Judith1005

Welcome aboard to all our new riders. It takes a bit to get over the bumps in the path sometimes. After my initial little bump, I am staying the course. I went into the fabric store the other day to buy a gift "of fabric" for a friend. I did a lot of looking and touching. It helped that nothing was on sale. There was nothing that said I must but it. I just kept thinking of all the pretty stash I have on hand right now. So, I left the store, went home and picked out some of that lovely fabric and gifted it to the friend. And, the more I handled and pet my stash, the more I realized, I don't need any fabric right. I have 2 dressers with enough fabric to make at least 10 quilts, enough scraps in the bins to make at least 8 or more quilts. And, several quilt kits to make at least 6 more. And at least 5 bolts of WOW to keep for a good while. I find the more I handle my fabric, the less I think about buying more. I know many of you have way more fabric then I do and some have way less, I think it's about handling the amount of fabric that is comfortable for you. (I still feel like I have way too much.)

Todays job is to cut up the scraps that are taking up to much space in piles. I want to hopefully finish today. Although, realistically, it may be tomorrow. And, then work on the pixelated quilt I have in progress.

And, I have to go to the post office and send off a box of fabrics that I am donating and drop off a pile of things to the thrift store. I wanted to go through my books before I did that. But, today is just not the day to take time to do that. I can think of one that can be added right now. So, I will do that one for now. I don't keep too many books or magazines. About 30 at the moment. I am just dropping off. I will not go in and look!!!!!

Stay the course ladies. I will be waiting to give you a hand back up on the wagon. I know we can do this!

Iceblossom

Come on in Mengler, confession is good for the soul and it makes us claim ownership to what we are doing. I've given myself an exemption for my thrift store shopping but being in this thread makes me mindful of my purchases and if I'm just buying to buy or if I have a purpose. So I 'fess up to it, and as time goes on I'm getting less and less to confess to! Remember, deep down, there is no problems collecting fabric if that is what you are doing. Just acknowledge that and take care of/curate your collection as a collection and not a pile of stuff.

Sometimes each of us does get faced with a major temptation. C'mon, we have people giving us fabric. There are only so many graceful ways you can get out of that -- especially if you really want something in there... Or sometimes the sales are so good that you seriously will not be able to sleep or have regrets. Last year I did get about 24 yards of fabric from Walmart at a dollar a yard. I've used most of it, have plans for one of the remaining two pieces but yes, one piece is stash. I tease because I missed the penny sale, but gosh -- sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and in that case all I have to say is Score!

My next project (with Minions) is going to be made from a recent-ish thrift store buy that I confessed to last year. It was the one where there was at least $100 of fabric I wanted, mostly gold embellished Asian prints and included a bunch of Peanuts holiday themed fabrics that I didn't so much want but it was interesting to see a whole year of Peanuts at once! I managed to contain myself and pick out about $20 worth of fabrics that could be used together or work with other things in progress. So a partial success. The old non-Moratorium me would have come out of there with 90% instead of only 10%. And I can make an entire queen sized quilt top for less than $20 (and have a bunch left over!).

In the past 10 years I've gone from an entire room stuffed full of fabric to a closets-worth, I'm hoping to get the stuff out of the closet this year and move the fabric in. Most of what is gone has been given away, some of it has been worked with, and the fabrics that remain are fabrics I want to use. Some how, some day. It's the really great thing about Quilting Board is seeing all the wonderful projects people make gives me plenty of ideas. I didn't even renew my one remaining magazine subscription this year because I'm not being inspired there, but I am here.

Teen

Welcome, newbies! We got your backs!

My precuts are out of control but I doubt I'll make use of them soon. Last year, I challenged myself with a bundle of colorwheel colors to see how many projects I could make with it. I made a full size quilt, 4 wallhangings, two pillows, a basket of tiny pillows, 4 pincushions, and I snipped some for applique projects...I still have good size pieces left. Going to pull out another pillow project and see what I can do with them. Anyone ever do this challenge before? My purpose was to see if paying the price for a bundle is worth it. In the past, I typically just made one quilt and stashed the balance. My down fall are FQ bundles so if I'm going to fall off the wagon, it will be because of a bundle.

quiltmouse

Hi, everyone! I'm in.

In 2016, I came up with a "cut down" plan. I made a list of about 20 scrappy quilts I wanted to make. As I ran across a fabric, usually 2-3 yards, I cut it up for the 20 quilts. I have 25 quilt tops waiting to be quilted. Total yards used since I began: 253. Purchasing was totally out of control in 2017 & 2018, I purchased hundreds of yards.

My 2019 fabric report:
I finished 1 baby quilt top
I gave away 57 yards
I used up 38 yards
total yardage out: 95

Last fabric purchase 12/5/2018, as of today that's 401 days with no fabric in.

