Tuesday, November 15, 2011

In Defense of Stash

I've been collecting fabric for a long time.  During some of my fabric buying years, there wasn't time in my schedule for sewing.  Didn't stop me; I continued to add to stash.  Quilting has become a higher priority for me - family demands are lighter and the years aren't slowing down.  At times I've felt guilty about the size of my stash, but not anymore.  My stash is one of my favorite things!

Anne (Blue House Quilting) did a quick turn-around on Lexie's quilt.  Picking binding fabric was a challenge - finding a fabric that worked with both the quilt front and back was difficult.  I just kept digging thru the bins until I found a fabric I was happy with (close-up at left).  The binding is complete and the quilt has run thru washer/dryer.    


Pinwheels close-up 
    
Quilt back (sorry for the shading)  

Toile close-up

Back binding 

With Lexie's quilt complete, I focused on Jared's during the sew-in.  First step was to pick a design.  Windy Sister by Country Threads was the winner.  I wanted to cut the pieces from leftover strips (lots of pinwheels and 4 patches), but I never have enough lights.  So, back to the stash to find four complementary lights.  I've made good progress, but there are alot of blocks.  A 4 patch is turned wrong in the pic - no worries, just stuck up on the design wall.
 

21 comments:

YankeeQuilter said...

I'm with you on valuing my stash. Mine was accumulated when I was way to busy to sew much but now it is nice to have a lot of fabrics to choose from!

Karen said...

Stash is important to me too. Especially with the price that good quilting fabric has risen to now.

Impera Magna said...

With the current prices for yardage... your stash is probably worth a ton o' change!

Browndirtcottage said...

Your quilt if FAB!

As for my stash.....I.LIKE.

Mimi said...

Wow....beautiful. Makes me want to see if I have a good enough stash to do this.

Pat said...

So true - have been quilting since 1982 which has given me a long time to refine my stash - I don't envy a new quilter just starting out and faced with yardage prices these days.

Love your pinwheels and toile fabric is so fun to work with...
And that Country Threads pattern is very neat...love your colors.

Janet O. said...

I've had that last quilt on my mind for a long time--along with every other scrap quilt I've ever seen. : )
I love it. Looks great!
No apologies here for my stash.

regan said...

Lexie's quilt is gorgeous! And Jared's is looking very nice, too! And thank goodness we have a good sized stash....I can't imagine starting to collect fabrics now! Back before semi-retirement, I kept telling my hubby that I needed to buy it then, cuz in retirement we wouldn't have 2 nickels to rub together! I'm so glad I did!

Meredith said...

Love the quilt! I agree with you about stash and really do not see a need to defend it. Everyone is different. I have new, vintage and antique fabric stash. I make zero apologies for it.

antique quilter said...

I agree with you my fabric collection is one of my favorite things and I am so grateful for it. I can normally go in my closet and pull out enough to make a quilt right on the spot! pure delight!
loving your new quilt great fabrics, the pinwheel quilt is beautiful, oh how I love that backing fabric, nice quilting too. Glad your getting to sew more!
Kathie

antique quilter said...

I love the pinwheels and love the backing just as much! What a great new project, great blocks, great fabric choices and looks like you have a great system there going! Keep going can't wait to see another quilt finsihed!
fabric collection I agree no excuses, when I want to make a quilt I can go in my closets and pull fabric and whip up a quilt!
I feel so lucky to have the fabric collection I do.
I am not adding to it as much as I used to but hey thats ok, maybe if I had a bigger sewing room !!!
Kathie

Nancy said...

Yes to the stash! The quilt looks wonderful.

Lori said...

All the years of building your stash has probably saved you a lot of money too! I love your projects!!

Dawn said...

Absolutely - a nice stash is so helpful. When the spirit moves you - the fabric is there!
Your quilt is beautiful - front and back, love what you did.
Great choice for the next quilt - scrappy is gorgeous!

Barb said...

Oh your quilt is wonderful.
I wish I could feel it - it looks so cozy.
Love that toile' - I think we did well to stash, with prices what they are now and going to be.
I realized that repro is repro it all looks like 100 years ago, so what's 5 or 10?

Sue said...

Did you know its not a stash but a fabric collection. Great to be able to just go to that collection and find just what you want.
Nice quilts.

Sandra Henderson said...

Looks like everyone else has the same sentements that I do! A investment! I am using mine more than I am buying now. :)
I love youw work and so nice to catch up with you tonight. Xo

*karendianne. said...

Oh gosh you're so inspiring!!! I love the quilt for Lexie and the back is a delightful use of Toile. :) Love those pinwheels set like that. And then the 4 patches. Yummy. Yes, you're making me happy with your stash, too!

Ulla's Quilt World said...

Hi! Greetings from Finland! Your quilts are so fantastic! It's so nice to find other quilters all around the world! :)

Nicky said...

Your stash is your quilt story - where you've been, where you wanted to go, where you will go next!?

Purple Pam said...

My stash is taking over my house, but I love every little bit of fabric I have collected. Sometimes I feel guilty about how much space it takes up, but when I "play" with my fabric, I am thrilled that I have it all.