Fabric Moratorium 2022
 

I think I'm not alone in needing the support of my fellow Moratorium posters! My thanks to all of you in whatever places you are in your stashes/lives. I think I'm going to do ok with my desires to buy fabric this year, but I'm going to need support and ideas for using/reducing and stash related things. I'm ok with having a stash, I just think I can have less than my current amount...

Welcome to the 2022 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 (11/25/21).
* 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. Some members have come up with creative exemptions: ie trips, birthdays, quilt shows, receiving the Covid vaccine...I'm sure our imaginative followers will think of others.

Pictures are always wonderful!

As stated these are just guidelines, there are No Moratorium Police! Please do whatever makes sense for you and your stash. Just start using all that gorgeous fabric in your stash, after all, that's what you bought it for!

Yay! Thanks for opening this thread, Iceblossom. I have benefitted greatly from the support of members of the Fabric Moratorium over the years and am looking forward to another year in the moratorium,.

My goals for this year are:
1. continue to shop my stash first when starting a new project
2. only buy fabric as needed to either finish a project, or to replenish stash staple fabrics such as blenders and wow.
3. use up more of my scraps

I'm looking forward to seeing photos, too!

Rob

Thanks, Iceblossom! Glad to have this thread up and running again. :-)

As always, my stash isn't quite as deep as some people's, but I still get a thrill out of "making do" and discovering hidden gems of combinations of fabrics I already had. Looking forward to another year of quilting with everyone here and am also hoping to be able to share a moratorium-ish project soon. :-)

Thank you for starting the thread, Iceblossom! Being part of the moratorium has really re-shaped my outlook on fabric. I now can look at and appreciate pretty fabric without feeling the impulse to buy it (it doesn't hurt that I have run out of storage space for fabric in our small home).

I am planning to continue prepping simpler quilts from stash as leader/ender projects for more challenging projects, of which I have several that need finishing, so I'm hoping to resist joining in any new sew-alongs this year.

Count me in. I've got yardage and a number of panels that I want to get made for various occasions and I don't want to buy any more fabric. What I have is liable to fall on me and crush me!.

Iceblossom: Thank you for starting this thread.

I look forward to hearing about/seeing everyone's projects.

Thank you, iceblossom, for starting the thread.
I didn't do as well as I could have last year - fell for a jelly roll I haven't used yet and fabric for my first bargello. I guess it could have been worse. I took no exemptions for my birthday, my trip to Kentucky or anything else. I also didn't shop in the 'free' period - for me, that would defeat the purpose of 'being good' all year. My physical therapy is in the same mall as JoAnn's. I did make a few small purchases, but only what I needed to complete a quilt, so I did well there.

Here's to a successful year for all of us.

I'm in. My LQS offers us a birthday discount of 1/2 of our ages, so I stocked up last July. I have bought a back or two's worth of fabric since but plan to shop my stash this year for the most part. I recently found a whole project box full of stuff I had forgotten about from a couple of years ago. I really need to know my stash better.

Woohoo! Thank you Iceblossom. I know you have a lot on your plate with packing and downsizing for your move but thank you for hosting this popular thread.

Count me in again this year and although I don’t have a large stash, this thread helps me remain conscientious and mindful of using the fabric I have on hand. In January each year I sift through my stash and pull unwanted pieces that I have tired of or just won’t ever use and share them with friends or guild members. My goal this year is to complete 12 quilts. I only have one UFO that needs quilting…BH’s Frolic. I don’t have anything large enough for backing so will have to shop this coming week so I can get it done.

I look forward to the posts and photos…and slips and falls on this thread.

Although I am have plenty, I can attest to the results of following threads like this. My stash is considerably smaller and in the "reasonable zone". I still like the accountability of others to help keep me just buying what is needed for a specific project and backing. I honestly have only a couple of pieces large enough even for pieced backing. Lead on Iceblossom!.

I'm in for 2022!

It is time to use all those pretty Layer Cakes, Charm Packs, FQ and yardage that are waiting to be called. I'm also including embroidery stabilizers in the challenge.

There isn't another stitch of room to add anything else here.

