So, in the interest of still having room to sew, I am joining in with Cation Designs and EmSewCrazy in the Stashbusting Sewalong. Also, how could I resist that awesome graphic??
I, Katie of Kadiddlehopper, commit to using AT LEAST 24 pieces of stash fabric in 2013. I also commit to not buying more fabric yardage than I have used out of the stash, or as is needed to complete projects (ie. linings, interfacing, etc).
I think this is a reasonably flexible plan that will work for me. The goal is not to stop buying fabric. I love fabric and it makes me happy. The goal is to simply use the beautiful pieces that I own, and replace them with equally beautiful pieces that I will enjoy sewing.
Unfortunately, fabric is not the only area where I am having a bit of a storage problem. This represents the majority of my envelope patterns. The drawers are stuffed and have overflown into the boxes on top. There are also 5 file boxes full of pattern magazines that I didn't have the heart to photograph. As with fabric, I love patterns. I love the potential they represent and the inspiration they give. But, I'm not using them to their fullest, particularly vintage and magazine patterns. So, in addition to my fabric stashbusting, I would add a pattern stashbusting pledge of using at least one vintage or magazine pattern each month (not counting Ottobre for the kids - I use the crap out of those).
So, my goals - 2 stash projects per month, Fabric In = Fabric Out and at least one vintage or magazine pattern per month. I think that is doable. What about you? Are you stashbusting this year?
31 comments:
that is one serious fabric stash! i think my local fabric shop may be less well stocked!
Whoa! I think your stash even rival's Carolyn's at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic!
I can only dream of the space for a stash like that. Lucky girl!
Finally, someone who has me beat! :)
I hope I have more free time this year! I might join ya!
Myra
Adventures in Baby Sewing
Is it bad that I want to come over and stare at all that glorious fabric?;) Sounds like a good goal. I've been trying to stash bust so that all my fabric can be contained in the sewing room. And I'm trying to sew up some of the patterns that have been languishing for too long. But I have no formal plans/goals...at least not yet!
Katie ~ may I offer a suggestion for your pattern collection? Ikea makes these CD shelves that when assembled are perfect for pattern storage. Two of them would replace the plastic bins and give you easier access to your patterns. You can store magazines in their cheapo magazine holders that you can cover with contact paper from Walmart on the top of the shelves. You could also organize the patterns easier too. Please feel free to ignore me and Karin is wrong. I have more fabric than you do because I have it on three walls and have bought more storage to hide it away from public view! *LOL* Good luck with your fabric challenge!
That is a lot of fabric! The challenge sounds neat, though. I'm interested in seeing the things you make from your stash...
You may be the only person with more patterns than me. My mom called me a hoarder the other day and I think she's right. I've also got waaaaay too much fabric in my stash. But fabric and patterns are so inspiring, ya know? You think of what you can make out of them and you get juiced up....and then you buy more fabric and patterns the next week and you forget about your original plans. I just moved my sewing room from my mom's dining room into my bedroom and I"ll be posting embarrassing photos of my fabric and pattern stash soon.
Anyway, I wanted to say that I'm taking a similar pledge and good luck!
Great idea!! We haunt our IKEA all the time, so I'll have to check those out when I'm there next. I knew your collection had me beat! You've been collecting longer. Give me a couple of years! :)
I should take that pledge,I have about as much fabric and patterns as you(used to work in a fabric store).I've been pretty good (but not great)lately buying only whats is needed to complete a project.
Dang! That is quite the stash! My stash consists of mostly quilting cottons, so I am a bit lacking in fashion fabrics. I do have a few that I plan to use this year. My main goal is to only buy fabrics that I have an immediate plan to use. I have my list of items I need to sew and the fabrics I intend to use. I would like to use up some of the quilting cotton on my kids this year, though.
Holy moly, lady, that is impressive! Also, a tiny part of me feels bad that this makes me feel better about my stash. I am not the only one!! And your pattern collection is quite impressive. Right now, I've two drawers worth, but much of it is redundant and I'm thinking it might be time for a cull. I'm going to have to check out IKEA too, for storage options, but the problem with that is I'm always tempted when I walk past their textiles section...
I love this suggestion! Next time I am at Ikea I will have to pick a couple of these up!!
WOW!! Call me curious but do you know how much fabric you have total? I personally have close to 700 yards, which is why I am doing the sewalong!
