Thanks, Teen. I'm not sure hosting this thread helps me personally, but most of what I did buy this year has been used immediately. Others have a designated purpose. Only 1 cut was truly an impulse buy. I have 2 Christmas panels ready to be quilted as soon as i get home from this ride. It was extended for a day due to extreme cold. We're on motorcycles in west Texas (almost to NM) & a cold front moved in with wind chills in the 20's. So we hope for better temps & a sunny day to ride the last 220 miles home today
Once I'm home, I plan to finish my 2 panels in time to use them this month. I'll be self-isolating after this trip, so I also plan to go through my fabric supply to see what I can make as gifts for friends. I need to use up what I do have!

Thanks for hosting this year, Conchalea! Looking forward to riding in the wagon with everyone again next year!

Rob

1 Moratorium Police Officer!
 

Well I Have 1 Moratorium Police Officer! A California C.H.P. Officer -- A very dear friend. Came to visit --in a panic as I had not answered phone calls or texts in about 2 weeks (My phone went goofy). He flew in to make certain I was not laying out on the floor. My stash room door was open some so my Lil' Pickle (cat) decided Jay needed to see the roomthat Mom never allows him and his brother Midnight to enter.

Jay almost had a heart attack. 1 corner is from floor to almost ceiling. Those are my seasonal fabrics and each box is completely identified as to what holiday it is for. The next stack is only about 3/4 of the way up to the ceiling. It is for birthday type things and also clearly marked. Then I 4 rows of stuff (aka Stash fun). These are the stuff I use and go through frequently. Looking for just the correct thing. Moratorium Police CHP Trooper Jay said he'd come over his 1 month vacation and help me get everything in order.

Aaaaaaaa--a Man going thru My Stash??!!!! Quick call Stash 511-Need Stash Survival Assistance. Will I be able to handle such a horrific time? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/confused.png

I have known Jay for 50 years. (His Daddy was the Trooper that taught my Driver's Ed class at the High School how to drive. But that's another story.) Jay is a sweet and gentle person. Almost had a heart attack when he saw my stash that week-end. Thankfully https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png May also came with him. She and I started going thru my stash and she found several items that she loved and had never seen. We split most of the items. My Holiday stash dropped by 1 box. My Birthday stash dropped by 2 boxes and my general stash section dropped by Lots of stuff.

Jay decided he would just have a Big Bon Fire next time he comes Before May has a chance to go through anything more. We'll see about that--Not! They are supposed to come at least the week over Christmas. Will be good to have them come. Told May I will let her go thru my embroidery--only 15 boxes for that and includes floss as well as printed fabric designs as well as many patterns - some duplicates.

Jay is still out there on the streets riding his cycle.

Just cruising them freeways.

Jay, Always Be Safe, my friend.

I’ve done pretty well this year, will be using up more stash today- need to make another batch of masks- since this situation just keeps on going, this is the last month of my Temperature Quilt- it’s been a fun project- 366 blocks all scraps/ stash when it’s done.
I am hoping to make a few more small gifts - I’m rapidly running out of time though. Placemats, candle mats and aprons are on my ( hopeful list. )
I might put together another box for my son too but the one I sent for his birthday ( November 20) weighed 35 pounds! I think he’s probably pretty well stocked) for a bit.
but that was 35 pounds of fabric including a large kit I’ve had for years out of my stash.
I’m thinking one more year and I will be able to shop again. 😉
a few I’ve made, plus the first columns of the temperature quilt put together

My husband has been so patient with me as I've been going through my boxes of fabric and many are still out in the hall right now. I think, however I've about reached my limit and they are going back in only 2/3rds straightened out. Still, new boxes have been made and collapsing boxes have been replaced so no fabric spilling out and those darn miscellaneous boxes will remain for now. But you should see my green box! It's in fantastic shape :p And, there are fewer boxes all the time.

This has been a super hard year on me in many ways, so the not buying fabric has been pretty easy in comparison. Oh, there have been a couple of times when some retail therapy seemed like a good idea but staying home turned out to be a good idea!

While we are moratorium-moratorium support your LQS!

edit: I was able to pull my fabrics for this year's Bonnie Hunter mystery all out of stash, although I had to change them slightly (my golds are pretty dark and so her Orange is more Rust with mine) and I did have to ask my Tuesday group to help me with grey. Grey did not become a fashion color until after I stopped buying for the most part.

