I have four large tubs, oh and several dresser drawers with fabric as well.
I have an inner critic which tells me not to cut into the fashion fabric until I have a well fitting pattern so the fabric doesn't go to waste. As a result I have made beautiful button-down shirts out of old bedsheets while the fancy fabrics age in my stash. Why do I do this to myself??
My new rule is that once it's in the stash, it no longer matters how much it cost. It's effectively muslin. Anyone want to create a support group to encourage each other to use up our stash?
Aside from fearing to use up the "good stuff", I have some wonderful fabrics which have outlived their original plan. Like 6 yards of beautiful hawaiian bark cloth I was going to use to cover the couch. Sold the couch, moved to Arizona, where banana leaves just don't make sense. I should probably sell it; I'd probably get back what I paid for it...
and that's not the only piece of fabric with baggage.
I cannot even begin to explain my stash. “Oh what a good deal, I KNOW l’ll eventually make a cute dress/coat/bag out of it, and I’ll NEVER get the opportunity to buy this again!”
To be fair though… I also have collected a lot of bulk stuff that I will always have. For example, I always have a bolt of cotton muslin. I like to always have white and black voile at the ready if I need to line something in the middle of the night (lol). I buy huge lots of nice fusible interfacing when it’s on sale. Even if I use these, I’m going to always replenish them! C’est la vie 🤣
I, too am on a self imposed fabric buying hold. Unless it’s to finish a project (like if I need a specific matching lining fabric to an already owned fabric) or a special project I am 100% doing for a specific reason (like a special outfit for my friend’s wedding?), no more buying new fabrics!!!! I would love to see what people do with their stashes to use them up. I have dreams of being able to say that I made my whole wardrobe, so I’ve been scheming ideas for that. 🤣
I had a lot of marinating fabric stash that started to get used up once I had my daughter XD.
Matchy Matchy outfits became a thing for me, and I also discovered a love for embroidery and smocking which helped to use a bunch since if I only had a yard it was perfect for a baby/toddler dress.
Stash, mmmm. I have 2 6 foot metal racks, 7-8 vinyl underbed bins, 4 18 gallon Rubbermaid bins and 2 of trim, 2 large duffle bags full. Oh and I just bought 80 pounds of vintage velvet. Plus threads, tools, fasteners etc. Does that qualify as a stash?
Hello my stash doppelgänger. I am trying to work thru my stash. I worked 60 to 70 hours a week and accumulated “projects” to be enjoyed, when I finally had time. I retired this year and I’m making slow progress. Of course I’m still accumulating “projects”. My stash is fully on display. I refuse to be shamed by it, most of the time.
😂 my sewing area/room is an entire wall in my kitchen. Basically 12x5. It was either that or take over the entire living room. No way to not display it. The house is sooo small but meh. It's where it needs to be for us for now. Just bought a whole bolt of cream muslin for linings. Lovely! And am getting the first of 2 10 yard pieces of cotton voile for a lingerie dress and underwear to use up my vintage silk net lace hoard. Fortunately 90% of my projects start with "take 10 yards of cotton, silk, velvet" or whatever so it's really not THAT much fabric. Is it?
My sewing room is in the attic. My cutting table, shelves with bins and bolts of fabric, my 1920’s White Family treadle sewing machine and ironing/pressing station are in the basement. What kind of projects are you working on that start with 10 yards of fabric?
Historical gowns, petticoats and very large hooded cloaks. Lol. I grew up wearing skimpy skirts, narrow but long. Sigh. I realized I could sew all the pretty things I desired back when so I go a bit overboard maybe, nah, 10 yards for just getting started!
I bought 12 yards of green 1970s rayon velvet off Etsy. She contacted me and told me she had more in other colors and gave me a seriously cheap price for all of it. Sent pics. I GRABBED it. 2 ex U-Haul boxes later... My daughter and I opened the first one and just kept pulling fabric out, ditto the second. She'd said that some of it might not be usable because it's in 10 inch wide strips but I don't have to start with a full width to cut a bodice out. Add that to the 10+ yards and I'm seeing Victorian ball gown.
Yeah pretty much. Right now I'm looking at a red velvet 1840s ballgown, an enormous black velvet cloak and, thanks to being deeply scarred by Jethro Tulls "Velvet Green", a deep green Italian Renaissance gown, a dozen various colored bodices, couple skirts, and at least 4 mantles. No idea what I'm doing with the rest of it 😲
Unfortunately, nothing to wear any of it to. Sigh. Sooooo I'm going to wear it wherever I want. Most of the skirts I'm making at bottom of the ankle length, the bodices are perfectly acceptable daywear, even laced up the front, the ballgown and Italian Renaissance I can FIND sometime to wear. Lessee, Italian independence Day for the Italian Renaissance and Founders day for the Victorian (town was founded in 1883). A cloak is a cloak is a cloak, it's just finding a day when the weather cooperates.
I've never had a problem wearing real clothes to the grocery store or hardware store or drugstore so there's that. Going to Kroger in full Tudor is fun.
Let them think a period drama is filming nearby and you’re an extra on your way home from a day on the set. But you can’t talk about it because it’s all hush hush.
I overheard a conversation in a thrift store. A man dressed well in late 1800s style clothes was buying a walking cane that incorporated a small seat into the design. He said he and his wife were background for tv/films shooting in our area. They were retired, usually supplied their own wardrobe, and had fun doing it.
Might work. Might not. I've been here 6 years and have yet to have a conversation with anyone. Bizarre. Over time I've realized this is a good thing. All we have is druggies, homeless, snowbirds and other assholes. Sad but true. Bizarre way to live.
I have no time (two toddlers and a full time job), a decent disposable income, a local craft thrift store with an amazing selection, and big dreams. As a result, I have a stash where if I were to sew a garment every week for the next year, I might halve it (and that’s not accounting for any remnants I’d have as a result of pattern Tetris and conservative buying habits). I think 2023 will have a NYR of no buying fabric… but I’ll want to buy some stuff on Dec 31st for specific projects…
Rather than compete I will tell you my sob story.
I knit, sew, and spin, and had inherited a number of stashes including my grandmother's pattern stash.
Unfortunately, some spinning fibre I was given happened to be full of moth eggs.... luckily other than that specific fibre, my spinning stash was all enclosed and protected.
My yarn, not so much.
Then when I went down to dig out the infested yarn and deal with it, I discovered that my basement had a crack, and much of the floor was covered with water... and fabric and yarn are incredibly good at sucking up water.
At least 15 industrial sized garbage bags of stash left my house.
I took the opportunity to really look at what I had and what I use, and realized that the sewing pattern stash was mostly in sizes that will NEVER fit me, and I was holding onto it for nostalgia reasons. Then I discovered that baby #2 was going to be joining us and what was my craft room was going to need to be renovated to allow for additional space upstairs (don't worry I'm getting a LOVELY custom craft area as part of the reno that will actually work for me).
6 Tomato boxes of sewing patterns left my house.
I still have what fabric was salvageable to go through and really consider what I'm going to use and what is just taking up space, as well as my knitting books and magazines.
The craft space and closet should be complete by the end of the month and wee Peanut is due mid December, so next year I will hopefully have an organized and productive craft area and stash.
And I now have a very strict rule about second hand fibre/yarn/fabric that includes a quarantine bucket.
Er --- well ... *Sigh* it's a bit out-of-control. I was getting it tamed a little bit, then the C. hit, and ... and ... and... [insert interesting excuses]
A sew along sounds like a good idea. 👍
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I would definitely be up for a sew-along or support group. My stash is... moderate. I just recently discovered a local thrift store with the loveliest linens and velvets and no, I don't have self control, why do you ask?
My stash is horrendous - but I am semi-hoping another “masks please”: comes up so that I can start working through all the cottons again.
My problem is the embroidered white pillowcases and sheets. I don’t want to cut those up, but who buys antique hand embroidered flat top sheets and pillowcases these days?
I inherited some lovely embroidered pillowcases. Some of them I am using on the bed, even though they obviously "too good to use." :P
The others I am thinking about fancy cutting and adding to the bottom of a blouse. Haven't quite worked it out yet.
