When you purchase the same fabric for the same project more than once.

I am working on gathering fabric for a quilting project I am hoping to do in the near future. As I go places I pick up a piece of fabric here and there. Well this morning I thought I would go and see what I have. I have about 20 pieces of fabric in the bin for my project. I start looking at them closely, and 4 pieces I have already previously purchased. So I have 4 duplicates. I guess I must have really liked them. Well a couple are very pretty. But don't you just hate it when that happens? Oh well such is life.

I am just wondering how do y'all do it when you have a large stash, I might have 50 to 100 yards if that in my total stash---including FQ. How do you know what you have when you have shelves and shelves, and totes full of fabric?

Sibyl

I've been known to do that with clothing! Get something new home from the store and when I put it away find out I already have the same thing!

I only purchase fabric for up to 3 projects I have in mind. I have 3 storage bins (1) for each project and when I get a coupon, I decide ahead of time which project I am going to buy for. This way, when everything is purchased, hopefully, I am done with my current project and can start that one which frees up the bin to start purchasing for another project. In addition, I start a "supply sheet" for each project and take a little 1 x 1 square and glue it to the sheet. This way, when I go to the store, I take that sheet with me so I can match it up. :)

I don't know how I do it, but I rarely have duplicates and sometimes I do get more of a certain fabric that I know I already have, but I really like that particular fabric. I also have probably hundreds of sewing patterns and very rarely buy the same pattern, I may have the same pattern but in different sizes.

I buy fabric for projects I see on those free patterns they have in stores if it's something I like HOWEVER the rest of the time I buy fabric just because I like it for future use especially nature type fabrics, solids and such for portrait fabric painting.

Guilty. I too have a pattern that I fell in love with, but in different colors than the ones used for the fabric. They saw Kaffe Fasset in the pattern .... I saw Gothic golds and Jewel tones. So, I've been collecting golds and jewel tones, the Hoffman (or is it Kaufman?) "Valley of the Kings" line really helped me out a lot.

Apparently a REAL lot because I bought a few fabrics that are repeats. And this was just in the matter of a few months.

I'd like to say that I wouldn't have made this mistake if my stash were better organized and visible but ....

I've also bought a book and put it in my stack to read. My "stack" is about 5 books on my bedside table. So if I see the stack every night why have I bought the same book again?

Here's what I do. I go to the dollar store and buy the photo albums for $1.00. The I cut a piece of paper the same size as the 'album'. At the top of the paper I write the collection. Example: Oasis (Moda). Then when I make my first purchase I cut the selvage edge that shows the COLOR not the plain white with numbers about 2 inches long. I then go to the website for the manufacturer and look up the collection. I glue or staple the piece of selvage edge to the paper. Under the fabric I put the item number according to the website along with how many yards that I have purchased. I put it in my purse and I know exactly which ones I've purchased and how much yardage. So far I have 3 pages, 6 per page and 1 page with the directions of yardage needed to make the quilt. I always round up 1/4 yard and if I fussy cut, I round up 1 yard. Hope this is clear as mud. It doesn't weigh alot and I always have it on me. Cheryl

I'm not sure if I've ever bought a repeat. However, when I showed my friend some FQ that I bought the other day, she asked me 'Are you sure you don't already have that one at home?' I haven't made the time to look and see yet. But considering how my fabric is spilling out into an open bookshelf I have, I think it's time I made some rag quilts. I've got a lot of batting already pre-cut into 8" squares for rag quilts!

You could always take a quick look at your stash before you go out. Or you can do what I do on shop hops; bring your materials with you (even if it's just 1" squares of the material that you're planning to have in the quilt)!

That is really a great idea!

Guilty!! At least you know that your fabric choices are consistent.

I have run into so many ladies that either do the plastic page protector or 5x7 card with swatches stapled onto it. I am not that organized. I tend to be a spur of the moment purchaser - and never intending to buy more fabric (but I do lol). I wish I were more organized.

No you sound like me. I went this morning and cut swatches out of the fabric I had purchased and put them in an envelope so I could keep it in my purse. So the next time I go to the fabric store I would have it to make sure I don't get the same----I have already lost the envelope. I think I'm hopeless. Oh well just go cut a bit more of.

Sibyl

No you sound like me. I went this morning and cut swatches out of the fabric I had purchased and put them in an envelope so I could keep it in my purse. So the next time I go to the fabric store I would have it to make sure I don't get the same----I have already lost the envelope. I think I'm hopeless. Oh well just go cut a bit more of.

Sibyl

You can always cut a piece of fabric....cut a hole in a corner and put it on one of those rings that go on your key chain. That way you have the fabrics handy. Just a suggestion.

LOL..I do this more times than I care to admit!!