CKcowl, wanted to comment on your temperature quilt, that's a lovely one. Been thinking of doing one for my grandson, did you start at a particular date on yours? Are you doing highs/lows, or just highs?

So many ways to do these -- we know by now that I like hidden messages in my quilts and so the whole concept just appealed to me as soon as I heard about it.

This is so funny! But all's well that ends well!

My temperature quilt started on January 1st, 2020. High temps are the center big triangles lows are the small . Chose flying geese 3 1/2” x 6 1/2 “
I started with writing down temperature ranges from ( below zero, ) then every 5* up to 100* so 0*- 5* is one color, 6*-10* next, on up to 96*-100* then over 100*
cut swatches to represent each color for each temperature range and glued them to the paper ( actually a white shirt cardboard) I used scraps often so the colors have variations but stay close to each temperature description.
peach day I would write down the low & high temperature, didn’t manage to sew every day but when I could I would pull out my color/ temp key and my day planner that each day’s temperatures were recorder and I would catch up- I decided to have them point up on odd months, down on even, sewed each month together into a column. Added a black batik to the top & bottom of each column to bring every month to the same length then found a Jinny Beyer border print to put between columns. Only 25 blocks to go and it will be finished. Yea!
im trying to decide if I’m going to do another on with different blocks/ colors - plan- haven’t decided yet.

Motley: I love your story. It’s great you have friends that come to check on you. Goofy cats!

ckcowl: Nice projects!

Hilarious!!!

My heart is palpitating visualizing your stash. I cannot imagine having that much stuff. I freak out just looking at my itty bitty stash. But, oh how wonderful to roll around and create in those piles...

Good on you for sticking with this project. Looking forward to seeing the finished year.
and especially this year. Bet it looks awesome.

Motley, as a non-quilter, your CHP friend doesnt understand the necessity of a stash. Our moratorium is to encourage us to think about new fabrics coming in just to join the existing stash. I hope it helps us shop our stash before we buy more. It's good you have friends who check on you. Bonus-she took some fabric to lower your stash stacks!
CK, I love all your work! You are so precise, & your color choices are beautiful. Using your stash, plus shipping 35 pounds of fabric to your son is an excellent way to reduce your stash!
Pet, when 2021 finally rolls in, your stash will be better organized for use, even if you haven't sewn much with it. Hang in there! This bizarre year is almost over.

----------------------------------

True he does not understand my stash needs. Just received an email that May has already finished his quilt and added some of my former stash items to it. I'm wonderfully honored at this. Jay and May are truly great friends. May has also found some items in California and told me they will get here for Christmas. Hmmmmmm, Now I have to wonder for all those days. Jay did not get Christmas week but that's alright as they will be coming Before Christmas so I will still have them for the week before the week of Christmas. Since I don't have any family that Celebrates any thing any more, I can celebrate Christmas any time. If they come, I'll set out the little tree otherwise I won't even put that one out----have 2 cats that would love to make it fall repeatedly.

The only reason I have so much is when we were able to go to the Senior Center, I was able to take the left overs of everything that was left over from the quilt class. Otherwise everything would have ended up in the dump. Couldn't let such fine fabric meet that fate. I haven't actually bought anything--except for a blouse I wanted--in about 5 years but just let my stash grow. I worked on quilts, dolls and dolly clothes now that I have my New machine--a Brother--I will begin sewing everything. Starting with my Trooper quilt.

One more from my stash for 2020
 

I know we have come to the end of this year's moratorium, but I just got the binding on this little quilt and now it is off to Project Linus later this week. About 2.5 yards of fabric out of my stash for top, batting and back! I know it looks a bit wonky but the wind kept blowing and I could not snap it so it looked flat. None the less, finished. Off to the next top to quilt and bind and also a few Christmas presents! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

WMUTeach: Very pretty and congratulations on the finish!

