I think it's just sick not to have at least a little bit of a stash.

I thought I had quite a large stash . not any more having seen what some of you folks have .have decieded to use quite a bit before buying any more . This won`t be too difficult as i have to travel some distance to the nearest shop on pubulic transport which is a bit of a pain ! I like a challange .

OMG - that's like throwing away perfectly good food. (Remember all those starving kids in China.) Oh, well, to each her own.

I guess I admire her willpower but that is just not for me. I buy specific fabrics that speak to me in some way, or that I think are really unique. I may not have a use for them immediately but I will have that perfect fabric when I'm ready. Most of my other stash purchases are sale fabrics which allows me to have more choices than paying full price one project at a time. I guess we all do what works best for us!!

Yesterday totally made baby quilt gift for a shower next week-end from my stash including piecing batting, feel like a virtuous woman!

This is what several of you have said.

But I contend that, from what I understand, is that Willpower doesn't seem to be involved because she says she doesn't WANT a stash. This has nothing to do with willpower. She just has a different mindset than those of us who have stashes.

It is sorta like saying the person who doesn't like food (I've met a few people like this) and is thin is really disciplined. It simply isn't true. They don't have the temptation, so it isn't a matter of discipline.

Some of you could ask me "How can you resist gambling?" (or wine, beer, etc.) However, I'm simply not interested. I'm not particularly "disciplined" in this area. I see it as a bad investment and simply don't want to do that, buy those things. That is the way with the ladies who don't want stashes.

Each to his/her own. But truly, those who hate the idea of stashes should realize that to some people, a stash is liberating, invigorating and a source of constant pleasure.

i would never assume that somebody who doesn't want a stash for herself is criticizing me by implication.

I used to do that too when I first started quilting, but now save the fabric and now have a stash.

No, but some here have criticized others for having large stashes telling them they should give it away, sell it, etc. since it is a waste of money.

I figure it is truly "each to his/her own". In this case, it's "whatever makes you happy". :)

I press my "ignore 'em" button. :lol:

I think this is a good idea, people tell me too often that what is in their stash often does not fit in with what they want ---AND-- if anyone has had to deal with a deceased's stash that had been left to a chosen person to deal with but in reality it was destined for the skip, I took it , 4 huge volvo estate loads and sold it for dog rescue.
SO ,those of you that have them ,which I assume is the majority, PLEASE PLEASE make sure that someone will efficiently deal with it when you can't!!!!!!!

One thing that I have found that even though I have a large stash most of the pieces of fabric are only a yard or smaller. I have a few that are larger. The problem comes when I need a backing or sometimes a border. Unless I do alot of piecing then I always have to go out shopping for the backing. So now I am keeping my eye out for fabrics when on sale that will make a good backing .

As the mother of a single son and a husband who doesn't understand, I have told my quilting buddies that if I die before either my husband or my son while living in my current home, they need to get to my quilting room and take what they want and take care of the rest.

I mostly have fabrics left over from projects. I never go and buy fabric just because I like it. I certainly don't have anything like I read about here. I don't find time to do sewing near as much as I would like to so no point having mountains of fabric waiting to be used.

then i would say that your stash is exactly the right size. :thumbup:

Oh My!
I don’t think the person who started this thread meant for people to start taking pot shots and become defensive, it was just a simple question. I think some of the humorous responses were taken way too seriously.

This is a wonderful board with wonderful people. Let’s keep it that way

That sounds like me! My DH gave me a gift card to a LQS last year, which was a great idea he had on his own, and then all of a sudden, when I went to that store, I couldn't think of a thing I wanted! It seemed that after they told me that it really didn't have to be used within a year, which is what the card said, I was able to use it. It must have been too much pressure for me. LOL!

it's going ok. if not, it would've been locked by now.

you know how picky those moderators can be. ;-)

Nice one, Patrice! :)

Now that's what you call will power. You go girl!

That is what I did too...works for me...

That is what I did too...works for me...

Having recovered from flood damage I understand the anti-hoarding urge but can't imagine not having my stash of fabrics, etc. I've been collecting buttons and sequined appliques for over twenty years for a top I pieced in the mid 80's and haven't quilted yet....and that hasn't stopped me from setting aside every pretty little piece of fabric I've come across for the next quilt top, or frittering away moments occasionally daydreaming what the next one will look like... In a more recent period of under-employment I have learned to stay away from stores so I won't be tempted but that is more from an urge to spend more wisely now, not to have less fabric :D

Best wishes to stashers and non-stashers alike. Isn't it grand we aren't all the same ;-)

If I had more money to spend I would also get rid of a large portion of my stash. As it is, on a tight budget [that's an oxymoron for sure] I keep what I can so I know I can keep quilting.

ali

EXACTLY my thoughts

If I didn't have a stash how would I get my daily therapy...playing with my fabs?

You are absolutely correct about the reason I started this post. I was simply curious about what others did regarding choosing to have or not have a stash. I take the humorous comments that have been made as exactly that -- humorous. In my heart I don't believe that ANYONE meant to be cruel or hateful. I think that some comments were simply misunderstood or taken in the wrong way. For that reason I am sorry I started this thread. I hope no one has been offended by what has been written. Since I joined the QB, I have felt a great sense of belonging. This is a group of people who share the same passion as I do about quilting. I rarely have read anything that has made me want to leave this online community. When I start reading a thread and find I don't like what it is about or I strongly disagree with what is being said, I simply go on to the next thread. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, and for that I am thankful. It is what makes us so unique.

