Sew Mama Sew is hosting a “tell us about your stash.” So for fun I thought I would join in and post about my fabric stash.
What do you usually sew?
Everything! Bags, clothes, scarves, quilts, curtains, pillow covers, pretty much everything and anything :)
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?)
What I can justify buying at the time :) Usually 1/2 a yard or 1 yard, unless I think I might make a shirt or dress out of the fabric & then I buy 2-4 yards (depending on how much the fabric is and how much I might need).
Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
Both. Mostly on impulse to be honest :) Although sometimes I have a project in mind, or need a certain fabric to go with another fabric in order to make something.
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?
I pre-wash everything as soon as I get it. That way I don’t have to figure out whether or not I washed a fabric already, and I don’t have to worry about colors running or a project not being washable after I am finished.
Do you iron it?
I dislike ironing, so I try to iron as little as possible :) I do iron when I am working on a project, but after pre-washing I don’t bother since the fabric is going to be folded up right away.
How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
Mostly by cut length. So fat quarters on the same shelf, 1/2 yards on the same shelf, 1 yard on the same shelf, etc.
Do you have any special folding techniques?
I love Happy Zombie’s fabric folding method… I follow her method & use my 6-inch wide ruler, which is the perfect width for my shelves.
How do you store your fabric?
I have a glass cabinet that I store all my fabric in and my sewing supplies (in white boxes). I love it! I can see all my fabrics, so even if I don’t have time to sew I still feel inspired :) To stay organized, I also have a dedicated works in progress shelf so when I break in the middle of a project I have somewhere to put it away and keep my studio clean. My scraps are in a clear bin (which is pretty much overflowing)…
What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
Depending on what type of sewing you love, buy small cuts (1/2 yard to 1 yard) of lots of different prints. I love prints, although I do have some solids in my stash too. For solids though I mostly stick with linen… When I need cotton solids I usually pick them up for a specific project. I also buy muslin by the bolt, since it is great for testing garment patterns, lining skirts, adding extra thickness to scarves, and so much more :)
When do you say enough is enough?
Um, never :) (Well maybe if I had more than I could use up in a lifetime…)
What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
Quilts, definitely!
Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
Oh I feel like this would be playing favorites… Honestly, most the prints in my stash end up there because they are my favorite. I am loving the new “Good Folks” line by Anna Maria Horner though.
What’s your definition of the perfect stash?
Lots of prints, mixed with lots of different shades of linen and some basic cotton solids. My perfect stash would take up my whole entire cabinet with no room for anything else :)