I finished washing the rest of my solid fabric purchases. I am still way ahead in yardage out even with the recent purchases. I finished a top recently and have another one on the design board. I’m using leftover blocks, experimental blocks, and squares/strips from my 4” drawer. The sashing is green polka dots on a white background. I sure messed up the first time I cut the sashing strips because I didn’t check if the dots lined up properly for straight cuts. 🤷‍♀️ I had sewn a few sashing strips on and decided to leave them in the quilt and put those rows towards the bottom. So goes life. My main goal right now is to continue using up ‘what was I thinking’ fabric, leftover blocks, and square/strip sizes like 3” and 4”.

WMU & Retired, good job on continuing to use your stash! Y'all are like folks who stay on a low carb diet through the holidays. I'm down with allergies & haven't sewn for almost 2 weeks. I dont feel like it, not even going thru my fabrics to see what I can make with it.

WMU, good job! A beautiful quilt, and I like the pattern! Congrats on diminishing the stash.

WMUTeach....really pretty Project Linus quilt. Love the colorway....and, that pattern is really cool. I’m saving that pattern cuz it looks perfect for donation quilts.

retiredteach...you should be so proud of your stash busting this year. And, I have a bolt of “what was I thinking” that I really want to get rid of...may end up giving to my quilter with a big bow on it... she’ll be thrilled.

Conchalea...bummer you are down with allergies. No telling what you drove through on your recent ride. Feel better soon!

I am working on a quilt I kitted several months ago...feels good to take one off the stack. It’s applique and piecing so that should get me through the end of year. Yah!!!

Several of you mentioned the pattern for this quilt. It is a free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop. I did expand the pattern by adding two extra border rows so it would measure 40" square. I did not have any particular color plan other than just to use what was in my bin of blue scraps. Several more from that same bin are finished this year or are in progress. The bin is still over flowing. Guess I had an excess a serious case of "the blues". https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hunf.png

https://www.fatquartershop.com/mini-...t-free-pattern

Neat quilt WMUTeach! congratulations on finishing another from stash.

Conchalea- I hope you feel better soon. The allergens in my neck of the woods have been extra virulent this year. I’m hoping for a good hard freeze to help tamp some of them down.

Rob

Thanks for sharing the pattern to your blue quilt, WMUTeach! Yours is indeed lovely.

Conchalea: Blasted allergies!

WMUTeach: 'the blues'- very appropriate for this year. LOL. My blues outnumber all of the other colors in my sewing area. Most of them were in donations over the years. However, I needed to buy some basic blues because those were missing from the stash. Go figure!

More ways to use your blue stash
 

I was just feeling like I could move on and the Friday Tutorial from MSQ is all glorious blues and could easily be done with scraps rather than pre-cuts. It is all blues. I can see it hanging on my wall now. Winter stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvrio4CkmMM

WMUTeach: It is a lovely quilt. I enjoy watching the MSQ videos.

So I know it's not quilting but...
i just finished making some zipper pouches for my son's teachers. Everyone is getting a small container of maple syrup in a zipper pouch. I used upholstery fabric from a donation but it could easily be done with FQ.
Just a thought out to everyone looking for quick projects for gifts!

And if I get any more cheap zippers - I'll make another batch for the woman's shelter. I'm sure they can use them for toiletries.

I have not made any zipper pouches but am thinking that like you, they make good little gift holders. Which pattern do you use? There are so many variations on the pouch. I am looking for fast and uncomplicated. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png I am thinking of future gifting, not this year. I am wrapping up sewing gifts this week and want to refocus on UFOs for the next couple of weeks.

Teach I like that tute too but thought about it in Christmas color. Sadly don't have any holiday colors. Looking for permission to go shopping.

Wait! DH loves batiks and I have 3 layer cakes! Crap don't have to go shopping https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/frown.png

Rff1010, that sounds like a lovely gift idea!

I bought a kit and a FQ bundle today, spur of the moment! It's those darned sales. We are on hiatus right now, aren't we?

Conchalea, thank you for leading us in our moratorium, and for planning to do so again in the new year! It has helped me tremendously, to develop a new mindset (which apparently deserted me this morning, LOL).

Yes, we are on hiatus, besides which, I don't think you went overboard.

