This is just how I do it! I have some fabric around, and some fat quarters from Big Lots and Tuesday Morning, but don't have room or desire for lots of it.

Yea, I agree with you about the clean freak thing. Because the other thing I noticed was that her 2 machines were put off to the side all prim and proper. My machines are always "out" and many times still with the last block i was working on under the presser foot.

Ha! Thank you for that! I think my stash makes my sewing room colorful and inviting!

I shudder at the thought of throwing scraps away, I live for the scrap auctions i win on ebay :):)

I love my stash, I love my cluttered boxed up room as it's moving to the basement where I can spread out to work. And I share!

I taught my 2 sisters and bff to quilt this winter. They were gifted with fabric and batting and notions so they could keep going. The bff has turned into a freak- she's made 6 quilts so far since Feb. I've given away about 3 totes of fabric which made me feel good as she doesn't have the means to buy things right now.

I've learned how to separate my scraps and make strips as I make projects and I'm enjoying being able to shop from my stash when the mood strikes me at 7:00 a.m. I'm looking forward to my organizing in the basement this evening. I love organized totes of fabric- it makes me happy.

Not me. I definitely have stash, maybe not like some have stash but you open a cabinet and there it is. I am a quilter and fabric collector. Love my quilt books too. Hehehehe

I think she needs help LOL

My friend buys just enough to make a quilt!Not 6 inches more! When she is done, there isn't enough left to make a potholder! Not me, I buy because I love too! I will use it someday and being in the country is my excuse! I certainly don't want to run out of fabric in a snow storm! I sew alot at midnight and just can't run to the fabric store then :)

I know several ladies who just buy the fabric they need for the project, finish the project and give away the leftovers. They simply have no desire to do scrap quilts. Honestly, I get it. I love making scrap quilts, but have no desire to live with them (too busy). Fortunately, I have several family members who love them, so they get a good home and are used and enjoyed.

Stephanie
Fabric hoarder extraordinaire

I couldn't sew without my stash. I think some serious intervention therapy is needed here.

I have stash galore! Maybe she just a more than tidy type of gal!

I admit I have a large stash. I didn't do it on purpose, it just happened, lol. When I started quilting, in about 2004, there was Hancocks, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's and Walmart within 10 minutes of my house. Now, Hancocks is about 2 hours away, Hobby Lobby & Joann's is aboiut 25 miles away, and Walmart doesn't sell fabric any more. We do have a quilt shop, but I can't afford the expenisve prices (this shop never has a sale.)
So, I buy fabric when I have a chance and am so thankful for my stash, as I also like to sew in the middle of the night.
But like others say, whatever floats your boat!

I have to admit that I don't have a stash built up. I must be "storage challenged" for I just save fabric that are just scraps. I have to admit that I haven't been quilting for long and have not built up a collection. I usually have to buy it at the time for that project, and then it is hard to decide what I want for there are too many choices in the store. I am unemployed so I seldom have the money to buy fabric. I am about to go mad now for I don't have any fabric to work on right now, for I just finished a table runner. I envy all of you that have fantastic stashes and all the good deals that fall into your lap. Happy quilting.

never throw scraps away, I'll take them.lol Barb

That sounds like the perfect...dream. To use only what you need. But here in the real world of ME..My sewing room stuff is creeping out into the hall way. I am gonna have to finally fix it. Because if I can't sew in there...I'm not getting anything done.

me too. I love my stash, but so many times when I want to start a new project, I have difficulty finding the shades of color that I need so I end up buying anyway. Although I haven't done a scrap quilt yet, of course I could make a 100 or more of those. Oops. tee hee

To each their own. I like my moderate stash.

Yes, please don't just "toss them in the trash". Instead "toss them" to someone like this.

Just like we need people to always buy new, so that those of us who like to buy used can, there are always eager people who would gladly relieve someone else who doesn't care to have any leftovers.

(And some people don't like food leftovers too and throw everything away at the end of a meal. I personally can't imagine it, but it happens.)

I am a new quilter and WANT a stash!

Seriously? Don't tell my husband as I have explained that it is part of the quilting moto we all must live by.

I like my stash too much to even consider not having one. On the other hand, it does take up lots of space and cause quite the chaos on occasion. I wish I could be a little more self-disciplined where the fabric is concerned.

