problem with other people's stash. Just my own opinion.

I stash for many reasons, one is when inspiration strikes , I can act on it without having to go to the store. I find it distracting sometimes to have to go and search out ... I am much more likely to finish a project if I can start when I really want .
I stash because over the years often when I see a fabulous fabric ... it will probably be gone when I finally figure out what I will do with it. So for me the process is different its fabric first .. Figuring out the project for the fabric is second.
Additionally I do not want to always pay full price .. so when I see a piece I know will have use on sale I buy it.

I do not stash, per se. I do have two types of fabric that I collect: Daiwabo Taupes and Liberty Tana Lawn. Even those have quilts that havev either been started or in the planning stages. Everything else was pretty much purchased for a specific WIP.

I would like to have a stash but my tastes change too much. Not to mention the fact that I do not design my own quilts. I tried a couple of times and it is not for me. I like to buy patterns and occassionaly kits. So having a large variety of fabric at my fingertips for midnight inspriation flashes is not something that is a necessity for me.

You should never feel that you are not a quilter just because you do not have a "stash". The only reason I have a stash is because I frequent auction sales and I also went to a big rummage sale when I was in New York a few yrs ago. My DIL sent everything I bought at that sale to my home. I had 5 huge boxes and 1 1/2 the size of the others. We also purchased flannel sheets at an outlet out there so that I could make quilts. I sewed many and sent to New York that my daughter sold for me. If I have a coupon I go to Joann's or Hobby Lobby. I don't have any particular colors in mind, or patterns but I have a lot of them stashed on my computer just to print out. My youngest is now interested in quilting and when she comes home this weekend we are going to set up a bunch of "kit" projects that she can take back with her and sew. she never plans on using the same pattern so she will need a lot of them. I also got a lot of large cones of thread that my DH bought on an auction sale. I do have Connecting threads pkgs of thread that I bought to use as the thread on the outside of a quilt. Otherwise I use the cones for my squares, etc. I work off the farm, so I save some of my money to buy what I want. I have purchased in May a Singer Sphinx that I had all cleaned up and I bought a FW that I used to make my oldest grandson a small quilt that he helped make along with a matching pillow. I would like to be able to have a long arm but I don't see that in my future, unless I happen to be at an auction sale and it goes cheap. The last one I saw sold for 12,000 on the sale. A grandma purchased it for her granddaughter as she planned to do a lot of quilting. Never heard what happened to her. The one reason I have a lot on hand is because I live 50 miles from Minot and about 120 from Williston as far as fabric buying is concerned. So can't just decide to run to the store to buy some fabric to make a quilt. Sorry for so long winded, but each to his own. To stash or not to staash that is your own perogative.

I have a stash simply because I love buying, touching and gazing at beautiful fabrics!! I just can't resist. I don't spend my $$ on booze, cigs, clothes, jewelry or "going out" I pretty much only buy fabrics and quilting supplies

It is wonderful, however, to be able to go into my room, open my cabinets and just pull fabrics that strike my fancy that day and whip up a quilt. I have done this dozens of times!!! Especially if you are tired and can't get out shopping but you just want to create and sew.

I am a stasher that is for sure, not only with sewing and quilting things but Cross Stitch too.

I always think if I don't get it now, it might not be available when I need it. Or I might not have the funds to get it at a later time.

Truthfully, I am very glad that when I was working I "stocked" up on so much. Now when I want to do something, I have most of what I need to do it.

There is nothing wrong with not having a stash, don't let anyone tell you there is.

robin

I use to be able to say I only buy fabric for a certain project but that was long ago in a land far away.....

I am a stasher because I adored fabric before I learned to quilt. They give me inspiration and make me smile. I know lots of quilters who do not stash (other than usable scraps from projects). I do have to admit it does looks strange going into their sewing room and there is only the fabric for next project. Different strokes for different folks. If we were all the same, how dull life would be!

Do what works for you. I was into thrift shopping quite a bit a few years ago and I bought a lot of stash at cheap prices. Since we didn't have a lot of $ coming in, it was the only way I felt comfortable taking up quilting as a hobby. Besides, if I bought a lot of expensive fabrics and then didn't like it, I'd have been really unhappy.

Now that I've about reached my space limitations I have stopped buying unless it's for a specific project and I have nothing in my stash, like most of my stash is washed and I wanted to do a OBW which requires an unwashed piece...so I bought for that.

Most all of the 8 or 9 completed quilts and the 4 or 5 tops I've made so far have been mostly or completely made from fabric on hand. I got into log cabins using 2 1/2 inch strips and just cut, pieced and quilted up a storm for quite a while. Now, I'm trying to move on to different patterns, still using mostly fabric on hand.

NOT stashing is a good thing - buying only whatyou need - unfortunately - I have a spending habit (this must be a 12 step program) - used to be on my kids -now they are grown . . . then it was clothes for me becasue I was working outside the home and it was time for me. Now I work at my computer at home - so it ic just comfy clothes and Wally world is just fine . . . hoever - I sometimes get my fancy struck by a particular piece of fabric - happens when I am looking for something totally different and if it is on sale. . . watch out I'm there ! You are the lucky one !!

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!!

I have a limited stash, then I have projects waiting on me. My problem is I can make a quilt in a week or less. And then I worry about not having something to do next. Though, I should not worry anymore since I have about three quilts and several more projects waiting now for me. So maybe I will be OK. But I am in this position just because last week we went on a quilt shop hop - nine shops in two days. I made sure I had a list of things needed for these three quilts and that is all that I purchased.

Welcome, waving from central Indiana, USA

I love fabric, that's why I have a stash!!! I will find a use for it... someday!!
PS. Love your chubby kitty, take a look at mine!

I remember that place really well...LOL!

My "stash" is probably very small compared to many. I just bought 6-1/2 yard pieces of fabric from Walmart today. They don't have a destination right now but they will, someday, sometime and somewhere in my Twilight Zone. Of course, since my shelves were overflowing already, I had to buy another set of shelves. This makes me happy. :-)

i have a huge stash, but I haven't quilted an awful lot. My problem is that I'm addicted to fabric. I actually took a 4-5yr hiatus from quilting because I became addicted to cloth diapers, why? because I could still maintain my fabric addiction and it was still utilitarian. I am now back to quilting and still building my stash daily.

Simply put, I'm a fabricholic -- I get a thrill out of purchasing fabric, especially about finding bargains.

I live at least 20 miles from a fab store, so to run out for 1 color when the mood hits me to, put a top together, of quilt one that's ready. Shop the sales, bargans, paid up front. Makes it better for my situation. Freedom of choice thing, and whatever works for how you choose to do it.

I'm not a 'stasher' either. Like others, just don't have the room. I buy for a specific project. I will usually overbuy by 1/2 to a yard to account for booboos but that's about it. From that I have a 'stash' of sorts. From this I could make a quick swap block and have bits to work out blocks, etc. I'm not a 'scrappy' sort of person either so having FQ's or so would serve no purpose for me. As well as being a hand quilter I only get usually 1 bed sized quilt done in a year. I will usually have at least 2-3 projects going simultaneously in various stages to serve whichever mood strikes me.

wish l could be that disciplined....when l find something l love, l buy it. Or if l find a bargain, l cash in on it. That way if l have a spur of the moment desire to dig into a new project, l'm usually set to go!