Lena1952

I find it weird how we can look at a fabric, sometimes for years, without being able to come up with a plan on how to use it. And when we give it away, someone quickly finds the perfect use for it. Makes me wonder why I had so much trouble finding a plan for it. But I’m always happy it finally found its purpose.

I don’t really count purchasing backing fabrics as adding to the stash. Unless it’s just a random, I’ll use it someday purchase. You need those backings to complete a top or we’d have a larger pile of UFOS than we already have. And trust me, I don’t need a larger pile of those than I already have!

WMUTeach

I just HAD to go shopping yesterday for fabric to complete a mystery quilt. I had nothing in my stash that would blend with the colors of my focus fabric (The focus fabric was from stash and had been donated to me. I had been sitting waiting for use for about 5 years.) I feel no guilt and don't feel bad about my one yard of new fabric I bought yesterday. It will disappear in the next month when the mystery finishes.

73+quilts

Wellllll!??? I'm setting myself up for a NEW Fabric Moratorium trial run.

As you may have read I have recently moved. I had decided to purchase a few 66-quart see thru tubs from Walmart as I could get them for the best price there. I would also not have to dig thru boxes to know what I had packed in each. I purchased 48 tubs. ALL are/were stuffed full of --you guessed it FABRIC! all shapes/sizes/colors/prints/quilt-able/clothing-able/upholstery-able (not certain where this came from.)/some fabric--most/some-vinyl/some-a plastic type material.

Ok, I thought I would be able to pack everything in those 48 tubs and make it that much easier once I arrived at my new address and put everything in my bed/sewing room. I have about 60 boxes as well -- ALL FABRIC! I don't know where some of this stuff came from. Truly. It just showed up at my home. Inside!

Yes I went to the Senior Center in my old city BUT I gave them back 4 boxes of fabric as they were starting a new season of quilting for the local nursing homes that were running low on welcome gifts for new clients and we always had them each receive a new quilt.

One decision I have demanded of myself is NOT ever be going to the Senior Center in my new city. I don't think I need more fabric.

I'm also going to have to buy a few more plastic bins so I can get rid of those boxes. I hate not knowing what is where.

Please pray for me as I start sifting thru all my fabric. I will not keep any of the upholstery fabric as I do not enjoy doing this. I have a new neighbor that loves doing it so I told her to come get ALL of that fabric. Her husband said that he will bring his truck around and will take anything that she wants.

I'm really not a pack rat but I will be sewing quilts for Christmas gifts to the church in needs; the shelters in the city and any street dwellers that I meet so they can be warm this winter. If i have any extras I will give them to the nursing homes/children's hospital(s) in the city.

​​​​​​​Going to be starting these first thing in the morning. (less than 1.5 hours)

Lena1952

Martha, Maybe the Senior center in your new area can use some of your fabric. Instead of bringing more home, you may be able to give them some of yours. Be brave! You got this!

Gemm

Wow, MaryKa - you have your work cut out for you. Sounds like you've found a good place to start by choosing one category of fabrics and getting that out of the way first. Good luck!

WMUTeach

Well, I have been on this moratorium ride for a long, long time and have been successful at reducing much of what I had in hand. I made it past the closing of JoAnn's with minimal purchases beyond what I needed to finish a quilt and white to use for piecing and backing. But a lovely little shop just down the road a piece is closing its doors because the owner is retiring and no one is willing to purchase the shop as a whole. So the owner is selling the stock. At the last check it was 50% off if you spent $100 or more with the smallest cut being 1 yard. A quilting friend and I are off to see the sale tomorrow morning.

Because of my efforts with the moratorium, I have some holes in my decreasing stash that can be filled and I can use this as an opportunity to purchase some fabric that I like but is a bit out of my comfort zone like brights. I also have a bin of dark batiks but they need some lights or brights to perk them up. Let's see what I come home with and how many yards will be added to my stash this month.

73+quilts

I will call them and ask about any sewing classes that they have. I will donate fabric if they have a class or two. Thanks for the idea. I had not thought about giving any to the new (to me) center.

Gemm

WMU, as always, a LQS' closing out sale is a fair exemption and you are so good at getting quilts and yardage and stash out the door that I'm sure all of your finds (I peeked at another thread :-)) will be put to good use. :-D

I've been busy finishing up a few quilts because I have more stash calling my name to be released from its storage boxes and sent out into the world! Two will go to the guild's Community Quilts program and one is a gift. I will have to go back in the thread to see which ones I've already shared about. This is a drawback to being a slow worker... but pictures may be incoming. :-)

WMUTeach

Mary Kay, If you have a contact at a local high school or university/community college that teaches sewing, costume design or fashion design, they often are looking for fabric of different types. I donated a large amount of cotton fabric from my stash for the fashion design students to use for a donation project, Little Dresses for Africa. They made 40 simple pull over dresses as part of the student organization's community service project. Just another idea.

Girl scouts or that type of organization often teach what are called life skills including sewing. Just keep your antenna up and pass the word among friends that you are looking for a place to donate. You never know, who knows someone who can make your donation work for the community.

73+quilts

WMUTeach Thanks for the ideas. I will be contacting the Jr. & Sr High schools to find out more information about what they teach--if the teach sewing.
I have removed most of the upholstery fabric so that much is out of my way. I still have a lot that I would like to pass on to someone. I will be finding out about another source of fabric from the senior center. Some is upholstery fabric that they have no-one to give it to. I told the lady that I gave mine to and she is going to go look at it today to see if they will allow her to have it. She is not yet a senior--about 30 years to go before she hits that stage.