Does this fabric make my stash look fat?
I have a confession. One that is not often written in blogs. There are times when my fabric stash made me feel queasy. There are times I've turned a little pale thinking about the money and time spent chasing certain fabrics. There are times I've looked at my stash and felt absolutely paralyzed in possibilities. I had so many great combinations. Too many, in fact. I didn't know where to start or what to do with all this fabric. I'd call it borderline addiction. There was a strange rush in finding a new print to add to my stash. I could find something I liked in most stores. I rarely left empty-handed, even if I only bought a print or two. Those prints started adding up.
Yesterday on Twitter Quilt Chat (#talknt), the question was asked how many fabric prints do you buy in a year. We had to guesstimate. What would you say? 20? 50? 100? I'd put my number for previous years near one thousand. Did you just blink and twitch a little? I did. One thousand prints sounds like a lot, doesn't it? But consider this: if you bought one 40 print charm pack each month for a year, you'd have 480 prints. Eek. If you're feeling brave, I'd love to hear your guesstimate. It's a tough question, isn't it? And we all know there's a big difference between 1000 charm squares and 1000 meters of fabric.
There truly is good rationale for buying so much. I sew. I sew a lot. As I used to buy fabric to make toys for markets and to sell, one thousand prints actually doesn't sound like many too me. I work best with a lot of choice. I buy small pieces. I've driven all this way. I should buy something right? I do a lot of my fabric shopping online, and international postage can be hefty. I should buy 8 meters of assorted prints just to fill the envelope. I don't need 32 fat quarters, but by golly I wanted to get my postage worth. And fabric sales... BUT IT IS ON SALE?! I won't even start on the curse of an incomplete collection.
I have a case of fabric bulimia. I binge and I purge. Then I binge some more.
Some of you might be shooting me daggers at this point. You might see a bit of yourself in there. Rest assured, I'm not suggesting you buy less fabric. I've got another solution in mind.
I was a problem shopper. My problem wasn't that I was buying too much. I just wasn't focusing on which prints really worked best in my stash. As I was reading A Field Guide to Fabric Design, I came across a paragraph about amassing a large stack of novelty prints on white background which are difficult to use. That sentence made me all twitchy. Had Kim been digging through my shelves? She must have been.
So I've been working on a mental checklist to use a guide when I go out fabric shopping.
- Will I use this fabric soon in a project?
- Does this fabric work well with the rest of my stash?
- Does it play nicely with others?
- Why do I like this print? What about it makes it zing?
- Is this like something I already own? (I'm quite the redundant buyer, I've noticed)
- Will it be useful in more than one project?
- Do I only like it because it is on sale? (If the answer is yes, you don't need it)
- Does the range work without all the prints? (Hint: most people will never notice)
- How much do I really need?
- Does this fabric make my stash look fat?
My new strategy will be put to the test next week as I trot around Tokyo. Do you think I'll manage? What's your secret for staying on track? And do these fabrics make my stash look fat?
It's tempting to make a joke about it like "oh spots are always very slimming!" but I do actually know what you mean! For a long time, before I discovered quilting and just sewed clothes, I only bought fabric for a particular pattern and I bought the required amount and that was it. And then one day I bought some fabric 'just in case' and then I discovered quilting and it was all downhill from there! I try very hard these days to not buy, but I'm totally with you on the rush it gives me to add some new fabrics. Last year I tried not to buy anything new at all, other than backing fabrics and I think it actually helped me start to get ahold of myself and be a bit more rational. Of course, I WAS buying vintage sheets but hey, they're not new right? I have about 5 lots of fabrics destined for quilts but that makes me feel a bit panicky because I'm super-slow at making them (too much overthinking!).
ReplyDeleteI have been through this exact process myself although I haven't got Kim's book. I have so many novelty kitchen prints and love each new one I see but not enough mixers so I have concentrated on imagining mixing or binding with potential prints. I have found that I don't enjoy sewing with heavier linen/cotton blends much however great the print is, they don't mix well with vintage cotton or quilting weight so being careful to buy only sparingly. I also noticed that some fabrics are really hard to mix- DS Hope Valley and DS prints in general (exception of FMF) are hard to find the right tones with other fabrics. I hope I am learning to be more discriminating.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know I'm not alone.
ReplyDeleteClaireBear
Ditto - but I have to disagree on the Novelties. Sure you don't need yardage of them, but if you have a nice selection (100+) even if they are all on white - you can turn them into Hole in the Barn Door, Snow ball's, any charm shape or a similar block (with a wide open space to accept the Novelty) & make a nice quilt if not for your self - to sell or give away as a gift or to a charity.
ReplyDelete(If that sounded like somone who has a lot of novelties speaking - color me guilty.)
Not unlike "everyone" I need to be more discriminating less of a completer - though if you buy them all they do play rather nicely together.
I like too many different styles for my own good. One day, I will get ride of the CW Repro. left overs, but I want to finish 2 or 3 UFO's that are using them...
Luckily my Liberties will 99% all get used in my current project. (But not the shott cottons that I bought to go with them - BACK ART!)
ETC. ETC. ETC.
Like Jacqui did, I'm taking a break from buying fabric this year. I don't have a huge stash (maybe 300 yards? - tell someone who isn't into fabric that 300 yards isn't a lot!) but realistically, it's enough to keep me very happy for the next year or so. I too feel squeamish when it gets out of control. I hate waste. But my buying hiatus has forced me to be more creative, and I like that. Do I feel like I'm missing out on some of the new fabric lines? Absolutely! But I also know, that when I'm ready, there will be plenty of lovelies out there, waiting for me.
