While I was in wolly world yesterday shopping fabrics, a lady was telling me that she has so much fabric that her husband purchased 2 45' trailers (the ones that semi's pull an call vans) for her to put her stash in. One is already packed full an she is getting ready to start on the other. She was buying a bunch more for her stash.
So my question is when is enough enough?
Not that I wouldn't mind having a large stash close to that. But when do you say to yourself too stop buying?
Please let me know your opinions on this topic.

When there's so much you CAN'T look through it, by all means! When you start filling a trailer like that... there's no way you're displaying them so you can easily access your fabrics. Maybe this is only because I have a small stash... but it's important to me to be able to go through and look at what I have, to match with other things, to find that perfect starter piece for the next quilt, etc.

Currently most of my stash fits on a three shelf bookcase. Not even loose, but in bins assorted by type (asian, batik, Christmas, etc. and/or by project). The only things that don't fit are the scrap boxes (one for cotton, one for flannel) and my big bin of jean pockets for my back-pocket quilt.

For me, personally, I would have to stop collecting when they no longer fit in my limited sewing storage space.

Sounds like this lady really lives by 'She who dies with the most fabric wins'!

If you can't access it because it is packed in trailers then it is hording. And he is enabling.

If you don't have easy access or adequate storage, then it's too much.

Thank you ladygen. I wasn't sure if it was just me that thought this was a little extreme.
I also have limited space in my home. I have 3 plastic tubs with drawers and 1 book shelf an a cabinet that I keep my sewing supplies in. There is a little more than what I listed. I am afraid if i ever overloaded on farbic my husband might leave.

There's a tv show about Hoarding. Sounds like she could be in an upcoming episode! :-D

I have quite a bit of fabric IMO, two drawers which hold 120 yards each are mostly full and cabinets which have about another 100 yards right now. Yet, I'm sure my stash looks small compared to that of many of you. I wonder how many actually have tallied up the yardage in their collection? I would NEVER have guessed that I have that much yardage simply by looking at it. :shock:

That's not a stash, it's a quilt store. Well it's about 10 times as much as the rare quilt fabric counters we are lucky to find here.
And I thought my little hoard was bad - its nothing!

That would be hoarding. When you refuse to part with it, even to use it yourself, it's hoarding. When you collect beyond your capacity to store and access things, it's hoarding. When the things you treasure are destroyed because you have collected beyond your capacity to store and care for them, that's hoarding. I'll bet that lady's house is also full to near capacity and I'll bet that when she dies all that fabric goes straight to the dump because it'll be nasty with mold and mildew and maybe even mice.

Watch Hoarders on A&E. It's a real eye opener.

You also have a wonderful storage system, everything is beautifully organized, and you can access everything you have!

On another note, are you going to Sew Expo? I'd love to meet you! :)

All I can say is I can't wait to go to that garage sale when she passes on!!!

I'll fly out and come too...

I think we should intervene. We should help help her with her problem and take it off of her hands.

Ditto here. Especially she is a hoarder and her DH an enabler. She definitley has an illness and needs stopped. She would be great on the show except they throw so much away!! Goodwill anyone? She could sell it here even. Wonder how many projects she gets done. And to think there are ladies on here who have very little and give their all and scrimp and save to make something for others. So sad.

I'd get too overwhelmed by that much fabric. I like to be able to "run through" what I've got in my head when I'm out and see something I think would go with something I already have. My brain couldn't store that much.

Some people are compulsive buyers. Sounds like that lady is - she's really lucky to have such an understanding husband. Did she say if she ever uses any of it?

I do try to limit my stash to my existing storage space. I have to admit that sometimes I sneak in a few extra yards.

Every year I go through my stash and give away to those doing charity quilting.

This makes room for me to buy more fabric.

There is no way I could possibly sew all the fabric I purchase.

I used to go into "fabric deprivation mode" whenever I sewed up some of my fabric. This caused me to purchase twice as much fabric as I used up. I am over that now but it took about 5 years.

Cindy Carter

Sounds like she needs to open her own fabric store out of one of those trailers.

45 feet by 10 wide would be the equivalent to a 21'x22' sewing room. I think that is a nice size, myself. There are ladies here that enjoy areas larger than that. You do not know how long she has been collecting, or whether she has incorporated other stashes into her own. Maybe her mother died and left her lots of fabric.

Those containers are watertight and can be temperature controlled if they want. I would not jump to the conclusion that a person I have never met has a mental illness simply because she has a larger stash than mine. It is no different than the public storage units which fill up as soon as you rent the space. Give the woman a break!

It doesn't sound like she can't access what she has if the container is filled. So having for the sake of having and then continuing to buy more might fall in a variety of unhealthy behaviors category. (OCD of which hoarding is one form and Shopping addiction are two of the possibilities).

