Use that Stash! Fabric Moratorium
 

Anyone up for a 2013 Fabric Moratorium?
Just had to move all my sewing stuff out of the dining room so we can use it as intended. I was amazed at my stash purchases this past year. Life was hectic these past 12 months, I couldn't sew, but I sure could shop!

I would be willing to post the monthly reminders, rules similar to prior years...
* Pull fabric from your stash. No fabric purchases to start a new quilt top from Jan 1 until November 1
What you can buy (fabric wise) is this:
* Yardage for backing, border or binding, to tie together fabric from your stash to complete a UFO or start a new project
* Special Request fabric, eg: for little Susie's wedding quilt who's favorite color is puce, which for some reason you don't have in your stash...

I'm going to try and do it on my own, anyone want to join me??? I'm posting this now, so you can indulge in year end sales, then start your fabric diet in January.

I'm with you!! Had to move a bunch of mine recently. Was amazed at the number of pieces I had no recollection of buying (of course they were beautiful, so I couldn't part with them)! LOL

Linda

Count me in! I did this this year and have a little more empty space in my scrap drawer and in others too but still a long way to go. Gotta use some of this up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've already started mine! I have so..o...o...o much fabric. Some of it is not so good (quality-wise), given to me by my sister-in-law, but I've already used some in a scrappy quilt. Thrown in with the better fabric it's not so bad.

I have been doing this for a couple years. Besides batting and backing (sometimes) the only fabric I allow myself buy is if I need a particular color/print etc. to finish up a project. (had to buy 3 yds of a lovely green fabric a while back to use as the connecters/sashing for a hexagon quilt I'm working on) So, count me in also.

Yeah ... I need to join this thread too. I just made a couple major purchases so now all I need to do is keep away from the LQS. Seriously ... I may not even need to purchase backing fabric.

i'm in the same boat... i'll be with you

I started this "fabric Moratorium" last year and believe it or not, I did not buy any fabric from the fabric store and only purchased a few small yardage pieces at garage sales. I am going to make it this year and will probably do the same next year. Now, the funny thing is, I can't see my stash going down much at all, but I will keep using on it.

I would like to do this but what about finishing kits? Can I buy them?

Use what is in the stash.

I'm running to the fabric store- buy- at 50% off Christmas fabric. before 2013. LOL

I'll join. Keep up the reminders! I tried last yr, but failed. : (

I try not to set myself up for failure. So, I have to bow out of this one. I know that I'll be being buying something. But, I will dilligently try to use from my stash. After all, a stash isn't a stash unless you stash it! heheheheh!:shock:

lol,I will never do this.I can not help myself when I see fabric.good luck to those who try.Me not buying fabric would be like not breathing.

Karen, There will not be any quilt police checking on this! If you need to buy a kit or yardage to finish a project, then sure, go ahead.

I tryed this last year and failed!! LOL I think in Jan. I bought more fabric than I had in the 6 months before. LOL Something about someone (myself) telling me NO! So I have started easing into the moratorium. LOL I told myself I had to use at least one piece from my stash, and call it a challenge!! So far, so good, on my last project I used 2 from my stash and only bought one! YAH

i'm in again- did it this year---and did well- all total i bet i've spent less than $50 on fabrics for all of 2012 (except the wools i had to purchase for a commissioned quilt= but that doesn't really count because the person commissioning the quilt paid for supplies)
my stash is still over-flowing & over whelming---but i will say it is more difficult - pushes the creativity- because the pieces are much smaller than they were the beginning of 2012- i have to come up with ways to use smaller amounts of lots...
anyhow- looking forward to another year of using the stash & saving money.

I'll give it a try but I'm afraid it will go the way of New Year's resolutions and diets. :p

PaperPrincess, I too do not like to set myself up for failure. However, I am going to make a commitment to 'try' not to buy new fabric~~unless there is a really, really good reason. My goal is to get my stash under control and folded on comic boards. Reasons: to take up less space and to be able to visually see what I have. I would like to make enough quilts, even if I have to tie them, for others and to whittle my stash in two, at least. IF I buy fabric in 2013, it will be with immediate purpose instead of just having it to build my stash. Hope you won't mind me riding along for the encouragement I know will be offered.

Doesn't it seem like we were very inclined to buy fabric in 2012 because prices were going up? Well, LOL, they did go up but I would hate to have too much stash leftover when I die. :D I think I have hedged myself enough against rising prices and I "love" each piece or else why would I have purchased it?! Thank you for raising the challenge. May we all be successful in 2013!

I'm with Lois...I'll try my best.

Count me in!! This past year, I was diagnosed with Metastatic Melanoma, so my income is seriously below what I usually make. I recently inheritated some BEAUTIFUL fabrics from a local quilt designer/freecycler so, I do have quite a wonderful stash to use.