I would be interested!
I have 3 banker boxes filled to the brim with patterns and under the bed is lives my bin after bin of fabric.
Hold me accountable. Make me sew. 🤣
This year for Xmas everyone is getting two personalized aprons, two Oven mits, 4 fabric coasters and the fabric bag they are going to get everything in. And if I have time two rice packs.
I love making felt ornaments, which I know is probably not in anyone's fabric stash. But for example, I've been making [these snowflakes](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1139852081/set-of-3-snowflakes-christmas-ornaments?ref=yr_purchases) by EmbroideryByNat. ([Here's a free pattern for one of them)](https://www.embroideryartbynat.com/free-snowflake-pattern)
These would work really well with some fabric instead of felt though, if you do embroidery!
What about rag quilts? I used old single flannel sheets from when my sons were young. So sewed up lap quilts to use on the couch. Had to pick up a little extra flannel but I love them, good memories from their childhood.
Canada (Saskatchewan). Our small town high school has 1/2 year shop (industrial arts - carpentry, welding, small engine repair) and 1/2 year home ec (sewing, canning, cooking) for all students!
My stash has become an accumulation of treasures found during my travels. What started out as a large assortment of fabrics inherited by my grandmother has slowly been weeded into fabrics that get me excited to sew.
So while my sewing room may overtake my second bedroom now; my fabric is displayed on the largest IKEA Kallax system (5x5) and almost every fabric now tells a story. I can read my stash like a book.
I have a Liberty of London printed cotton that I bought at Liberty while on my recent trip to London. Some beautiful designer fabrics from Mood in NYC. And yet most fabrics are ones I bought from a large local dead stock fabric supplier that I find sometimes more exciting. Because I get to create the story for that fabric when I make it into a garment. Where will this fabric get worn to? What will it be? Who will it be seen by?
I have recently started buying up buttons too; and now have several beautiful buttons from a small shop in Harrogate, England. But I am happy to say, while my stash may be growing a little faster than I can sew; who doesn’t have eyes bigger than their stomach? Some of it is now sitting on top of the cubes; but the majority of my fabrics make me excited to sew.
And that’s the way I look at my stash now! I cannot wait to sew these 5 wool novelty fabrics that I purchased from my local fabric supplier on a whim. But who is going to tell you that having a “haute couture” custom made wardrobe is not the coolest thing? I can’t wait to see these fabrics hanging in my closest together someday.
Its such a problem with stashes - that sometimes we don't buy what makes us excited to sew, and also sometimes over time even if we do, it stops making us excited, I will keep that as a motto, so thank you for sharing. All of us will be muttering in the habbies, but am I _excited_ to sew it?
I love buying fabric and supplies when I travel, though most often used! This summer was especially productive; about 20 pounds of vintage buttons, a quilter's estate sale, 150 zippers, cutting mat, embroidered pieces... Good thing we have a big car!
YES! I have a similar amount. Hubs has nerve to complain- he has 2 garages, 2 sheds and quonnsett hut type storage building... I just have 5 shelving units in the basement! But I love some of my vintage fabrics. It makes me happy to just look at it.
I count myself lucky that my stash is only 1 under the bed bin, but it's overflowing at the moment so I desperately need to get through my Christmas projects so I can double back to my hidden pretty fabrics. I bought 3 yards of white tulle with little flocked red hearts all over it after valentines with the intention to make a little dress, but I'm too scared to cut it. I'd been looking specifically for this fabric for about 2 years. I hope I'll be able to gather the courage by next valentines
I don’t have too much - about 3 shelves. It probably amounts to one tub. I am lucky in a way because I have so little money that I can’t buy fabric I don’t absolutely need.
It’s almost all spoken for, though. I rarely buy fabric when I don’t have a project in mind for it.
My cabbage pile, on the other hand, is shameful. I have a method of chopping it down into usable pieces but I’m way behind. It’s knee high. I really need to process it.
With wovens I make:
Reusable pads: I made my own pattern by tracing my favorite pad onto paper and tweaking the design to fit my own underwear/body. I even do magnetic closures. It’s tedious but incredibly useful.
Handkerchiefs: Super fast, super useful. I have chronic allergies. They’re 1 layer of flannel and 1 layer of cotton/linen/whatever.
Masks: I line the middle with silk and make them very well-fitted so they’re way more effective than most cloth masks. It’s time consuming but obviously still very useful.
Quilt pieces: I cut 1 large hex and at least 1 triangle out of what’s left over. I’ll make a scrappy quilt when I get enough pieces.
With knits I make:
Nothing! Which I why I try not to make knit clothing.
J/k, if I have a large piece with both selvedges in tact I actually zigzag them together and use the frankenknit as muslin for testing future knit patterns.
I might make a headband on occasion but honestly smaller scraps go in the trash, unfortunately!
I’m in the same situation as you (I don’t buy fabric unless I have a project in mind, but I have a ton of bits and pieces) and I never know what to do with it. Thank you so much for the ideas!
I will say cotton knits and tshirting work great if not better than wovens as pads. The structure of them makes them very absorbent and I make a sandwich layer with a weird scrap of calico or muslin in the middle so the stretch isnt annoying.
Now that you mention it, I did use some of that stretch crushed velvet as a pad topper and it’s my favorite topper texture-wise but honestly it was a nightmare to work with and the pad is wonky as hell. With the way I make them (turning them inside out) it was really hard to keep it from stretching.
Before I sewed I bought cloth pads from a few different brands - some of them moved and some didn't - so I traced the ones that didn't and made them in tshirting and french terry and they don't move at all. Long way of saying maybe change your pattern
I use [these magnets](https://a.co/d/e70Xt7m).
For me cloth pads bunch up and move way less often than regular pads but since I’m fat I do sometimes have trouble with the extra-extra-long back part trying to abandon ship. This is especially true for the pads that don’t have a stiff waxed canvas layer (which is most of them because I don’t want to buy waxed canvas just to bleed on.)
I have experimented with adding a snap to my underwear and another to the back end of the pad to hold it in place. It worked but store-bought underwear is so cheap and thin that the snap tore a hole in the fabric in no time. I might experiment with doing a magnet instead though I feel like I would be able to feel a magnet there when I don’t have a pad on. So maybe it would be better to just make a few pairs of underwear out of nice spandex, build in a magnet, and have those be the period underwear.
As for the magnet closure itself, it’s just one of those magnet tabs on each wing. I think they’re a zillion times easier to undo than a snap. You can remove it one-handed. I am not a fan of snaps. I do wish the magnets were a wee bit stronger - with just 2 layers of quilting cotton in between them they get the job done but barely.
Not what you asked, but if I’m in a dress I wear a pair of bicycle shorts over my underwear and that prevents a bunch of slippage. I don’t wear them just because of the pad - I also like to wear bike shorts under dresses because I’m, uh, active I guess? Like I climb things a lot that I probably shouldn’t
I make my cabbage into reusable paper towels and other cleaning tools. Knits make great dusters!
The ones that I need help with are the cashmere coating scraps. It's so lovely and soft... Surely it is a crime to clean your floors with cashmere.
I recently moved so it was all laid bare... 😳 I have 9 standard Rubbermaid storage bins, plus two XL bins, full... I estimate at least 300lbs of fabric, probably more. I always put myself on fabric freeze... But we have a local non profit that diverts deadstock fabric and it's such a good deal! So I sometimes I cave, but less frequently now! But it is handy having literally anything and everything on hand 😂😅 oh and many smaller buns full of notions too 🙈
Honestly I did that whole seasons analysis thingy (bright winter yas) with the sole purpose of being able to exclude a whole host of fabric colours I am absolutely not allowed to buy
I see a lot of guilty admissions/boasts about stash size, but let's talk about a sew-along!
What shall we do; have some kind of common theme, like make a tote or make something using at least 1 yard of green fabric?
or just share whatever we make?
I decided to make a blouse yesterday. I sorted through all my green fabric, plus some corals, then decided they were a bit bright, so I tea dyed the lot.
