As I have told you before I live next door to my favorite fabric store. My stash is so large if a client of hers is looking for a specific piece of fabric and she doesnt have it,she calls me to see if It might be in my stash. LOl

You will "develop" your methods as you get more involved in quilting. You may never be a "stash" kind of gal.

For me, it is less expensive to keep a stash (medium sized) because it's almost all fabric that I bought on sale or with a coupon. On a few occasions, I've bought just what I need for a specific quilt, but it always ends up costing me much more per yard that way.

At first, I bought a controlled range of colors and a controlled range of "textures" and print sizes so that I could make some of the cute quilts that made me want to begin to quilt. But not a whole lot of stuff, just some of everything I might need.

Then as I made more and more quilts, I saw ahead into the near and not-so-near future what I might come to want/need (is there any diff?) and thus began my stash.

Now I need rarely go outside my stash for what I need.

But can we say "Shopping spree" and "It called my name" - ?

I just yesterday bought 8 scrub tops from a garage sale, nurses downsizing dontcha know, and all cotton and cute as the dickens.

Yes, if you are not careful this whole wonderful sewing process can drive you "Buggy"! :mrgreen:

With fabric prices starting up again, I'll be looking for sales on batiks. Started buying them in mid 1970s when they looked like something you might find in India or Africa. $4 a yard was an outrageous price back then. I do large wall hangings and need lots for background. When necessary I paint/ink my own background material especially skies and water and of course animal fur!

Most of my original "stash" was scraps from clothing I'd sewn. I only bought fabric for clothing when I had a specific project in mind... Well, sometimes I ended up not actually getting around to it. Then I lost my stash in a move. Suddenly I felt bereft and started buying whatever I could afford, just I would have something to sew with if the urge struck me. But I wasn't as picky as I should have been, and ended up with some fabrics I just didn't really like that much. Plus, friends and relatives started giving me their scraps and unwanted stash - several old ladies said "I just don't sew anymore, would you be interested..."

So I ended up with a lot of fabrics that are not really "me". Now I am working on using up/getting rid of what doesn't fit my current vision for the types of quilts I want to make, and buying more intentionally, filling out the color gaps in my stash, buying better quality, etc.

But I like having a stash, in part because I live out in the country, and it wouldn't be practical to run into town every time I had an idea about something I want to make. I'm saving gas this way...really. :)

I started out just like you 5 yrs ago. I vowed I would finish what I started before attempting anything else. Now I have I don't know how many ufo's, wip's, etc. and the fabric buying just becomes addictive. Hey I could have worse habits.

I started out just buying what I needed for my first quilt. (a wall hanging). Then got the bug that I realized I could quilt. My DH asked if I could make one for our grandson...... so ALL this is DH's fault :lol: :lol:

I then started planning other quilts and found fabric for it. NOW... I see fabric that I just have to have. My stash is growing..... I only have three (opps make that four) rows of fabric on bookshelves, and two drawers with smaller pieces set aside for known projects, a drawer for scrap pieces, and two drawers of smaller pieces for Unknowns. ;)

I was like that at first too. Then I started going on fabric shopping outings--by myself--and then I got hooked. I love fabric and quilt shops. I love touching it, smelling it, looking at it . . . when I have trouble getting to sleep at night, I think about fabric. If I see something I really like, I buy three yards. Over time, I've realized that even if I have no pattern in mind, one comes along that is perfect for each fabric I purchase. (I'm still waiting for one for those pink flamingos on a white background--it's one of my oldest ones!) Suggestions are always welcomed.

9 patch pizazz

Don't worry, You"ll get into it eventually!

I buy fabric both ways, for a special project to do right now or for a theme to use in the future, buying as I see something that catches my eye. She/he who dies with the most fabric wins!!!! :)

Oh! How it will change!!!

We NEVER throuw any scraps away and they "just seem to grow on you". :D

I only buy as I go also. I think it's because I'm afraid I will go overboard!

I usually only buy fabric that I have a pattern for or a kit, or fat quarters on sale, or a sale on batiks, or..... Haha. You will get there. the more quilts you make, the more special material you will purchase "for later". Don't even get me started on patterns!! :roll:

I here ya'll, i have a bug for fabric, patterens, tool for sewing
you name it and if i don't have it i will down the road and then wonder after i've used it how i ever got along without it

Do you have "Purple thang"? That is one tool I just got on a whim at a quilt show. I have been using it for about 4 years. It stays on the machine along with my scissors and seam unsewer!

what is that purple thang? I just know i'll be sorry or not

http://quiltescape.blogspot.com/2009...ple-thang.html

That Purple Thang Tool
What is a Purple Thang? It pushes, pokes, pulls, fudges, turns, stuffs. It makes its own uses! Great for turning appliques, tubes and more. ...
www.everythingquilts.com/.../That-Purple-Thang-Tool.HTML -

Some time ago, someone used the acronym SABLE. It means .................................................. .................................................. .................................ready???????????? ??........................ Stash Above and Beyond Life Expectation!!!

