Stashy

Monday, June 24, 2013

I feel bad that it's been so long since we've talked.
You know how summer goes.  It's been busy, busy around here and it doesn't help that a lot of the projects I'm working on lately are ones that I have to keep on the down low.

I am still having a blast on Instagram though.  
If you're an IG-er, you might get more up-to-the-minute posts from me on there.  My username is gigis_thimble if you care to follow.

But today I thought I'd do a stashy kind of post.

I've been told that I don't have much of a stash.  I guess I usually just buy smaller pieces of fabric.  And I try to use what I have.  But my little stash seems to growing lately.  And I kinda like it.



Here's my rule of thumb when trying to decide how much fabric to buy:
When I like a fabric but I don't know what I'm going to make with it, I buy a fat quarter.  If I think a fabric will be a great background then I usually buy 2-4 yards depending on what size quilt it might go in.  If I think it will be a cute binding then I buy up to a yard depending on the size of quilt it might bind and whether it will be on the bias or not.  Otherwise, I try to only buy the exact yardage I need or that a pattern calls for.

Here are some of my grays that I'm collecting 
for a gray and white "someday" quilt. 


I like to keep my fat quarters organized by color (mostly).  You probably do too, right?  However, you can see that my newly acquired Happy Go Lucky pile (on the top right) is still together as a line since it's so new and I have almost the entire line.  I'd like to keep it together in case I make a quilt out of it someday.


Keeping things arranged in color order helps me to know my inventory.  I can easily see what areas I'm lacking in (so I can beef up those stacks when I feel like buying) and for what areas I'm good in.  A lot of my stacks are getting "two deep" now :)



As you can see I don't use a lot of purple.  And, I've got a small little collection of 30's reproductions (which I don't use very much either but I sure do think they're cute).  A few small pieces of my 30's prints are from my grandmother (Gigi) so I'm kind of hoarding those :).



 I don't have a lot of Charm Packs or Jelly Rolls for that matter (but who doesn't love a good jelly roll?!?  They're so dang cute! :)
I do have LOTS of Layer Cakes though!



Above, you can see some of my collection of background fabrics.
And below are some more of my larger, more colorful cuts of fabric.


And here's one more stack of fabric I'm hoarding.  
Some of Tasha Noel's last couple of lines (The Simple Life and Little Red Riding Hood).  And for some reason, I bought third yard cuts of those beauties?!?  Don't ask me why :)  Oh yeah.  It was cause I liked them.


Oh, so here's one of my other rules of thumb:
I only buy the fabrics that I love from a line.  If there are a few I'm not in love with then I don't buy them.  And I'm not afraid to mix and match from different lines too.  I think that's what makes a quilt fun and interesting.  And one of a kind.  And who doesn't like that? 

So that's pretty much my stash.  And my rules of thumb.
I just thought I'd share.  I like to see what people are buying.  Thought you might too.  So.  What are you buying/hoarding?  And what are your rules of thumb?  I'd love to hear...

Happy quilting.
~ Amber

13 comments:

  1. I too am collecting grey fabrics for a someday quilt... I love your blog. check mine out at choochooskadoo.blogspot.com

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  2. Love your fabric collection and I like how your have them organized. I too love Instagram. I just sent a request to follow you. I'm carolscrafty on IG.

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  3. I buy by project. I do buy just a bit more than the pattern calls for because I'm not the worlds best cutter. My stash is almost non-existant (if you don't count the Walmart and Joann fabric I bought before I became a fabric snob - I'll use the Joann fabric hear and there, but the Walmart fabric is for things I don't care if they don't last long).

    I have a HUGE stack of rainbow charms from two or three swaps. The stack makes me happy. I need to decide what to do with it, but the stack is so epic, I feel the quilt must be epic as well.

    I don't buy fabric "just because I love it" except once. It's a black butterfly fabric. I need to make a bag out of it because I like it so much.

    Oh, also, any fabric leftover that's less then a FQ, I cut into 5" strips, and anything leftover I cut into 2.5" strips, then any leftover after THAT, I cut to the closest 1/4". My scraps are just in buckets sorted by size. 5", 2.5", and strings. Eventually I'll do something with them, and when I do - minimum cutting. I'm thinking log cabins or something.

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  4. Great stash! I love the blend of colours together. Hoarding fabrics is one of my favourite things to do!

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  5. You have some beautiful fabrics Amber! My rules are similar to yours, although, lately I tend to by 1/2 yards instead of 1/4 yards. Not sure why that is, but I'm getting toooo many fabrics! I also rarely make a quilt out of just one collection -- I think quilts are much more intesting if they're scrappy!

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  6. Oh, you DO have a stash! And a nice sized one, too! I am trying to do away with all the small stuff & then just buy for a quilt when I know what I want to do. Then I have up-to-date fabric.

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  7. This is a very good post Amber. I don't have a big stash on hand either, but I like it that way. :o) You have a nice collection of different colors, patterns and size. Ok - so don't laugh - wink - but I am hoarding Moda Bella in bleached white. I never seem to have enough solid white and have settled on that particular one. It seems to go so well with everything I need a white in. :o)
    Have a wonderful week. Trish

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  8. Erin, thanks for sharing your rules of thumb :) I like your idea of cutting your leftovers up into specific size pieces so you're all set to go whenever you want to start a new scrap quilt! And good for you for being disciplined on your fabric purchasing! Good luck trying to figure out what to do with your rainbow charms. Sounds like a lovely dilemma to have!

    Amber

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  9. Trish,

    At least you're hoarding something that is useful and won't go out of style! I think that's the same color I bought two bolts of. I use it all the time!

    Happy quilting!
    Amber

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  10. Victoria,

    I think that's a smart idea! Wish I was that disciplined!

    Amber :)

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  11. I don't have any rules of thumb and that's my downfall. I buy too much! A little bit of everything. Your rules sound good. I may have to impose them on myself. Buying collections of Fq is what I've done in the past, but really I could just buy the fabrics I love.

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  12. I love that strawberry and turquouise pile of fabrics!

    I sort all of my fabrics by color...namely because I don't have a ton of FQ or Jelly Rolls, which I keep separate.

    Glad to be following you on IG.

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  13. Teresa,

    It's a Denyse Schmidt fabric from the line Flea Market Fancy - Legacy Reprint collection. It's a little older - about a year or so old. Hope you can still find it!

    Good luck :)
    Amber

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I ♥ to hear from you so please feel free to leave a comment. I read each one and try to respond as often as I can. Thanks so much for stopping by! ~Amber