Using up my stash
 

I think I have a problem. I am planning a quilt (pineapple nine patch) - scrappy - in shades of red. And I have collected reds for years so I have lots. But each time I pull a piece for consideration, my first thought is that if I use that piece, then I won't have it anymore. So back in the stash it goes. Hard to make myself use up my stash - does anyone else do this?

I have been guilty of this as well. But have decided that keeping all the misc. small pieces-well, they need to be used! Other beauties will soon take their place! I found it helps to cut strips and put them into my bins, and if need a special size piece, then cut it and set aside with its project.
Hope you find a solution that works for you! :)

Instead of thinking that you won't have that piece anymore, think how special the new quilt will be with that piece in it. You aren't losing the fabric at all. You're just letting it live up to its potential.

Dunster, I like the way you think - living up to its potential!

I don't seem to have as much problem with using up small pieces as with discovering after finishing a quilt that there is only a little left of whichever fabric in THAT quilt was my favorite so there's not enough of it for another quilt. Silly, I know!

I can soooo relate to that! My huge under-the-bed box of cat prints is no longer "stash." Now, it's a collection. They make me happy to look at them, so it's all good.

I have that problem, but lately have been telling myself; If I use that piece then I'll have a quilt.

I do the same thing and a friend told me to use from my stash ! There always is more fabric in quilt shops !

Same here for the cat fabric. I don't need pillows out of all the fabric. I'm planning a cat quilt, with some kind of custom layout, just haven't tried laying it out.

DO IT! There will be more red in the future, better red than you already have, I guarantee. Better to use it now than never use it or see it in a quilt.
peace

Im that way with my 'swaps' squares.. If i use it i wont have that piece anymore... Its a vicious circle isnt it?!?!?!?

My solution was that anything under 2 yards was fair game. It worked.

Just take a few quiet moments alone with the fabric. Stroke it a few times. Remind if of the good memories you have shared. Tell it you will both meet again in a better world. And cut it to pieces!

I hoarded a couple of particular pieces for over 8 years because (when I bought it) it was SO BEAUTIFUL. One day I found the pieces in a stack of purples I was looking through and realized I didn't even LIKE it any more!:rolleyes: What a waste, because I couldn't think of a way to use it then. That stuff is still in the stash. Sitting there. Not being used. Frowning at me. Dang!

Jan in VA

There will always be more beautiful fabric coming out - use up your stash now so you can have an excuse to go buy more!

too funny!!!!

If you don't use when you think its beautiful , like Jan said, there will likely come a day when your opinion has changed. Just think if you don't cut the "good stuff" you will not have room for the better stuff that is yet to come.
I too have had peices that I just would keep putting back on the shelf and now, I wished I had used it when I first fell in love with it.

Hehehe.....SmickChick....you funny!!!!! Now...if only I could take this advise as well.....

Here's what you do! Eyes closed! Take out a BIG fist full of reds! And there ya go! No second guessing. Just do it!

Unless I have a specific project in mind to start right now this minute, I put all my little scraps in a flat rate box, when it gets full I list it on here for sale. There is always more and new. I do have one 3" square from South Africa sent to me by some one I spoke at the Smithsonian with hanging on a bulletin board, that piece I will keep forever, just like it is.

I know what you mean - I often have problems finding a scrap of fabric to use as the "starter" when doing strip piecing. Isn't that sad!!

I like your idea of allowing a fabric lo live up to its potential. I'll try to remember that as I go through my stash to pull fabrics for a project and don't want to use some of it. But...I have some i know I will never cut. It's just too beautiful.

No problem here. For each piece I use, I can purchase two to replace it. Thankfully, the fabric companies keep coming out with increasingly beautiful fabrics.

Yes, I do that and it is very common I would think. I just can't part with the red and white and black that "someday" I will put into a quilt for myself. Who knows,maybe this is the year to do it. :-)

Bonnie Hunter told us when you use the fabric from your stash then it creates a hole and you are free to go shopping because you have to fill the hole. Think of it as a liberating experience and use that fabric!

I tell myself if I use that piece I can buy some more fabric!!!!!!!!!!!

I with the group saying use it and buy more! And that fabric has been "waiting" for you to put it in a project. It really wants you to show it off.

I used to,but,then I got sick and realised I will not be here forever and gave myself permission to ENJOY! I will not live to be 300 so will not run out of fabric!!!

I have a problem that's similar, but different. When I think I'm going to use up some of my fabric and make a scrappy quilt, I'll pull fabric out to see how they'll all look together, and then one by one ... I pull them back out and think "these aren't right together, I need to buy fabric for this quilt". I spend more, my stash grows ... alas, the guilt.

Yep......bring it out....pet it for awhile and put it back...LOL...glad to know I'm not alone, If you find a cure let me know!!

Same here!

Oh yes... I am in therapy for that problem.... every time I think, "if I use it I won't have it anymore," I smack myself upside the head and use it because if I don't use it... I can't buy more ! Therapy = smack upside the head!

Hi SunQuilts!

I do about the same. with me it's alway, " I can't use that beautiful floral I bought, It was too expensive and I might not find again.".. :-)

Susan

LOL I've decided to use it all before I die- I'm getting up in years and my kids will only throw it away. But- the more charity quilts I donate- the more fabric God sends to me through other quilters.
Evelyn

I have fabrics that I have purchased about 2 or 3 years ago that are still waiting. I pick them up and think, "now I only bought 2 yards of this so I have to be careful". Someday you will release your grip. This usually happens to me when I am making a quilt for someone I love greatly.

WOW..SoI'm not the only one...I will go and buy fabric to avoid using those very special pieces...Of course I have piles of these special fabrics...Joined the fabric moratorium and have been good..I have to use it before I die and it ends up in the dump!!

I get over those thoughts by remembering that once that fabric is in my quilt, it will be out where I can enjoy it everyday, instead of in a bin where I can't ever see it. Works for me!

I am wondering how many of us have collections of cat fabrics. Add me to the list. Mine is not very big, but it makes me very happy.

I just picture how lonely it will be if I never use it in a quilt and my son sends it all to Goodwill after I die (he would). I think I need to list in in my will and at least make sure it is donated to the guild for comfort quilts.

And besides the shades of newer fabrics change and they won't match the new colors. At least that is what I've found. So go for it!