I thank whomever that was, all of the time!!! I have more stash than JoAnn's I think.....not really...but I am getting there. Friends of mine come to my sewing room to "go shopping" when they can't find something!!!! I love fabric and get as much joy out of imagining I will use it as I do quilting with it. I teach beginnning quilting and when the ladies ask "How much should I buy?", my answer is "If you have about 22 yards of each fabric, it should cover it!"

:lol: :roll: :mrgreen:

If I like it and can afford it, I buy it. I never have a project in mind when I choose fabric. I don't have a large (quilting) stash as I just started quilting a few years ago, but I do have a fairly large garment stash. Mostly knits.

I don't have a stash. I just buy fabric as I start a new project. Works for me.

Most definetely it will change, everyone I know that quilts has quite a stash. I do and I just place an order at Fabric.com. I never seem to have the right material for the quilt I am working on. It is addicting.

I think after awhile we all end up with a large stash. The longer you are at this the more you have.
I have been going through all my fabric and trying to get organized, boy what a project that has been.
But I not only have fabric i have thread,binders of patterns printed off the net plus patterns I have bought.
Hopefully I well get this under control.
Have a good Holiday everyone. kjym Kathy

I use a No.3 knitting needle, it works great and I already had it. Double-pointed ones work great too.

Sometimes you just fall in love with a certain piece of fabric, especially if its on sale, and you know you'll eventually find something to do with it. Eventually something pops up that goes great with it.

I'm with you. I have alot of material that I don't want to cut. Most of my material is my Retirement Fund. I love buying material and started 10 years ago, buying whatever I liked without a quilt in mind. My stash is overwhelming and I can afford to give to the less fortunate. My problem is having enough time to make more quilts. I love a good sale. A former LQS owner is selling fabric out of her garage and she is only 10
minutes from me. A new shop openned within 5 minutes of me. I try to stay away from them..the temptation is too great.
Eiltcoq.

I always buy material when I find a bargin or at garage sales, and sometimes at a thrift shop. I think half my enjoyment is taking all that miss matched material and making something beautiful with it. I could never buy at high prices. I will have to make lots of scrap quilts to use up all I have amassed. so if you choose to only buy what you are using at the time , that's great. but I would bet you will change as the years go by.

Book bugs.

I have always had a lot of fabric on hand-left overs from previous quilts and from other quilters that just wanted to get rid of some of theirs. Its nice to have extra, you don't have to run to the store every time you need just a certain color piece to cordinate with the pattern you have choosen.

Quilt book bugs! Those are really dangerous.

I'm so glad that somebody else has this prob. I have fabric that I've had for a very long time because I can't stand the thought of cutting it until I find just the right pattern that won't destroy it's original look. Therefore, I have had some for yrs. but am still waiting for just the right pattern. I am so pathetic.

Heck, I go to JoAnn's just to look at the colors & pull the bolts out just enough to feel the fabric. Talk about needing therapy. LOL

Its like when you have your first piece of Chocolate. You like it then, you eat another, then annother, Its very addicting. I look for fabric no matter where I go and Im always thinking of patterns now. Have fun!!! Your love it on the board, everyone is so helpful and nice.......

I loved fabric before I started quilting. In fact, I decided to get into quilting as a way to use the fabric I was collecting. I was finding it at thrift stores and yard sales, and couldn't pass up such a good deal. I rarely, if ever, buy yardage from a store unless it's on sale at a great markdown or I use a good coupon. I am the clearance queen!! So I had the fabric first, then started quilting.

I've suffered from the FB, PB, QB and SB (sewing bug) for many, many years. I also suffer from the NET(not enough time) bug. My stash has grown as a result of that, plus fashions/tastes change so that has also enabled my stash to grow too. I love fabric, and my mind's eye is much bigger than my production, so what more can I say? Except maybe stop feeding to QB and get busy stitching?!?!?! I'd like you to post again in six months or a year and see where your "stash" is at . . . :evil: :lol:

Yes ..you forgot something ...the quilting bug and the fabric bug are SIAMESE TWINS....

:-D :-D :-D

I am still working on my stash, don't have much fabric

I have a sewing room full of fabric plus a shed that is 6' x 12' full of material. I buy fabric anywhere and any time. I never know how much, so I buy 3 to 5 yards if the price is low. I might have an idea of what to do with it but by the time I pick it up again I've forgotten the idea I had.

Wow, that sure makes me feel a lot better about my stash!! I am a beginner compared to you. I only have a plastic bin I'm working on filling up. LOL, Smilessssss and hugggggggs

I usually only buy for my current project but I have a huge stash from all the leftovers and all the fat quarters which was what I bought when I first started quilting..only to learn I couldn't make much out of them until I started making scrap quilts (now my favorite.) I'm in a quilting ministry at our church so we get a lot of donations, but, unfortunatlely, we don't get a lot of yardage but we make the best scrap quilts you've seen. My mother was obsessed with fabric and brought tons of it in 4-6 yard pieces. The sad thing is she sewed during the polyester era so I couldn't use her stash.