I just have to share it- DH and I just got back from Christmas in IA with his family and had a wonderful time. I'm always glad to be home though.

I spent some time with my MIL on Saturday while DH was with his dad doing boy things (his parents are divorced), and we got to talking about sewing and crafting, because I made a quilt for my niece.
I knew that she had a stash of fabric and yarn and just about everything in-between, but knew nothing more than she had it...
Here's the big news.

I got to dig through it all, and take whatever I wanted!!!!!!

Pitter patter, my little heart!!! ANYTHING I WANTED.......

She has, I swear, the biggest stash I've ever seen. I don't think anyone could rival the amount of fabric this woman owns.
We're talking 20+++ large totes, stuffed full... not including garbage bags... and that was just what WE went through that afternoon.
And such beautiful varieties! Old fabric, new fabric, poly, cotton, knits... whew... it was a good day. My favorite part was finding scraps of fabrics that she'd made things out of for my DH when he was a boy, how precious! There was also scraps from her mom's clothing, sister's wedding, etc... you get the picture. EVERYTHING.

So, for me, having no stash at all- I was in HEAVEN!!

Ahh... it was a good Christmas! Now just to start these projects... :)

What a great surprise. So what did you bring home?

I took what I thought I could handle working with for now... roughly a lawn/leaf bag full. :) it was tempting to take more, but she's always there.

I'll take a picture and post it. Mostly cottons for quilting, some of them are new, but most are old as she's had them in storage for a long time. I did take some pretty polys that I thought would make cute scarves for Christmas gifts...

Very happy girl!!!

How very wonderful! It is good that the fabric will have a good home!

What a great Christmas gift for you!! Have you planned anything special to use the fabrics that were involved with DH's clothes?

That's awesome... wonderful Christmas gift ! :D

Will you show us pics? :D

Awww the best gifts can be the most unexpected ones :D:D:D
I can't wait to see what you create out of these fabrics!!!

Yes, I have plans. Call me crazy... ;)
DH and I have been married for 5 years, I'm 26, he's 29, kids are in the future, but years away... I LOVE kids, but I LOVE that I can send them home. So someday I'll hopefully have some of my own, just not soon.
I woke up with a dream a few weeks ago that if I ever have a boy, I want the nursery to be deco'd in a vintage cowboy theme.
The old fabrics I found were all in that 'look,' including scraps of flannel with cowboys on it that MIL had made into pj's for the boys- DH and little brother.. Isn't that weird?! So! That's my plan for some of them! hehe!
I'm crazy, but now I want to make a cribskirt, quilt and bumper into this precious little cowboy theme for a little boy I clearly don't have, for a baby that is years away from being a twinkle... :)

What a wonderful Christmas surprise :mrgreen: And knowing that you can get more is even better ! And I know that she is happy knowing it is going to a good home and will be loved and cherished :lol:

Ok, this proves it......some MILs do have a heart. She knew the fastest route into your heart. jk I'm an MIL myself. lol Congratulations on receiving the best gift a quilter could ever want.

Congrats on your new stash, you must have a very loving
MIL.to do that for you, can't wait to see pics off your
wonderful gifts.

Deedles215, That twinkle could be closer than you think!!! Things sometimes happen without us even trying.... You never know. So go ahead and make the baby things, and don't be surprised if you get surprised yourself. :D :D :lol: :D :D

Wow good for you. Sounds like you had a wonderful time going through it. That is a good unexpected Christmas gift.
Have fun with it.

I have to say that you were truly blessed with such a wonderful stash gift!! :D I can just imagine how giddy you must be feeling.
Congratulations on your guft.
:D :D :D :D

That is wonderful.

WOW!! It is great that she gave that to you!! what an offer, now you just have to decide where to start, LOL!

Wow, what a great surprise.

what an awesome suprise

What a wonderful Christmas gift... what a surprise too, that she had all that stash.

Although they're only a twinkle in the distance, I'd make the crib quilts etc now... you never know, you might put the fabric on the shelf to do later and before you know it... the little fellow has arrived. lol!

Have a lovely time with your new stash.

That really is exciting news!
Your MIL couldn't have made her offer to a better person. How nice for her to know that she is sharing with someone who will appreciate and use what she has collected. How nice for you to have something in common with your MIL that crosses the age and generation gap.
So, get out your camera and share your ideas with us!

What a wonderful gift!!

How great!!!!! It is like getting a whole plate of cookies for yourself without the calories. Enjoy.

How great!!!!! It is like getting a whole plate of cookies for yourself without the calories. Enjoy.

How could any sewer be any happier? Your ML Has a big heart! Congratulations.

Oh, envy! How super for you and to have someone dear to share the sewing projects with. I'm sure your MIL is happy her son found you and this is her way of wanting to be closer to you.

What a wonderful MIL you have. She is a real treasure, treat her well. I agree with Janis, sounds like a few too many coincidences, you better get sewing on that boy quilt.
And someday, make your MIL a quilt. Because we quilt, no one makes us a quilt.

The part about 'because we quilt, no one makes us a quilt' is why I think I am in the Doll Quilt Swaps. It is so much fun to get something someone else has made.

yes, there is a santa claus what a nice way to start the new year!!

I absolutely love this site. I am new to sewing and quilting, but have learned a lot by reading these posts. I am interested in learning how you make your scarves, or any other gift ideas you or anyone may have. Would you be willing to share?

How exciting. From no stash to stash heaven.

Make sure you wash the fabric well before using it. My MIL let me have some of her fabrics and some of them were fairly old. I think the dying process has changed since - because this one blue bled so badly that it turned my fingers blue. I should have paid attention when I washed it.....

What a wonderful Christmas surprise. I can't wait to see the pics.

I'm assuming this was directed towards me... :)
I know, isn't this like the BEST site, ever? I'm so hooked. I love all the support and encouragement here.
Scarves... I think they're one of the easiest and best gifts. Fleece is an easy one to start- I made one from a piece that was 60" long, and 1/4 yard wide. Flipped it wrong sides out, zipped up a seam on the edge, flipped it right side out, tucked the ends into the center, then did another seam on the top edges all the way around just to hold it flat (or fleece has a tendency to roll). There are many options to get more creative than that- use some quilting techniques and sew patterns on top as if you're quilting, sew notions on the end, buttons so you can fold it up and it will hold itself in place... etc.
Many here make totes and wall hangings- haven't gotten into that myself yet.
Have fun and Welcome!

Congatulations Deedles! What a nice mother-in-law. Can't wait to see pictures.

That sounds wonderful...to bad she doesn't live closer, think o\f the knowledge she has to pass on...You are a very fortunate lady :)