I am happy to enjoy another year here. Thank you Iceblossom.
i have made a ($22 ) purchase already this year ( which is truly rare for me) but just found out a niece is expecting and due the middle of March. I really didn’t have anything that would fit into her color choice ( gray) for that baby quilt, burp cloths and snuggle wraps. - I found some great Minky and flannels that are going to work well and it was nice to be able to take advantage of a good sale and buy something new.
the same day I received this news I had also packed up (2) large flat rate boxes of scraps and sent them off- so I did get rid of quite a bit more than I purchased.
i am looking at my stash with New Eyes- “ oh my goodness, I brought this fabric into the house when we moved in 15 years ago- and know I bought it a few years before that— if I haven’t found a use for it yet- I’m not going to- it’s gotta go!”
a couple times I have pulled something out and decided- I love this fabric and need to use it- instead of putting it back I’m keeping it out to be used- if it sits in my way too long I will let it go.
I’ve been good at shopping my stash first for years and on occasion invite someone else to come in and shop my stash. It is definitely becoming easier to see what’s there.
anyway.. happy for this new year, this forum and this great moratorium group!

Thanks for starting this!
The last 3 months I've bought practically nothing and am so proud of myself. I'm serial fabric shopper haha.
I feel so good using stash. One reason I'm enjoying it is because last year I got rid of a lot of fabric I didn't like
and now I can use what I love. Makes a huge difference in my attitude. Too much stuff makes me nervous and then
I'm not as prolific as I want to be.

I'm in for 2022. I've been wanting to reduce my stash for some time. Have several kits I want to sew up and some other projects all churning in my mind to get done. Don't know how much I'll be able to post but I'll be following along and sewing as time makes itself available.

I have looked over the fabric moratorium threads, but never with an eye towards actually joining in the fun. In fact, I increased my stash quite a bit in 2021. OK I had an excuse! My husband retired in the fall, and I am planning on retiring this summer, so I needed to purchase what I could while we still had an income. As I am a dedicated pre-washer, that also meant that all the new fabric had to be washed, dried, and ironed. Which lead to me actually reorganizing my stash last November/December - which also meant finding a bunch of fabric that I didn't even know I had. It was then that I realized that even once I retire, I won't have enough time to use it all.

At the moment, I have six months to reorganize my work life, finish up the few projects that are ending before I leave, and transition all of the other projects to co-workers. That is taking a lot of energy, so I can't even think about quilting beyond the particular one that I am currently working on - which is my first BH mystery.

All that to say that this feels like a good way to start the year! Thanks for organizing it.

I just love hearing about when people get rid of large amounts of fabric. It feels almost as good as if I've done it myself, LOL.

Through dedicated stash shopping last year I realized what I actually use and what I don't. So anytime I need to "scratch that itch" I know to get small prints, geometric and abstract blenders.
Those are the ones that get used

I'm still working on my fabric no buying spree since Nov 2018. So far I've only had to buy 3 fat qtrs to finish up a border when the recipent decided she rather have a queen size instead of full size after I'd purchased a kit to make her quilt. Luckily I was able to find these fat qtrs as it had been a couple years since I had purchased the kit at a local shop. Since then I haven't made that many quilts due to rotor cuff surgery, then the pandemic came about, then I had a sunroom built onto the back of my house and decided since I would be living in a total mess I might as well get the kitchen remodeled at the same time so total mess.

Now I'm back to finishing up those projects I started back then, have made a set of 48 embroidered wedding ring quilt blocks from my stash and searching for a new project in blues, purples and whites for a 19yo boy/man for a future project. I know I can take from the scraps from his parents quilt (in progress) as well as another project (working on it as we speak) and then take from my stash as it will be a queen size. Just need to decide what quilt pattern to go for.

I did order 4 king battings QD the other day as I know my bolt of batting will not be enough to finish these last 3 queen size quilts I'm working on. The 12 quilts waiting to be quilted all have their backings and battings cut ready to go.

So I still plan to continue using from my stash and you'll see why as this photos still doesn't show the 30+ partial bolts sitting on the floor or under the quilt frame.

Thank you IceBlossom for starting this thread. Through this thread I'm getting control of this addiction.

All of Merry Mayhem came from stash. Then more was needed for the back and binding which came from stash too.

