2015 Fabric Moratorium
 

Welcome to the 2015 Fabric Moratorium.
We have general guidelines, but please just do whatever makes sense for you. Although we call it the "Fabric Moratorium" the main idea is to not add to our stash and hopefully reduce it!
Here are some general guidelines:
* No fabric purchases "just for your stash" from Jan 1 until U.S. Black Friday (11/27/15).
* When you start a new project, shop your stash first. If you don't have anything that will work, then feel free to make a purchase. Hopefully at least some of the fabric for every new project will come from your existing stash.
As the year progresses, post your updates here. We can support and encourage each other, post tips on how you use your stash, and any planned new projects where you shopped your stash!
Let us know about falling off the wagon, everyone enjoys a great excuse to purchase fabric.
Pictures are always wonderful!
As stated these are just guidelines, there are no Moratorium police! Just start using all that gorgeous fabric in your stash, after all, that's what you bought it for!

Thanks for getting us started on this journey of using what we have. Let's get moving��

I am in. I do not plan to buy till Thanksgiving week. I bought 50/60 yards Wed before Thanksgiving 2014 when on trip to older son's. I bought a little that week at thrifts like 4 sheets. I am stocked on thread, needles, yarn and backs, not enough batts but may have enough for all can I get done. When you live out in a little town in middle of nowhere in middle of gas/oil field you don't get to where you can buy. Or I sure do not get there often. At 83 I do not drive .

I'm for this year. Except for a planned purchase of two flat bundles of quilt backs from Marshall's Dry Goods. I was waiting until after the first to use my Christmas money for them. But after that order is placed next week, no more fabric buying "just because". It has to be for a particular project and planned, not spur of the moment. My aim is to use three quarters or more of fabric from my stash for each quilty project.

I am in...just re-arranging stash and taking inventory ..so I am confident that I have yardage and FQs for 2015. It will be fu to see what we all accomplish. Thank you for beginning this thread. :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

Thanks PP for starting the new year off. I'm still in. Last year was pretty successful. Freed up some fabric boards, but did add a lot to the scrap bins. So 2015 will be lots of scraps. Maybe it is some type of karma, but I was gifted an entire bolt of fabric that a friend found in the closet remodeling...and she doesn't sew. So I should be set for backing, even after I make some kind of quilt for her.

Count me in fellow quilters! Yesterday, I was cleaning a cupboard and found a table topper kit given to me 10 years on a bus tour shop hop. There was 2 pieces of fabrics, one a whole yard batik and 3/4 yd. focus fabric and a pattern. I didn't even remember this kit. It is amazing what I come across when I do some deep cleaning. I worked 40 hrs. and helped on the farm until 3 years ago. Then I got 2 fractures in my lumbar area and needed a hip replacement last year due to an injury 5 years earlier. It is time to organize and use what I have.

I'm in, I think! No more impulse buying unless I really, really love it. I've missed out on only two fabrics that I've really loved that i can remember so that shouldn't come up too often. I have so many great fabrics that I'd love to use up. Oh, and I'll try to do the same for yarn, as well.

I am in again for the new year. Each time I go into my sewing room and see all the quilt notebooks filled with ideas plus all my ufo's and the ideas that are still just 'want-to-make's' in my mind...I know I really need to use what I have first if at all possible. Glad that we will all be here to give each support!

I'm in too! I don't buy much material but I need to make sure donations that are given to me for 2 charity groups actually go out the door to those groups. I like to keep too much of the donations at home to make quilts for them and then I get bogged down with my choices. So this year I need to remind myself to check my stash before I keep any. It all gets where it should go eventually but better in their stash than mine for the time being! Lol

I also have several bins of my late MIL 's stash to use too. Here's a quilt top that I finished last week with her stash for her grandsons's June wedding. I did buy the navy blue.

Connie

Hi fellow stashers! It's a new year and again I am so grateful for this thread. Thank you Princess for starting this 2015 thread. It helped me tremendously last year and I'm looking forward to having that help this year. I've been completing 9 patches out of my leader ender 1 1/2" squares. I've got a lot of cleaning up to do with other sizes of squares and strips. The holidays turned things upside down, so I'm making way for scrapes which need a place to land. Just mindless sewing. I love it!

