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Jan in VA 05-13-2018 12:16 PM

I bought a fabric I adored in preparation for the quilt I would make for that "When I am Old, I Shall Wear Purple" day, at age 60.
By the time I was 67 and the quilt wasn't yet made, I didn't like it any more.
Sold a bunch of it at one point, but now I'm 73 and I still have some and I still no longer love it. Sigh.
I try to no longer buy "oh, my gosh, I love that!" fabric, because I'm apparently fickle in my fabric tastes these days. :rolleyes:

Jan in VA

Dakota Rose 05-13-2018 02:20 PM

Where do you sell your fabric? I have thought about a sale at my house but afraid that people will think it is a yard sale and will want things for next to nothing. Do you sell on line -- ebay -- or where.

Innov8R 05-13-2018 03:53 PM

Oh yes! I have a pair of prints in one of my cabinets that "speak" to me every time I lay eyes on them. I added a third print about a month ago and am thinking that they are getting closer to the cutting table every day!

Jan in VA 05-13-2018 07:48 PM


Originally Posted by Dakota Rose (Post 8057392)
Where do you sell your fabric? I have thought about a sale at my house but afraid that people will think it is a yard sale and will want things for next to nothing. Do you sell on line -- ebay -- or where.

No, actually I have sold twice in my home, once in Austin TX and once here in VA. Both times I advertised with a local guild and asked members to make appointments and only come no more than 3 people at a time so that I could serve them properly. Cash only accepted. I treated the sale like a quilt shop and cut yardage as requested. There were also some fat quarters available. I charged only $3 per yard for most fabrics, $.75 for fat quarters. Believe it or not, I made over $1000 dollars both times, holding the sale for about 5 days each time.

When this kind of sale is open to actual quilters, I believe you will be more successful. The people I drew were unknown to me but were, to a person, kind, friendly, and considerate. I was not at all afraid to have them in my home. They often bought more than they had originally decided on while they waited for their friends to finish up having theirs cut and paying, LOL! And they went home and told their friends about the sale!

I had some of my own quilts lying about to encourage chatting and the feeling of comradery. Those were not for sale, though I did end up with a commission from showing them. :D

Am thinking very seriously about doing another one in a few months and have already selected out the fabrics I'm willing to part with.

Jan in VA

RedGarnet222 05-14-2018 08:53 AM

I have my bins set up in my fabric closet set up to fill the entire closet. Each time I open that closet there is a set of four fabrics I bought together that calls to me to do something with it. I have gotten out that fabric many times and been stumped by what to do with it. There are others that want to play with it, but, I just can't decide.

oksewglad 05-14-2018 10:00 AM

I am saying "yes" to everyone's post!! Although there are very few fabrics in my stash that don't speak to me anymore.

Jan in VA---your "private quilt shop" sale is a great idea!

hobbykat1955 05-14-2018 11:56 AM

I don't think there is a quilter/fabric lover who doesn't have many fabrics they buy and never use due to either not wanting to cut, not the right pattern or UGH why did I buy that in the first place. I know like many others I'm determined not to buy anymore fabrics until I put a dent in all that I have...How often have we said that too!

Dakota Rose 05-15-2018 03:01 PM


Originally Posted by Jan in VA (Post 8057536)
No, actually I have sold twice in my home, once in Austin TX and once here in VA. Both times I advertised with a local guild and asked members to make appointments and only come no more than 3 people at a time so that I could serve them properly. Cash only accepted. I treated the sale like a quilt shop and cut yardage as requested. There were also some fat quarters available. I charged only $3 per yard for most fabrics, $.75 for fat quarters. Believe it or not, I made over $1000 dollars both times, holding the sale for about 5 days each time.

When this kind of sale is open to actual quilters, I believe you will be more successful. The people I drew were unknown to me but were, to a person, kind, friendly, and considerate. I was not at all afraid to have them in my home. They often bought more than they had originally decided on while they waited for their friends to finish up having theirs cut and paying, LOL! And they went home and told their friends about the sale!

I had some of my own quilts lying about to encourage chatting and the feeling of comradery. Those were not for sale, though I did end up with a commission from showing them. :D

Am thinking very seriously about doing another one in a few months and have already selected out the fabrics I'm willing to part with.

Jan in VA

Thanks, Jan. I have been putting mine in plastic bags with the yardage written on the outside. Thought I would also add the price on the tag. Mostly mine is 2 yds or less. Thanks for your input.

SusieQOH 05-15-2018 05:46 PM

I get really sick of fabric and my taste changes. I will go crazy over something and if I don't use it fairly soon it ends up in that place where a lot of my fabric ends up- buried! And then I'll realize I don't like it anymore.
So for me the answer is use it while I'm still loving it!

tuckyquilter 05-15-2018 06:54 PM

I USED to do that - but no more. I'm starting to use the oldest first.. in something - ANYTHING. I had to ask myself: How much more do I have to have to get my own episode of ''HORADERS". I have SABLE. Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy. USE YOUR FABRIC.


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