Its canning and preserving time here in mid America. Garden produce is either canned, frozen or dehydrated. Freezer is stocked by buying a quarter of beef from an area processing plant. Yes our pantry is well stocked for the next year. Depending on weather conditions (hail) my stock usually lasts till the next growing season.
Have a DS who is now beginning to grow garden, and process the food. Yesterday experimented with salsa for the first time and came late in the day with a sample. Created his own recipe and I must say I am impressed.
As for fabric, OH I do buy ahead and have a well stocked larder. Most projects I am able to shop my shelves and create what I want, if I need a specific color, I overdye a piece that I already have on hand. Also keep a good supply of plain white pfd fabric to paint or dye as needed.
Threads etc, oh yes, when I find a really good sale on the types I like, I stock up. Am never sorry as when times get bad, like they are now, I can always sew.
We live miles away from stores, so in winter if we were not stocked up, we wouldn't eat. One winter it was 6 weeks before we could get to shopping. Once a week an airplane would fly over and drop our mail. Youngest daughter thought her sheets came from angels, because she knew Santa could not possibly have gotten through the snow. Packages were dropped from the plane.
Ah yes there still are places in the country where people do have to make do.

This is the time of the year when I start the squirrel thing. I gather nuts aka canned and packaged foods for the coming winter when we will be snowed into our little house on the prairie in the middle of the City of St. Paul not being able to get out for a week solid. Well, it has never happened. The streets are completely plowed out within 24 hours that the last snowflake fell and we live four blocks from a grocery store, two blocks from a liquor store, five blocks from a myriad of restaurants and a dance studio. Why I do this I have no idea, but I do!

I also think leftovers are better the second and third day!!!!!

I also "squirrel" fabric for that same snow storm that is coming that will be a good four feet high and I can sit inthe house and sew all day. Au Contraire. I am out there shoveling with the best of them and then I am too tired to sew! So technically I am all set for the winter, including thread like you wouldn't believe - got a really good deal on thread and bought 12 spools of thread that I don't think I'll finish up in a lifetime.

Don't forget about the fall cleaning either. I imagine the squirrels do that too, otherwise we wouldn't have so many piles of leaves and twigs under our birch trees!!!!!! Windows have to be cleaned, curtains have to be nice and fresh, woodwork, ceilings, walls, steps, basement, under the stove and refrigerator and then do it all over again in April. We are a strange breed aren't we? When my husband was still working (retired 18 years now), every Friday I would open up the windows and doors and let that cold fresh air waft through the house and drop the temp around 25 degrees and then close it all up again and it would smell so nice and clean and fresh. Now my husband won't let me do that (too cold) and can't figure out why it gets a little odiferous (onions and stuff from cooking). That's why!!!!! I don't open doors and windows in the winter anymore. How did I get on this subject when we are talking about stocking up stuff compared to fabric. If you need it, buy it. If it isn't absolutely necessary you don't. I buy fabric, food and clothes. What else do we need????? Edie

I use the word larder also and I keep our canned and packaged foods (mac and cheese) in the Cat Pantry!!!!!!

you mean that there are quilters who don't do STASHing ????????

Are they still called quilters ???????????

I do a lot of PPing so I keep teeny-tiny to whatever size !!!

I have those little plastic containers in which grape tomatoes come. I use them for the tinier scraps and have enough to put them according to color.. very helpful and are on a back shelf..... thus out of the way until needed.

I do the same with the bigger strawberry containers and use them for the larger scraps and this works great for me.

Never have the tomatoes or the strawberries left over......they go as fast as they come into the house......so no worry about food left-overs !!!!!

Hi All, Reading all the responses to this thread about fabric stashes has finally helped me make the decision to purge my fabric stash. I am selling 20 yard bundles of 100% cotton fabrics in color bundles. Buyer can select: blacks, blues, reds - pinks, green, or tans-browns. $ 75 plus shipping. Email me at [email protected].

I've read about that winter, but wasn't living in Nebraska at the time. We had our own deep snow, but not so bad as to need planes dropping food/meds/etc. for us.

I stock up on food and fabric. We use leftovers, but they are planned. And I am learning Quiltville's method for the use of fabric scraps.

I come from a long line of farmers, so I learned food preservation as a child. My mom tells stories of making over dresses for the next child in line, though I did not have to do it for mine. I am currently cutting up outgrown clothing for quilts. I was taught to 'waste not, want not."

