Since the start of the year I know a lot of people have been on ‘fabric diets’, determined to work through their stash before buying in more fabric. It sounds like a great idea, and for the most part, from a quilting point of view, I’ve been on board with that (bags are another matter I’ll get back to later!).
It was interesting though, when I took a sudden notion to make a vintage style quilt to be a photo prop last week, and wanted to make it *right now* that having identified the main fabrics (2 charm packs of School Days) I hadn’t put any thought into the rest of it! Could I shop my stash? Turns out that I could. Just. (It also turned out considerably bigger than I first imagined, but we’ll let that pass ;o) )
So for this project I had the 2 charm packs (bought just before Sewing Summit 2012, as Danny brought these to me!) and I took a flyer that I’d be okay with cream for the background because I usually have a healthy stash of white, cream, grey and black solids (I get a little twitchy when they get below about 1m). When I made the centre part though, which was all I’d originally planned, I made the mistake of checking out Irish Chain quilts online, since seeing one on Debbie’s blog had inspired me, and most of them had borders. So, of course, I needed a border too.
The border was where I nearly came unstuck. The problem with starting with a charm pack is that you have no yardage at all to fall back on, and I certainly hadn’t bought any from this line with this in mind. Given its age, and the fact that I wanted it done yesterday without stepping outside to try going shopping for something, I experienced feelings of mild panic. Whilst I have a healthy stash of FQs from the Stash Stack Club that I use on bee blocks and scrappy projects, this is my entire half/full yard collection of prints:
On the left are general prints, on the right text prints, and just peeking into shot are the low volumes.
Because of the gargantuan size of the ‘chain’ centre, I would need just shy of 1 yd of fabric for the coloured border, and some frantic rummaging ensued. Thankfully I found a half yard each of a red print from the Punctuation line, and some red multicoloured pezzies, both by American Jane, and both with the same colours as the charm packs – phew, crisis averted!
Now I have 2 charm packs remaining – Potluck and Adventures With Alice. I know the second one is a 2 year old line, so I’m unlikely to be able to get anything substantial from that line to help out, even if I did want to go shopping, but Potluck is actually only 6 months old, with plenty of options out there. From my stash, however, the options are now distinctly limited, and certainly nothing remains from any American Jane or Darlene Zimmerman lines, save for one wee half yard of black pezzies down there. It’s a moot point now, however, as the notion to use charm packs hits me about, err, once every 6 months to a year…
You’ll also notice from the collection above that there aren’t any entire fabric lines (except for the Architextures and Botanics, scattered about), because I don’t normally buy that way, the one exception being my hoard of Prince Charming (hidden away), which I bought when I first started quilting just before it vanished forever. Any creative notions going forward, therefore, are going to have to be entirely reliant on scrappy quilts! Scrappy doesn’t bother me, but I suspect the fabric pulling may take some time, with much debate and sucking of teeth, so my ‘quilt top in a day’ thing might be out the window ;o)
What about you? Can you shop your stash with the comfort of knowing you can create something from full lines, or at least entirely from one designer, or are you entirely scrap-bound? Do you rely on the ability to just nip out to pick up that missing fabric, or to find something to fit in?
I’m especially curious about that last question because it’s not an option I really have, but it’s nice to see how the other half live ;o)
I sometimes think the people on fabric diets are the ones who can afford to lose the weight:-) Hopefully that's not sour grapes as sadly no, I could never shop my stash!
It is a lovely idea but unless I made a small quilt wouldn't be possible. My stash is pretty wee, and has nothing more than a FQ of anything, and most of them have been cut into at least once. I'm happy with that coz a) I don't have the money for anything else and b) I prefer to mix and match lines – so I can make a quilt providing I have the foresight to order shashing and backing once I have pulled out my prints…….but any though of making a quilt in a day is completely impossible (but I never have more that 20 mins at a time anyway, and at the moment it is close to zero!).
Nipping out to pick up fabric, nope. In theory I could make a trip to Edinburgh but I rarely go there more than twice a year and it is usually just to visit the zoo.
Don't I have an exciting life?! Love the quilt, you did a great job of stash shopping. Juliex
yay, look at you go. Fantastic quilt, and all from your stash, just perfect. I'm trying to do the same thing and shop my stash most of the time too. I never, ever buy whole fabric lines, or make quilts with just one fabric line, I always mix and match so I don't have a problem there. Where I usually stall is that my solids are only 1/2 yard cuts or less.