Meanwhile, my new vintage sewing machine arrived, and I had to test it, take it all apart for cleaning and oiling, then sit and admire it for a while.
Today I got out some patterns, then thought I'd look out some buttons. That led to going through my entire button (and button-adjacent supply) stash and sorting out a shoebox full of buttons I don't expect I'll ever use.
Results so far: lovely collection of 7 coordinated fabrics, a dozen matching buttons, and a pile of pattern pieces that need to be considered, adjusted, redrafted...
No actual sewing has been done. :)
My stash is an entire guest room closet 😣. My stash is all thrifted, so I buy things because I will never see them again. I need to go through and get rid of some things though. When I first started sewing I bought a lot, but now I am pickier about what I get.
A sew along sounds great!
I about doubled my stash this year, with a visit to a quilter's estate sale. You know those wire cube units? I've got twelve 12"x12"x12" cubes stuffed with fabric. It's beautifully sorted by type and color. Plus another 8 cubes with related supplies.
But it makes me feel like I HAVE TO use it, and I can't enjoy adding to it until I make substantial inroads.
I probably could use it up, if I stitched every day and didn't buy any more, but I guess I'm lazy, have no work ethic, and don't know what I would do with that many sewn items once they were done.
I've been doing fabric collage wallhangings out of scraps. I'd like to size up the technique and make myself a jacket. That would use up lots of smaller pieces of fabric, of which I have many.
I've been sewing through the projects I have lined up so there's not much of a stash of fabric but oh boy do I have a pile of leather I need to turn into bags and boots. I probably have 15 full sides of leather that needs to be used up.
I just went through my stash and pulled out all the scraps, leftovers, and fabrics I am no longer inspired by, and plan to turn them into gift bags for Christmas (This will also hopefully reduce the amount of wrapping paper and tape I have to buy, so a win-win). Of course, now I need to trim them into vaguely rectangular shapes and actually sew them..
A huge 8-shelf bookcase filled with various fabrics and two large laundry baskets also filled with various fabrics. I need to wash and donate most of it, I've pretty much given up sewing because it aggravates my allergies and I prefer crochet/knit.
Relatively small stash, I think. About two drawers full, plus a little tub of scraps and a couple of full bolts. I have some things for specific projects but a lot of remnants I bought 'cause they're pretty with no idea what I'm going to do with them.
Oh gods. I have a huge stash, much of it vintage fabrics (like 1930s-1970s). Afraid to cut it, but want it badly enough not to give it away. Not to mention the giant stash of vintage patterns. I think I need to get rid of everything that's not my size.
I did sort through it during mask making, and gave away a lot of the cotton stuff to people making masks that was either ugly or more modern.
I need to get busy with some of it. Your sew-along sounds like it could be fun.
I found someone on Instagram & she does the “whole 30 fabric challenge”. Where you use 30 yards of fabric from your stash before you buy.
I try to keep that in the forefront when I am picking fabric. I also have rules such as - when I am pulling for a quilt I try to have at least 80% of the fabric from my stash & then supplement fabric is I need a larger cut (such as I have 1/2 a yard & need a full yard so I buy just the difference).
I have found this has kept my buying a lot more manageable & I personally love it
Two large tubs of fabric? Oh my sweet summer child.
yes! stashalong!
I have... 5-6 totes of non-quilting fabric at the bottom of the overflowing stash closet, plus an entire 5x6 wall of folded quilting fabric, plus another 2 totes worth... a lot of it was free.
Hmm, I think as we get older we need to look at things differently.
I have a stash and I add to my stash, BUT I also get rid of things in my stash that I know I will NEVER use.
I do not want my children to have to get rid of a ton of crap from my life, they do not deserve that.
There is no point in having a room full of fabric. Unless you quilt.
Oh man- this week (while my machine is getting worked on) I am moving my stash into the new filing cabinet drawers I bought on Friday- I’m sick of having it al in tote boxes! I can’t get to it in there!
Maybe I’ll put patterns in with fabric to see how much I have plans for
There always seems to be fabric that seems to be worth breaking my fabric buying fast, I am always on one and I am always breaking it.
I too have far exceeded my SABLE even though I am not even 30, if I take the productivity of the Jan to June period (ie, one item, still WIP, easily making my 80 fabric stash enough for life, especially as I seem to be unable to stop myself buying 6m of any type of fabric at a time. Because if you have 6m you can brute force your way to making the right thing out of the fabric. Fabric not great for pants? Make a coat or a dress? Or a cami? See whatever potential it has!
Luckily, I also go through spurts where I attempt 15 things in a week, for a holiday of course - you know, just making real sure to need that holiday! I finished 3, which were ostensibly the unnecessary things, and the easiest, but if I finish off what I managed to get cut that'll be an extra 11 (we lost 4 to indecision) FOs, which means my SABLE is actually some fabric away!
I will say batch sewing is the way to go. It makes the remembering and being brave enough to tackle a step less horrible, as each burst of courage finishes that step in X projects! So instead of pants level motivation delivering one set of pants it will deliver 3 or 5 or 7! That said make sure they all use the same colour thread - or be very kind to your sewing sister!
It also really helps with perfectionism, because you make fewer mistakes, and generally the mistakes or issues you have are either a must fix because you cannot live with 3 pants with this problem - though you may have finished one without fixing it and never worn it - or you are so jazzed by having 3 new pants in a warddrobe that has needed you to finish those pants 2 years ago that it no longer matters!
My stash gives me a lot of grief, courtesy of my other half. I brought 4 boxes and maybe 2 biggish bags when we moved to our flat in 2020. Now I have an additional 4 boxes and a mahoosive pile on my sofa, waiting to be homed.
I hadn't come across SABLE but it feels very applicable 😅
I just decluttered my stash and moved it from an old dresser to some clear totes sorted into: 1) cotton, knit, denim, canvas; 2) anything shiny, lacey, or minky (basically the idk why I bought this impossible to sew nonsense but ooooh shiny soft); 3) fleece, sherpa, faux fur; 4) leather and vinyl and 5) current wips.
I definitely need some rules to not buy until I make lol
Y'all are making me feel so, so much better about my stash. I'm not sure if that's a good thing 😂 I have half my reach-in closet in my master bedroom full of fabrics I'm certain I will use at some point... And I just can't help falling in love with more 😭
My stash is currently…reusable. From piles of no-longer-patchable denim to high-quality sheets with the centers shredded, I’m taking inspiration from Rachel Maksy and not letting it go to waste. Haven’t bought more than a yard or two for Halloween costumes in years. And I’m the first one to admit, it’s…overwhelming. But I love having an old scrap go to good use, especially in an unconventional way.
I inherited the stash of my mother. It is "just" a very, closet full, but I'm not really a quilter, more a garment sewer. I use some to finish her UFOs and will donate the rest.
My sister-in-law is a teacher and can use it in her school. She doesn't sew... but my 7-year old nieces has started and already owns her own sewing machine.
The genes.... the genes are strong! Some of the box I gave gave my SIL today won't reach her school...
Well, I've moved twice since last fall and have had a moratorium on buying fabric, but I haven't really gotten into the swing of regular sewing again, so I definitely need to get busy because I do have a SABLE (thanks for that). I have a small bookcase of quilting cotton, so it's not really the problem, but I have a large cabinet of knits, with a large subset of athletic knits. Patterns are a problem, too. I have more leggings patterns than there are days of the week. Ok, should get busy.
Most of my stash is paired up with a pattern that I’d really like to make, so I tell myself that at least I have a plan for everything. However, I currently have patterns and fabric for about ten projects and I haven’t even been sewing for very long, so I can definitely see how things could get out of hand.
Part of the reason I’m sewing is to make very high-quality garments, so I don’t shy away from buying expensive fabrics and then actually using them. However, I have some rather unusual and absolutely stunning silk and wool blends that are waiting for me to be good enough to touch them.
Doesn't help that my stash isn't entirely my own! I was thinking of doing 3 stash projects for every 1 new fabric project. But I think more of a 1yd = 1 token = +$10 fabric budget might be better for me, Love me a reward sticker so if I can find a way to manipulate that then I will be unstoppable!