I'm a firm believer in "the one that dies with the most fabric wins" and have a hard time throwing even miniscule pieces away (I use those in fabric art for Bible covers). Really now, admit it some of you, that the best fun in quilting sometimes is the hunt for fabrics and seeing what kind of bargains you can find. I love finding a beautiful fabric tucked away on a clearance rack, that I wasn't intending to purchase. Or a piece of gorgeous material for almost nothing at a thrift shop. I buy when I can and save it for inspirations to come. It gives me a good feeling to see all my stash waiting to be made into something. And if it wasn't enough, lately I've taken to repurposing thrift store clothing into crafted purses, quilts, etc. It's all the QB's fault - someone said that cotton fabric was going to become outragously priced, so I was planning ahead. LOL Just kidding, I really need NO encouragement, at all.... :)
A glimpse into MY chaos.....
Shelves with fabric neatly folded, bins of fabric on the floor in front of shelves, sorted cleaned clothes from the thrift shop piled on the bins at the moment, and a dresser on the right full of folded fabrics, with other assorted stacks here and there. I'm still in the process of moving my studio to a larger room, hence the explosion that no longer fits this room. Soon, it will be organized again.

I, too, have no real 'stash' per se. I always buy extra for projects and do keep whatever is unused so I have bits here and there. I don't care for 'scrappy' quilts. I sew and hand quilt regularly. I'm currently quilting a carpenters star (about 50" sq.) for a table topper and am piecing a twin log cabin for a graduation gift for next year. Between piecing and quilting, it will take me that long to complete. I also have a couple of completed tops to quilt yet as well as working on a BOM at my LQS. I'm in my sewing room most days and it's not tidy by any stretch of the imagination. But stash...not really. Enough if I need to whip up a block (or several) for a swap and the like but that's about it. It works for me.

Hmm. I have a stash. I'm still building it but how in the world does she afford to buy what she needs as she needs it. Now if they are just small projects, I could see it but hard to comprehend for me. But if it works for her then ok.

I store my stash in the white plastic 3-drawer dressers (with clear plastic drawers from Walmart. I have them stacked, 2 high, along every available inch of wall space in the studio. I have tubs in all closets, under all beds. Hell, a couple of week ago I bought another 3-drawer dresser, filled it with fabric and now it sits next to the vanity in my bathroom.
Bottom line, I can't relate to "No Stash" LOL

to each his own but i have camel back trunks and foot lockers full of fabric yes more than i will ever use but sis will be happy to take it off my son's hand when i go to quilters heaven

Compared to what I've seen, I do not have a stash. But I do have leftovers. I buy only for the current Project. Can't afford otherwise.
MK

that's funny

My thoughts are the opposite, if I buy it now on sale and someday I have no money to buy more, I will some on hand to use. That someday came 2 years ago, I was able to make gifts and large quilts without having to purchase anything. My stash is down now, only have blenders left, along with special collections I have not use yet. (1930;3 and repro)
Being different is what makes us all the same; Quilters:)

[quote=Lisa_wanna_b_quilter]My stash fits in two plastic shoe boxes. While I admire all the beautiful fabric displayed on the board, I don't want to accumulate it. Too much clutter freaks me out and I don't want to invest that much money in a hobby in advance.

Buying as you need it, works for some, NOT for me,
1. Can't afford to
2. Can't always find what I want, need to check stash and/or more stores
3. colors and styles change just as cloths. Large scale forals are in one year out the other, etc.

I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses! I just started quilting so of course had no stash at the beginning. I have kept the scraps left over from the projects that I have made so far...so I have a teeny, tiny stash that is slowly growing. I'd LOVE to have stash but can't afford to buy something not knowing exactly what I would be making with it. Buying fabric on sale still uses up $ that may sit there for a long while before I know if I can make something with the fabric. Ah well, I guess I have something to look forward to...if I quilt long enough...I should eventually get a nice scrap stash!

OK, I have a question.... What does she do when she's finished with a project... throw everything that's left over away??? She's GOT to have something left over after a project... I always do. Very, very wasteful if you ask me.

Haha, wvhill22! :thumbup:

Hi! When I"m done with fabric , I find someone who really needs it and give it to them.

I'm in the middle of re-organizing my stash (a HUGE task, I assure you). I'm a very tidy person and I am also a frugal person. I can't see throwing out fabric, even if they are scraps. If I have scraps of fabric that I don't particularly care for, I share them with a friend who is learning to quilt.

remembering the tornado photos last week and the lady running thru the remains of her home with a pieced top in her hands and pulling pillowcase sized pieces of fabric from the wreckage......the photos had just looked like a disaster movie till then...then it was real

I'm in the process of deleting my stash. I have a closet full of fabric - from scraps to yardage - that I don't use! If I want to make a quilt, I go buy fabric for it. I do have a friend who loves scrap quilts, so I give her my leftovers. My stash was nicely organized when I loaded it in the closet. I have tried to use it, so I've pulled pieces out and put them back not-so-neatly. Now it's a mess. I'd love for someone to come buy it all!

Ditto here. I wish I could pass up a fabric store. But I hit everyone I pass.

I have a fairly organized sewing room..but then ..with great pride..I have a walk-in closet with 34 bins of fabric and I love the mess..lol..!! You'd be amazed at how many times I use something from my stash..now that we live on retirement..I don't buy like I use too..my stash is an investment..at least my DH thinks so !!!