I shopped it this morning and it proved tough. I tend to buy charm packs or layer cakes or fat quarters. I never buy a whole load from a line as I'm not a millionaire and I rarely buy half or full metres. I mainly have fat quarters and scraps! And nope, no option to nip out either!
I only have one full line and that's my Hope Valley (waiting for "just the right project" – it might never get used!) and have very few precuts. Maybe 3 charm packs.
As you know I'm trying to use up my scraps this year and have been valiantly stash shopping for my medallion quilt. I've done pretty well but STILL had to shop for low volumes for backgrounds. That's where my (admittedly small!) stash is lacking. Basics and solids.
Any quilt would have to be entirely scraps, which is a blast. My pro. Is keepin enough background fabric on hand. As I gain more experience, I bet it will be easier to know how much to purchase. I'm scared to buy a bolt of anything for background!
Great "experiment" and I love how your quilt turned out! Yes, I could shop my stash and have been trying to do more of that. I've discovered two things about myself through that. 1. Sometimes new fabrics get the creative juices going. 2. When I next re enter a quilt shop, I might go a bit crazy and buy too much!!
I think you did a brilliant job!
Im likely to be able to make a quilt from my stash if I chose carefully. I try to buy backing at the same time I buy fabric for the fronts of quilts so when inspiration strikes I'm good to go …
I never buy full fabric lines (I am useless at even naming any!) I usually buy a fabric that I like and then make what I can from what I have-probably explains my mish mash of things!
Your quilt is just lovely – it will be perfect for your old-fashioned prop requirements!
I only have a wee stash, but I have started keeping my scraps this year – the last two years I just threw them all out!! I do have a few charm packs that I want to use but mostly I just have randomly purchased FQs. I don't want to limit myself to only one fabric designer/line within a quilt, so am always happy to use whatever I have that I think looks good together. I have no option to pop out and browse a real shop so most online shopping is purpose led for the project in hand.
I definitely could shop my stash. I did that for the various bees that I was in and could do that for small quilts. Actually one of my goals this year is to make some small donation quilts based on some of my orphan blocks, filling in with stash. One of my problems is that my stash started quite a while ago and my tastes have changed, so I have some stuff that I don't care for to use up. Some of it becomes lining for bags and pouches and some real uglies might even become petbeds and muslims for clothing. My LQS is only 10 minutes away and since under new ownership it has many more modern prints. I don't buy a full line, but have a bit of yardage of Prince Charming stashed away also!
I love your quilt, the chain effect really stands out and the border is more eye catching made up of 2 fabrics.I can easily shop my stash!! You name it, I've got it. except batiks. I'm happy to throw in other bits of fabric if I dont have a full range, and in fact it probably helps add some interest.
I'm a shop from the stash kind of gal. Very seldom do I make anything with fabrics from a single line. Borders and backings is my stash's weakness – although lately the stash has surprised me.
I'm not very good at doing anything that may represent * plsnning* a quilt do usually have to shop part way through!
I shop my stash exclusively. Maybe twice a year do I have to go and buy something to finish a quilt. I rarely sew a quilt from a single line or designer. I love putting fabrics together and making a quilt from a single line takes the fun out it for me.
Your quilt looks great!
I usually buy things with a project in mind, and that includes having a look at my stash before hand to see what I already have. So usually, I have everything ready to go once it's time. But of course, problems pop up and instant-gratification projects appear all the time and the stash is great for that. I could 'pop out' for stuff if I wanted to, but I'm usually too lazy!
I usually start the other way around. I've seen a pattern or have a design/idea in mind then I go out and buy the fabric to suit. I get a brain block doing it the other way around … so I don't tend to by fabric unless I know what I'm going to do with it = no stash. I like the idea of hoarding background fabric though, white, black cream etc 🙂
I love the conversation on this post. I was just reading an article in The Quilt Life magazine about Lucy Boston's patchworks which are displayed at the Manor, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon. The article talks about how she used some purchased fabrics and others that were remnants from clothing construction. Cloth was not the easiest to acquire due to war rationing. "No doubt Lucy would have viewed the vast array of materials that are available today with delight, but is there a lesson now whereby limitation provides a discipline that can in itself stimulate creativity?" (Diana Boston, Lucy Boston's Patchworks from The Quilt Life, April 2014)
I try to work with what I have, and like Serena I usually start with a design in mind and then buy fabric to suit. My stash is quite limited, but I like having to creatively use what I have on hand.