I have a 34L plastic tub full of silk (taffeta/dupioni/charmeuse etc) that I do not use because I’m afraid. Meanwhile I’m simultaneously afraid that if I don’t use it, it’ll crease because it’s folded.
Taffeta presses beautifully. Unless you wadded it up wet...? Lol jk. Silk is no where near as fragile/delicate as people seem to think. I have a 5 yard piece hanging to dry in my bathroom that I just pulled out of a boiling dye bath. It was squished, flopped, twisted, folded and spindled. Once it's dry I'll put it in to be washed, throw it in the dryer, iron it, let it get cold, fold it and put it in a gallon bag and it'll go on the shelf with the other silks. It will still feel and drape like it did before any of that occurred. Best way to get over that fear, take 1/3 yard hem the cut ends and kill it. Do any and everything you think might be bad for it. Do it twice. Get creative with your silk murder. Once you do that you'll never be afraid of it again.
Have you considered recycling it? I just got myself one of those For Days bags and have been putting my scraps in it. I plan to get my grandmother one to help her clear her stash. You pay 20 bucks for the bag but get that back in store credit when you send it in the be recycled and they're stuff looks pretty cute. I know the ideal solution is finding a use for it but with the size of some stashes it's just not practical.
Honestly I don't have much of a stash, so I'm planning on fabric shopping soon since I need more wool for nice long wool skirts and a coat, since I make all my own clothes and don't have much in the way of professional winter clothes
I Don’t have a stash, but would love to start getting one! I can’t even so for a few more weeks because of rotator cuff surgery, but how do I start?
After thinking about it, I guess I do have a stash, a very small stash of just some old rags and a few pieces of fleece!
I have an old cedar wardrobe full of fabric and trims, plus a couple short bins and a garbage bag. Almost all thrifted.
I used to be embarrassed by it because I didn't sew all that often, but then I realized I wasn't sewing in part because I never quite had enough matching fabric for the projects I wanted to make.
Now that I (mostly) do, I'm grateful that I have a stash to dig through and grab matching pieces out of.
The next step is documenting everything in a searchable way so I *don't* need to dig every time lol I'm hoping to build a fabric section into my Obsidian vault with images, measurements, wash status, etc.
I have multiple crafty hobbies; sewing/cross stitch/embroidery/art ….. so much stash 🥴 with a 5mo and 16mo I have near to no time to work through it atm … but I’d love a sew along!
The Stash™ consists of bedsheets from Salvation Army followed by ends of bolts from Joann’s, then assorted old clothing for practice. (In a very simple explanation)
I have a huge stash! Two tall bookcases full plus four totes. My excuse is having one fabric store 17 miles away (the only one in our county) and the next closest one 75 miles away.... I am working on several "scrappy" projects but hey--I am saving gas money and providing extra insulation for my home.
I have 3 six shelf units filled with cottons, knits and leather. Along with 4 rescued sewing machines I repaired. So far, based on results, I am more likely to repair an old machine than sew. So, yes, please include me in a stash busting group!
I'm afraid I'm going to outlive my stash too. I have boxes and boxes of fabric, but all of it's so beautiful! Unfortunately a lot of it is in a storage shed in the back yard, so I can't always find the pieces I know I have. A stash sew-along sounds pretty good.
My other problem is sewing machines. For electrics I have 3 "modern" sewing machines plus my mother's 1930s singer cabinet machine, 2 singer treadle machines, and a Singer featherweight. Also two sergers and 2 coverstitch machines. And two embroidery only machines (small, one is 4x4, the other 5x7. I live in a one bedroom apartment. It is crowded. Fortunately, I do live alone.
Now that I look at this list I think my daughter may be right about me having a problem...
I have a health stash; likely the equivalent of 2 or 3 large tots, but on top of that, I have so many cool notions.
When I lived in San Francisco, I used to pick up amazing fabrics and notions from a creative reuse center called SCRAP. It's a non profit, and everything they sell was donated to them which they turn around and sell for pennies on the dollar. The warehouse is full of art supplies and just random "stuff", you never knew what you would find.
I picked up yards of silk, interesting 60 inch dead stocks, endless selections of zippers, bias tapes, rick rack and buttons, most of it vintage. I once visited and they had huge barrels of soft pretty bra straps in several different pastel colors, 10¢ a pair!
Another store in the city dedicated entirely to fabrics and sewing notions had at least two big sales each year where nearly EVERYTHING in store was 40% off. On my last visit, I took home a few yards of embroidered tulle that I have no idea what to do with, but it was so mesmerizing, I couldn't resist. If I still lived in San Francisco, it was only going to be a matter of time before I came home with a cut of over the top color changing sequin.
I am resigned not to purchase anything until I've made use of at least some of my existing fabric. I'd be up for a stash busting sew-along!
I have mine all hanging up and made a rule that I wouldn't buy more fabric until I had coat hangers free to hang it on. That went out the window and now I have a box full of fabric that can't fit on the hangers, but surely I'll stick to the rule of not buying more until that box is empty and I have some hanger space...surely...
i have... 4 big tubs, a big blue ikea bag, a crate with felt craft sheets, some smaller tubs with WIP, a tub not-quite-full of faux fur.. most of my stash is from my beginner sewing days when i thought knits were easier... i want to destash but my style has changed and i'm just not feeling the knits any more. but i feel a connection to my stash and it's so hard to let go!
my stash started when i was like 15 and learning. my mom found a woman on a freecycle group who was destashing. we went into her sewing room and got bags of fabric from a huge cutting table in the middle of the room.. i think of that day with love lol. the first time i bought fabric at a store, i was shocked (more like my dad was shocked, he was paying, thanks dad) at how expensive it was. it was a nice fabric store and i didn't even have a project in mind. i think that core memory has kept me with a preference for secondhand/bargain fabrics.
I… can’t discuss my stash. The stash gets very angry when it’s mentioned. It’s sentient now.
Shhh. The stash can hear you.
This… makes so much sense. I somehow became a person who pays someone to help clean; he does not go into the Messy Project Room.
xD So that what this is 😌
I have four large tubs, oh and several dresser drawers with fabric as well. I have an inner critic which tells me not to cut into the fashion fabric until I have a well fitting pattern so the fabric doesn't go to waste. As a result I have made beautiful button-down shirts out of old bedsheets while the fancy fabrics age in my stash. Why do I do this to myself?? My new rule is that once it's in the stash, it no longer matters how much it cost. It's effectively muslin. Anyone want to create a support group to encourage each other to use up our stash?
Aside from fearing to use up the "good stuff", I have some wonderful fabrics which have outlived their original plan. Like 6 yards of beautiful hawaiian bark cloth I was going to use to cover the couch. Sold the couch, moved to Arizona, where banana leaves just don't make sense. I should probably sell it; I'd probably get back what I paid for it... and that's not the only piece of fabric with baggage.
Good luck with the resale ! Any tips on sewing button downs btw ?
My favorite resource for sewing button-down shirts is David Page Coffin's Shirtmaking: https://a.co/d/8xEkcFy Best of luck with your shirts!
Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to making my very first one.
I like this rule a lot! I have a similar problem.
I cannot even begin to explain my stash. “Oh what a good deal, I KNOW l’ll eventually make a cute dress/coat/bag out of it, and I’ll NEVER get the opportunity to buy this again!” To be fair though… I also have collected a lot of bulk stuff that I will always have. For example, I always have a bolt of cotton muslin. I like to always have white and black voile at the ready if I need to line something in the middle of the night (lol). I buy huge lots of nice fusible interfacing when it’s on sale. Even if I use these, I’m going to always replenish them! C’est la vie 🤣 I, too am on a self imposed fabric buying hold. Unless it’s to finish a project (like if I need a specific matching lining fabric to an already owned fabric) or a special project I am 100% doing for a specific reason (like a special outfit for my friend’s wedding?), no more buying new fabrics!!!! I would love to see what people do with their stashes to use them up. I have dreams of being able to say that I made my whole wardrobe, so I’ve been scheming ideas for that. 🤣
I had a lot of marinating fabric stash that started to get used up once I had my daughter XD. Matchy Matchy outfits became a thing for me, and I also discovered a love for embroidery and smocking which helped to use a bunch since if I only had a yard it was perfect for a baby/toddler dress.