I love it and I go for bright colors now.
.

I'm in, though I don't intend to count the fabric I may buy from my friend. I will buy less (much less) online and from fabric shops--I'm going to work from stash and try to keep track of what I use (this may be hard since I use a lot of scraps). I think I'm good for fabric for tops and backs, but I'll have to buy another roll of batting fairly soon. I hope to also avoid buying tools and patterns. Wow--now that I type it all out it looks kind of daunting! :) One day at a time...

Here we meet again for another year of good intentions. I added to my UFO pile and my stash is rather substantial. Time to buckle down and get going!

Nice use of scraps. teacher09. I bet it will be loved A LOT.

I'm in too. I can only make the vow to not buy any fabric on impulse until October 2015. In all honesty, I will be going to the IQF in Houston at the end of October. The vendors there will tempt anyone. There is just no reason to make a promise to myself that I know I will break when it comes to Festival. Heck, last year, I did a great job by only buying 5 new kits. That was a major victory for me.

I already have more kits and UFO's than anyone needs. I have a large stash of fabulous fabrics, not many blenders, just the yummy focus fabrics. I know some of you will understand....I mostly just pet the pretty ones and I have a lot of them. My vow will be to enjoy them by using them in my projects I have going right now.

This will be my third year of stash shopping. For the past 2 I have only bought what I needed to complete a project and a few panels. hope to be able to behave myself at quilt shows and not buy anymore panels. My goal is to have a wallhanging for each month.

Count me in! I just finished creating several projects from my stash using patterns from the many magazines I have....oh what fun it was. Need to buy very little fabric!
hoping to start one of the projects either today or tomorrow.....will post pics of project.

Fun!!!!!

Count me in, too! At first, I was going to do my own moratorium but this is more fun. Thanks for starting this thread, PaperPrincess. I do have plans to buy some blue fabric for QOVs soon. After that, no impulse buys unless it is needed such as batting, etc. Looking forward to updates! Shhhh...when I decided to do my own moratorium, I planned to keep this quiet and see how I do before telling my DH! It will be fun to see his reaction; he is such a dear when I buy quilt related things.

I'm in again this year too. I will need to buy a bolt of batting and some backing, but for the tops I plan on shopping my stash and hopefully making do. DH wants a t-shirt quilt, and I have already been able to shop my stash for the sashing and borders. Another thing I am keeping track of is $ I spend. I hope to spend less this year than I did last year. This thread helps to keep me in check. Thanks PP for keeping this thread going.

I love this goal of a monthly wallhanging! May have to do that myself.

I, linmid, do hereby swear that I will shop from my stash for all projects that I start from now until Black Friday and I do expect you Gals to give me a good talking to if I stray. Ready set go. Thank you Paperprincess for starting this.

I would like to join in. I have way too much fabric...notions, thread, embroidery stuff and the list goes on and on. In a couple of years I would like to downsize so using up some of my valuable stash would not only be fun but also with a purpose.

Thank you

I'm in -- after I buy 5 yards of fabric that I've been contemplating for about 4 months. It will round out the colors so I can continue to use my stash. Only purchased 7 yards of fabric last year but used much, much more from my stash. This year I'm going to keep track of the fabric purchased and used.

I Really! need to join this... so I'm in!

Barb in LA, going to Festival falls under the "you get a pass" category.

I am in! So proud of myself. We to fabric store with guild member and bought no fabric!!! I am going to use Accuquilt go to cut fabric for a log cabin quilt. By using stash the quilt will be scrappy. Light and dark, but scrappy.

I know exactly what you are saying. I live in a small town too. I have to travel 11/2 to 2 hours to get to large fabric store.

I am also in a small town with the 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to a quilt shop. Sometimes I think it is a good thing - don't spend as much money. Downfall is, when I do get to a quilt shop sometimes it is hard to not buy. Hopefully I will be strong this year!