I almost exclusively shop from my stash. It's almost all FQs. When I like a print, I buy an FQ, occasionally a half metre if I LOVE it and it goes right in the stash. Then when inspiration hits, I pull from stash and if I really can't find the perfect print, I may buy a couple extra prints.
Planing, planing, planing then you never have to rush out because you ran out.
I love your quilt, it looks great.
your quilt is gorgeous..
i was quilting fabric designer oblivious until this year, so mixing is the name of the game! 🙂 i shop my stash first, then supplement with what I don't have from whatever I like at the store…
I am scrap bound! I rarely only use fabric from the same line or designer in a quilt, unless I'm using precuts (and in that case I just find any fabric for the backing/binding/borders that I think goes well). I buy fabric that I like – usually only on sale – sometimes with a project in mind and sometimes just because. I love your quilt!
I could definitely make a quilt or two (or three or four) using just stash fabric. I own a lot of a certain designer's collections, but I rarely make quilts using just one collection or designer. I like to mix it up… the scrappier the better!
Love how your quilt turned out- esp.like the red border. Reminds me that I've got a large stack of charms from various swaps just waiting to be used!
Thinking about it, I haven't actually made any quilts since starting my fabric diet. I've done lots of dressmaking though (which is exempt!). Hmmmm.
As I generally buy fabric because I like it and usually only in FQ' s I have a fairly eclectic stash. The upside is that there is generally some fabric that will suit when I am starting something new, but background fabric and borders nearly always require a trip to one of my 4 Local quilt shops.
Your vintage style quilt is a lovely addition to your props store.
oh i love your quilt and i love this discussion!!
i can shop from my stash and could make many quilts from it, and i'm also like you that when my white gets below about a metre i start to panic. I'm a buy a whole line of fabric, usually fat quarter bundles (like i buy every bundle of bonnie and camille fabric haha) type of girl, but i rarely end up using them all together and mostly mix them up 🙂
I can definitely shop from my stash (hence the fabric diet) and pretty much always buy half yards rather than FQs. I rarely buy entire lines (except for the two you mentioned) but then again, I like having a bit of variety in the colours I use (ie slightly different tones of the one colour). Loving the discussion this has started!
Although I'd like to say I couldn't, I definitely think I could make a quilt or two from stash!!
I've only ever bought two full lines and thats Chicopee (which is under lock and key for the right pattern!) and Happy Go Lucky. Happy go lucky was bought with my parents Swoon in mind and was used for exactly that.
I tend to by fq's as I like them, so like Fiona have quite a crazy stash, but recently have been stocking up on half yards in fabric that would be good for binding!
I do have a good fabric shop 10minutes away but she generally sticks to moda and makower (and doesn't stock Kona white only a thinner version!!) and I always leave with more than I went in there for…..
I used to buy individual lines, say a layer cake and then try to guess the yardage for sashing / borders / binding. However would have a choice between over-estimating so that I wouldn't risk running out (but v expensive) or trying to cut it fine and then finding out when I decided on a pattern that I was short of something (but more economical).
Recently I have plucked up the courage to mix and match between lines and so now I am more buying FQs in my favourite colours and neutrals / text prints to mix in with it. I also don't have a LQS so would love to get to the point where I could theoretically "shop my stash" so that next time I buy fabric, only get those one or two FQs that I need to plug the gaps.
The other thing that changed my mind on buying a single line was trying to match the backing – I would be buying 3 – 4 yards of a particular line in advance which was hugely expensive but then would just be sitting there waiting for a finished quilt top. I am now more at peace with not needing the backing to be an exact match and also really love pieced backings that I see around blogland (even if I haven't tried one myself yet!)
I have only had full lines when they have been very small. Like Laurie Wisbrun ones where she only did about 6 different prints. I have shopped my stash. I wouldn't say it's the largest stash in the world. I can usually make do with what I've got but it really would depend on the project and whether I had anything suitable. Most people can shop their stash if they're prepared to be flexible and be prepared to use 'anything' they have rather than keep dismissing what they have for further hoarding.
It's a rare day that I can make any good sized project from my stash and my stash alone. The back and background fabric is where I get stuck. I never have just large cuts in my stash, mostly FQs and 1/2 yards. I do pop across the hall and shop my shop quite a bit 🙂
Well my diet hasn't been working out completely but I am more restrained than usual. I've been learning to make do, I rarely need bigger than 1/2m of anything but I have been known to have to buy a FQ to finish something off when I've run out of the same colour/print (Wallander springs to mind). I plan out my quilts in EQ7 before making them so I know exactly how much of what I need, including borders (though I usually skip them TBH which really helps) so before I start I can make sure I have enough. I really like mad scrappy at the moment though, which means I don't need to check first, it's liberating.
