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-   -   Non-quilters do not understand (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/non-quilters-do-not-understand-t193860.html)

bonnielass 07-08-2012 04:38 AM

I have known people who spent thousands for golfing, fishing, hunting, tennis and all manner of other sports (ie. hobbies), I know how much motorcycles cost. The only reason I quilt is I have to watch my pennies, so I save everything I can.

janegb 07-08-2012 04:39 AM

Some people collect Teacups, I collect fabric and sewing machines! LOL

barri1 07-08-2012 04:46 AM

Yes, I am a quilter, and I have fabric.. I don't think I have an excessive amount.. I have mostly scraps, and very little yardage.. I like to use scraps, and don't use patterns.. That's just my personal preference.. I also don't like to waste...

I went to a tag sale at a house of a quilter.. The woman passed away seven years ago at the age of 54.. The husband has a girlfriend, and they were moving.. What was at the sale scared the crap out of me.. She had a studio in on the upper floor.. One area was floor to ceiling shelves with fabric yardage folded.. The other room was filled with boxes of fat quarters, and other fabrics.. She had templates, and duplicate templates, multiple rulers, and scissor.. The more I thought of it.. There was no way this woman could possibly have used all of the stuff in there, even if she didn't pass away early.. My question is. When does it change from need based to hoarding?

damaquilts 07-08-2012 04:49 AM

Our house is funny. I had to move in with my brother and we both understand collecting STUFF.. His is mostly cars and motorcycles. and computer things. Me its fabric and antique furniture. I have very very little furniture now that I only have one room , my bedroom . I have a second room that is my sewing room with the computer in it. But when his step daughter moved in all she sees is clutter. She is the type that has to have the kitchen towels folded a certain way. No hobbies either. I really don't understand someone like that. LOL She sleeps and watches tv all day. to me that is sooo boring. While I can't sew as much as I would like, I do read when I can't do anything else. And I think about what I am going to make. :-)

LadyCougar 07-08-2012 05:04 AM

It's not just non-quilters, I think it's non- sewers who do not understand our love of fabric.

quiltingweb 07-08-2012 05:09 AM

OK. Thanks for the validation! I love my fabric stash. I am always so pleased with myself when I can go to my basement, pull together some fabric and make a quilt from what I have. I have made quilts for birthday gifts, graduation, weddings, babies. I remember making a wall-hanging for a wedding gift. I loved this wall-hanging, the way it turned out, the hand embroidered quote, everything. My X-husband said, "we can't just give them that." Well, I can be sure the wall-hanging lasted longer than that $50 check. (or the wedding, for that matter!) Maybe we just make it look to easy.

As for scraps, my favorite (for now) quilt is a crazy, mile-a-minute quilt I made that has a scrap of just about every quilt I've ever made. I love looking at the bits and pieces and remembering which quilt project they came from.

psthreads 07-08-2012 05:16 AM


Originally Posted by quiltingweb (Post 5347802)
OK. Thanks for the validation! I love my fabric stash. I am always so pleased with myself when I can go to my basement, pull together some fabric and make a quilt from what I have. I have made quilts for birthday gifts, graduation, weddings, babies. I remember making a wall-hanging for a wedding gift. I loved this wall-hanging, the way it turned out, the hand embroidered quote, everything. My X-husband said, "we can't just give them that." Well, I can be sure the wall-hanging lasted longer than that $50 check. (or the wedding, for that matter!) Maybe we just make it look to easy.

As for scraps, my favorite (for now) quilt is a crazy, mile-a-minute quilt I made that has a scrap of just about every quilt I've ever made. I love looking at the bits and pieces and remembering which quilt project they came from.

Ok where can I find a mile-a-minute quilt pattern?

Friday1961 07-08-2012 05:16 AM


Originally Posted by ckcowl (Post 5345563)
it's not just non-quilters --- there are quilters too who do not save anything beyond what their current project requires.
i have a friend who has been creating beautiful quilts for 30 years---she uses exactly what her pattern requires & (used to) toss anything left over---i about had a heart attack when she first told me this---& told me----'oh- don't become one of THOSE string savers!'....it took me a couple years but i did finally convince her to let me have the contents of her (waste basket) before bagging it to go to the landfill---she just shakes her head & gives it up---sometimes there is 1/2 a yard or more pieces in there---i know she is not alone- lots of people use what is required then get rid of what ever was left over- regardless of amount- and then there are those of us who buy extra on purpose & keep a stash and save every scrap--- not every quilter understands any more than a non-quilter understands.

Do these "tossers" also throw away half used spools of thread, or an unfinished skein of yarn? If so, I don't think they could have grown up with parents who went through the Depression. Anyone who lived through that bad time tended to become "keepers"! My philosophy, I suppose, is that I cannot abide waste and if it's usable, then keep it. But I'm not a hoarder. I don't "save" garbage and trash! :o

pinkcastle 07-08-2012 05:17 AM


Originally Posted by Greenheron (Post 5347716)
I think that every time we purchase fabric we are also purchasing the dream quilt we will make with it.
:o

I agree. I don't have a huge stash since I've only been quilting for a few years, but I love looking at it. To me it represents possibilities. It can also be an interesting challenge to think of ways to use it. The fabrics are what I think of as my artist's palette. For those who don't get it, oh well! Some people have hobbies that I don't understand so it works both ways.

Rubesgirl 07-08-2012 05:24 AM

Thanks for validating those of us who were sewers before becoming quilters. I still have fabrics I bought many many years ago, stored in bins from my move in 1984. They have traveled with me from home to home over nearly 30 years and I still use some pieces now and then. I am not a hoarder and am very organized, my DH says I'm too neat. I just can't part with some of the stuff I've had for so long. Now that I'm making quilts, I'm finding uses for fabrics I thought I'd never use. Now, if I could only figure how to incorporate all the stained glass I still have ..... :D


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