To be perfectly honest, my stash of prints looks a lot more like scraps to most people. The first shelf above my sewing machine has 12 small, clear plastic bins that hold the majority of my print stash (I also have a dedicated Carolyn Friedlander large bin on the second shelf right now, too).
Sewing Room Refresh
I tend to add fat quarters, 1/4 and 1/2 yard cuts as my clear bins start to look about halfway full or when I can’t find something for a project. I recently noticed that my true greens (not teal) and orange bins were getting low on prints, so I did a little stash enhancing shopping from The Confident Stitch.
I chose to shop with The Confident Stitch because their core values resonated deeply with me during this crazy time:
“To us, sewing is transformative for both humans and the Earth. We believe those of us with the time to hyper-consume should, instead, slow down and create. As a substitute for following the newest fast-fashion trend, we can use quality fabrics in just the right colors to make things for ourselves and the people we love. Although the things we make will be far from perfect, the act of creating heals us and the earth. We feel soothed while we create, and we add less waste to the atmosphere, and to the world’s ever-expanding mountains of garbage.
We understand that humans and the earth need a lot more healing than sewing can provide. But, sewing heals both humans and the Earth a little bit, and for that, we are grateful.”
I also appreciated that I could refine from all quilting cotton fabrics to filter by color when I was shopping, which was handy for my particular stash enhancement needs.
Stash Enhancement from The Confident Stitch
I did let the order sit unopened for about 3 days after it arrived, but it was a hard act of self-restraint. I ordered a half yard of each of the following prints (from left to right):
- Go Dot Go QC in Fireplace, Unbleached
- “Farm to Fabric” Scallion Texture in Orange
- Giucy Giuce Interconnection Quilting Cotton in Rust
- P&B Textiles Square Maze Quilting Cotton in Green
- Andover Declassified’s ‘Hyperbolic’ in Quasar
- “Farm to Fabric” Scallion Texture in Green
Basting Pins from The Confident Stitch
I also picked up 100 more basting pins because mine are starting to be a bit dull and several have been re-purposed for other uses (label covers, mask tie threaders, etc.).
Mirage – Rendered Using New Prints
Not that I ever really need a reason to add to my stash, but I couldn’t resist rendering my Mirage quilt pattern using the new prints.
Do you typically purchase fabric for a specific reason or if the fabric just speaks to you? What is the typical amount of yardage you order if it is to just add to your stash?
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I like your new additions. Those greens Yum! When ordering fabric I tend to get a yard/metre, I used to get FQ’s but find that I like the option of having the extra amount.
Ooooh…I love those fabrics.
You made some good choices on fabric, Yvonne, and I love the look of them in Mirage! Admittedly, I pick fabric that speaks to me. However, I do also shop specifically when I need to; for example, if I’m low on solids, I’ll focus on them and steer away from getting distracted with other designs. What amount often depends on what I think I’ll use it for. If I think of using it for a pouch, then a fat quarter. If I really like it, but don’t have a particular project in mind, I might buy 1-2 yards. And I love to hunt through remnants for a good steal.
It’s been so long since I bought fabric!! I don’t know how you waited 3 days, but I understand why you did. I don’t usually buy for a specific project, mostly I buy to add more variety to my solids.
Great colour choices! I’m not sure I could wait 3 days to open these lovelies, though I did manage to wait a whole day before opening the last order I made. Enjoy your new pretties!
Yvonne, your fabrics are so pretty! These days I haven’t been able to do much quilting, well honestly it’s been a long time. But I at least am enjoying other quilts, like the ones you make and enjoy planning my ideas for future quilts.
When I buy fabric I usually buy what I think is pretty. Most of my quilts have a lot of color in them so whatever I get will always work. Unless I have something very specific in mind for the fabric I usually get somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 yard.
I like what The Confident Stitch wrote about sewing. That is a wonderful way to describe the benefit of making quilts.
A beautiful selection of fabrics and it looks perfect in your Mirage. The Confident Stitch statement is lovely and rings true to me, too.
I used to just buy fabric if I liked it but have now transitioned to buying for project. If a particular print screams at me, I might pick up a FQ. My stash fits in 2 smallish bookshelf in plastic bins. My goal is to keep it to that size! You found some pretty fabric!
Your fabric purchases are very pretty. My fabric stash is very extensive, and I’m in the “use it up” phase of my life. Usually, if I need anything, it is a backing. Sometimes, I am just smitten with a fabric, and have to have it, hence my large fabric collection!
Beautiful new additions, Yvonne! And I love The Confident Stitch’s statement on why slowing down and creating instead of consuming is so important. I usually add to my stash to either fill holes or replace what I’ve recently used. So after I did a lot of sewing with purple and blue, I made some strategic purple and blue fabric purchases. I did find that when I worked at the quilt shop, I did a lot more unplanned adding to my stash.
A little of every approach. In general I keep a well rounded color wheel and various shades on hand. 1-2 yard pieces unless I am thinking background.
But sometimes a project needs something special.
I’d never heard of this online store before. I like that I have purchase in 1/4 yard increments. Sometimes that’s all I need for a project. Take care, Mary.
Beautiful fabrics! I’ve been trying to sew through my stash so haven’t really purchased anything in a long time, but my last few purchases were 1/2 yard cuts. I’ve stopped buying fat quarter bundles a while ago because I am now finding that the quilts I really want to make require more than a quarter yard of any one fabric.
I love that rendering of Mirage! I usually peruse a sale section for backing and pick up 3-4 yards. I haven’t bought anything since I ordered some yardage of flannel on sale for backing, and that was by chance because I was buying fat eighths of a few Liberty of London prints that were on sale, fabric I’ve wanted for oh, two decades, no lie! Do I have a pattern in mind for the LoL fabric? Nope.
Beautiful choices! I usually buy on a per-project basis, though I’ll sometimes buy more than I need for that particular project so I’ll be sure to have some left over.