It is the issue that divides us all: How much fabric is enough?
For some, a massive stash of fabric is inspiring and comforting. For others, it’s overwhelming and distracting!
My quilting cotton stash, from the era when I thought I might become a quilter. Um, nope.
Myself, I’m a stasher. If I see fabric that I like at the right price, I buy it and never have regrets. I get fidgety and lose my sew-jo when I don’t have at least several options for each kind of fabric that I like to sew: rayon knits, pontes, French terry, sweater knit, stretch denim, and so on. That said, I sew prolifically, so the stash only grows slowly over time.
On the flip side, plenty of my online sewing friends are pushing themselves to stash-bust by tracking fabric consumption in a spreadsheet and making sure their total amount goes down month by month… other sewists like to only own a handful of length of fabric, all of which they have an immediate plan for.
I’m curious to hear: Do you stash, or not? And whichever side you are on, how much do budget, space, or other factors affect your decision?
I’m a strong believer in the value of stash. I stash for several crafts. I find that colours and textures are inspirational in and of themselves. The pattern in one fabric might inspire a combination of other fabrics or contribute to some design even if it isn’t used itself for some reason. It is also a resource when perhaps you don’t have the income to shop for fabric for a while. I too, have fabrics I brought to Perth with me 15 years ago that I cannot bear to cut into yet but that I just love having. My stash is pretty tidy. It is stored in an Ikea Algot system hung on a wall. I cut up the Ikea Furniture boxes into bolts to fold the fabric around. I just love sliding open the drawers and seeing the neat row of fabrics. Serenity – what a positive way to look at it! I love that answer.
I’ve been sewing for about 8 years and have acquired a smallish stash – takes up about for largish bins. A lot of the stuff that’s in the stash are fabrics that I’ve picked up along the way that I’ve judged to be beyond my sewing capabilities at the time- lovely wools and silks, mainly. I’ve recently decided that there is no point in acquiring nice fabric if it’s going to sit in bins so I’ve committed to stop buying fabric for the time being and concentrate on releasing all that lovely unrealised fabric from the stash, so I can really enjoy it! Once I’ve done that, I’ve probably start building up the stash again.
Stasher here! And really, no regrets. Occasionally I feel that it’s a bit extravagant to have meters and meters of (usually linen) fabric lying around and I start tallying how much I’ve spent. But mostly I’m ok because I know I’ll use it eventually. And when I want to sew, I want the fabric to be available.
There’s a reason they make placards that say “sew much fabric, so little time.”
I live to be organised enough to concider stashing. That said I will be in charge of my aunt’s estate and she built a room to hold her “sewing stash”. Quilting fabric and antique sample sewing machines. It makes her happy and isn’t that really the point?
As I ponder moving all of my stash this weekend, moving in with my mother to help the care of her, I realize that I could probably buy anything for couple of years and make quilts, clothes for a small village and crochet my heart out. I actually have bolt of batting I have yet to open. Let’s not talked about how many sewing machines I have either…..my name is Toni and I love making! It’s been 2 weeks since my last purchase. Lol
*not
Not buy anything
That’s so funny, Toni! The 12 step program for fabricholics. The first step is admitting you have a problem! Now let’s go shopping! Ooops, did I say that?
I don’t have a stash of fabric-I have a stash of old clothes and bed linens. I’m too broke to buy new fabric but I hold onto my old clothes and cut them up to make new things. I’ve made blouses and tank tops out of old skirts and pants, summer jackets out of old sheets, and lightweight cardigans out of multiple t-shirts cut up and remade. I just hate giving up clothes made out of good fabric only to pay hard-earned cash for new yardage.
Is 15’x4’x8′ worth of fabric considered a stash or a hoard? I have a file cabinet full of sewing patterns. I sew apparel, I craft. I do a little quilting.
Most of what I have is over 20 years old, but my taste hasn’t changed much over the years and much of it is basic staples stuff. If I stashed it, I have at least 5 yards of it and often a full bolt. I love the fact that I have lots of quality fabrics that would cost a fortune to buy again at today’s prices. And, I know that much of what I have is actually much better fabric than the cheap foreign made fabrics that overflow the fabric stores today.
Sure, I get frustrated with not being able to find a particular piece at times, but that is an indication of my poor organization. I may never get it all sewn up, but I have the space for it and there are treasures in that stash …. like original Star Wars fabric that I am saving for when my son has sons.