Wow! Looks like everyone is off to a great start. My January goal is to get all my fabric organized, (because I can't use it if I don't know I have it), go thru my quilting books and get rid of some, and take the tree down :-) (don't laugh, one year it was up until valentine's day)

I hope I can join you all here? I've not done this but need to desperately. I want to use only stash and use it for gifts instead of buying gifts every year. I'm always afraid that the gift recipients won't want " just a homemade gift"? Have you ever been there? I am always talking myself out of it though I want to do this so bad! Also I have a lot of polyester knit that was gifted to me from a friend who is cleaning out her stuff. I also have some scraps of sheepskin wool that I want to make into something am thinking hard about what. It is super soft! My husband's an upholsterer and I get lots of scraps and leftovers which I love!

My family loves the "homemade" gifts I give them. This year for Christmas I did three quilts (king, queen and full) all from scraps. I love being able to give gifts without buying anything. Well, I bought the fabric, but it has been in my stash for so long it doesn't feel like I bought it! :) If I had to go to the malls at Christmas time, or anytime, I don't think I would be giving much for gifts. Hate the crowds.

It's the 3rd, and I haven't bought anything all year! :)

Sewred.. you said " Also I have a lot of polyester knit that was gifted to me from a friend who is cleaning out her stuff. I also have some scraps of sheepskin wool that I want to make into something am thinking hard about what. It is super soft! My husband's an upholsterer and I get lots of scraps and leftovers which I love!" I know that the poly knit was popular way back for quilts. They last forever, if I remember correctly. If you think of a good idea for the sheepskin wool..please pass it on. I had something donated to me that looks a lot like that. I am not sure if what I have is that but the lady who donated it used it to line men's vests. I have no idea how to use it so very much open for suggestions.
AngeliaNR..I loved your comment! As for me and the fabric moratorium, I know I am going to have to buy some black. I want to make some string quilts and need the black for the sashing and the center piece for the blocks. I have no black in my stash so I am not counting that purchase as a mark against me. LOL!

What an inspiration! LOL!

I am stash busting this year! Need a new baby quilt in a month, picked this one from Moda Bakeshop: [ATTACH=CONFIG]504630[/ATTACH]

Shopped my stash first and found these:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]504631[/ATTACH]

Also, I'll be limiting myself to $25 of new purchases per month, including books/patterns, and backing or background fabric. Previous month's excess will roll over into the next month, in case I find the need to make a large purchase at some point.

Yes, it is the third of the month and I, like AngeliaNR, have not purchased anything all year. I do, however, have a check book size 2015 weekly planner. I will record any purchases and the reason for such purchases. I want to have some tops quilted and need to save up to pay the woman who does the long arming. Thanks for starting this again!

I'm in! Being a part of this really keeps me mindful. I am also cutting back on notions. So only thread, needles, batting and basic supplies to be purchased this year. Have 3 UFO's to finish and a lot of "quilts I really want to make". Today I'm unpicking an XL man's shirt (batik with really cool elephants on it) to make into a baby quilt and will only be using stash to finish it. Laid up with a dodgy SI joint, so that will keep me focused. Stay strong people!

Nice little quilt kaelyn. What are you planning to do with the blues/purples?
I like your $value per month goal. Was tickled I stayed below last year's budget, so lowered $ amount for 2015, too.

Think I'll jump on board with this as I'm trying to get a credit card bill paid off this year. I keep telling myself "this year", "this year" but it never happens as life gets in the way and have to add to the bill. I live on a set income now so with house repairs, etc. I never seem to get ahead. I normally look thru my stash before going to the fabric store so that will be easy for me anyway. What I've been doing for the past couple of quilts is use the leftovers for the next quilt in line. Wasn't able to do it on the bargello I'm working on now so they're still hanging on the hanger waiting to be used but they are always in my sight for another quilt. The scraps from a Bonnie Hunter bricks and stones quilt are piled up for another quilt pattern I have lying on the end of my cutting table.

So far I haven't bought any new fabric for 6 weeks so that's a good start for me. I also find if I delete all the emails I know have fabric sales on them, I won't be tempted to buy. It was hard during the holiday season with all my favorite online stores having their sales but I prevailed...............YEAH for me!!!!!

I was pretty successful in 2014, and hope to continue in 2015. I knew I would be near Mary Jo's in Gastonia about a year ago, so I stopped and bought the material for a quilt I have been wanting to make - still have not made it, but it is on the list for this year. All the quilts/projects I made in 2014 came from my stash. I only needed to buy one small piece of material to complete one project.