I ditto that Mtnmama. While I'm working I can afford to buy what I want for "when I retire." Hopefully that won't be too much longer.

I do not buy fabric to keep as statch. I can not afford to. I have found from previous sewing that material that I have on hand is not exactly what I want so I go out and buy what I want to make the current project. I buy material to match patterrn that I like. Sometimes I will change my mind about a color for the pattern but I have also learned to " speak up" when having help picking out my fabric on fabric that I do not like.

I was told by another quilter that the correct name for a stash is "library".

I add all kinds of "books" to my library all the time. I want the biggest library in the country.

I wish I didn't have a large stash. In my sewing room i have 2 cabinets nicely folded and stacked fabric. Another cabinet with books, laces and everything else.
In my garage I have around 29 (down one container) of the largest plastic containers you can buy full of fabric. It is a real pain to start moving things around to get to the right container. I have each one marked what is in it. That is the result of working in a fabric store. I have my own now.
I wish now i didn't have so much. I have gave alot away and quilted alot.

I have some of everything, all stored in different sizes of bins. I have bins with patterns matched up to fabrics ready to become a project. I have yardage in plastic three-drawer-style bins. I have fat-quarter-sized pieces in separate bins, uncut fat quarters folded in smaller bins, and I have small bins holding small scraps. I don't throw much away; however, I don't save my selvages or pieces smaller than one inch. I have separate bins for Christmas fabric and landscape fabric, and also for flannel. My stash is large enough now that if I see a pattern I like, I generally have everything I need to get started on it.

The adding machine tape sounds like a good idea.
Not being able to throw anything out, I have quite a few rolls from when I used to use it under hard to sew fabrics.
It made it easier to sew on napped or slippery fabrics, or fabrics that don't like to feed.
Have any of you used it to make borders for your quilts?

True! I find that when I make something for a loved one they often want something else then I have in my stash. So off I am to buy more. I do have plenty at home for quilts I want to make because most of my stash was bought based on my taste.

I was told by another quilter that the correct name for a stash is "library".

I suppose we could also call all our quilting supplies, "our inventory", but I like stash the best.

I have a wall of fabric stored on put it together yourself units. Insulation factor!!! It is amazing how even with this much fabric I usually have to hit the LQS for, you guessed it....very light or very dark whatever. I like scrappy and never seem to have enough variety of the lights and darks. My stash has a big hole in the color range...pink, now that I have GDs the hole isn't as big as it was last year.

If any of you would like to get rid of any of your "stashes" I would gladly take it off your hands. I am new to quilting again. I haven't made anything in 23 years. Right now I am making a jigsaw puzzle quilt from old shirts, pillowcases, and anything else that I can get my hands on. I have a part time job that just barely pays the bills so I don't have the money to go out and buy fabric or anything. ANY items would be very appreciated.

I started quilting in 1970. A few leftover scraps here, afew there, it ads up. then there are the planned quilts -- all set, plenty of fabric, whoops, no time, so another whole box -- add to the stash, and on and on for for 40 years -- whoo, no wonder there is so much -- stuff. -- a huge stash

Mary

I'm like you...I have a lot of little pieces and not a bunch of neatly color coordinated piles of fabric sitting idly on a shelf.
When I get tired of shuffling the odds and ends from other projects, I make a scrappy quilt or a child's dolly quilt.
I don't have a huge stash as I buy what I need to make a quilt and get rid of the excess as mentioned above. :lol:

I just started quilting about 8 months ago, and my stash is already out of control! I inherited a lot of vintage fabric from my grandmother. Then my mother let me have all of her stash. Most of these were floral and not to my liking so I have gone on several sprees to my local Joann's and several quilt shops in my area. I have 4 big plasic bins full, about 10 plastic drawers full, plus quite a bit of yardage hanging in my closets. I really shouldn't have to buy any fabric for years, but I am an impulse shopper. I see, I want, I buy...I'm broke all the time!

No, you aren't alone....my stash is comprised of what was left from previous quilts. Other than making one large multi, very multi colored quilt, if I want to make a lap size or larger, or need backing, I need to buy more. This is ok by me, because every thing I do is so different than the one before. I like variety.

I am building my stash, little by little. going at it slowly.

Sometimes, doesn't it seem like your stash creeps up on you? One minute you have everything to keep you busy for 3 or 4 days, then...pow!...you're buried in fabric!

I have a very large stash but I have been sewing for 37 years. Being a military family and not much money I made the kids and my clothes. Over the years the stash has grown. (Now just waiting for grandchildren but no one seems interested. :( )

My stash is jumbled together also! Who can keep it straight? I am trying to clear out fabric I have(so I can buy some new) and have made a scrappy quilt which I am calling, "Stash away! Stash away! Stash away, all. And to all a good night." (with apology to Clement Moore).

