When is too much fabric - too much fabric?
 

I think I have reached the "no more fabric" line in my life. There is fabric every where, waiting to be used. Every where I look, I find more. It started this weekend, when I dropped off a package for my sister (I do her clothes shopping for her, COPD has limited her stamina), and I gave her a bag of fabric instead of her new slacks. We chatted, and I left (long trip home). She texted me and asked if she has to sew her own clothing now? (hehe). I gave her a bag of navy backing fabric instead of her navy pants, but I can't find her navy pants.

I must do something to organize this stash. It has become overwhelming, but I love each and every yard, fat quarter, scrap, bit and piece. Maybe I am depressed, - weather is still cold (for DE), maybe I need to shop? I think at this point medication would be cheaper. Is anyone else at their wits end with their stash?

Mine is fairly organized right now except for the overflow from an estate sale. My problem is finding the time to use what I have. My quilting friend wanted me to go with her to the fabric district in LA next week but I backed out today. I can't see buying more (just to have it) when I want to use some of what I have. Sooo next Monday and Tuesday I'm taking vacation days from work and spending those 2 days sewing!

Diannia

Sounds like you are just a bit overwhelmed. Try just organizing your stash for 10 minutes at a time. Put on a timer and stop when it goes off. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in that short amount of time. Then go do something fun, like quilting. hth, Gina

I have a similar problem. There is more fabric in my stash than I can get organized. I do think stash size needs to be related to storage space to really optimize a stash collection. Hancock's of Paducah has free shipping and some fabrics on sale right now, and I am really really tempted, but what I really need to do is cut up half my stash into useable precuts and kits for myself. Which is easier? Which is more fun? Hmmmphhh. Just writing this post has told me what to do. :eek:

I am sure that my stash is small compared to many here but it overwhelms me at times. I can't bear to use it, thinking that I may need/want it for something else. So I have started something different for me. I am making controlled scrappy quilts. I am only buying 7 inch wide pieces of fabric and cutting them into 5 inch charms squares and 2 inch strips. Saves me a ton on money, especially when I find fabric on sale. And I can happily cut into my fabric without guilt.

If you are that frustrated with your stash you can give it all to me :)
I have just finished organizing my stash and as my friend says, the scraps multiply overnight.

If it is causing you stress, it is too much. If it is causing financial burden, it is too much.


Maybe you just need a new organizational scheme. Spend a few days playing with it all.
And then, use it! No use having the most beautiful fabric in the world if it is only going to be tucked away in a closet forever.

If after organizing it you have too much and are overwhelmed, donate it or sell some of it. Get back to a manageable level.

When I first started knitting I kept buying a sweaters worth of yarn whenever I ran across something I liked. Most of that yarn still sits in my cabinet. The yarn that I buy for a specific project generally gets turned into that project. I am trying to keep that in mind as I'm buying fabric for my new quilting addiction - but I struggle nonetheless every day when I see the sale emails.

This is my problem in a nutshell! "Oh look! That gorgeous fabric is now only $5/yd! I better get some, at least enough to use as a border for a queen...no, better get 5 yds, that's still only $25." And so on and so on. I have reached the overwhelmed state too and keep telling myself not to buy any more fabric until I have used up a significant amount of my stash.

Alison

[I just deleted the Hancock's "free shipping" email. Too tempting in my inbox...but the batiks are lovely.]

It sounds like your stash needs organized so it is more easily accessible and usable. Don't know what method of organization will work best for you, but I like mine where I can look at it and enjoy it, so I have mine on shelves around the perimeter of my sewing room. At the moment mine needs some serious attention as things have gotten rather disorganized and I'm not finding things as easily as I would like.

I started making "kits" to get the bulk/excess under control. Yesterday, I was cleaning the guest closet and forgot that I had tossed some flannel in there instead of the stash closet. Someone had posted a pic of a rag quilt recently. So I took a few hours, cut it into rag quilt squares as well as some denim cuts and put in zipper bags to make two quilts. I recently took some older Thimbleberries pieces, cut them into squares and put them together with solid pieces for a backing for a Thimbleberries sampler. I also cut up 40 FQs to use in a rather simple pattern. I pin the pieces together while watching tv and that is working nicely. Getting something finished often gives me the motivation to jump in the fray and organize some. Good luck in figuring it out.

I have 32 baskets of fabric, and a couple of stacks of backing fabric, and some odds and ends in drawers, and will not get any more, until I use most of what I have or if I need a special piece for a quilt. I so want to use up every single piece before I can no longer do any hand work.

I have a lot of fabric but refuse to feel guilty about it. I have it stored in clear, labelled Rubbermaid bins according to colour and it is accessible but sometimes the bin I need is on the bottom and I have to move a couple of bins on top. I sew many quilts (the relatively quick, easy but look more complicated type) and give almost everything away. My girls know that if the day comes when I can't sew then it is time to pack up all of my fabric, send it to my quilt guild and send me to the Nursing Home.

Having had 2 ops last year fabric had to be easy to reach. So the dining room especially became my strage room. At the moment beginning to feel better so starting to tidy up an tak the storage back into the sewing room upstairs. It will be slow 1 bag at a time. Oh then I suddenly find the fabric I just took up is the set I need for the quilt. Bring it back down. So much fun. Just relax and take it one bag at a ime

hehehhe. Well I don't have a stash. My problem is I see all these beautiful quilts and fabrics and I don't have enough to start or I have some but I could use a few more pieces to start. So If any of ya'll feel like ya'll are over whelmed You can PM me and I can then help you out. But I see now that I'm starting to get back into quilting that I , like you, may be in the same spot one day. But, don't worry, as the saying goes " The Good Lord doesn't give you more than you can handle."

when we moved into this house my youngest brother in law was helping---he informed me..."pretty sure there is a 1 TON limit on fabric and you are a little over your limit! :D
I (try) to keep it fairly organized- but have not had to (been able to ) shop for the past 2 years & it seems like i never put a dent in it---scraps multiply like bunnies- one piece of fabric becomes 7 pieces of fabric in the blink of an eye!

