Because I Like to Torture Myself…

2 12 2013

A new fabric fast has been popping up on a few of the blogs I follow. And because I’m a) a glutton for punishment, b) determined to use stash, and c) determined to save money, I’m hopping on board. I’ve added the button to the right side of my blog – feel free to join us if you’d like to challenge yourself to slimming down your stash.

I know I need to be better about refraining… It’s the holiday season, and due to unforeseen circumstances at work, I’ll be taking home a little less every paycheck until certain things get ironed out. Taking part in this fabric fast means that I won’t be indulging in my usual tax refund splurge for fabric, but that’s honestly a good thing.

I’m running out of space to store fabric.

And that’s not a good thing.

I live in a two bedroom apartment with my husband, son and two cats. My fabric stash cannot exceed certain limits, or things get messy and chaotic faster than I like, and tend to stay that way.

So, the rules of the fast are as follows, as posted at The Eleven Garden:

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1.) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.

2.) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year. Evaluation July 1, 2014.

3.) Create a UFO list and complete them!

4.) Exceptions:

Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible. However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric. Notions acceptable too.
Swap Mama Fabric: if hosting a swap you are permitted to by fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
Quilts for Publication: if you are making a quilt for a publication and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception – who can blame you?

GOALS:

1.) Use the fabric already living in my stash.

2.) Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other, new, beautiful fabric.

3.) ~~Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.~~ This one is actually not so hard – I’m very rarely attracted to purchasing fabrics lines as they are released.

4.) Save the money I would be spending on new fabric acquisitions. I’m still working on paying off credit cards. Hubby and I really want to be able to afford the down payment on a house in the near future.

5.) De-stash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use. Thankfully(?), this pool of fabric got a lot smaller – making softies allows me to play more with those fabrics that no longer look as appealing as they did when I bought them.

So, for those of you who would like some encouragement in using up what you have, feel free to join us. I’m going to try something new, and keep track of how much fabric I use up. More to shame myself into continuing to abstain than anything else. I’m also going to allow myself to purchase non-quilting fabric for softies and apparel. Trying different materials for the softies clothes will be fun, and provide more opportunities for me to learn.

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Date : December 2, 2013
Categories : Quilting

6 responses

2 12 2013: Beth B (21:56:27) :

Ok I am almost in!

I will not buy fabric for six months after January 26th (that will let me go to a huge Quilt Show in So Cal).

I am allowed to buy tonal, I don’t need backing but I really don’t have tone on tone.

Instead of Swap Mama Fabric, I am joining a round robin at my guild and I might need fabric for that.

and I will work on my UFO’s.

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3 12 2013: Robyn in Oz (06:06:52) :

It’s a brilliant plan. I also need to cut the stash a bit. I’m almost out of space for more, and most of mine is fat 1/4s – very little yardage. I’ve got a couple of tops finished that need to be backed. I recently purchased a few yards of batting, as I was fresh out. Our local fabric chain store had a $40 off if you spent $100, which is a great discount, so I stocked up on batting, as well as some thread for my new serger.
Making softies is a great way to eat up fat 1/4s, and any yardage can be turned into clothes, whether for oneself, kids or dolls clothes.
I look forward to seeing what you create from the stash. Good luck with getting yourself into a position to get your own place. It is a good feeling. 🙂

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24 12 2013: Jane (03:34:26) :

I am so in on this one – I need to decrease my stash big time, it is growing way faster than I can use it.

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24 12 2013: Grey Cat Quilts (08:09:19) :

I think we all have that problem – fabric is just so easy to buy, thinking that the perfect project for it will come along… Then, of course, we forget to shop the stash when it comes time.

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5 01 2014: Adrienne (19:10:15) :

I am fasting with you! I know we can do it! Am actually excited about tackling my stash

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5 01 2014: Grey Cat Quilts (19:56:53) :

I’m looking forward to it myself – I bought all of this fabric, so I must have loved it at one point. This is my chance to rediscover that love.

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