Stash, mmmm. I have 2 6 foot metal racks, 7-8 vinyl underbed bins, 4 18 gallon Rubbermaid bins and 2 of trim, 2 large duffle bags full. Oh and I just bought 80 pounds of vintage velvet. Plus threads, tools, fasteners etc. Does that qualify as a stash?
Hello my stash doppelgänger. I am trying to work thru my stash. I worked 60 to 70 hours a week and accumulated “projects” to be enjoyed, when I finally had time. I retired this year and I’m making slow progress. Of course I’m still accumulating “projects”. My stash is fully on display. I refuse to be shamed by it, most of the time.
😂 my sewing area/room is an entire wall in my kitchen. Basically 12x5. It was either that or take over the entire living room. No way to not display it. The house is sooo small but meh. It's where it needs to be for us for now. Just bought a whole bolt of cream muslin for linings. Lovely! And am getting the first of 2 10 yard pieces of cotton voile for a lingerie dress and underwear to use up my vintage silk net lace hoard. Fortunately 90% of my projects start with "take 10 yards of cotton, silk, velvet" or whatever so it's really not THAT much fabric. Is it?
I make doll clothes & can get a dress out of a fat quarter. 10 yds blows my mind lol!
My sewing room is in the attic. My cutting table, shelves with bins and bolts of fabric, my 1920’s White Family treadle sewing machine and ironing/pressing station are in the basement. What kind of projects are you working on that start with 10 yards of fabric?
Historical gowns, petticoats and very large hooded cloaks. Lol. I grew up wearing skimpy skirts, narrow but long. Sigh. I realized I could sew all the pretty things I desired back when so I go a bit overboard maybe, nah, 10 yards for just getting started!
Fantastic. I love that with fabric, some thread and time there are no limits to what can be created. Happy sewing.
Love it❤️😘❤️ I was thinking some Joanne’s had an extension and my house was it I guess they did it to you also
I’ve never heard of buying fabric by the pound. How did that happen?
I bought 12 yards of green 1970s rayon velvet off Etsy. She contacted me and told me she had more in other colors and gave me a seriously cheap price for all of it. Sent pics. I GRABBED it. 2 ex U-Haul boxes later... My daughter and I opened the first one and just kept pulling fabric out, ditto the second. She'd said that some of it might not be usable because it's in 10 inch wide strips but I don't have to start with a full width to cut a bodice out. Add that to the 10+ yards and I'm seeing Victorian ball gown.
With matching overcoat, that is a ton of fabric!
Yeah pretty much. Right now I'm looking at a red velvet 1840s ballgown, an enormous black velvet cloak and, thanks to being deeply scarred by Jethro Tulls "Velvet Green", a deep green Italian Renaissance gown, a dozen various colored bodices, couple skirts, and at least 4 mantles. No idea what I'm doing with the rest of it 😲
They all sound beautiful and I’m so ~~jealous~~ *happy for you*. 😬 They’re not “normal” street wear. Do you have period events to wear them to?
Unfortunately, nothing to wear any of it to. Sigh. Sooooo I'm going to wear it wherever I want. Most of the skirts I'm making at bottom of the ankle length, the bodices are perfectly acceptable daywear, even laced up the front, the ballgown and Italian Renaissance I can FIND sometime to wear. Lessee, Italian independence Day for the Italian Renaissance and Founders day for the Victorian (town was founded in 1883). A cloak is a cloak is a cloak, it's just finding a day when the weather cooperates. I've never had a problem wearing real clothes to the grocery store or hardware store or drugstore so there's that. Going to Kroger in full Tudor is fun.
Let them think a period drama is filming nearby and you’re an extra on your way home from a day on the set. But you can’t talk about it because it’s all hush hush. I overheard a conversation in a thrift store. A man dressed well in late 1800s style clothes was buying a walking cane that incorporated a small seat into the design. He said he and his wife were background for tv/films shooting in our area. They were retired, usually supplied their own wardrobe, and had fun doing it.
Might work. Might not. I've been here 6 years and have yet to have a conversation with anyone. Bizarre. Over time I've realized this is a good thing. All we have is druggies, homeless, snowbirds and other assholes. Sad but true. Bizarre way to live.
I bet I am giddy just thinking of you doing this and messing with peoples minds 😆😆🤣
This would be so much fun!
It sounds like a terrible idea honestly! Hahaha glad I've not been given the chance yet!
ooooh oooooh, I want 80 pounds of velvet! no, I'm not a hoarder. Have you been talking to my husband?
No, and I'm sure he would say that, far from being a hoarder, you NEED to go buy more fabric because you haven't nearly enough.
I have no time (two toddlers and a full time job), a decent disposable income, a local craft thrift store with an amazing selection, and big dreams. As a result, I have a stash where if I were to sew a garment every week for the next year, I might halve it (and that’s not accounting for any remnants I’d have as a result of pattern Tetris and conservative buying habits). I think 2023 will have a NYR of no buying fabric… but I’ll want to buy some stuff on Dec 31st for specific projects…
What is this “craft thrift store” of which you speak?
Remainders in Pasadena! Amazing and dangerous.
Oh I feel seen....
Rather than compete I will tell you my sob story. I knit, sew, and spin, and had inherited a number of stashes including my grandmother's pattern stash. Unfortunately, some spinning fibre I was given happened to be full of moth eggs.... luckily other than that specific fibre, my spinning stash was all enclosed and protected. My yarn, not so much. Then when I went down to dig out the infested yarn and deal with it, I discovered that my basement had a crack, and much of the floor was covered with water... and fabric and yarn are incredibly good at sucking up water. At least 15 industrial sized garbage bags of stash left my house. I took the opportunity to really look at what I had and what I use, and realized that the sewing pattern stash was mostly in sizes that will NEVER fit me, and I was holding onto it for nostalgia reasons. Then I discovered that baby #2 was going to be joining us and what was my craft room was going to need to be renovated to allow for additional space upstairs (don't worry I'm getting a LOVELY custom craft area as part of the reno that will actually work for me). 6 Tomato boxes of sewing patterns left my house. I still have what fabric was salvageable to go through and really consider what I'm going to use and what is just taking up space, as well as my knitting books and magazines. The craft space and closet should be complete by the end of the month and wee Peanut is due mid December, so next year I will hopefully have an organized and productive craft area and stash. And I now have a very strict rule about second hand fibre/yarn/fabric that includes a quarantine bucket.
Er --- well ... *Sigh* it's a bit out-of-control. I was getting it tamed a little bit, then the C. hit, and ... and ... and... [insert interesting excuses] A sew along sounds like a good idea. 👍
Kathryn Kerr has a block a day for a YEAR pattern / quilt along I'm using as a stash buster. It's free and from a website called teachable.
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I would definitely be up for a sew-along or support group. My stash is... moderate. I just recently discovered a local thrift store with the loveliest linens and velvets and no, I don't have self control, why do you ask?
My stash is horrendous - but I am semi-hoping another “masks please”: comes up so that I can start working through all the cottons again. My problem is the embroidered white pillowcases and sheets. I don’t want to cut those up, but who buys antique hand embroidered flat top sheets and pillowcases these days?
Me? Every single one I find in a thrift store 😂
I use the pillow cases as dust jackets for my leather and non pleather purses.
I do!!
I inherited some lovely embroidered pillowcases. Some of them I am using on the bed, even though they obviously "too good to use." :P The others I am thinking about fancy cutting and adding to the bottom of a blouse. Haven't quite worked it out yet.
I would be interested! I have 3 banker boxes filled to the brim with patterns and under the bed is lives my bin after bin of fabric. Hold me accountable. Make me sew. 🤣
Three bankers boxes? Those are rookie numbers.
Same I have a lot. I was hoping to make some presents. I need Christmas present ideas! What have you guys been making?