Now that you mention it she didn't say anything about using it just storing it.

Wow, that is a LOT of fabric. I am in the process of sorting and grouping my fabric, and I have a LOT. Mostly in bins under my cutting table which is 4x8, but the space underneath is smaller...BUT..I have stopped doing compulsive buying just because I 'like it' and gotta have it....I don't sew as much as some of my friends, my neighbor makes a quilt top a week...can you believe it? She is that addicted and I know that I can pass on fabric to her and it will get used. I know a lot of you are fast sewers and make a lot of things. I am more of the lazy sewer. But, I love what I make, I am good at it, and I give everything away. Joanie

This lady did state that there is no room for more fabric, that the trailer was completely filled and that she was starting on the other one. so that tells me that when she says filled she means filled.

Ctmhjenn, I am the same way. My stash is not that large and I have also started thinking more about projects I have in mine. I have even walked in a LQS and walked out empty handed. Use to I would just buy. There are still occasions when I buy a piece just because I love it and have to have it.

I watch this show all the time it is called Hoarders, right on after another show I always watch Intervention. It is quite interesting.

I have a small stash compared to many quilters. I abhor bins and boxes full of packed stuff even though I have a few in my sewing room closet. I do buy yards of fabric but I use up a lot in between good sales. If anyone is close to retiring buy all the fabric, batting, etc, you can before retirement if your income will not increase during your retirement years.

Oh, good. There is hope for me yet. I only have about 10 or 11 plastic boxes, couple of them are not even full. ( I will attend to that eventually...)

Anybody besides me have an urge to clean house after watching Hoarders? My living room and kitchen have less clutter than ever before since I started watching that show. Bedroom closet is next on the hit list.

I always look around me with great relief to realize that my house is OK. ....however, I have a touch of it as well because it is hard for me to part with fabric. If anyone would come into my sewing room and take stuff out, I would never even miss it - but to pull it out and dispose of it - that is a little harder than I would like to admit.

Um that is hoarding. When you need to put the 'extra' fabric in another seperate building (not to mention 2) well your in the hoarding category. Yipes. That is so scary its like serving someone who drinks too much their 18'th mixed drink for the night. At some point.. How sad. I am sure most of it is not going to survive the venture. So many who would enjoy it.

I'm not sure I would enjoy that much fabric. I can look at mine and touch it. I want to be able to spend time mixing and matching and I need to see it to do that. That seems excessive.

There was a lady here in town that was a hoarder.. she passed and her DD had the undaunting task of selling her things so the house wouldn't be repossesed. Her house and garage were literally packed full of things. You had to stay on the little path so you could just walk. It was really sad.

Not knowing the lady or seeing the situation, I won't say that she is a Hoarder but...personally I don't see how she can enjoy her fabric. I do have a decent stash but it is out where I can see it. When the shelves are full, I know that I do not need to buy more until some of the stash is used. But that is just me.

yes but then it makes me realize that my house is no where near as bad as those ones, so then I feel better about my mess!! :lol: :lol:

That is insane! He is an enabler too! I think that she needs to be on Hoarders! Many years ago I went to a consigment shop and there was a whole room filled to the ceiling of fabric that a woman had collected over the years and her husband was selling it to pay for her medical expenses since she had passed on...

I have been cleaning one closet or cupboard each weekend since watching the show, "Hoarders". My stash is contained to one large cupboard and 3 tubbies. I use my fabrics eventully. I don't think that constitues hoarding but I sure enjoy my fabrics. I think that as long as I get pleasure from them, they are worth keeping.

I posted before about my Great Aunt's house being a pack rat. It was too overwhelming. Please don't leave any clutter for a loved one to have to deal with. I was so angry with my Aunt for leaving me that mess I didn't care what she had stashed. My family knows that all my sewing supplies goes to the guild for auction. If any family members want any of it, they can go bid on it.

As time goes by I am changing my buying habits. Now I only buy sale fabric online for my stash and I look for basics that I know I can use alot of different ways. I buy larger pieces for backing at Wal Mart. Fat quarters are now batiks as they are always easy to put togather, you dont need to match colors so much with them. Batting I only buy at Joanns with coupons.

The object to purchsing fabric is to use it - she and her husband should be forced to watch the TV show Hoarders.

I understand the thrill you get when you purchase a fabulous fabric or get a great deal - but the best high you can get is when you create something with it. But if you don't use it - then why buy it at all.

Life is too short

I have a feeling this woman is a 'dreamer' which causes her to buy all this fabric. I bet she spends quite a lot of time planning projects that never materialize. There are dreamers and there are doers. She probably doesn't complete much but has a great time envisioning. If she and hubby have the money, rock on. But, I would think this fabric would eventually smell musty if stored outside in a storage building. It might need to be washed in my washer first. ;>

Exactly right!