Stash
 

OK, I think I get it. I've been collecting "stash" over the last year, for the first time in over 30 years of sewing. Everyone on the QB talks about their "stash". So, I went to Target, bought their $32.00 bookcase, came home, assembled it myself, and started collecting.

I found as I sat and sewed (right next to my "stash"), the fabrics were speaking to me. I was daydreaming about how this fabric would look with that, and imagining patterns in my head.

It was wonderful, when last weekend, I found this Flag Table Topper in Jenny's Quickly Quilting Magazine, and all I had to do was go to my "stash" and pick out the fabrics. I didn't have to go to the store - and I loved it.

In times past, I would pick out a pattern and then shop for the fabric. I could never figure out why quilters wanted a "stash" because the amounts one would buy would never be the required amounts by pattern.

I have to say, it was such a great feeling making this project without shopping :p

I'm still not sure how much to buy of each fabric I like, I've just been buying a yard of each. (How much do you buy?)

Here's my project - and my stash. Thanks for helping me decide I NEED STASH. LOL

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PS: I'm accused of "taking over the Master Bedroom". It's the only place I have to sew.

Yup, that's how to do it - and that's why we do. That bookcase gave you the perfect inspiration in your sewing room. How much to buy really depends on you and your budget. I'm a very scrappy girl. Rarely buy more than half a yard at a time - unless it's a remnant or I need borders or focus fabric. Looks like you are into scrappy from your project. Have fun! with this crazy obsession.

Looks like you have the stash thing down perfectly, lol! It looks great! :-)

What a cute project and beautiful fabrics! Yes, it is very liberating to just decide on a project and be able to begin it right away. Keeping the stash under control is just as important as having one, however. :)

That's a nice stash and a nice topper.

You have quite a stash there. And it's so organized.

If you buy much more you will need another bookcase .you stash is sooooo organised.

Nice stash -- and a great project. I usually buy way too much, but if I think the fabric will be borders or binding for a full size quilt, I get at least 2 - 2.5 yards since I hate to piece borders that are all one fabric (now a piano key border is a whole other story :)). The rest depends on if I like it or love it (I have been known to buy 6 yards of love it).

Beautiful topper, great stash

You now have STASH!!! there's no turning back and there's no cure!! Don't you love it?

Haha!! Welcome to the club!! You will now discover we are not really quilters!! We are fabric collectors!!! We have you hooked and there is NO cure!!!

Love your topper. I made one too. Just need o put a border on it now. Love the binding on it. Where did you find it? Would love to finish mine. Love your stash too.

Love your stash of fabrics! I love to collect 1930's reproduction fabrics and have a good sized stash of them. I love "shopping" from them. I love scrappy quilts. Love the topper also! I need to make one for next year.

lovey flag quilt and love your stash

Great stash!!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually buy 3 yards of any fabric on sale. 5 yards if I really love it and 9 yards if it will make great backing. I keep a lot of backing fabric of all colors and prints. That is where the money saving is, having a great supply of backing fabric.

I usually buy at least 5-6 yards. I have bought remnants in smaller amounts. Some fabrics I have bought at least three times. I like to be able to pick out of my stash. I would not be able to make many quilts if I had to go to the store each time.
I think you figured out why we want stashes. Looks like you are well on your way.

Love your topper and your stash! From looking at your stash I see that I need to shop for more greens - you have such a nice assortment of color. When buying fabric I try to determine what its end use could be. If it looks like a great backing fabric, I'll buy 2.5 yards (I only make square quilts, largest 52"); if it's a stripe that will make a great binding, I'll buy a yard - half of that will go to binding, the other half will be cut into charm squares. Last week I bought 6 yards of a great fabric that I'll use as backing for three quilts for boys - it was white with red, green, yellow and blue emergency vehicles on it. Can you tell I'm excited to use it? Isn't this fun?

Love your shelves and organized fabric. Stash is like jewels in a jewelry box !It is fun to play with, dream about it's use, and keeps you buzzy cutting strips and squares. It is especially nice at midnight when you want to create and the quilt shop is closed !!!! STASH! Love the sound of it.... Hugs

What a beautiful stash! A work of art! When I first started buying fabrics for my stash, I would get 1 yard when it was on sale, a half yard when it was not. I love the idea of fat quarters, but you wind up paying $12 to $15 a yard when you buy it that way. So, half yards it is.

both are awesome!

Love your topper and the stash looks beautiful! Isn't it fun to have a stash that you can go to and make a project?

Love the table topper! And your stash.