And I tend to avoid fabric stores.

Great to be back here again this year. I did all of my projects from my stash with the only purchases being backing and some WoW. I made and had quilted 5 quilts One was a King size and the other 4 twin to full sizes. I have a project that I started back in August, before I got sick, and I am still working on it. I was running low on some of the colors I have choses from my stash to make it. It is a QAL project and so each block is different. I did have to buy a couple of yrds to finish it off. The plan is to have it done in the next couple months. I still am not able to stand very long to work at my cutting table. I will get there with no doubt in my brain. Step by Step.
I have a number of quilts in my mind to do this year and all of them will come from my stash. I also have a stash bash planned for next month or March. That is taking each piece out and refolding it and sorting by color all the fabrics. This is always fun.
The Moratorium keeps me on track. I need that help. So thanks a lot for hosting this again this year.

I knew there was a crew out there just waiting to share or in need of some encouragement! Glad to see everyone new and returning.

For those that haven't seen my other postings, I'm planning on moving this year after more than 20 years in the same house. I've been working on reducing my stash for about 10+ years, in the "she with the most fabric" race, I had already placed. I still love and desire fabric of all sorts, but I'm finding I'm happier with a less overwhelming amount.

This year I get to put a lot of the things I've been working on to practice. I will be moving fabric, but I will be moving less fabric than I currently have. It's time for me to switch to plastic tubs instead of my cardboard so my first big decision is a brand/size of container. I'd like something about the same size as my banker boxes that will fit on shelves well with easy but locking clasps for the lids. I'm going to buy the number of containers I think I need for my mental vision of "enough fabric to make me happy". Pretty sure I have a bit more fabric than that! Maybe when I am faced with the actual size and weight and cost of moving, I might "need" less than I think.

Snooze2978: Wow to your stash and organization! I would love to shop your stash.

Here is a top which uses batiks donated over the past years to my church quilting group. They will finish the quilt and donate it. The top measures 60” by 80”. It didn’t put much of a dent in the donated batiks. 🙂. After I pulled fabric for this quilt, I decided I needed to sort the batiks by main color. It took me quite a while to finish sorting but it’s finally done. It really made it easy to start on my current batik top because they were organized.

Bull’s Eye by Debby Brown. It’s a Cutie pattern.

What a good pattern to use for scraps. So often I see questions about a "man's" quilt. I think this would do beautifully. It could also be a fun an I-spy for a child. Good choice and thanks for sharing with us, retiredteacher09.

I've only been working on my stash for 3 years but I haven't seen much of a reduction yet LOL Does this give you a clue as to how much fabric I have? The past year I took care of my dad who declined rapidly with Parkinson's and dementia, leaving me with little brain power to sew anything. But I did spend hours when not on duty with dad, rearranging fabrics and tidying. I touch every fabric I owned and I can honestly say it helps to have it neat and visible. I have my yardage fabrics in color groups so when I need a gold for example I can just shop that area. I am currently working on a scrappy green top and I am wondering how I needed up with sooooo many greens! Or fabrics in general for that matter. Those scraps seem to multiply by magic. My mom once told me that in order to reduce the amount of scrap accumulation one MUST neuter fabrics before bringing them into the house. I think she was right! LOL.

Thanks for the thread to help keep me on target and to let me know I am not alone.

Lena; sorry to hear of you dad. There have been seasons in my life that came upon me by surprise. How do we deal with them?

Yardage accumulation happens; deliberately or by accident. I've bought fabric for a project then the project didn't happen or I found something better. Into stash.

Downsizing is either use it up, sell it or give it away. Each of my quilts has used up 5-8 yds. Considering I have 000's it adds up to hundreds and hundreds of quilts. It takes a long time to make a dent. First I noticed I could put fabrics back on the shelf without having to wedge it in. Finally it got to an empty shelf. Then I started giving it away. I've sold some. Now it's divided into two groups; give away, sell it or charity quilts is the first. The second is my creative stash for my enjoyment. It's still 000's of yards.

It takes deliberate choices. The joy is in the using and the recipient. I only need so many around my house.

IceBlossom, thank you very much for hosting this thread this year. FYI, I’m in again this year.

