I am with you I only collect fabric and sewing machines not hoarding them lol.

Df would say I hoard fabric especially since I just spent about $300+ on fabric (my Christmas present) and have zero intentions of using it outside of petting it once in a while. I'm sure once the omg I just bought my first fq bundles newness wears off ill use it. Or when I've bought more bundles to keep them company lol.

I am still stash building. I only have a dress, three totes and a cabinet very organized and filled with fabric. Most though is junk fabric because till I found y'all I thought fabric was fabric. Then I found moda and from there it all went down hill. Thank god df spoils me rotten and I am on lifetime butt wiping duty as a thank you lol.


Butt wiping for our daughter not him that would be icky. Lol

I'm getting ready to move so my stash will do double duty as wrapping for fragile items. No apologies to anyone for my fabric, it makes me happy! Although my Mother was here last week and actually looked at the amount and only made one comment. Careful!
as she has benefited from it!

Horder? It could go either way...
I think a bit of orgnazation will help...that is my goal after cleaning the house, baking and all that stuff. I have lots of stuff that I COULD get rid of...but may not.

I am a quilter and collector of fabric and threads

My "stash" grew so big it had to be stored in my closet as well as bins and a cabinet. It got to the point where I would be afraid to grab something from the mid section stash in the closet for fear of a fabric avalanche. And oh yes, it happened!
So I would go back to the quilt shop and buy the same, or close, fabric that I already had. That to me is the beginning stages of hoarding. So, I donated one large garbage bag full of fabric that I really knew I would not use in the next 10 years. It was hard at first but I'm more organized now with the huge pile I still have. LOL! But it's much better now.

I think of it as a gift addiction. I love it when I give a quilt or item to someone who is totally taken by surprise at the thought that I "made" them something. And I give all my quilts away, I don't want a closet full of quilts. But it is also the joy of touching, petting and colors of fabric. It's satisfying. I guess that's a fabric addiction also.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by dunster http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/...post-right.png
Well, yes, some of us probably are hoarders, but not everyone with a large stash is a hoarder. If the stash interferes with the rest of your life, rather than enhancing it, then it's a problem. If the stash takes up space that is needed for other basic things, such as eating, cooking, bathing, sleeping, then it's a problem. If we spend money for fabric when it's needed for things like rent, food, or health care, then it's a problem. But if we just have more fabric than we can possibly use in our lifetime... well, it's not as bad as Imelda's shoe collection, is it?]

I like Dunster's definition. I just want to say, I need to keep things together that belong to one quilt if I'm going to set it aside for a while. I try to put all the pieces AND fabrics needed for it; AND THE PATTERN, or at least notes as to how it should be used; into a clear plastic bag. But I don't seal the bag, leave some breathing space. (This also helps me remember what was going on when I get it out in the future.)

I have told my children what they should do with it, so I feel better about it. I also think about this whenever I put something away. Life will be much easier for them this way. I have cleaned up too many houses of accumulated stuff, so I know how frustrating that can be.

I think it has a lot to do with growing up with next to nothing. My mom grew up during the depression and she had a real problem getting rid of anything. She always felt like she would need it one day and would not be able to afford to buy it....

I'm sure I have more fabric than I'll ever use but I'm thankful I have it because I don't have shops anywhere close to me. I make lots of quilts and potholders and it doesn't seem like I put a dent in my stash! I do take fabric occasionally to my guild because I'm tired of it or know I won't use it. I want to be energized and excited when I look at my fabric wall and not groan or feel bad or guilty, because that inhibits creativity.