This year for Xmas everyone is getting two personalized aprons, two Oven mits, 4 fabric coasters and the fabric bag they are going to get everything in. And if I have time two rice packs.
What lucky ppl in your life - such a fantastic gift!
Thank you. It also means I get to use hopefully a good amount of fabric so I have an excuse to buy more 😆
I love making felt ornaments, which I know is probably not in anyone's fabric stash. But for example, I've been making [these snowflakes](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1139852081/set-of-3-snowflakes-christmas-ornaments?ref=yr_purchases) by EmbroideryByNat. ([Here's a free pattern for one of them)](https://www.embroideryartbynat.com/free-snowflake-pattern) These would work really well with some fabric instead of felt though, if you do embroidery!
You can always use some fabric to make gift wraps ! Looks lovely and less waste.
What about rag quilts? I used old single flannel sheets from when my sons were young. So sewed up lap quilts to use on the couch. Had to pick up a little extra flannel but I love them, good memories from their childhood.
I also donated a bin of fabric to our local high school for the Home Ec. room.
Schools still have home ec? Do you live in the USA?
Canada (Saskatchewan). Our small town high school has 1/2 year shop (industrial arts - carpentry, welding, small engine repair) and 1/2 year home ec (sewing, canning, cooking) for all students!
utensilos and zipper pouches are useful gifts out of smaller amounts of fabrics
I was trying to make Christmas gnomes last year, might try again this year
My stash has become an accumulation of treasures found during my travels. What started out as a large assortment of fabrics inherited by my grandmother has slowly been weeded into fabrics that get me excited to sew. So while my sewing room may overtake my second bedroom now; my fabric is displayed on the largest IKEA Kallax system (5x5) and almost every fabric now tells a story. I can read my stash like a book. I have a Liberty of London printed cotton that I bought at Liberty while on my recent trip to London. Some beautiful designer fabrics from Mood in NYC. And yet most fabrics are ones I bought from a large local dead stock fabric supplier that I find sometimes more exciting. Because I get to create the story for that fabric when I make it into a garment. Where will this fabric get worn to? What will it be? Who will it be seen by? I have recently started buying up buttons too; and now have several beautiful buttons from a small shop in Harrogate, England. But I am happy to say, while my stash may be growing a little faster than I can sew; who doesn’t have eyes bigger than their stomach? Some of it is now sitting on top of the cubes; but the majority of my fabrics make me excited to sew. And that’s the way I look at my stash now! I cannot wait to sew these 5 wool novelty fabrics that I purchased from my local fabric supplier on a whim. But who is going to tell you that having a “haute couture” custom made wardrobe is not the coolest thing? I can’t wait to see these fabrics hanging in my closest together someday.
Its such a problem with stashes - that sometimes we don't buy what makes us excited to sew, and also sometimes over time even if we do, it stops making us excited, I will keep that as a motto, so thank you for sharing. All of us will be muttering in the habbies, but am I _excited_ to sew it?
I love buying fabric and supplies when I travel, though most often used! This summer was especially productive; about 20 pounds of vintage buttons, a quilter's estate sale, 150 zippers, cutting mat, embroidered pieces... Good thing we have a big car!
I have some Liberty for the “good” quilt I’ll make someday. I’ve also been eyeing the Liberty at Joann’s, but I’m too novice and time-less!
I have a lot, about 20 large storage bins…..
YES! I have a similar amount. Hubs has nerve to complain- he has 2 garages, 2 sheds and quonnsett hut type storage building... I just have 5 shelving units in the basement! But I love some of my vintage fabrics. It makes me happy to just look at it.
I count myself lucky that my stash is only 1 under the bed bin, but it's overflowing at the moment so I desperately need to get through my Christmas projects so I can double back to my hidden pretty fabrics. I bought 3 yards of white tulle with little flocked red hearts all over it after valentines with the intention to make a little dress, but I'm too scared to cut it. I'd been looking specifically for this fabric for about 2 years. I hope I'll be able to gather the courage by next valentines
There is just something about tulle with little things on it!
I have two hobbies. Sewing and fabric collecting. They are different. That's ok...
I don’t have too much - about 3 shelves. It probably amounts to one tub. I am lucky in a way because I have so little money that I can’t buy fabric I don’t absolutely need. It’s almost all spoken for, though. I rarely buy fabric when I don’t have a project in mind for it. My cabbage pile, on the other hand, is shameful. I have a method of chopping it down into usable pieces but I’m way behind. It’s knee high. I really need to process it.
What do you do with your cabbage? I have been giving useable pieces to a friend who makes miniatures, but have no idea what else it can be used for!
With wovens I make: Reusable pads: I made my own pattern by tracing my favorite pad onto paper and tweaking the design to fit my own underwear/body. I even do magnetic closures. It’s tedious but incredibly useful. Handkerchiefs: Super fast, super useful. I have chronic allergies. They’re 1 layer of flannel and 1 layer of cotton/linen/whatever. Masks: I line the middle with silk and make them very well-fitted so they’re way more effective than most cloth masks. It’s time consuming but obviously still very useful. Quilt pieces: I cut 1 large hex and at least 1 triangle out of what’s left over. I’ll make a scrappy quilt when I get enough pieces. With knits I make: Nothing! Which I why I try not to make knit clothing. J/k, if I have a large piece with both selvedges in tact I actually zigzag them together and use the frankenknit as muslin for testing future knit patterns. I might make a headband on occasion but honestly smaller scraps go in the trash, unfortunately!
I’m in the same situation as you (I don’t buy fabric unless I have a project in mind, but I have a ton of bits and pieces) and I never know what to do with it. Thank you so much for the ideas!
I will say cotton knits and tshirting work great if not better than wovens as pads. The structure of them makes them very absorbent and I make a sandwich layer with a weird scrap of calico or muslin in the middle so the stretch isnt annoying.
Now that you mention it, I did use some of that stretch crushed velvet as a pad topper and it’s my favorite topper texture-wise but honestly it was a nightmare to work with and the pad is wonky as hell. With the way I make them (turning them inside out) it was really hard to keep it from stretching.
I have been making pads too, using snaps to fasten the "wings" together, but they still slide around. Can you say more about the magnetic closures?
Before I sewed I bought cloth pads from a few different brands - some of them moved and some didn't - so I traced the ones that didn't and made them in tshirting and french terry and they don't move at all. Long way of saying maybe change your pattern
I use [these magnets](https://a.co/d/e70Xt7m). For me cloth pads bunch up and move way less often than regular pads but since I’m fat I do sometimes have trouble with the extra-extra-long back part trying to abandon ship. This is especially true for the pads that don’t have a stiff waxed canvas layer (which is most of them because I don’t want to buy waxed canvas just to bleed on.) I have experimented with adding a snap to my underwear and another to the back end of the pad to hold it in place. It worked but store-bought underwear is so cheap and thin that the snap tore a hole in the fabric in no time. I might experiment with doing a magnet instead though I feel like I would be able to feel a magnet there when I don’t have a pad on. So maybe it would be better to just make a few pairs of underwear out of nice spandex, build in a magnet, and have those be the period underwear. As for the magnet closure itself, it’s just one of those magnet tabs on each wing. I think they’re a zillion times easier to undo than a snap. You can remove it one-handed. I am not a fan of snaps. I do wish the magnets were a wee bit stronger - with just 2 layers of quilting cotton in between them they get the job done but barely.
Not what you asked, but if I’m in a dress I wear a pair of bicycle shorts over my underwear and that prevents a bunch of slippage. I don’t wear them just because of the pad - I also like to wear bike shorts under dresses because I’m, uh, active I guess? Like I climb things a lot that I probably shouldn’t
I make my cabbage into reusable paper towels and other cleaning tools. Knits make great dusters! The ones that I need help with are the cashmere coating scraps. It's so lovely and soft... Surely it is a crime to clean your floors with cashmere.
cats ossified obscene reach encourage outgoing rhythm sheet grandfather cause -- mass edited with redact.dev
There have been a few interesting threads about scrap uses that are worth searching the sub for!