Coming up? Well, Here's my Quilt list.
25 to be quilted
18 quilts in process (have all the fabric)
24 scrappy quilts started (still cutting scrappy bits)
92 on the not started/bucket list. Some I have fabric, some I don't
159 Total quilts on the list

petthefabric

This moratorium has been a huge success for me. I've fallen off, made excuses and had convictions. After ? years I'm having more victories than falls. My stash is going down and blank spaces are appearing. Rearranging isn't necessary yet. As Iceblossom said, when in a fabric store, there's still plenty at home to think about and remember that I have something I like just as well or better that I already paid for. Once upon a time, a very loooooong time ago, when my stash was much smaller, I kept a binder clip in my purse, with a patch of each fabric at home. That way I remembered what I had and could match fabrics when I found something tempting (did it really match or just tempting?).

Last night I cleaned off the LA table, oiled the machine and got out a project. With my shoulder still recovering from surgery I need DH's help to load it. We didn't get it done this AM, so hopefully tomorrow AM (he works swing).

Hit a bump in my comfort quilt project, and must wait for the leader to produce another pattern. She's not in a lot of hurry because I gave her so many kits. However, here's the good news, she want's pillow cases. The Asian fabric is harder to find matching fabric for a quilt, so it'll be good for pillow cases. Back in business.

NoraB

I am in for 2020! ! ! This time, I'm committed! I am working as fast as I can to finish up some UFO's (actually did some for Christmas presents). I have purchased thru the years because they were sales, good buys, etc. Now, I have quite a bunch of fabric to make Project Linus quilts, relatives and friends baby quilts, Quilts of Valor quilts and gift quilts (graduations, etc.). The commitment is finally here because I don't have any more room to put fabric. It's folded on Polar Notions fabric boards (both the large ones and the fat quarter ones). I have fabric in every place I can find in my sewing room AND in 2019, I've slowly "Tsunami'd" into another bedroom. So, I've finally reached my limit! 2020 is my year to successfully complete the fabric moratorium! ! !

Wishing us all luck to accomplish our goal!

WMUTeach

One way I have found to cut down on unneeded purchases is I do not open e-mail from online vendors of fabric. I just delete them. MSQ was my frequent downfall and now I open, look and delete. I have more than enough on hand to keep me busy for the next year. I honestly have not found any pre-cut, notion or "bargain" that I needed in months. Really, it has been since early fall since I ordered from MSQ. "Sorry Jenny but I have plenty. I will be back when I have depleted my stash."

JoAnn Fabrics sends so many coupons and "deals" that I don't open unless I need, truly need something. Just before Christmas my marking pen died and I lost my thimble. Less than $6 with a 40% off coupon and no fabric.

Fabric.com and other online vendors who are constantly sending me bargains, delete, delete, delete and no browsing.

I have found that fabric, like any addiction, hurts at first but I find great joy in rummaging through my stash and finding all that I need on hand for my next project.

Chins up all. If you fall off our little wagon, jump right back on and tell us about what you used from your stash to create beauty and warmth for others.

rryder

This moratorium has been great for me over the years as it’s helped me be more mindful of my fabric purchases. I have yet to go for more than a few months without making a purchase, but as I’ve worked through my stash I now find that there are times when I truly do need to buy something to finish a project. Yesterday I went to the LQS to buy a backing fabric for my current project. That’s the only thing I bought. Yay! I did check my stash and realized that I need lights, but they can wait a few days until I finish up a couple of nearly completed UFOs.

Rob

Cattitude

I headed south to my favorite little quilt shop yesterday full of resolve.....needed 4 greys, backing and thread for the baby quilt for my niece’s shower. Mission accomplished with no extra purchases. A slight detour to a Lens knowing they had their backings on sale and I do need quite a bit of backing. Picked up one of my favourites at less than I would have paid in US dollars on line.....score! I was almost free and clear at the cutting table when I saw a beautiful new Canadiana panel and I caved. There is a plan for it as at our annual Canada Day gathering I want to give wall hangings to each household, still I am a bit disappointed in myself. This is why I need to stay out of quilt shops for a while until I get into the groove and form new habits.

happylab

11 days into the new year and I don’t need or want to buy fabric yet. Only 354 more days. I’m working on BHMQ using stash fat-quarters and background yardage, all from my stash. Starting a beginning and ending throw 3 week QAL with Pat Sloan. It will use up some of my 2.5” squares, and starting the 365 day challenge i’ve Been gathering fabric and making copies of daily patterns over the last 4 years. This is the year I complete this project. Oh well, back to my stash quilting. Enjoy quilting/sewing everyone.