I have a moderate stash and generally buy as needed, especially since it seems they release new and beautiful fabric collections frequently. Since I am a gemini, what I purchased last year may not be what I like this year. LOL

If I had it to do over I would only buy as needed so I would not be so over whelmed.

So is your head or your heart bigger? :)

I have a reasonable stash, but what I like is to purchase a fabric or three to use as my color scheme, and then shop the stash for all the rest - so never buying an entire quilt worth of fabric at one time.

Over the years, I have added to my stash by purchasing them at LQS, estate sales, garage sales, going out of business store sales and so on at good prices. I have been careful to buy good quality fabrics. A few years ago I started buying neutral fabrics such as blacks, grays, beiges and white on white. Now there is a nice balance between colors and neutrals in my stash. I make it a point to check my stash and to use what I have before getting new fabrics. Now that I am retired, I am grateful for my stash. There is no way I could afford the higher prices! Moral: it is not a bad idea to buy fabrics before retiring, :)

I definitely have a LARGE stash and wouldn't know what to do without it, since I'm at least 90 miles(1 way) from the closest fabric store.

Thank goodness I have a very large stash. Most purchased before the prices skyrocketed out of sight. That being said, I still manage to buy fabric if I like it. I think that I am a Fabriholic and need help.

I have too much fabric. Way too much ! Last year I ended up going through each of my bins of fabric and sent huge boxes to an Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I kept the fabric I really loved and I still have too much. Right now I think I have way too many jelly rows, fat quarters and charm squares all due to sales I've found that are just too good. Now I have decided to stop buying any fabric at all except for white and snow and black. So in answer to your question: I think its best to just buy for what you need, stash fabric should be the basic solids you find you need.

I started out thinking I needed a stash, but now I just buy what I need for a project. I always check my stash first and then add to it. I am trying to get my stash down so I'll have more room in my sewing room.

I have a pretty good sized stash and love most of it. I try to only buy what I cannot find in the stacks, but ya know? Stash gets HUNGRY and needs to be fed! HA! I just went to a Bonnie Hunter lecture so I am back on cutting for her Scrap Users System as I go along. I hope that helps tame the scrap beast a bit. I would like to be a bit more organized so I can put my hand on what I am looking for. I so hate to spin my wheels. Working on paring down the UFO pile too. If I got excited about it before, I can do it again! My on going long arm tension issues seem to have been resolved with a new bobbin winder. ( I really despised the old one, but didn't know it was the root of my tension problems!). I quilted a whole quilt in 2 days last week. Heaven!