It's Fat Quarter Month at Sew, Mama, Sew and I thought I'd participate.
Check out my stash!
My fabric is actually housed in what used to be our linen closet! Who needs sheets and towels? Pffft. :P It's a little dark down the hallway so I had to put a light inside. So this photo is just a wee bit wonky. This is also only about 75% of the stash. I've got more hidden away in another closet. Eeek, I know. Addicted.
• What do you usually sew?
Anything cute and useful.
• When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)
Typically, I buy half yard cuts. I do a lot of patchwork, so I always use small amounts. Half yards last me a pretty long time. I buy polka dots in whole yards because I use them as lining for a lot of my projects. Linen, I usually buy 5-10 yards at a time. I like to be sure I have a lot of it on hand.
• Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
Yes and yes. :P
• Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?
It depends on the project. If I’m making something that I think is going to be washed a lot, then I’ll prewash it before I start the project.
• Do you iron it?
I love my projects to look nice, crisp and clean when I’m done with them. So I iron all the time. Before, during and after construction.
• How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
My stash is usually color coordinated. But it hasn’t been since before the holidays. Too many projects and not enough time to be bothered putting them back in order. We’ll be moving at the end of this month, so I’ll probably reorganize in our new digs. But trust me, having them in color order is so much easier when you’re gathering fabrics for a project.
• Do you have any special folding techniques?
I like to use a 6 x 12 acrylic ruler when I fold. I’m sort of a freak about it too. They all have to be folded down to the same size. Except for the full yards. I fold them bigger.
• How do you store your fabric?
It’s all in my linen closet. With a little sack of lavender to make it smell purty.
• What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
I like to stay open minded and buy a variety of prints and colors. I also try to buy only the fabrics that I am completely smitten with. When you love your fabric it makes creating your projects so much more enjoyable. Don’t go crazy worrying about the colors either. After a few months of buying fabric, you’ll notice that you have so many different prints and colors, several of them are bound to look good together!
• When do you say enough is enough?
NEVER!!! Muahahahaahahaaaaaaa! *rubs hands together*
• What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
That’s hard to say. I love sewing so much that just being able to create anything fills me with glee. I think I like making things for my wee ones the best. But for stash busting, lap quilts and handbags. Love it.
• Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
You mean them, not it. :P
• What’s your definition of the perfect stash?
The perfect stash for me would be yards and yards of linen in different weights and colors, fun and funky Japanese prints, lots of cotton lawn, an entire shelf of polka dots in every color with a side order of gingham. Pretty please. ^_^