As the year comes to a end I can say, without a doubt, I have been successful in not buying fabric like I usually do. I purchased only 2 pieces of fabric all year. Now that compares to a minimum of at least 50 cuts a year. The 2 cuts I needed were for the finish of 2 different quilts that were gifts. I hope I can do this well next year. It has been fun working from my stash this year. I reminded me of the many reasons I purchased some of these fabrics. It also helped to recall I had a goal this year that was special. I was making hundreds of mask! The mask making has slowed down but I am still making at least 5 a week. More specialized in fabric choices. It is still nice to see doctors and other staff wearing the mask I made.
So 2020 has been a gain for me. I spent less money, I thinned down my stash here and there and I had some beautiful quilts pop out of my stash. My favorite is on my bed now and is being much loved all because of the moratorium.

We may be on hiatus, but for me as a fabriholic, one slip is all it takes. Besides, my goal to downsize would take a huge hit. So I'll stay on the moratorium.

My birthday was 2 weeks ago, so I'll take advantage of my LQS' 15% off coupon for my birthday month. K, her daughter & I are heading to the shop tomorrow. I vow to only buy fabric I will use in the next year. Fingers crossed...

Happy belated birthday, Conchalea! Enjoy your outing at the LQS!

I definitely made an impact in my stash this year. Especially with precuts. I had 2 shelves of precuts in my barrister bookcase and now one shelf is empty. I made 6 of the kitted quilt projects on my project shelf (many more to go...) and that felt really good, too. That is my focus this coming year....one of the kitted projects is a Baltimore Album quilt so that may be my long-term project for the year. I am setting a goal to complete that by end of year. I made a few purchases this year but mostly to backfill my stash of neutrals and for backing. I emptied 2 bolts this year so finding backing is getting challenging.

I am looking back over the year and my accomplishments to reduce my stash and not to shop for additional fabric. I donated about 2/3 of one of those large bins filled with fabric to college students who were making masks for a community project. Made and donated about 30 dog beds made from batting/quilting scraps and fabric that I knew I just won't use. Then quilts for gifts and donation to Project Linus and of course masks. That adds up to about two and a half large bins of fabric in a year plus several trash bags of batting scraps. I call that terrific! I still have more that what will fit in my closet but I am beginning to develop holes in what is available such as backing and neutrals for background. Much of the lengths I have in my stash now are less than two yards in length. What has grown is my collection of true scraps. I see many, many scrappy quilts in 2021. I would like to get all of my fabric in my double closet in the next couple of years. This has been a very motivating year to use what is at hand and create from our own supply.

My rash purchases didn't begin until July and the LQS Ridiculous Day sale. I do think I can use the largest piece as backing for a current WIP. Not sure what the other purchases will turn into. The August plunge turned into borders and backing that completed a UFO to a T! September's oops yielded a backing to finish one quilt and some batting and a few unplanned pieces. Then a couple of November purchases...oh my. One was impulse as I saw the perfect fabric for my sister and now have to plan a quilt for it! And who knows what I will do with the fabric I bought at 25% off sale! I haven't figured it out, but do believe I have used more stash than bought fabric! So the moratorium is a go for me next year too!

I only had one 'slip'. Gorgeous fabric for a two fabric bargello. It's still in the drawer, so it was not a necessary purchase. I am sitting out this 'free' time. I don't need anything and right now I don't WANT anything, which feels good.

Teen, are you saying you have an empty shelf that's staying empty? Please take a photo of that for me, LOL.

Conchalea Thanks for keeping me on track this weird and strange year where I could have easily gone overboard. It has been fun working from my stash all along. I am grateful. I look forward to next year where I can do the same. Now it is time to go through my stash and see what needs to be donated and kept. Time to invite in a few stash raiders.

Hey, all. Just a reminder that it was OK to purchase if the purchase was needed for a WIP. We were just to pull back on wild impulse buying and to shop our stash first. Don't beat yourself up or carry unnecessary guilt for purchasing to finish a project. I sure liked the exercise of working with what was on hand. Yes, I did purchase backing for some of my quilts, but most backing came from stash. Thinking that 2021 will be pink crazy. I have bin of pink that was hardly touched this year. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png Hope project Linus likes pink!

lol...it wasn’t empty for long.... I made some more fabric baskets in the colors I needed and filled it up...lol. However, my precuts are only on the top shelf now and that makes me happy.....looks like I need to make a blue quilt...that basket runneth over..