I fall somewhere in between the stashed and non-stashed. Personally I’m not a huge hoarder, and I HATE clutter, so I can reach my personal limits pretty quickly before I put the brakes on. I’m also naturally constrained because space is at a premium in our current place. The bulk of my stash is made up of purchases made with intention, so I know roughly which pattern the fabrics are going to. I do have a few lengths stashed because they were non-reorderable and I wanted to have them for future use.
Right now I’m in a “busting” cycle, so I can get through all the backlogged projects. Once I get through those I’ll start working on a buying phase to plot out new projects. It’s a less exciting method, I guess, but it helps me plan out my wardrobe and purchases.
Half of my stash is about 30 years old! LOL! I used to work for a fabric store back then and bought lots of remnants and sale items. I then quite sewing when I no longer worked there (got a full time good paying job). I stashed the material away with cedar chips in containers and put away. I have now started to sew again and have a nice “woman cave”. Of course I have started buying more fabric this time around too. I recently went through my old containers and am surprised that the old stash is in great shape and I still love all the pieces…LOL…apparently my taste hasn’t changed in 30 years! 🙂 Should I be concerned about that?
An old friend introduced me to quilting probably 20 years ago. She was an avid stasher, and encouraged me to build one with any and all fabrics. As she was a fan of Joann’s Fabric, she suggested following her lead and buying lots of this very inexpensive fabric. I was a good girl, and did as she suggested. Now, many moons later, she and I have fallen away from our friendship, yet my Joann’s stash remains. Thank heavens, it is joined by nice, high end, LOVELY fabrics I’ve developed during quilt runs and whenever I’ve stopped into quilt stores for various notions. What does one do with the cheap stuff? Some of it, I have never even opened from its first folded form. It’s like cardboard! But it is nigh impossible for me to just toss fabric. I love having an extensive stash. It is, indeed, overwhelming to see it all when I don’t have a project in mind, but once I’ve committed to that place that is “I’m ready to start something new”, it’s fantastic to ponder my selections. Best part of making the quilt!
Quality knits are hard to find. This I learned after sewing a beloved t-shirt from Joann fabric and having it pill after one wash. I currently have a nice stash of black ponte, and black cotton lycra.
Then there are fabrics that I have paired with a pattern and buttons and haven’t sewn for going on 3 years!
Very pleased to announce I’m a stasher. Certain fabrics are simply a must have. I do have plans for them even if I don’t get to them anytime soon. I also plan to purchase more if I see something I just have to have. 😉
I love having a stash! And for the foreseeable future, space isn’t an issue, so I will likely continue stashing 🙂
I buy at a MUCH slower rate (and much more thoughtfully!) than I had before though. But I just love deciding to sew something — like the denim skirt I’m working on — and being able to choose between a few washes of denim without having to try to hunt something down. Same with my stash of zippers, buttons and thread. Having what you need on hand when inspiration strikes is priceless.
I have a small stash… mostly because I haven’t been sewing very long… yet I still compulsively buy pretty fabric every time I need something like thread or elastic for a project. In my defence, if I’m paying the post, I mist as well pay it for a reason, no?
Still, it’s only a baby stash. I can’t have more than a dozen or two, and that’s not so much, right?
I have a stash (or a hoard) and I actually hate it.
A lot of mine was acquired during my early years of sewing when money was tight grabbing a bargain when you saw and building up a stash seemed like the best thing to do. A good exchange rate for a few years assisted stash building (quilting fabric in Australia is often $25 to $30 a metre) with online shopping that required a full satchel to make international shipping worth the cost, resulting in odd yards that didn’t have a purpose. I have job lots from garage sales, oddments from op shops, garment fabrics purchased at sales, laces/ribbons/beads/buttons ‘won’ on eBay, boxes of fat quarters that are really too small for anything unless I buy coordinates and lots of baby fabrics that I never had time to use before my son grew past them
While it is great to be able to pull together a dress up costume or baby shower gift straight from the stash I do know that I will never use a lot of it. I’ve tried several times to de stash but keep returning it all to the overflowing craft room.
I’m at a point in my life (creatively and financially) where I think I’d prefer to just buy for specific projects as the mood takes me, and not have to deal with trying to tame the monster after every dive into the stash looking for the perfect thing.