Didn't really answer the question did I? But I usually buy more than I know I will need, which is why my stash never seems to reduce in variety of prints, just in the amount I have left of each! It means yes I can more often than not stash shop, which is why I know I can do this diet if I stop getting so distracted.
no matter what i make, i am always amazed at how i already have the perfect fabric, or 'additional' fabric to complete it – i think that comes from my whole stash simply being very consistently 'me', and the fact that i love scrappy and improv and pieced backs, etc, and i also really never use a pattern – and the fact that my whole quilting philosophy is to not get all ocd, be flexible, use what i have – it just happens that all the pieces fall into place for me – i am lucky it works out, AND i create a situation where it easily works out.
I'm learning with my own set of Sunday posts that my stash has some serious color holes. Even though on first glance it looks like a full rainbow. I mean….heck..I've got *two* 6' bookcases with boarded fabric…I shouldn't have any problems. I'm also entirely scrap reliant. I'd rather go through my *cough*ten*cough* scrap bins to pull from a quilt than pull from yardage. Which means that my yardage has primarily been pulled for bags and that's not happening often.
I'm also not near many shops that have "my" fabric. Don't get me wrong…there's 10 shops within easy driving distance from me but they tend not to carry the things I want which leaves me ordering online far far too often.
In a dream world, I'd be the home for Misfit Scraps and boxes of them would just show up on my doorstep and I'd sew from nothing but that…..doesn't seem likely now tho, does it?
This has certainly provoked some discussion! I could make several quilt tops from my stash, but I tend to like scrappy quilts preferring to use lots of different lines. With the exception of charity quilts ( where I have been given the fabric) I've never bought one line of fabric. I just buy what I like and pull fabrics out to make the next quilt. I've tried to be more restrained this year, only buying fabric backs but as I tend to order from the USA then I try to make it more economical by filling the envelope up to justify the postage. That means I can sneak the odd extra fabric in and not feel too guilty!
Gosh, what a lot of ideas and all very valid. When I sewed a number of years ago I bought fqs and ended with a lot of diverse fabrics. It meant if I wasn't doing a scrap quilt that I had to go buying . This time around I have bought some charm packs and am now ordering coordinating 1/2 metres from collections I like.
I can do scrappy from my stash, but there's nothing nearly big enough for sashing or borders. I tend to buy as needed, because that's what the budget allows, so there's no chance I could do an entire quilt top in a day. Of course, I don't have a full day to devote to sewing either! Your quilt top is beautiful.
Your quilt turned out beautifully! I have been shopping my stash since December, it has been a challenge, but a good one. I am hoping that by the fall I will be in a better place stash wise and can start shopping again!
Your quilt looks lovely – can't wait to see it 'in the flesh'!
I just shopped my stash this morning for fabric for a quilt for my Aunt who is 93. Turns out I purchased 1/2 yard cuts of a pretty floral line that was on rock bottom clearance a while ago (like 2 or 3 years ago!) They are lovely, but not really my style – however, they are perfect for this!
As I've mentioned before, this diet has really kept me out of the fabric shops. There are 7 within easy reach of my front door! I don't usually purchase an entire line of fabric. The exception being Tula Pink, of course!
When I see a fabric I like, I generally buy a big piece. So most of my stash is at least one yard. I don't buy in collections, just fabric that I like. But I prefer to put my own fabric together rather than using a single collection anyway. As to shopping from my stash. Well, I can largely do that. I probably need to do some actual shopping for background fabrics though.
My stash mainly consists of part-used FQs/F8s and scraps so I tend to need to buy bits to make a quilt (or even, most of the time, a cushion back!). I don't tend to buy fabric just because I like it (and if I do I only ever buy a FQ – I find it really hard to buy fabric if I don't have a specific purpose for it, I suppose it's lack of practise!) so I'm short of basics – I don't even have a full FQ of white, never mind a metre or two! Fortunately I like scrappy quilts (and I know some very generous fabric fairies) so I'm quite happy to poddle about in my scrap boxes and see what I can come up with! I love your 'from stash' quilt and look forward to spotting it in your photos!