State of the Stash
Last year I didn't finish a single top or quilt, so there was nothing in the fabric used column. I did do a bit of buying as compensation, or consolation, (both apply). Luckily I didn't keep track of it last year, because I think I'd be horrified it I did total it all up. I have a lot of fabric to find homes for in the overcrowded stash drawers.
Time to sort through all this....
I'm keeping track of the Stash this year, because I like to know what I've used, and I think I"m going to be adding quite a few finishes to the tally if I can just stay focused. But I need to track the purchases as well, so I've made up a Google spreadsheet, and I've entered the totals of the three shopping trips I've made this year. The running total is 31.3m so far, about 4m a week :) which seems a lot. I've bought even more than that, but I shared some pieces with Mereth so they don't count. She has several colours that she just seems drawn to, so when I see rich, rusty, mahogany colours, or that antique pale green, I pick them up for her. No complaints from her!
Nearly all the fabric I buy is reduced in price, so I don't feel guilty. My batik stash is growing nicely, I think I need to move them into their own stash drawers instead of the baskets they now occupy. And I snap up cheap yardage for backings, I scored one from Spotlight that was $2 a metre. I love having a backing stash on hand. Alas, it's been absorbed into the sewing room, and I can't even find it right now.
A couple of years ago I went through my yardage stash and cut FQs from the longer pieces. Most of them have been on the shelf for 10 years, and in that time I could have incorporated them into quilts but I was 'Saving' them. It's been good to have them in the FQ stash, so I can get an idea of how the colours behave when mixed with others, and if it's a nice fabric to work with or just thin and nasty. I'm going to go through the yardage again, and take out more. A 3 metre piece can easily lose a half metre and still be useable. I figure this will give me a whole 'new' set of fabrics for piecing and keep me entertained for no extra cost.
I recently found a FQ of a nice green from at least 10 years ago, and it had faded beyond redemption, and it wasn't stored in the light anyway. All the fold lines had turned a dirty yellow, I don't even know if I want to put it on the back of a quilt if it's so unstable. It's a very old piece, so hopefully the more modern fabric won't lose colour like that. And I would show you a photo of the FQ except, the sewing room ate it and I haven't seen it since.
I have GOT to clean up, but I'm off to Seonaid's today for an extended stay, so all I can do is turn out the light and I'll be back when I can. Sob.....
I made an extra couple of blocks in between my computer work (taxes, blech) and now I have 6 blocks on the wall and about 5 more complete nine-patches.
5 comments:
I like the comments about "the sewing room ate it". That happens to me too. I am working on a clean up and clean out but it is slow going. I just don't have a lot of energy to devote to it. I do some and then rest and then do some more. Finding things I had forgotten about and finding things I don't remember why I had them separated out. Must have been some quilt in mind but alas, back into the cubbies by color. And some UFO's going to the church thrift store.
Love your quilt, looks great, and yes the stash and especially scraps do take some keeping up with. Tidy it and sort it and then start looking for something and it all needs doing again.
Perhaps a box labeled "fabric for later" would help tidy up the stash. With prices now at $12.00 a yard here, I'm trying to use my stash wisely. There are some lovely florals in your basket. I can see a soft pastel 9-patch in your future.
I really love your blog and am so inspired by your quilts.
Sounds like you buy fabric the same way I used to. People say "oh you have so much material" but they do not realise I would bulk buy when things were on sale and then nothing for months and months. I would hate to be starting out in quilting now, I was horrified recently to see how much new fabric costs.
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