ReplyDeleteI think so much of this is just changing your mind set. I posted recently on my blog about this topic--basically laying out all my bad habits. The next post in the series (still to be written/posted) are things I've done to be more discriminating when I do shop. You've literally taken the words right out of my mouth on a lot of items--so when I finally do get around to writing that post, I will link to you.
ReplyDeleteBravo for talking about this, btw.
I've been thinking long and hard about my stash this week... We're in the process of having all our flooring replaced this week, which has meant lots & lots of packing & moving things around. And WOW - the things I found that I forgot I had!! So not only am I thinking about my buying process, but trying to work myself away from the mindset that I have to find the PERFECT project for each fabric and rather just enjoy the process - no matter the project or fabric.
ReplyDeleteI need to review your checklist when I fabric shop. It is an addiction and not the worst one I could have, but it is expensive. I plan to purge what I know I'll never use and then REALLY try hard to not buy any more except for backing. There I wrote it. Can I follow through? You are not alone Amy.
ReplyDeleteI'm a cheapskate -- or maybe just thrifty -- so I only buy at sale prices unless I need a specific piece for a project. I'm not a fan of buying all of one line. For me, if it doesn't fit in my fabric closet, I have too much fabric. And if I don't use it, I give it away. but I love shopping for fabric, feeling fabric, looking at fabric.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do when your husband comes home with fabric? LOL. Mine loves to surprise me, he knows my tatse. In the last few days I have looked at my stash becuase it no longer fits in my sewing room. I couldn't work in my sewing room it was a mess. It grew and was now not able to fit in more than one room. What I learned about reviewing my stash is that I have a shortage or cream, white, tan. Think traditional backing fabric. Then I have a vintage stash and an antique stash. Both of which I just boxed up. I was shocked when I saw how much of that I had. I have stopped buying new, vintage or antique fabric and I am using what I have.
ReplyDeleteI do not feel guilty now that most of the new fabric I like is over ten dollars a yard. My stash was bought when prices were reasonable. I plan on enjoying it. Everyday.
Oh my, doing this just before Tokyo will be tough, good luck with that! I'm actually not too badly off, if I can just find the time this summer to make up bags in all the fabric I bought for that purpose. I don't need a fabric diet, but an 'other commitments' diet lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing up an uncomfortable subject, Amy! So many of your comments and those of others rang true to me. Just last night I was improv piecing log cabins and realized how many prints with white or off-white backgrounds I have. It was frustrating because you can't really put them next to one another without it looking pretty weird. I was very short of fabrics to go with them until a recent swap with my friend Paula (paulapatchwork on Flickr). She sent me an awesome stack of dots, checks, stripes, etc. that go great with what I already had. If a person wants to ease up on the fabric spending, a swap can be a great way to get more variety in your stash without spending more dough.
ReplyDeleteMy plan is to employ the old Buddhist adage, "Want what you have" when it comes to fabric for the rest of the year. Having said that, if you stock your shop with a bunch of fabrics after your upcoming trip to Japan, give us a heads up, okay? Lol. Maybe my self control won't last long, especially if you hit La Clochette. Oh, yeah, and give Ayumi a hug for me, will ya?
Amy, I'd read this post & agreed with so much of what you say & identified strongly with your sentiments about excessive fabric stashing. I then went shopping this afternoon & dropped by Spotlight at Bondi Junction only to discover that they finally had Aunt Edna in stock - before I knew it I'd bought 2 metres of each of my favourite prints & had felt a rush that had made me lightheaded. In my defence it had been the one range that I had been looking out for & putting money away for but still I feel bad (slightly!).
ReplyDeleteI love this post, and it makes me think about my stash - which is also a little overwhelming and could probably last me years.
ReplyDeleteYour questions that resonated with me most are:
Why do I like this print? What about it makes it zing?
and Is this like something I already own?
I hadn't really thought about these two, but I think now my stash is so healthy I need to make sure anything new is really AMAZING and I don't buy stuff too similar to what I've already got.
Thanks for the honest post, I think with so many amazing quilt blogs and online stores it makes buying more fabric sooo much easier than it was before, it's a bit of a bad influence. It's good to have someone saying to slow down!!
I never thought I would love fabric, it was never in my stars. I started quilting last year and I had the best time buying fabric for projects. This year it is all about getting the projects complete. I try to organize my fabric ( I don't have that much) and then realize how much I have. I have to stay away from the quilt shops, I have six in my area. You need to buy within your budget,I was buying fabric to support a LQS. I am fortunate my church has a huge closet full of fabric so making the charity quilts is a big help. It is like Christmas when I walk in there. I understand how people can get overwhelmed, it adds up so fast. My one friend only buys fat quarters, I realized when I took the Quilter's Academy class that you do not have to buy yards and yards to make a quilt. I buy yards of fabric if I love the fabric, certain artist. I realized how quickly the pattern is gone. Thank you for bringing this up, great topic.
ReplyDeleteso, what is that orange fabric with the light colored lines in it? ;) I might need some.
ReplyDeleteSuch great (and sometimes hilarious) comments! I always enjoy this discussion because I do want to be intentional about my fabric stash. I have a buffet cabinet that I do not intend to outgrow. This physical limitation is healthy for me. I just noticed that my green and blue stacks barely fit, so I'm planning to make a blue/green baby boy quilt for a friend. Also, I don't usually buy backing or binding; I just make it work from my stash.
ReplyDeleteI have the same compulsive urge to buy fabric. It's a real problem, because I live in Taiwan where we have a huge fabric market with rolls and rolls of gorgeous prints. I have so much now, I sell it in my Etsy shop:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/thelastwhitecat?ref=si_shop
Whenever I go to buy a custom order, I always come home with a bag full of kimono silk, animal prints and country cottage florals!
do you have a pattern for the jockey silks??? love them!!!!
ReplyDelete