How about someone who is changing from one to the other in regards to fabric. I am trying to clean out my UFO's and get rid of all fabric I won't use. I don't really just pick up fabric anymore. Use to. I guess if the economy were better I still would. Don't know.
Food I am the type to stock food if I have the money and the room. Too many years where the money was too tight to buy food. It was a choice between rent and utilities and gas to get to work or buying food. I always keep bread, milk and eggs in the house. Would stock the freezer if I had one. I do have some canned goods not enough for me.

I stock pile food, as I buy when it is on sale. My cupboards are full, and I am a whim cook. If I feel like making chili, I can, or a meat loaf, or a turkey.

I stash too, my goal is to get my stash organized, and i am working on that . I love a bargain, and buy fabric when it is at least 50% off, i buy matching lots. I do buy at my LQS for special projects to fill in on the sale lots. Got carried away doing civil war quilts, that stash I will be selling (maybe).

I get little satisfaction out of watching the stock market (DH does that), we are retired, have a pot to pee in, and a roof over our heads. I have no overwhelming desire to leave money to the kids.

when you buy fabric, and you sell it, you may break even, or lose some $$. I do not buy "junk gadgets, silk flowers" made in China, you lose all the $$ paid for them, they have no resale value. we dine out rarely, don't need to tell you where that money goes. we use coupons for everything.

my stash is my hedge fund.

I save scraps and I stock up. I really enjoyed reading each of these posts. I don't buy food or fabric for specific meals or quilts. Rather the meals and quilts are determined by what I have on hand.

I garden (in my front yard, too) and forage and whatever we don't eat fresh gets preserved. Last year I went through my deep freeze to make room for turkeys and canned the contents. Chicken breasts are now ready in broth to be turned into whatever I am in the mood for. Beef roasts got turned into quarts and quarts of stew and chili. There's always lots of jam, jelly, fruit salad, dried fruits on the shelves and plenty of wine which I also make.

I shop for fabric at estate sales and have more tubs of fabric and thread than I know what to do with. But I will use them. I'm determined! I have an entire tub filled with bias cut strips that I got at an estate sale and am now working on a brilliant batik strip quilt. Not at all sure what it will turn out to be, but I'm thinking curves. I buy fabric at Joann, but never ever ever pay retail. NEVER! I also shop at Walmart. Last night I picked up lots of different old fashioned rose prints that will be turned into something wonderful. One batch in rose color and the other batch in purple and lavender. Quilted bags?

Some of my best meals come from fun combinations of food scraps and some of my best quilts come from combinations of fabric scraps.

ditto except I do eat leftovers.

i just buy a piece of fabric most times because i really like the fabric and know i will make something out of it. when i use it, if i have any left, i will save it except for the really little pieces. i usually find a use for most of the fabric. i do have a little put away but i go back and use it when i decide to make something. groceries, i try to buy on sale and buy extra of the things that will keep when there is a good buy.

I keep most scraps and use them various ways (quilts/clothes/stuffings). I've learned to cook w/o making too many over amts (nothing is "leftover", everything is food in my house) unless I'm planning on using something cooked in another dish -

I think you might have something there except I am in the opposite range. I keep a well stocked pantry, stocked freezers and use my leftovers, creatively if necessary. If something is a good buy, I buy more of it. It's the same with fabric. I've always had a stash. When my kids were @ home we used it like a pantry. They helped design what they wanted, we shopped in the fabric closet where there were bolts of fabric and I made them what they wanted. I keep and use scraps. I recently made a quilt for my DGD along with a pillow case, a decorative pillow, and a mug rug out of the "left overs". She shopped my stash for the fabric. I may have enough left to make another mug rug. LOL

I am sure it is personality based. I have a huge stash of fabric and can make an entire quilt without going shopping...most of the time. I live by myself with 2 large dogs. I buy huge bags of dog food and never run out, I can eat for weeks without going to the store for anything but milk and bread. I grew up in a frugal family and was frugal when raising 4 kids. My kids didn't know you could buy a cookie in the grocery store, and I used 10# of flour a week baking bread. And I made all my daughter's clothes and many of the boys clothes. Of course my daughter now is very wasteful and it drives me nuts, she cleans the house before the cleaning lady comes.

I quit buying fabric just because its pretty. It ends up sitting in the closet because it does not necessarily fit with the next project. I prefer to have the fun of shopping for a particular pattern, but I will make scrappy quilts when the stash builds up.

I prefer to buy food as I need it for the week. With a full refrigerator or cabinet, too much gets overlooked and can go to waste.

No sense spending money on things that will not get used.

I am a minimalist...