My friend makes some really pretty quilts -- nothing elaborate, but quite lovely. She loves making them but really dislikes quilting them. She always sends them out to the LAQ. She very rarely purchases fabric simply because she likes it. She has to have a pattern in hand. I, on the other hand, find it extremely frustrating when I have a design that I'm anxious to start making, but cannot locate just the right fabric when I go to the store. :cry: I always return home so disappointed, and I'll put away my design to perhaps never pick it up again. My moderate stash provides yet another mode of inspiration for me. It makes it so much easier to go shopping at the fabric store for only one or two additonal pieces to complete my fabric selections instead of having to select ALL of the fabrics I need for a quilt. In the first place, I don't like having to go out shopping. When I go, I want to get there without getting run over by the crazies on the road, go in the store and try to deal as best I can with the crowds or limited selection -- they never seem to have just what I'm looking for -- and then return home to get started working on my project. But by the time I return, I'm mentally and physically exhausted. The arthritis in my spine, ankles and knees and my sciatica can often make it painful to shop for long periods of time. All I want to do when I get home is to take some pain medication, sit down and try to get some renewed energy. I'm frustrated, aggrevated, and in too much pain to even want to begin my project. So it gets put aside, and my initial enthusiasm begins to wane. I don't have what I need, or I've had to settle for something I really don't particuarly like, and I begin to question whether or not I even want to continue with it.

My stash lets me take all the time I need to go through it. If the pain starts to be too much, I can sit down and take it easy and then come back to it at my leisure. Because I have a tendency to pick fabrics that aren't the latest "fad" or what I call "wild and crazy", my stash is one that fits many of my designs. I guess you could say it's a "well-rounded" stash. I guess some people would call it "plain" or "boring."

My friend certainly has the financial means to be able to purchase fabric whenever she needs it -- regardless of the cost -- and can send her quilts out to be quilted. The prices she has told me she spends for having them quilted seems pretty high to me so I know that I could never afford to have any of my quilts done. They are simply an all-over design -- nothing that's special ordered so I'm not sure why they are so expensive. As for me, I don't have that luxury. I wanted to have a lap-sized quilt for an upcoming school auction done by her LAQ, but when she told me it would cost about $130, I nearly had a stroke!!! It might not seem like much money to her, but when I calculated how much the materials had cost me and then added in the LAQ cost, there was absolutely no way I could do that!! Thankfully, I had been able to pull everything I needed (except for the batting) from my stash. I know the total I have invested in my stash is significant, but in the long run it has saved me hundreds of dollars. My stash has not cost me thousands and thousands of dollars, but what I have is enough for me. I love looking at pictures that some of you have posted of your stashes. For me, having my fabric available to me has increased my creativity. It's similar to looking through the Hancocks catalog. Seeing the designs starts my mind racing with ideas of how to use them. I know I may never use up all of my fabric, but someone will. I know that my sweetheart knows the value of it so he would never just throw it away. He would find someone who would love to have it. :wink:

I know a number of quilters in our guild who don't have a stash, or only the TINIEST one. They don't like any clutter. They don't make scrap quilts, so they don't want scraps. They buy only what they need. (gasp) They bring their scraps to the bees, where they are promptly gobbled up. One friend makes me laugh, she talks about having NO fabric stash BUT has threads galore and patterns that could rival the best LQS !!
Going stashless wouldn't work for me ... I love having choices ready & being able to work from it ... but, different strokes for different folks !! :)

I love my stash. I go to it frequently and find jewels for my next quilt.

I'm too weak willed not to have a stash.

I would die with no stash !!! Just bury me :cry:

Or as my DH has suggested, I could be wrapped in it after I pass away - modern day mummy, if you will. But, hopefully, it won't come to that! :)

One year at the LQS, I saw a cup with some writing on it. When I told my DH about the cup, he sort of laughed, so the next day - - I went back and bought the cup, brought it home and put it in a very special place.
It says: My husband says I can keep all the fabric I can hide!

I am a VERY good hider! ;-) <wave>

WTG!

At this point, my small stash is "money in the bank", because I am only able to buy when I find a really great sale. Other than that, I tend to re-purpose...

I am just starting back to sewing from about a 22 year dry spell. (just retired) I don't have a stash and don't have much room for storage. So, I guess I am a non stasher. I will purchase the fabric when I have a plan or design. I am working on my second quilt now. I will keep my left over scraps in case I want to make something small for my granddaughters' dolls, etc.

I'm slowly getting rid of my 20 year stash by giving fabric to friends and donating to charity auctions and/or guilds. My problem is that I ended up with years worth of "wonder" fabric (wonder why I ever bought it)!

My taste has changed over the years -- at times I loved 30's reproductions and calico prints; then I went to Amish solids; next I fell in love with bright Blank Quiting fabric, etc. etc. etc.

The problem was that I never had quite enough for whatever pattern I wanted to use (too much of one and not enough of others). So now my plan is to buy only what is specific for the intended pattern - keeping a small stash for emergencies.

I beg to differ - I do not save "stuff" because someday someone might have some use maybe sorta. That just leads to clutter lying around and I have enough of that! It also leads to what my sisters have to do - rent storage places for all the "stuff" that someone might want someday maybe.

So I toss lots of "stuff", good and otherwise.

I bet she doesn't "collect" anything else either. We are collectors not just compulsive shoppers. I still say it is cheaper than therapy.