I'm fairly new, but have started collecting fabric I fall in love with. Like you, I am never sure how much to buy since I rarely have no idea what I'll be making with it. So I usually get 2 yards AND will also get a 1/2 yard each or so of other fabrics in that same "line" (so I will have coordinating fabric already on hand once I get around to using it). And I love coming home with my latest find and researching it further on the internet. More often than not there are more delicious fabrics in that line available, and I end up buying at least 1/2 yard each to add to my collection. Right now my stash is sorted and stored by collection so that all of the matching fabrics are already together. If I see charms, layercakes, or jelly rolls of that particular line on sale, I usually buy it, too, again so I'll have plenty of coordinating fabric options to choose from!

I made the mistake of JUST buying a couple of yards of a fabric I liked - I had an idea of what I wanted to make and figured I'd get the rest of the fabric later. Well by the time I got around to making my project, that line was discontinued, and trying to find something to match or go with it was frustrating and wasn't fun. Live and learn!

You've done a great job. I love how organized everything looks. Your table topper is wonderful.

...and the fun, joy, inspiration, contentment, anticipation, dreams, giving, sharing... are all why we enjoy quilting so much. Nice quit.

Yes, that's why we have a stash. One evening I decided that I wanted to make a quilt, so I looked through some of my stash, found what I needed and off I went. When I am making a quilt I very seldom go fabric shopping, I have more than enough in my stash. My problem is, I have so much stash I really need a new building to put my stash in! Have fun!

Love your shelves....and only $32. And look at that stash! I see why it "speaks"!! You got it down pat! Linda

Great looking VARIETY of "stash"! and well organizes. Perhaps you could put a curtain over it so DH doesn't see it and know when it grows!

Cute story! Keep on collecting! Who knows what other beauties you will also create!

Its great isn't it!!!

Oh and BTW, your flag is so darn cute!! Love it!!

Looks great! You don't always have to go to a store. Estate sales and even your own closet. Clothes you know you'll never wear again. I save the buttons and pockets from shirts. My neighbor was getting ready to send some clothes to the SA or Goodwill. She had a cotton slip (from her mother who had recently passed. She was a large woman and a couple tops and old skirt. That is a bit of material. Took a couple stained shirts belonged to her DH. Cut stains out and a yard of fabric still left over. Lots of buttons too. I also save the zippers as long as the teeth are good. But when one of the big box stores have a sale it's always worth a look. You have a good stash!

Your topper is lovely, and you have a great stash! You're hooked now! ;)

Nice table topper. Sweet stash.

One of my "goals" is to get ALL of my stash organized (again) by folding
it on boards and eventually having some shelving to place it on.

I honestly believe that I would buy less fabric if I could actually SEE what
all I have when I am starting a project.

Right now I have it all stored in plastic bins and most of it is by color, but
as you might guess almost every time i am looking for a certain color it
ends up being in a bin that is on the bottom in the back "row" of bins and
they do get heavy so moving them around is not easy. So what do I do to
get around that problem?

Yeah you guessed it I go buy the fabric I need (or want) thus adding to my
stash even more.

Nice stash and really cute topper. Love the striped binding. I usually buy a yard, three yards if i really love it or its a great sale, or six yards if its a good piece for a back. Looks like you have all colors but like me you love green!

Nice quilt and nice stash - I say you've established your "stash". It's also right there next to you for inspiration. I've been accused of taking up too much space in the apt., but I've had to buy very little fabric this year - darn it. I just finished a twin-size quilt top for my DGD and I just went to my stash to make it. She loves pink, purple and blue, so it's one very colorful quilt. Now that I'm slowly recovering from rotator cuff surgery, I know I'll be quilting soon so I can finish her quilt plus I want to make her a "princess" dress as she loves to dress up like a princess.

You have a beautiful stash. One warning though and I speak from my own heart and experience. Be careful with getting your stash. Almost all quilters have enough stash to make 1000 quilts. We in America seems to go overboard with just about everything and quilters have taken this to heart. Pretty soon, you will be looking for places to put your stash and it starts to own you. The table runner you made was really special, you did a fantastic job.

Great looking quilted piece you have there. And yep, you are off to a great start with your stash! I am starting a queen size trip around the world quilt for my daughter's friend and I could go straight to {my stash} and select without going to the store. Whenever I go quilt shopping I buy 4 to 5 yards of fabric but in my area, I am blessed with a 2.99 store with great quality fabrics to choose from which makes it much more affordable. I can tell that you are having fun!

Great looking piece. Your stash is very nicely arranged. I normally purchases prices for something specific in mind. But when I buy randomly, I'll buy 3-4 yards, as the majority of quilts I make are king size. Thanks for sharing.