I buy fabric for specific projects. Scraps are kept in one bin and used quickly in a scrap quilt. Having too much around makes me nervous

I buy enough food to make it through the week. By Saturday, both the fridge and freezer are empty except for condiments and freezer packs.

Two reasons: We are too materialistic nowadays. More is not necessarily better. Second reason. I thought with a master's degree in speech therapy that I would be much more financially secure. Not true. I spend as little as possible and near hyperventilate before I make any purchase. I hate worrying about $$$!!!!

I don't fit in here. I save every little morsel of food and fabric!

I have been snowed in, iced in and hurricaned in. The longest I was "in" was 16.5 days. If I didn't have extra supplies I would've been in real trouble.

I love alone and do not like to buy large amounts of food sometimes it seems they just do not put thing in small package for people like me do not like to over stock fridge live in small apt and do not have space stores do have some small cans but not much as for quilting try to buy what I can use with prices like they are now am trying to find a frugal way to quilt does any one have any suggestions am Sr. citizen and do not drive so can not go to thrift stores often I shop for food once a week

I just hate going to the store, so I buy lots of everything, and make it last. I "repurpose" leftovers all the time, whether for lunch or dinner.
And I save all scraps.

I do eat left overs and stock pantry when I can, for quilts however I buy for specific projects where i can, not just cause, mostly I wait for sales of thing to buy online or at the LQS

I don't have a stash to speak of, maybe 3 or 4 yards of cloth, but do save scraps of fabric hoping to use them someday. I am rather frugal in all things, probably due to growing up in a large family. Did have a stock of vittles but we're working our way through it since we've been out of work. We've experienced hard times before & our grand creator has always sustained us so I know our search for work will come to fruition soon. Funny, no matter how desperate times were I always felt 'rich' with a tank of gas & cupboard of toilet paper!!!! :-P

I use to not throw away any food leftovers. I felt guilty if I did. Same with fabric scraps. Growing up with grandparents who lived during the depression made a big impact what I felt guilty about. I finally realized I don't live the depression lifestyle, I don't have to save everything because it's still good. I can squeeze a dime but I got tired of it.

I'm more the type who has a stash, sometimes do and sometimes do not hold on to scraps (depends on mood that day if I feel there is too much clutter) hubby does the food shopping and I'm the only one who eats leftovers (for lunch at work) hubby and 3 boys do not like leftovers. :-P

I'm a lot like you. I've grown to appreciate most leftovers, so we waste very little. Scraps of fruits, vegetables, and breads that won't keep well go to the turkeys and chickens. I keep a very well-stocked pantry and can, freeze, dehydrate, or make into wine, everything I can get my hands on. We raise our own fruits, berries, wine grapes, and turkeys and chickens, too. I save every scrap of fabric from projects, and if I see fabric (even scraps) at yard sales or thrift stores, and they have a great price, I pick them up. I don't have as much time to sew and quilt as I'd like, but there will come a day when I probably will have more time. I'll be ready to go when that day comes! It's also nice to have extra to share with someone who needs it.

I am a frugal buyer of both. When the kids were at home I bought groceries that were on sale and planned meals around that. Kids are all gone now so I buy fabric when it is on sale and I do have a small stash. It worries me that fabric will get to be pricier than I can afford and so the stash was built forthat reason. I would rather be chosey with both food and fabric and buy quality when it is on sale than to buy non sale items when they aren't on sale. I do save scraps of fabric and when hubby was alive he did like & eat leftovers....but then I was a good cook. Some leftovers I don't mind for they do taste even better after sitting in the frig. Lasagna, macaroni salads, leftover roast beef for sandwiches and the list goes on. I do like to buy items from Costco or Sams that are non perishable so I don't have to buy them so often. Nothing like being a wise consumer and non wasteful.

My parents lived through the Depression. My father's family lost everything on Black Friday (Grandpa was a small town grocer). I learned from them that: if it is on sale, it is something that you will eventually use and it won't spoil, stock up. We eat left overs. After the second meal, I freeze individual servings for anytime. This is the exact opposite of how my husband grew up, but he has adjusted and appreciates that we do not run out of the necessities. As far as quilting, I am still relatively new and my stash is modest, purchased on sale or at a thrift store or yard sale. I am a former used book dealer and books still dominate the house. And, of course, adding quilting books blends right in!

As children of parents that lived through the depression - we always keep something on hand - have a pantry - stock up for winter time - also I live way out in the country and with the price of gas - have to stock up to lessen the trips. I always cook at home -rarely eat out (mainly because we live out so far - no where to go) - at least I know what the kitchen looks like and the cook isn't bad either.
I have a stash of fabric - but I don't throw away scraps unless they are really small.