I challenged myself a year ago to see how much of my stash (fabric that has been in the house at least 6 months)I could sew up. I kept track and sewed up over 95 yards of fabric last year. That is not including the fabric that I bought and used within one month. I also do not buy fabric unless it will be used within a month for a specific purpose. This year my goal is to double my fabric usage. We are going to put our house up for sale and down size, so I do not think I will have a 5' x 6' walk in closet with 10' ceiling and floor to ceiling storage boxes of fabric, in my new smaller house. I donate or gift away about 3/4 of what I make. I love to sew and give the end result away.
kathyblasey@yahoo.com 1/15/7:53
Oh my gosh...I'm totally laughing at your fabric and pattern stash pictures...I just um...re-sroted the piles so that everything now fits on three industrial shelves and then a stack of 6 bins...I'm glad there are others out there like me...
Your pledge is awesome and brave. Good luck!
-liZ
It's a close call but I think you have me beat (like I said, close call). You've definately got me beaten in the pattern department. I store all of my pattern envelopes in the spiral bound plastic folders with clear sleeves in them - the innards go in ziplock bags in boxes. That way, I can just nab a few folders to take wherever in the house to look through the patterns instead of trolling through boxes (I don't have as many as you though, maybe half).
This is unbelievably impressive! Can't wait to show my hubby so he can finally 'shhhhh' about my few shelves of fabric that never get to see the light of day! WOW! And the patterns! You are one serious sew-a-holic lady!!! ... J
OH, I'm totally going to take that suggestion for patterns. Carolyn, Katie, I'm going to show your stash collection to my husband and go "See, I'm totally not ready for an episode of hoarders yet".
I was going on about my sewing machines/fabric/patterns the other day at a gathering and my husband said in a long suffering voice "This is why I have no room for my computers". At which point I reminded him that half the dumpster of trash when we renovated the garage into a room was HIS collection of broken computer bits.
Fantastic stash. If anyone ever complains about my material collection I will refer them to this post ! Good luck with your goals.
I think I might have to join the challenge too! I have loads of different fabrics, some of it hidden in clothes drawers and the wardrobe that hubby doesn't even know about! I really think I've become a fabric hoarder. So I'm going to challenge myself to use more than I buy - and even more important not to buy any at all in January or February!! Better take advantage of being off work today and start sewing! I might also have to break the habit of a lifetime and actually visit IKEA as I've never actually been...
Oh, girl, that is a worthy goal for the year. I wish I could just stand in the same room with your stash!
So since you have so many patterns AND sew a lot for kids, maybe you can answer this question for. Do you know of a good pants pattern for toddler/boys (approx size 1-5) that has a working zipper fly? I've only come across elastic. But I don't get Ottobre. Maybe you could refer me to a specific Ottobre magazine edition or another pattern you've liked? Thanks.
Min
It's funny you should ask that... I really only sew elastic waist trousers for my boys, as my older one has some sensory issues and the younger is still in diapers, but I made a few zip fly pants from Ottobre back issues when my oldest was in that age range. Most of the issues of Ottobre offer a zip fly pant in the 3T and up age. The baby pants all tend to have a faux fly and elastic. I wouldn't generally recommend Big 4 patterns for this age, since the sizing tends to be very unreliable, but if you don't want to purchase an issue of Ottobre, Burda may have something in their envelope patterns that will work. I have sewn the pants from Burda 9671, and they are nice, although the sizes start at 3.
I store my magazine patterns in magazine holders from IKEA. And those are on shelves from IKEA (those shelves that attach to the wall); they're above my machine table, so they don't take up any more wall space.
I accidentally deleted this one, so I'm posting it here. Sorry, Jo!
"Thanks for showing your stash. My husband walked in when I was looking at the pictures and now he sees that I am not so bad after all LOL. Jo "
What an awesome stash! And you keep it so beautifully, too. I let mine get sloppy and then it isn't as inspiring.
I am supposed to be fasting but just made a big order to Fabric Mart. Oops. Need to think about workable parameters.
You make me feel better, even though my fabric is exploding off my few shelves, and crawling around on the floor of my teeny tiny (6x9) office/storage space...
Wish I had a stash like that. Love it. Good luck.
Thank you.. I'll have to look at Ottobre more seriously. I keep seeing it pop up with people who sew for kids.
I'm here to tell you, with some effort organizing and folding that fabric, you would have plenty of room. I am the master! I've just joined the challenge, but I have an amazing amount of fabric stuffed into a very small space. You just need to iron all that fabric and fold it into piles all the same width and then stack them nicely. That shelf would be neat and organized. And you'd love to look at that fabric even more.
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