Tooooo much! But, does that stop me from dreaming every time I look at fab?

That working in a fabric store is what happened to me...but it was three stores simultaneously. They just draw me....I LOVE all the colors and patterns, esp the "watercolor" or "painterly" looking fabs. Tertiary colors #1, but rarely see a fab I cannot think of some use for...making the items is another matter!

:)

There is a part of me that is envious of your approach. While I love my stash (both large and scrappy pieces) I do not always have the "in" color line because - no more room in the cupboards and no more money in the budget. You are building your stash from leftovers. Means you may focus more on the making of quilts than the accumulation of goods. Send me a little of your stick-to-itness, pleeeeease.

A stash is a stash no matter how large, small, neat or not so neat. I think we all are surprised at how much we can accumulate.

I love the idea of collecting a stash now when you are working full time! That will be my standard reply from now on when anyone asks me why, oh why am I buying more fabric! I have so much fabric it is really quite embarrassing. I do have it organized quite well and most people just look in awe at the wall of fabric. But it does come in handy. A friend of mine recently found her old SBS quilt her mother had made for her when she was a little girl. It is in tatters except for the little girls. I found in my stash an almost twin of the sashing fabric! What a great reason to have so much fabric!

I am not admitting to anything-----but I have more than I will ever use-----but I enjoy every Piece of it!

I have a very large stash, can't resist a bargain. For years I had more money than time. That's when my stash really got out of control. I would just like to know why every time the UPS man comes with a box of fabric my family is always visting. I get a lot of eye rolling.

Absolutely.

You're never alone on this board... if you can place fabric some where with your sewing stuff... it's stashed! HAhaha... thus "STASH". :-))

I have lots of fabric because not only do I buy off the bolt, I buy remnant pieces because I also make clothes for my granddaughter. My husband has told me I can open my own fabric store, but I keep telling him how else am I going to do projects.

So you can make lots of beautiful scrap quilts!

I have lots of scrap and yardage. I went to the pizza restaurant and got some boxes and keep my squares in them. Then have3 shelves for my yardage. I am just a fabric freak.

I have a pretty good stash but seems like everytime I start something I end up buying more to match what I already have :shock: My Sister also quilts but what I do is buy the fabric, dump it off at her house and when I need something I go over to her house and shop :D Her Hubby just rolls his eyes when he sees me coming with bags. She is running out of room to store this stuff. OH well, you can never have too much fabric.

All these comments about people's "stashes" reminded me of a little quotation I have framed in my sewing room. I don't know who wrote it, but they understand, and all of us understand!

"No one expects the stamp colector to actually mail letters with his stamps.
No one expects the coin collector to use his coins in a vending machine for soda. So why does everyone expect me to use my fabric collection to actually sew anything?" I'm not a fabriholic; I'm a fabric Collector!

Bonniebusybee

I agree with so many of you about our stashes. Weather small or large it doesn't matter. Weather we just like to look at it or we actually use some of it. I can only speak for my self when I say I sure am gald that I have it and look forward to adding to it every chanch I get.

I buy FQs now and then, like any time I see some, and especially if I think they are "remodelling and it's all going away" - but really I have enough to make anything but the most specifically specified-fabrics quilt in the current fashion. And even so, I can fake it out pretty close with what I have!
I'm trying to do better.
Making stuff from stash only.

It's like any addiction. It starts likes yours. And you think you have it under control. And, little by little, you realize you have no control and that the addiction owns you. You say you'll drive right by the LQS (or JoAnns or wherever you buy your fabric) on your way to the grocery store, but you can't help yourself. Before you know it, your sewing room is overflowing. It would be very hard for you to reverse your process at this point. Your stash will own you soon.

You are what I aspire to be! I used to go to the fabric shop for "one" item, but somehow manage to get home with a bunch of bags of yardage I just "know" I will use up! Oh, well - my goal now is to just use up my "stash" (but it is soooo much fun to buy just one more beautiful fabric!!!) It is also a lot more fun to put my projects together from what I have on hand!

I love this! I want it hanging on MY sewing room wall!

How true!

I went to a friends to borrow her embroidery machine. I noticed some nice size pieces of fabric in her trash, so I did what any good quilter would do....dumpster dived. She was quite surprized that I went thru her trash. She does not quilt, so she doesn't know what she's giving up!

I have 4 large plastic totes organized by color.. That is all that will fit under the daybed in my studio/library. So it keeps my stash from getting too out tof hand :)