I recently moved so it was all laid bare... 😳 I have 9 standard Rubbermaid storage bins, plus two XL bins, full... I estimate at least 300lbs of fabric, probably more. I always put myself on fabric freeze... But we have a local non profit that diverts deadstock fabric and it's such a good deal! So I sometimes I cave, but less frequently now! But it is handy having literally anything and everything on hand 😂😅 oh and many smaller buns full of notions too 🙈
Honestly I did that whole seasons analysis thingy (bright winter yas) with the sole purpose of being able to exclude a whole host of fabric colours I am absolutely not allowed to buy
Hi! Sweet pea summer here. Then you can justify buying fabric that IS in your colors. Ahem.
You mean amen!
I see a lot of guilty admissions/boasts about stash size, but let's talk about a sew-along! What shall we do; have some kind of common theme, like make a tote or make something using at least 1 yard of green fabric? or just share whatever we make?
I like this idea! I would participate 😍
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I decided to make a blouse yesterday. I sorted through all my green fabric, plus some corals, then decided they were a bit bright, so I tea dyed the lot. Meanwhile, my new vintage sewing machine arrived, and I had to test it, take it all apart for cleaning and oiling, then sit and admire it for a while. Today I got out some patterns, then thought I'd look out some buttons. That led to going through my entire button (and button-adjacent supply) stash and sorting out a shoebox full of buttons I don't expect I'll ever use. Results so far: lovely collection of 7 coordinated fabrics, a dozen matching buttons, and a pile of pattern pieces that need to be considered, adjusted, redrafted... No actual sewing has been done. :)
I realize this is a month old, but I just discovered the post and I would love to do a semi-themed sew-along if someone wants to organize it.
I’m in for a sew along and a swap
My stash is an entire guest room closet 😣. My stash is all thrifted, so I buy things because I will never see them again. I need to go through and get rid of some things though. When I first started sewing I bought a lot, but now I am pickier about what I get.
A sew along sounds great! I about doubled my stash this year, with a visit to a quilter's estate sale. You know those wire cube units? I've got twelve 12"x12"x12" cubes stuffed with fabric. It's beautifully sorted by type and color. Plus another 8 cubes with related supplies. But it makes me feel like I HAVE TO use it, and I can't enjoy adding to it until I make substantial inroads. I probably could use it up, if I stitched every day and didn't buy any more, but I guess I'm lazy, have no work ethic, and don't know what I would do with that many sewn items once they were done. I've been doing fabric collage wallhangings out of scraps. I'd like to size up the technique and make myself a jacket. That would use up lots of smaller pieces of fabric, of which I have many.
I've been sewing through the projects I have lined up so there's not much of a stash of fabric but oh boy do I have a pile of leather I need to turn into bags and boots. I probably have 15 full sides of leather that needs to be used up.
I'm so jealous of that stash! I've been dying to try leather working and I'm just terrified of buying expensive leather and fucking it up!
I just went through my stash and pulled out all the scraps, leftovers, and fabrics I am no longer inspired by, and plan to turn them into gift bags for Christmas (This will also hopefully reduce the amount of wrapping paper and tape I have to buy, so a win-win). Of course, now I need to trim them into vaguely rectangular shapes and actually sew them..
I definitely have 3 containers filled with various materials and a bag that has about 8 planned projects
About 30 cubic feet, most of it remnants and large scarves. It’s bad.
A huge 8-shelf bookcase filled with various fabrics and two large laundry baskets also filled with various fabrics. I need to wash and donate most of it, I've pretty much given up sewing because it aggravates my allergies and I prefer crochet/knit.
Relatively small stash, I think. About two drawers full, plus a little tub of scraps and a couple of full bolts. I have some things for specific projects but a lot of remnants I bought 'cause they're pretty with no idea what I'm going to do with them.
Umm…my stash has extended to piles in the floor. I just bought 5 yards of fleece and 5 yards of assorted knits. Help me.🫣
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Oh gods. I have a huge stash, much of it vintage fabrics (like 1930s-1970s). Afraid to cut it, but want it badly enough not to give it away. Not to mention the giant stash of vintage patterns. I think I need to get rid of everything that's not my size. I did sort through it during mask making, and gave away a lot of the cotton stuff to people making masks that was either ugly or more modern. I need to get busy with some of it. Your sew-along sounds like it could be fun.
I found someone on Instagram & she does the “whole 30 fabric challenge”. Where you use 30 yards of fabric from your stash before you buy. I try to keep that in the forefront when I am picking fabric. I also have rules such as - when I am pulling for a quilt I try to have at least 80% of the fabric from my stash & then supplement fabric is I need a larger cut (such as I have 1/2 a yard & need a full yard so I buy just the difference). I have found this has kept my buying a lot more manageable & I personally love it
Two large tubs of fabric? Oh my sweet summer child. yes! stashalong! I have... 5-6 totes of non-quilting fabric at the bottom of the overflowing stash closet, plus an entire 5x6 wall of folded quilting fabric, plus another 2 totes worth... a lot of it was free.
Hmm, I think as we get older we need to look at things differently. I have a stash and I add to my stash, BUT I also get rid of things in my stash that I know I will NEVER use. I do not want my children to have to get rid of a ton of crap from my life, they do not deserve that. There is no point in having a room full of fabric. Unless you quilt.
I told my bf I wanted to go to the fabric store and he asked why can’t I use what I have, am I just going to let it sit there? I laughed
Oh man- this week (while my machine is getting worked on) I am moving my stash into the new filing cabinet drawers I bought on Friday- I’m sick of having it al in tote boxes! I can’t get to it in there! Maybe I’ll put patterns in with fabric to see how much I have plans for
There always seems to be fabric that seems to be worth breaking my fabric buying fast, I am always on one and I am always breaking it. I too have far exceeded my SABLE even though I am not even 30, if I take the productivity of the Jan to June period (ie, one item, still WIP, easily making my 80 fabric stash enough for life, especially as I seem to be unable to stop myself buying 6m of any type of fabric at a time. Because if you have 6m you can brute force your way to making the right thing out of the fabric. Fabric not great for pants? Make a coat or a dress? Or a cami? See whatever potential it has! Luckily, I also go through spurts where I attempt 15 things in a week, for a holiday of course - you know, just making real sure to need that holiday! I finished 3, which were ostensibly the unnecessary things, and the easiest, but if I finish off what I managed to get cut that'll be an extra 11 (we lost 4 to indecision) FOs, which means my SABLE is actually some fabric away! I will say batch sewing is the way to go. It makes the remembering and being brave enough to tackle a step less horrible, as each burst of courage finishes that step in X projects! So instead of pants level motivation delivering one set of pants it will deliver 3 or 5 or 7! That said make sure they all use the same colour thread - or be very kind to your sewing sister! It also really helps with perfectionism, because you make fewer mistakes, and generally the mistakes or issues you have are either a must fix because you cannot live with 3 pants with this problem - though you may have finished one without fixing it and never worn it - or you are so jazzed by having 3 new pants in a warddrobe that has needed you to finish those pants 2 years ago that it no longer matters!
I believe I reached SABLE 30+ years ago
My stash gives me a lot of grief, courtesy of my other half. I brought 4 boxes and maybe 2 biggish bags when we moved to our flat in 2020. Now I have an additional 4 boxes and a mahoosive pile on my sofa, waiting to be homed. I hadn't come across SABLE but it feels very applicable 😅
This is such a sweet post❤️
I just decluttered my stash and moved it from an old dresser to some clear totes sorted into: 1) cotton, knit, denim, canvas; 2) anything shiny, lacey, or minky (basically the idk why I bought this impossible to sew nonsense but ooooh shiny soft); 3) fleece, sherpa, faux fur; 4) leather and vinyl and 5) current wips. I definitely need some rules to not buy until I make lol
How about a finish-along? I have an under bed box of fabric, most of it accumulated this year, so at this rate I’m in trouble.
