Gemm, Not exact but close enough or my purposes. I find the measuring for tracking fabric in and out is pretty easy: length in inches x width in inches x 2 (front and back) divided by 1440 (which is approx 40 inches by 36 inches of usable fabric per yard).

For example if a quilt that measures 55 X 65 that equals 3575 square inches x 2 (front and back). This is a total of 7150 square inches used in the quilt. Divide by 1440 (square inches in a yard) and the quilt used approximately 4.96 (round to 5 yards) used for the quilt. I then add another half yard for binding which means I would have used 5.5 yards of fabric.

I found this calculation method on the mycarolinahome.com website. It looks so awkward when written out like above. The quicker calculation is: Length x Width X 2, divided by 1440 + 1/2 yard = fabric used per quilt.

:) Happy Quilting New Year! I will be joining for the first time. I'm starting out with cleaning out my closet where my stash is hiding in plastic tubs. Because I can't easily see what fabric choices I have, I often go out and buy fabric for my new project, simply because its easier and faster than going through tubs. I plan to gift fabric I no longer like to our guild's free table. I look forward to hearing everyone's' stories.

Thanks WMUTech for the fabric use tracking method you use. This sounds like a very doable way to calculate fabrics in and out.

My interpretation of the moratorium is not to purchase fabrics "just because" but purchasing for a specific quilt after shopping my stash is fine. I'm doing the Happy Hour BOM and had all the fabrics except the background. I found the perfect fabric at JoAnn for only $3.99 a yard - white with tiny multi-colour dots. If you are interested, you can see it on the Various BOMs, QALs and Mysteries thread in this section.

Thanks, WMU. I agree with Lena, it sounds totally manageable. :-)

Copycat, most of my fabric is also in tubs, and while most of them have see-through sides, many of them are also in tucked-away corners and under beds so I totally understand the difficulty of tracking down the fabrics I want to use. I have some decent systems in place but they need tweaking. Hoping to have a go at that in the next little while but need to wait for a decent window of time/ability to materialize. :-)

Belfrybat, thank you for articulating this. I think it's a perfect example of what this thread is about - making the moratorium concept work for you and your particular needs, style, and stash and not enforcing a bunch of arbitrary rules that may reduce people's enjoyment of quilting. :-)

Three Cheers Belfrybat!!! Your statement is exactly what this group is all about. To take this just a bit farther.... I will from time to time buy a whole bolt of white on white because I use it...a lot. Yes, it goes in my stash but it also will disappear from stash in just a few months. I buy the bolt because it is cheaper and I look for sales. Shopping for fabric is also about knowing how you use fabric as well as what colors you enjoy.

I finished a 2024 exchange block quilt that my quilting group did this year.... 4.25 yards put to use from my stash. It just needed half of the binding to be hand stitched this afternoon. Now on to working on Hospice Quilt #1. Center finished and I need to build it to make it longer and wider. All stash. Photos tomorrow when there is proper light to take pictures.

Okay, I'm happy to report on my first "stash heading out the door" success. It's not a ton, but using WMU's formula I've got about 1.25 yards of fabric heading to the BOM coordinator at our guild. She is collecting themed blocks every month and turning them into beautiful quilts to be donated through our Community Quilts program. I haven't really been able to participate until this month, but I have a large under-bed box that is dedicated solely to I Spy/novelty prints and was able to dredge up enough larger scraps of coordinating fabrics to far exceed my initial two-block goal. This block is called Rolling Stone and I enjoyed the challenge of practising precise seams to make sure my points were (almost always) right where they needed to be!

P.S. I was able to stretch my stash by considering the backside of some of my fabrics - not all of them can be flipped, but the paler colour in the red block at the front of the photo is actually the back side of a rather garish pink... it's a win! :-)

Gemm, what a beautiful line-up of blocks! And it's really clever to think of using the back side of the fabric. I knew that's a possibility, and I've been told that we paid for both sides, but I don't think I've ever done it.

I am in. First timer. Although i am wavering. Do i need to be on this thread or one on UFO or one on organization? Guess they sort of mesh. So i am starting a quilt for my sis but i dont think i will have to go elsewhere for any fabric. She was in town and we bought everything needed last year so it should be a win in the column of moving stuff out! Fingers crossed!! Will work hard to stay active on here with updates.

Fizzle, I also find some crossover between UFO and Fabric Moratorium, but whether you do one or both, the idea is to finish what is started with what you have and only purchase what is needed.

Gemm, Love the idea of making themed blocks for group donation projects. The rolling stone pattern scared me at first. Then I made one and discovered that it is much easier that it looks. The attached photo show what can happen when you lean how to make the Rolling Stones Block............... :)


OMG, I just looked at the photo and found a mistake, error or booboo. Oh well, it was gifted more than a year ago. Creative addition. That stone just won't roll or maybe it is a flat tire. Tee-Hee-Hee