I do have a big stash, a full pantry and a full freezer. I like to make large quanities of some of the dishes that I cook because I do a lot of freezing. If I'm not in the mood to cook I pull something out of the freezer. Yes, DH and I love leftovers.

Me, too. Hate leftovers but I still keep them. MY husb. used to go through the refrig. & make the best meals out of them but I still didn't like the taste of leftovers. I ate it though since I didn't have to fix it. I have a corn casserole in the refrig. right now that I haven't touched for 3 days. You know where it's going.

Yep, I keep almost every scrap over a few threads now after seeing what so many of you do with them.

I think i fit into #2, I dont buy unless I need it for something

i used to be a collector and had enough fabric, notions & craft items to open my own store but no longer. i look at my money much different now. i buy the fabrics that i want to use for specific projects. i have never kept scraps but looking at threads on this board, i know that others do so i am keeping them just to give away. i hate accumulating just for the sake of accumulating thinking i will use it some day.

as for food, i always like a stocked pantry and freezer. i use to entertain a lot more than i do now so i always wanted to have food on hand. this habit i have not broken. i have never been a leftover eater and doubt that i ever will. i like my foods freshly prepared at every meal. i don't bring leftovers home from a restaurant meal either. why fool myself... i won't eat them. they will be scootted around in my refrigerator until it's time to throw them away... the same as leftovers.

We have 2 freezers and 3 fridges (all large); my husband's insulin supply and everything that is not canned or in sealed bottles/jars is refrigerated or frozen to extend it's freshness life and keep bugs out ... we live in the deep south and do regular "Home Defense" maintenance, so don't actually have a bug problem, plus no food out here to tempt them anyway.

Because we have the storage space and because I usually loathe shopping, I buy some things in bulk. I buy fabric on sale, (using coupons whenever possible) often without having any specific project in mind. While tastes do change over time, if I like the fabric a lot when I buy it, I continue to like it and will eventually find a perfect use for it. I don't have or want a big stash. I have one big plastic storage box of scraps of various sizes (kept primarily for applique), but I toss all the really small stuff and anything that is just too ugly to keep.

I'm a picky eater & rarely eat leftovers,; my husband & son eat the leftovers and most of what we throw away is just peels, seeds, & bones. I cook only once in a while, so keep on hand a supply of salad fixin's, fruits, fish, & various 'quick meals' in the freezers so we each can & do fend for ourselves. My days of cooking a big family meal every day are long gone! Now I'm happy to just keep the kitchen and all pots/pans/dishes clean and keep the fridges, freezers & shelves well stocked.

Oooh, I told a lie ... I do eat leftover macaroni & cheese & leftover bratwurst ... if I can get to it before someone else scarfs it up.

I buy fabric for each quilt, do save the scraps, I buy for two weeks' worth of meals, and eat leftovers. Anything else??

I am kind of facinataed by those who hate leftovers (food) -- it is the same food, and all ready for a new meal with the additon of some one thing to freshen it up.
I about never make casseroles and I am disappointed when we eat the whole meal -- I love to use the leftover meat and veg in a new meal - it is the right brain part of me, I guess, create something tasty -- or pretty -- out of what you have on hand.

I have a stash - and it's sizable - including bolts of smooshy fabrics to use for backgrounds and/or backing - because when I want to start a new project I want to do it NOW, not have to go shopping specifically for that project. So I have a shelf of neutrals, one of yellows, another of oranges, and on through the color wheel. Of course, if I know I'm going to Lancaster, where the best fabric tends to be more affordable, I will take a favorite pattern or book with me, just in case I see the perfect fabric to inspire!

I think it goes back to being a depression kid (born 1929). I buy bargains, and use them regularly. I like yard sales, and buy what I need. We have a big garden, so I can and freeze. Love auctions and estate sales--I furnished my house this way.. Love to sew, try new recipes, and read. I recycle all I can. I think we are all products of our environment. quiltinbill

Love scraps big enough to use/hate most leftovers. froggyintexas

Seems odd to me when someone says "I hate leftovers." For instance, when I fix a lg. roast in slo cooker, have a meal w/vegs etc., and a couple days later, make bbq. sandwiches with the same meat, I do not consider it "leftovers". It is an entirely diff. meal. Same with poultry - big meal and few days later, chicken salad, or enchiladas. No one at our house considers this leftovers.