Tuesday, October 11, 2011

stash

Yesterday was church sewing circle and we have started our pillowcase project again.  We will make 100 for one place and I think she said 20 for another place.  I washed fabric and cut pieces in the morning to prepare for the afternoon.  I needed some pastel orange to match a fabric so I pulled out my bin of pastels.
I took the first photo so you can see it is a large bin.  I have some pastels in other areas too, like greens are upstairs with the rest of the green fabrics.  Someone awhile back asked if I could show my stash and talk about how I decide what to buy to add to my stash.  I have shown lots of my stash already and you can go to my label list and Stash is on the list.  You would have to have the patience to go back to previous pages because I showed a lot of it a few years ago.  As far as how do I know what to buy?  I'm an impulse buyer, so if I like it and know I don't have much in that color, or type of fabric, I buy it.
Pulling out the pastel box was opening a can of worms.  Behind it was another box, one I haven't pulled out for a long time, with flannels and Moda brushed plaids and stripes (which are still flannel in my opinion).  I sorted them by color and restocked them back in the box.  I want to pull out all of my boxes of flannel which are stored in 3 different places in my basement and put it all in the one location.  That means pulling out more boxes and rearranging so I have one spot large enough.  Darn!  I have to play with my fabric!
This piece of flannel that is laying on top of the other pieces now is from my inlaws' house when we were getting ready for their auction in the early 1980s.  It is 36" wide and there are 2 pieces 88" long.  I don't know how old it is and my mother-in-law really didn't sew much so I don't know where she got it.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I am just like you, an impulse buyer. That is most of the time a bad thing. But when the fabric ends up in a quilt it is definitely a good thing.

Impera Magna said...

Wow... 36" wide fabric? I haven't seen that width in eons! However, I remember the days when you had to check fabric width regularly... lots of 36" along with the 45" width!

So far my stash is manageable and I'm trying to keep it that way... altho I do have fabric purchased with no project in mind.... "just because" it was so beautiful and I fell in love with it!

Mary said...

I've been eyeing my sewing closet and wondering how to bring some order to it. Your sizable collection of fabrics all neatly categorized and sorted is an inspiration, and you also seem to have a handle on where everything is in multiple locations! Thanks for sharing.

Dolores said...

If nothing else, you last piece could be used for backing. That's what I sometimes think of when I have a piece that I am not sure about.

Anonymous said...

What a flashback. I had totally forgotten about 36" fabric! Thanks for bringing back the memories, LOL!

O'Quilts said...

Boy, I can understand this...fun of playing with fabric and being overwhelmed with organization. I like it all together. 36"..way back in time.

Laura Wasilowski said...

It's like discovering hidden treasure! Makes me want to dig through my own boxes of forgotten fabrics.

Sewing Junkie said...

I was going through mine and found fabric that was bought in a stre tht closed when I was 6 years old. so 54 years ago. It is 36 inches wide and still in really great shape. It has never been cut. The look of apron material. Funny what we have when we look. Chris

Elsie Montgomery said...

Love to see your stash and I also play with fabric. Right now, there are several of those florals waiting for the cutter so I have room for more batiks!

Needled Mom said...

I never know how to arrange my stash. I'm not sure there is a really good solution to it.

I love the circle border you are using on the crosses quilt. That is fabulous fabric.

I also like the way you quilted the strips. Great idea.

Anonymous said...

I see it is already 68 degrees in Sandwich and before noon yet !

120 pillow cases to make ! It looks like you are suppling all the fabric.

A nice collection of lovely soft, sugary, pastels.. love them. PLUS flannels have the deep richness of fall.

Wish I was your neighbor... instead of asking to borrow a cup a sugar, you know what I would be asking. (*._,*)

J~MT

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Ah, I love treasure hunts! And it looks like you have some beauties. I know these are not your usual wildly attractive Kaffe's and batiks, but tell the truth, you petted some of that fabric, didn't you? LOL

Cathi said...

What a gorgeous collection of pastels! And what fun to discover things hidden in your stash.