I have a stash. Actually I have 2 stashes – 1 for garment fabrics, 1 for quilting fabrics. I like both stashes, at the same time, I hate my garment stash. The garment stash has way to many “oooh I like!” purchases, as a result not a lot goes with anything else. It’s also jammed in the closet, and hard to see what I have. I envy Carolyn’s (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) stash, not for the size, but for how well thought out it is. I don’t have the same issues with the quilt stash, I really prefer scrappy quilts, somehow fabrics you wouldn’t think to ever put together play nicely when chopped up into bits.
Well, everyone here makes me feel better! I recently moved after living in one house for thirty years. I knew that I had to destash because we were downsizing. I love the idea about it being a retirement stash, but I am now there. I thought I had done well selling fabric at two yard sales and donating to local sewing groups, but I found I still moved a lot that have to still find a new home. (ie still residing in boxes) I find that my tastes have not changed much over the years, because I still like pieces I have had for many years. I have never really quilted, so was never into those cottons until about 10 years ago when I started making boxer shorts for grandsons. Now I have a stash of those cottons and a new grandson to tidy up the smaller pieces that never got used I also love the thrift stores and find a lot of notions and “scraps” there. I love the creative process and someone else will be doing the destashing next time!
‘Stash’ is my middle name – I have more fabrics, buttons, trims, patterns and notions (not to mention all my other craft materials) than I can hope to use in a lifetime…and I still buy more :/ What can I say – if I see something I love, the ideas starts spinning in my head and I just can’t walk away…. Needless to say, it can take years before I actually MAKE anything out of that particular piece of fabric or use that bit of trim or those buttons…
On the other hand, I almost always have something in my stash when all of a sudden a new idea pops into my head 🙂
I’m so glad that I’m not alone – I just can’t help myself, when I see something I love , I have to get it , especially ON SALE . I have just made some dresses from my stash – the fabric was 30 years old.?
Oh I love to hear that others like to stash. I’m afraid my stash is teetering on the cliff of becoming a hoard! I do a lot of costuming for a friends theatre company, and when I see a bargain item, I pounce! I have been known to resurrect stuff for 2 or 3 different uses, or pull out a miracle find from years past that is just perfect. I’m afraid my only limitation is how much space I can find to hide stuff away.
I have a stash of fabrics. Mostly cotton, some satin a lot of thrift denim. If you have your cottons still lurking, I bet many of us would love to have them, hint hint hint ….
I am old enough to know that if I see something and I know I want it, I should buy it then because it won’t be around later. I have a deep love for rayon and novelty prints, I make it all fit into the cabinet in the basement. I do purge now and then, but usually I don’t have to. Mostly it’s an exercise in editing/rethinking/refolding. Happy rediscovery mixed with a little petting zoo action.
My spouse has an enormous collection of books and vinyl albums. We don’t argue about my hoard much.
Stash. Some has been around a long time and come out to be touched and remembered, like old friends, and some come out and are a complete, forgotten, surprise. I use old pieces I still like to sew new patterns as wearable(hopefully) muslins. With two new granddaughters I am remembering how little it takes, in time and fabric, to sew for them, so that is helping to breakup the stash. But there will always be stash…
I stash as we all all know that whoever has the most the fabric at the end wins. I have young grandchildren so I have the opportunity to make cute outfits/things for them. I even make things for myself occasionally.l
Wow – I thought I had a lot of fabric, but apparently I don’t! I recently went through a few drawers in cutting table, and pulled out some fabric I knew I would never use, and wondered what I was thinking when I purchased it. I will eventually get it to Goodwill. I also had some fleece I acquired when we bought a vacation place, and it’s going away, too. My husband was giving me a little bit of a hard time regarding my fabric until I suggested we look at titanium bike parts and fishing gear. We’re good. I will admit to a small collection of fat quarter. I was seriously addicted to those for awhile.