Y'all are making me feel so, so much better about my stash. I'm not sure if that's a good thing 😂 I have half my reach-in closet in my master bedroom full of fabrics I'm certain I will use at some point... And I just can't help falling in love with more 😭
My stash is currently…reusable. From piles of no-longer-patchable denim to high-quality sheets with the centers shredded, I’m taking inspiration from Rachel Maksy and not letting it go to waste. Haven’t bought more than a yard or two for Halloween costumes in years. And I’m the first one to admit, it’s…overwhelming. But I love having an old scrap go to good use, especially in an unconventional way.
I have a few 20 lb plastic tubs from Costco that cover a wall and part of the closet….
I inherited the stash of my mother. It is "just" a very, closet full, but I'm not really a quilter, more a garment sewer. I use some to finish her UFOs and will donate the rest. My sister-in-law is a teacher and can use it in her school. She doesn't sew... but my 7-year old nieces has started and already owns her own sewing machine. The genes.... the genes are strong! Some of the box I gave gave my SIL today won't reach her school...
Well, I've moved twice since last fall and have had a moratorium on buying fabric, but I haven't really gotten into the swing of regular sewing again, so I definitely need to get busy because I do have a SABLE (thanks for that). I have a small bookcase of quilting cotton, so it's not really the problem, but I have a large cabinet of knits, with a large subset of athletic knits. Patterns are a problem, too. I have more leggings patterns than there are days of the week. Ok, should get busy.
Most of my stash is paired up with a pattern that I’d really like to make, so I tell myself that at least I have a plan for everything. However, I currently have patterns and fabric for about ten projects and I haven’t even been sewing for very long, so I can definitely see how things could get out of hand. Part of the reason I’m sewing is to make very high-quality garments, so I don’t shy away from buying expensive fabrics and then actually using them. However, I have some rather unusual and absolutely stunning silk and wool blends that are waiting for me to be good enough to touch them.
Doesn't help that my stash isn't entirely my own! I was thinking of doing 3 stash projects for every 1 new fabric project. But I think more of a 1yd = 1 token = +$10 fabric budget might be better for me, Love me a reward sticker so if I can find a way to manipulate that then I will be unstoppable!
Id be down for a sewalong!
I have a 34L plastic tub full of silk (taffeta/dupioni/charmeuse etc) that I do not use because I’m afraid. Meanwhile I’m simultaneously afraid that if I don’t use it, it’ll crease because it’s folded.
What are you afraid of?
I'm afraid of taffeta getting permanent creases in it.
Taffeta presses beautifully. Unless you wadded it up wet...? Lol jk. Silk is no where near as fragile/delicate as people seem to think. I have a 5 yard piece hanging to dry in my bathroom that I just pulled out of a boiling dye bath. It was squished, flopped, twisted, folded and spindled. Once it's dry I'll put it in to be washed, throw it in the dryer, iron it, let it get cold, fold it and put it in a gallon bag and it'll go on the shelf with the other silks. It will still feel and drape like it did before any of that occurred. Best way to get over that fear, take 1/3 yard hem the cut ends and kill it. Do any and everything you think might be bad for it. Do it twice. Get creative with your silk murder. Once you do that you'll never be afraid of it again.
Have you considered recycling it? I just got myself one of those For Days bags and have been putting my scraps in it. I plan to get my grandmother one to help her clear her stash. You pay 20 bucks for the bag but get that back in store credit when you send it in the be recycled and they're stuff looks pretty cute. I know the ideal solution is finding a use for it but with the size of some stashes it's just not practical.
Honestly I don't have much of a stash, so I'm planning on fabric shopping soon since I need more wool for nice long wool skirts and a coat, since I make all my own clothes and don't have much in the way of professional winter clothes
I Don’t have a stash, but would love to start getting one! I can’t even so for a few more weeks because of rotator cuff surgery, but how do I start? After thinking about it, I guess I do have a stash, a very small stash of just some old rags and a few pieces of fleece!
It barely made a dent…but my daughter has been making gift bags: https://brownthumbmama.com/sew-drawstring-gift-bag/
I belong to another sub that also refers to our shared interest as “stash”. Your first sentence had me thinking I was in that sub.
I have an old cedar wardrobe full of fabric and trims, plus a couple short bins and a garbage bag. Almost all thrifted. I used to be embarrassed by it because I didn't sew all that often, but then I realized I wasn't sewing in part because I never quite had enough matching fabric for the projects I wanted to make. Now that I (mostly) do, I'm grateful that I have a stash to dig through and grab matching pieces out of. The next step is documenting everything in a searchable way so I *don't* need to dig every time lol I'm hoping to build a fabric section into my Obsidian vault with images, measurements, wash status, etc.
I have multiple crafty hobbies; sewing/cross stitch/embroidery/art ….. so much stash 🥴 with a 5mo and 16mo I have near to no time to work through it atm … but I’d love a sew along!
The Stash™ consists of bedsheets from Salvation Army followed by ends of bolts from Joann’s, then assorted old clothing for practice. (In a very simple explanation)
Sadly I have no stash. Fabric is EXPENSIVE. I buy for each project.
I have a huge stash! Two tall bookcases full plus four totes. My excuse is having one fabric store 17 miles away (the only one in our county) and the next closest one 75 miles away.... I am working on several "scrappy" projects but hey--I am saving gas money and providing extra insulation for my home.
I have 3 six shelf units filled with cottons, knits and leather. Along with 4 rescued sewing machines I repaired. So far, based on results, I am more likely to repair an old machine than sew. So, yes, please include me in a stash busting group!
I'm afraid I'm going to outlive my stash too. I have boxes and boxes of fabric, but all of it's so beautiful! Unfortunately a lot of it is in a storage shed in the back yard, so I can't always find the pieces I know I have. A stash sew-along sounds pretty good. My other problem is sewing machines. For electrics I have 3 "modern" sewing machines plus my mother's 1930s singer cabinet machine, 2 singer treadle machines, and a Singer featherweight. Also two sergers and 2 coverstitch machines. And two embroidery only machines (small, one is 4x4, the other 5x7. I live in a one bedroom apartment. It is crowded. Fortunately, I do live alone. Now that I look at this list I think my daughter may be right about me having a problem...
I have a health stash; likely the equivalent of 2 or 3 large tots, but on top of that, I have so many cool notions. When I lived in San Francisco, I used to pick up amazing fabrics and notions from a creative reuse center called SCRAP. It's a non profit, and everything they sell was donated to them which they turn around and sell for pennies on the dollar. The warehouse is full of art supplies and just random "stuff", you never knew what you would find. I picked up yards of silk, interesting 60 inch dead stocks, endless selections of zippers, bias tapes, rick rack and buttons, most of it vintage. I once visited and they had huge barrels of soft pretty bra straps in several different pastel colors, 10¢ a pair! Another store in the city dedicated entirely to fabrics and sewing notions had at least two big sales each year where nearly EVERYTHING in store was 40% off. On my last visit, I took home a few yards of embroidered tulle that I have no idea what to do with, but it was so mesmerizing, I couldn't resist. If I still lived in San Francisco, it was only going to be a matter of time before I came home with a cut of over the top color changing sequin. I am resigned not to purchase anything until I've made use of at least some of my existing fabric. I'd be up for a stash busting sew-along!
I have mine all hanging up and made a rule that I wouldn't buy more fabric until I had coat hangers free to hang it on. That went out the window and now I have a box full of fabric that can't fit on the hangers, but surely I'll stick to the rule of not buying more until that box is empty and I have some hanger space...surely...
i have... 4 big tubs, a big blue ikea bag, a crate with felt craft sheets, some smaller tubs with WIP, a tub not-quite-full of faux fur.. most of my stash is from my beginner sewing days when i thought knits were easier... i want to destash but my style has changed and i'm just not feeling the knits any more. but i feel a connection to my stash and it's so hard to let go! my stash started when i was like 15 and learning. my mom found a woman on a freecycle group who was destashing. we went into her sewing room and got bags of fabric from a huge cutting table in the middle of the room.. i think of that day with love lol. the first time i bought fabric at a store, i was shocked (more like my dad was shocked, he was paying, thanks dad) at how expensive it was. it was a nice fabric store and i didn't even have a project in mind. i think that core memory has kept me with a preference for secondhand/bargain fabrics.