WMUTeach

Too Much!!! I inherited my sister-in-laws stash 20 plus years ago and I have been working through it ever since! I have paired down the books and given away fabric I know I would never use or that was not really good for a quilt. But I still have more than what would fit in a double wide closet. Each New Year's I vow one quilt a month from my stash but still never seem to find the bottom of any of my bins.

Mkotch

I tend to like making scrappy quilts. Whenever I am finished making a quilt, I take the smaller scraps and cut them into 2" and 2.5" squares. These go in separate boxes to use together or in upcoming projects. Some people also cut other sizes, but I find these are the ones I use the most. I also have a separate box of various sized triangles that could be made into half-square triangles. I have a bin of "strings", separated into two sections - backgrounds and other. And I have a bag of selvages - whenever I'm cutting fabrics, I cut a 1.5" strip with the part of the selvage that has the writing on it. When that bag is overflowing, I sew those together into squares or triangles.

illinois

Batting and yardage for backing. Can't finish a project without those!

Iceblossom

In terms of fabric, yes I do have some "kits" put together. So I have a project that will be a sampler of 9 lone star blocks made to look like snowflakes. I also have a group of fabrics put together for a Christmas string quilt. It's been "in progress" now for a couple of years, but I am also consider my Barn/Harvest top as on-going. I have to make a few pieced blocks and once I have them I can layout and organize the quilt. It's a more contemporary idea and not just blocks in rows, will be mostly randomly sized and shaped pieces of fabric.

Sometimes I find fun things in the thrift store, so I have some hand cross-stitched blocks from the 70s. The fabric they are on is pretty flimsy and I'm going to prequilt it onto some thin batting before I put the sashing together. Friend gave me a bag of batting scraps and one of my "quick" projects is to cut those to proper size. Again, that is all kitted out to the extent that the sashing is already cut and ready to go (another "quick" project).

I want to make some "Bad Sue" blocks. Do a search on Bad Sunbonnet Sue to get an idea. I don't think they will ever be made into a quilt or even a wall hanging, but I'm putting together a bundle for when I want small projects. I have a vision of "Prisoner Sue" with this small scrap of grey and white striped fabric I got in a thrift store bundle. Sue's prison number will be stitched with my fancy machine -- 8675309, otherwise known as Jenny Jenny's phone number (song by Tommy Tutone).

Having a lot of stash can be awesome or it can sort of drag you down. I have my boxes of fabric sorted into color or theme boxes, it can be daunting to pull a bunch of fabric. I have to go to a lot of effort and time in order to be able to find fabric when I want it. So this last year I started grabbing fabrics that appealed to me as I was going through the boxes and made a "potential" project box. It's things that will work together but I don't yet have a plan. That's the nice thing about being stashless -- you can go to a fabric store and search for specific things or you can find fabric that moves you and plan around it.

quiltingshorttimer

I'm with Jan in Va--Chocolate! I'd add to that some great black tea!
neutral thread, solids or blenders are the key for me. And strings--the stripes left from binding,or other quilt projects--that bag of strings is wonderful for me when I want to start a project and don't really have other fabrics I want to use--go scrappy and just sew to enjoy= perfect snow day!

gillyo

I love polka dots! I've collected them for years in all different sizes and color combinations. I particularly love tone on tone dots.

I also save scraps and cut them into different sizes. My favorites are 2.5" and 1 .5" squares and 4.5 x 1.5" strips. I call the strips "fiddlestix" and use them in tandem with the squares. I just made a wall quilt and didn't have to cut one piece, except for the backing, (I stitched the strips together to make the binding).

I also tear off a piece of every fabric I buy and cut a few of each of these pieces. It's fun to be able to grab a box and have pre-cut and pressed pieces to use.

As for other sewing supplies, thread in multiple colors is a must. I recently bought a box full of thread from a thrift store, which is a great place to jump start a collection. Years ago I bought one of the Gutermann quilting thread wall racks. Best purchase ever!

I'd also recommend a great pair of scissors, sewing machine and hand sewing needles, as well as needle threaders, clippers, flat head quilting pins, a comfortable thimble, a telescoping magnet wand for stray pins and needles, marking pens or pencils, a good quality seam ripper, along with extra bobbins and a SideWinder to fill them.

I'd also suggest a fishing tackle or other kind of organizing box to put everything into so you can find it when you need it.

crafty pat

As a long time quilter I have to much of everything. The things I try to keep on hand other than my tools are a lot of different solid colors. I buy and have n hand mostly prints so I pull one out to to use I hate to have to go out and find solids to go with it.

Jo Anne B.

I have a Rails Fence pattern that is my "Go To" for Table toppers or Table runners. I have used that pattern multiple times when I need simple and quick or want a small project when I am in between big projects. My recommendation is have a favorite and simple go-to pattern.

petthefabric

More than enough to last my lifetime

tuckyquilter

Welcome to the World of Quilting. Great craft experience to have.
I like extra large Hefty baggies: I am starting to cut my fabric into KITS of Tops, complete with pattern. I have found that this takes up less space than a bunch of folded fabric. I am a scrap quilter by training (grandma etc) so I always have something to use for almost any pattern out there. Try making yourself some kits. Find a pattern you like, buy the fabric then cut and bag it right away. You'll have plenty to keep you busy over the cold months. In my case I have more space and way to much fabric.