I have a huge quilting cotton stash, but not for clothing. I just do not have the room to start a new stash, so only buying fabric for clothing as I am ready to make things. Except for that piece of black knit, and those two pieces of rayon shirting, oh, and that piece of cotton/lycra and …
I have an embarrassing plethora or patterns! Unbelievable truly. I don’t know that I’ll actually live long enough to use them all 🙂 I don’t have as much fabric however. I have a selection for sure – plenty for practice runs and certainly enough to make myself at least 2 wardrobes 🙂 but I’ve seen much lusher than mine. I have about 10 knits (practice and “good”) and about the same in silk, wool and cottons. When I start to feel as if it’s getting away from me and I don’t actually KNOW what I have then I stop buying for a few months and use a bunch of it up. It’s my pattern collection that’s truly crazy. I can hardly even bring myself to count them.
I openly admit I have a stash that is out of control. My son says I’m a hoarder, but I tell him, that’s money you and you have benefited many times. I was the recipient of several boxes of quilting cotton from a friend. I have used some of it for quilts and clothing, but it’s still a huge amount and I have stash that is better than 20 yrs old. I still buy new stuff and found a swap meet in National City, CA that I go to any chance I get. I might be crazy, but I sew for my friends, family, myself and for profit. I live to see and love my stash.
I tried to stash and totally failed. I started “stashing” this fall on a trip to Montreal and continued buying fabric this winter without any specific plans for it. While I enjoyed having fabric at the ready when I was feeling creative, I started feeling super stressed out that I had all theset projects to finish and not nearly enough time! (There are starters and finishers, and I’m a finisher. I need to have a distinct beginning and end) This resulted in me speeding through a couple of easy projects that weren’t as challenging as I’d normally choose. I’ve made my way through a good chunk of fabric, but I still have so much more to go! I’ve vowed not to buy anyour more until I’ve finished up (most of) what I have
Okay, it’s like that Japanese lady says (she wrote that book about Tidying Up) – if it gives you joy, keep it. If it does not give you joy, get rid of it. The Joy of Stashing is not for everyone. You have self-diagnosed as a non-stasher. That stash has to make your heart sing, or it is just a burden you don’t need.
I didn’t think I was a stasher…. until I moved. I have a stash. But not an intentional one. Just garments I haven’t made yet
Budget? What’s a Budget?
I’m a stasher. Not because of want but because of where I live I just can’t “pop to the shops” at anytime. So I stash fabric, pattern and notions so that when I am sewing I can complete as much as possible without having to stop and wait for a trip to town. I am lucky to have a sewing room in the house we now live in (we inherited the family farm with a fairly big homestead). My fabric is housed in a large wardrobe from Ikea! It is mostly quilting cotton but as my sewing needs change so are the types of fabric I am buying. I am not really a tidy stasher so alot of the fabric is out on the pullout couch too! So stashing is more convenient for me, however, these days I am becoming more selective on what I buy because it will eventually have to be used. I make the clothes for my children and am slowly getting back to sewing for myself. Quilting cotton can only go so far with this.
I had to chime in here. You guys made me feel so good! I have a gigantic fabric “collection” (thank you, Carolyn :)). I have fabrics that I have collected over the years and that have been handed down from my mom and my grandmother (Irish linen–from Ireland! I can’t seem to bring myself to cut into that one). I, too, get a great deal of satisfaction being able to go to my stash and find fabric that will work for my latest inspiration. I do find however, that even though I have a stash of buttons, as well, I never seem to have the perfect buttons–or enough of the perfect buttons…. We recently had a plumbing issue (clean water, thankfully) and I had to wash and dry a large portion of my stash. I vowed never to buy more fabric…..and then I laughed and laughed…
If you think my fabric stash is big, you should see the yarn stash!
Though honestly about a year ago I ran out of fabric to make myself clothes. So I actually do buy things to stash now, but I *try* to keep it to the space I have since all of my crafting supplies are stored in our living room. I keep thinking I should do one of those share you sewing space posts because it is ridiculous. That said I probably have enough to make about 10 items for myself, quite a few kids garments, plus some quilts, and then there is the yarn…
I stash up to a point. I don’t have a lot of free time, so it’s nice to have fabric and supplies available when I need or want to start a project. That being said, when I realize I am buying and not making anything (such as more than a couple of months go by and I haven’t started or finished a project) then I don’t even look at the salespaper for fabric and supplie’s until I am ready to work on something.In addition I give myself a monetary limit per visit..although sometimes it’s so hard not to buy that beautiful piece of fabric that you have no idea what you’re going to use it for but it just can’t be left at the store!