Don't think I buy too many same fabrics, but don't mention patterns! I seldom buy one, but do save them on here for "someday".Now & then I sort thru them & usually have at least 4-5 doubles.
Have also saved every tute for totes/bags....but have yet to make one.I'm kind of hopeless too :)

guilty. Some of you are so organized. Not me. I was looking through my books--3 shelves worth--and I noticed that I have 4 copies of the same book. Pitiful--some day I guess I will put 3 of them on here to sell. some day when I figure out how to post a picture.
Sue

That is one reason I am glad I have that OCD thing. I have this habit of putting projects together then making index cards of what I need to complete that project. So when I get to the next UFO I know what I need when I start it.

And I do it with patterns...lol...Naomi :oops: :oops: :oops:

DogHouseMom,

I have bought the same book more than once. That is why they change the covers so we do not recognize the book.

Kathleen

I don't think it matters if I have duplicates or a lot of fabric as I don't think I have to justify my purchases if all of my bills are paid etc.etc.I enjoy it.

Now this idea I like! I've bought for several projects, but they aren't organized as well as yours. Now if only I felt confident enough to actually start one of them! ;)

Been there.. done that !!!!!!!!!

The only duplicates I have in my stash were intentional, because the fabric was so versatile / beautiful/ fit more than 1 project etc.
RenaB - I need to adopt my own version of your system! i have too many projects planned out and purchased for and it is difficult to keep it all straight. Your 3 bin system is very smart. What do you do though when you come across a new fabric you just love and want to make into a quilt? Do you have to finish one of your bin projects first?

Last year I went through ALL of my fabric and found duplicates in more than one color. Everything is organized by theme/ color now. I do the same thing though about buying fabric for a project--I put the pattern in one of those scrapbooking clear boxes and I put the fabric in there as I purchase it. It helps to organize when I am working on a project also. My problem is I'm always getting excited about new projects when I still have all of those others waiting to be done.

Guilty here too! :)

I don't have a problem of buying double fabrics but I am very good at shorting yardage and not having enough.

Been there and done that.....more than once....a mental-pause moment : )

Oh yes, do it often. I use it all sooner or later.

LOL!!! I did this a couple of times. I received fabric in the mail and after looking at it and touching it, I say, "Don't I have this already?" Lo and behold, yes! At least I'm consistent with my taste!

Well, at least yiou know that you have the same taste in fabric. I have done that often.

The solution, for me, are swatch books. I use little inexpensive photo albums. When I buy fabric, I cut a little swatch, staple it to an index card, write down how much I bought, and slide it into a sleeve. There may be several swatches per card, the writing obscured by the swatches. This serves multiple functions. I can compare fabrics for color, pattern and compatibility, with the fabric I'm considering; realize that I already have it; and know exactly what I have when I'm trying to match with something on the shelf; when I'm away from my stash, I can pull out the swatch book and start planning a stash buster from my little books. I wish I had started writing down where I got the fabric so I wouldn't have to go on a wild goose chase looking for more. Sometime there is information on the selvages, other times it's a total mystery.

Because I'm not a purse person, I shop with a back pack. The large compartment holds reusable shopping bags. One front pocket holds the swatch books, scissors, index cards, pen & pencil, mini stapler and staples and current coupons. The other pocket has the keyhole peeper, mirror set, red lens glasses, a bottle of water and a few granola bars.

When on a shop hop, I'll cut the swatches as soon as I get to the car and fix my cards so I don't repurchase something on the same day. Drives my girlfrin's loony as they refer to my OCD. So glad they tolerate me, we do have fun, sometimes at my expense, but fun just the same.

Great Idea...

Went on a shop-hop once, and when home took out my purchases. I looked at my DD and said, "Well, I guess I really liked this particular fabric!" She said, "Why?" I picked up 3 fat quarters to show her they were all the same fabric. Exactly the same fabric! We got a good laugh out of it. I can't tell you if I still have it or not.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that ends up with duplicates! Yeah, you know you really like like it if you buy it more than once! .. The only way I know what I have; is to start pulling stuff out for a project... I finally, after 3 years have to go buy muslin.... who knows what else I'll come home with!

I do cheat a little. I have a whole list of "wannadooz" - quilts I want to make. I print the pattern out the "shopping list" - that is, approx how much I need of each fabric. As I collect the fabrics, I staple a swatch to the printout and make a note of how much I have. It's a 5 X 7 three ring binder thingie that fits well in my purse so I have it with me all the time. I also keep my flyers in there so I'm prepared for those impulsive shop stops. It's been a lifesaver as my girls and I collect for our bug/food/candy jar quilts so we remember what we have.

Does it keep me from random purchases? Absolutely not. :)

My biggest problem is running out of a fabric and not finding it again.
Ive got to quit jumping into a project without a pattern for the whole quilt, just block patterns. Gets me in trouble every time.

oh how funny !!!

I frequently buy the same fabric twice or some times 3X's!

Keep a small notebook of fabric samples (about 11/2" by 1 1/2") in your purse when you go fabric shopping. That way, you'll know what you have. You can even write how much yardage you have in the book by the squares. Hope this helps.

lots of good ideas here..........have to remember all this for my next lifetime.