I feel the same as alisonquilts. I can't resist the great sales. My MIL didn't help either. When she moved into assisted living last summer I got a big shelving unit from her home to add to what I already had. I have it almost full already.

I guess I haven't reached my limit yet. Just as well since I placed an order with Hancocks of Paducah today. Although space may become an issue, but not just yet!

I have a substantial stash but keep it very organized. I have slowed down on my buying now that I am no longer working but still add a little here and there. My cabinets are stuffed way too full and I have a dozen or so large clear containers in the garage with fabrics sorted by type/color or size.

I have enough. I, too, need to find more time to use it. I've had pretty good willpower these days. Am trying not to buy on speculation anymore. I am going to get a few more bins to store fabric in. When you start to ask yourself these kinds of questions, I think your brain is letting you know that you've reached your personal limit.

I've only just started so don't have nearly as much as any of you ladies do, but this week alone I've bought 17 yards of fabric...oh dear. You should see my cross stitching stuff :blush:

Mine was too much last week. But this week, I came to my senses and realized that I truly need more - not.

I have a pretty decent stash and love to fabric shop but I have been trying to use from my stash, I find it very gratifying doing a whole quilt top from what I already have. I usually do purchase backing fabric.

I think we have all "been there, done that, have the tee shirt!!!" Now have a double garage, upstairs, family room, bookcases and on and on and on. But when I want a certain little piece of fabric in the middle of the night, I don't have to stop quilting because the stores are closed. Just go look around. Take a deep breath and look again tomorrow :)

I have quite a stash. About 20% is just sitting there and not my current style. I'll just box it up and have 4 shelves empty. So I think I need that much more to fill up my shelves and feed my current style. Do you think DH will go for that logic?

If I don't want to spend, I don't open fabric site emails. I have my fabrics organized, more or less. TOO MUCH s when you are not comfortable with what you have. that spawns feeling of needless guilt. a few years ago I felt that I was drowning in fabric. When I went through several boxes of scraps, trimming to useful shapes and making 3 large scrappy quilts, I suddenly had a whole lot less. I also got rid of cheap fabric that I had been given and realized I would never use.

I recommend picking some cool patterns and making a kit. Then throw the book/magazine with page marked right In the bag. Change your perception from "overwhelmed" to blessed to have so much and welcome the challenge to use the fabric.

At the present time I'm not buying any fabric unless it is to finish a specific project that is currently being worked on. That said, a friend and I will be going on a shop hop starting April 5. It will involve going to quilt shops I only visit every couple of years so don't know what will happen then!

There is no such thing as TOO MUCH when it comes to fabric!!

When it is up to your nostrils and fluttering madly with each breath.

I have to admit I tend to buy fabric whenever I can. I used to buy it anywhere anytime. I changed my own personal rules and it helped, for a while. Now I only buy whats on sale at my local fabric outlet, which helps until they have a buy one get two free sale, does me in every time. I have placed online orders sparingly. Im getting better but still admit Im a fabric junkie.

You are overwhelmed. I'm sorry. I get that way too. I have "too much" fabric too and not enough time to sew (I work full time and then some). Just try to organize it in small bursts so you don't get MORE overwhelmed and think Spring. You will feel better before you know it. And don't give it away, you will regret it. You'll be okay. Hang in there.

When my fabric (and every other aspect of my quilting room) got overwhelming I invited some of my friends over for coffee, cookies and some good old fashion folding and organizing. We had a ball and it got done a lot faster. I highly recommend it.

A couple of months ago I was looking at a magazine article (quilt magazine, of course) when I saw that the person demonstrating a technique was using a fabric that was twenty years old. I know because I have some that I purchased a long time ago. So you see, her stash was important to her quiltmaking. I am making quilts for my grandsons who are graduating from HS this year. I purchased some new fabric but added several pieces from my stash. I keep most of mine in plastic bins. I really think adding older fabric to new purchases adds a lot of interest to quilts. The fabric industry is always hard at work changing color styles and patterns just to get us to buy more fabric. And, we as consumers buy into their game. It is refreshing until we have to deal with the reality. I am really trying to reduce my stash. I have never seen a hearsh pulling a U-haul.

Maybe you need to go through your fabric and make three piles of fabric.
1. Fabric to keep
2. Fabric to sell
3. Fabric to take to the resale shop
After this organization maybe you won't feel so overwhelmed
Then make some quilts with the fabric you kept

Never happen!

As I posted before, the first week in April is mega marathon redo the room and organize time. I have two friends who are dedicating their week to this project. I will start this week to wrap my fabric around the 300 comic boards I recently bought. The room is sooooo bad that we are dragging everything out into the living room because I can't do a thing with all the fabric and stuff piled up. Wish me luck!

I have a wall hanging that says "there is no such thing as too much fabrid" ------------ and I believe it. LOL

ok, so I can't spell this morning.

Sometimes you just need to purge! I can't craft in an un organized space. And really touching and organizing can be very gratifying. I find the same thing with my stamp and paper hobbies. I try to buy more selectively now.