My goals this year:
1. Go through my stash and finish the project.
2. I have several projects I plan to start this year and plan to use my stash only.
3. Plus quilt some of my UFOs, which will use up some of my backing stash.
4. Finally have my out numbers be larger than my in numbers for yardage. Yes I’m counting my BHMQ-21 (this year), as part of my stash use for this year. I plan to keep track of my yardage each month. I will count it as I fully complete my project.

Happy sewing/quilting everyone.

I'd like to join. I took the year off and from the look of my quilt room I shouldn't have. Really need to get this stash under more control. Thanks for moderating ice blossom.

WMUTeach: Thank you for the compliment and I agree it would be a good man’s quilt or I Spy.

happylab: I have kept track of yardage out/in for several years. I did bring home a lot of fabric from my church group in December but I don’t count that fabric as an ‘in’ because I didn’t buy it. 🙂

I like the idea of keeping track of yardage…now would be a good time to start as each January I go through and reorganize my stash. I spent a half hour yesterday organizing my modest half yard - yard sizes by color. I will definitely start keeping track of what goes out as that seems easier.

I was fortunate to find a piece of backing in my stash for my BH Frolic quilt that works “good enough.” This is my only UFO and I am tired of looking at it so I just want to get it finished and donated or gifted. You can see the dark blue on the roll bar…

I just need to be a better listener, everytime I say i will not buy more fabric, I buy more, I need help, serious help, LOL

Great to see so many of us trying to reduce our fabric collections! Onward to 2022!

I count this thread as therapy to my fabriholic addiction.

Each year I've had 00's yds outgoing. Compared to before moratorium, I have few yds incoming.
Think I'll count again, this time with the "in".

jmoore: Congratulations on getting your only UFO quilted. It’s very pretty.

I finished another top. It measures 60” by 80”. Everything is from my stash. The 16 patch blocks, HSTs, the other 2 smaller blocks, and most of the yellow are batiks and were in donations to my church group over the years. The HSTs and 2 other blocks were already finished by an unknown quilter. 🙂.

I’m glad I took the time and organized the batiks by main color. It was easy to find what I needed since I had recently touched every piece. Lol!

The fabric off to the side is all I had left of the border fabric. I did need to piece strips to finish the last 8” but at least I had enough.

Your tops look great! I just got done pulling two fabrics that have been in my stash for a long time. At least for 15 years and three moves. I decided to challenge myself. For a week, i will look for a pattern to use them in. If i really can't find something, I will sell or donate them. If i find a pattern, i'll start it to work alongside with Bonnie Hunter's mystery.

I'm in! So far I haven't bought one fabric for the BH mystery. I hope this continues.
Thanks, Iceblossom, for starting this. I really want to stop buying!

Went in this morning to figure out my color palette for this year’s National Quilt Museum bom and found a whole box of grays to blacks that I haven’t touched in 8-9 years- so, toss in some red( plenty of those on the shelves) and I have my palette for this year. Everything I need for the whole project in a box ready for each month. I made the January block but might remake it. After taking the pictures I decided I used too much red. I will let it simmer for a few days…

Super awesome use of the colors! What a great BoM, it's a great "and now it's time for something completely different" than the usual things I do.

I've also been helping a friend with her stash and among her things is a box of grey strips.... it would be perfect for something like that.

Elly66: Maybe you could make a log cabin or a quilt of HSTs. What 2 colors did you pull out?

ckcowl: Interesting design. Congratulations on getting your project box set for the year!

ck I love that block! Wow!
Retiredteacher one fabric I've decided to do in half square triangles. it's stripes of flowers and stipple. So I cut it apart and will probably make the whole thing in triangles. Got two designs bouncing around for that. The other is 4 yards of tie dye ranging from blue to browns. I was thinking backing for two panels I want to make as wall hangings but it would make a cool log cabin coupled with other earth tones as well. Thanks for the idea.
I enjoyed the challenge of finding a pattern to match the fabric. It's not my normal way of coming up with an idea for a quilt so I really had to think on it.
​​ i 'm curious to try it again sometime.
the best part is it gives me a judge in the right direction stash wise.

Like all the red in your block. I would keep it.