I'm in. I have way too much material and need to whittle down my stash. Keep the reminders coming. Thanks

I just can't do it, sorry!!!

I will give it a try -- I need to dig out my sewing room again and I realize (again) I have way too much fabric.

Good luck, everyone!

I put myself on a fabric diet in July of this year after cleaning and reorganizing my sewing room. I have been able to use lots from my stash and have only purchased a FQ bundle at the APQS quilt show in Grand Rapids MI. I did have a jelly roll gifted to me by a friend and 4 queen size W & N battings by another friend. I just purchased fabric for some Christmas presents as they were theme related. I have made 2 quilts just from my stash but did have to purchase flannel for the backing of one baby quilt. I plan on continuing this throughout the coming year. I have decided that no fabric is too pretty to cut and that I bought it to use it! I will play along with you all too!

Ill try, cant gaurantee anything...i am a fabricholic. Was not able to drive for a few weeks, all i wantedto do was go touch new fabric.
and......if i do do this, i wont get coupons anymore, then what do i do when i need one!!!!!

Mulling this one over...it's so much more to me. I have tons of patterns I have not tried...tons of fabric I have stashed.....tons of ideas.....need to put this into more than just a fabric diet!!!!

But my LQS depends on me:D

There's a pattern to my so-called destruction. I have more fabric than I will ever use in my lifetime. I haven't bought any since September, as I put myself on a moratorium after cleaning out my sewing room and inventorying my stash the middle of that month. I was flabbergasted by my accumulation. All was well until yesterday. I clicked on to the Connecting Threads Sale. Needed nothing but the prices of their fat quarters was fantastic as was the kits. So I bought what I wanted and hubby and give it to me for Christmas. Then, it had been almost a year since I ordered from Thousand Bolts. They had me at t he $3.85 flat rate shipping no matter how large the order and all that gorgeous fabric for under $5.00. I think I'd be better off buying a yard or two every now and then rather than denying myself completely for several months because when I do fall off the wagon, it's in a big way.

I did this for about two years and because of it I became a lot more disciplined about using my stash and not buying tons and tons of fabric just to be buying fabric. In October I pulled fabric from my stash and made three nice size lap throws. The only thing I bought was batting.

Count me in too. I have such a stash that I probably won't live long enough to use it up!!!! I'll only buy batting or a special fabric to finish a project. Cross my heart.....

I am almost finished with my one year moratorium. I have made 60 pillowcases for charity, and at least 20 quilts from my stash. I still have a lot to go, but by the time I make a bunch for Hurricane Sandy victims, I will be ready to start shopping in the new year. Good luck to all of you who do this. It is very gratifying to watch the stash diminish, and know you have also helped mankind. About all I bought this year was backing for the quilts.

This is going to hurt a bit but I'm in. I had enough fabric on my own to keep me busy but after my mother passed in January I inherited all her fabric so there is way more than enough!! I will be trying to make a good sized dent in the hoard of two fabriholics.

OK I'll try my best with a few other exceptions included like the background fabric and will need reminders

I, also have enough fabric. I will try for the whole yr. but think 6 mos is about all I'll be able to do. I have sisters that I get together & shop hop with once or twice a yr. But I will shop my stash the rest of the 2013 & thin it out. I have fabric & patterns all picked out, sitting on the shelf ready to go. They've been there several yrs. I don't even think I need to by border fabric for them.:thumbup:

I've been trying to do better with this. My stash is taking over my whole house and isn't even organized. Need to organize so I know what I have! Have been slowly trying to organize by color; any suggestions out there? Plastic bins?
Went to JoAnns today and only bought 13" for the project I'm working on. Progress!

Is "I'll try" an answer! I will try to use what I have and not buy anything unless it an absolute steal, I really really like it, or I need it to finish a project.

Count me in! If I buy anymore fabric, I will have to move.

I will join also, I am worried about my stash, how am I going to use it all????

Maybe I should qualify that. And it only took me less than a minute! Unless it is a good buy, I won't buy any fabric. Damn you who sell fabric here! Does buying books count?

I too would like to participate.

We're moving in the late winter, so I've started packing things up. I didn't realize how much fabric I had!!! I've really only been quilting 4 years and for the first year or two I only purchased what I needed for my classes and the odd fat quarter or two on payday.

Well I guess I've changed my shopping habits radically now as I have a ton of stuff!

So...I will not purchase any new fabric to start a quilt. I may have to purchase bits to finish off a quilt (binding, borders, background, etc) if absolutely necessary. I will strive to work with only what I have.

With one caveat...I signed up for a BOM with my friend Valerie at Pastimes Online ( http://www.pastimesonline.ca/vals-quilting/ "Scandinavian Rose") ...I've already paid for the first month so I'm not counting it as "new" even though it'll be progressing through 2013 and I'll be getting the packages every month. That is the only thing I'll be spending $$ on in 2013. Does that count or have I already blown the moratorium?