In the beginning I bought everything that was on sale, and most of it was 'traditional'. It matched what everyone else was using in the quilting classes I attended. I was new to online fabric shops and went a little mad. I collected a lot of fulgies, which should all be gone by now. Though I do think that sometimes they hide in crevasses and breed - then those little buggers leap out and give me a fright!
Next came the buying a whole line of a fabric stage. Only I would get them and there were always several prints that just did not do it for me. Fine when it is a charm pack or a layer cake, but when you have a FQ or half yard of it and it is glaringly obvious that you won't ever use it then that is a waste of money.
Finally, I am at the stage of buying stuff I like, and only what I like. I also have my fabric in its new storage units so I am better able to see what I have sorted by colour. This system works for me. It was only when I got the Ikea units and sorted it all that I came to realise that I had far more blue, pink and green than red, purple, orange or yellow. Now that does not mean that I don't still buy blue, pink and green. But it does mean that occasionally I remember to add to my stash of the others.
Well, that's the theory - because at the recent LQS sale I did come out with almost all blues, greens and pinks so in reality I am failing badly! I've done slightly better this time.
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| I already had the layer cake but I got the solids to go with it. Any suggestions for a quilt pattern? |
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| Love these! Woodlands from Anthology. |
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| Everyone needs a few sheep and flowers in their stash, don't they? |
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| Some Modern Whimsy. Good stash builders. |
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| Despite this looking like a package of hankies for your grandfather, it was an ideal chance to build up my purple stash. |
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| You don't find enough good purples out there in the fabric shops. At least I don't, so I had to have these. |
Susan
I'm not quite sure what satage I'm at - probably buying a complete collection, so that I'm confident they'll all match! If I tried to do a rainbow quilt, I'd have nothing at the purple end either!
ReplyDeletei dont know what i am at yet but i do have quite a lot of fabric maybe fuglies too :))
ReplyDeleteI'm at the stage that you're making me want to go buy fabric lol
ReplyDeleteOoh love the circles and sheep :-) I'm at that stage too now I think. Just need a bigger sewing room and more awake hours to sew in.... lol
ReplyDeleteLove your new fabric! Not sure what stage I'm at as I haven't been through any of the ones you have - did I skip them or are they to come?!!
ReplyDeleteI was at the buying a line stage but my NY resolution is to just buy what I love and preferably a half yard. I have the pretty blue flower fabric (is it Just Wing It?) and used it yesterday in a granny square. I also have a lot of that vibrant green Anthology fabric (Dianne Kapa - Songbird in Lime I think ). I agree with Jan, you are making me want to fabric shop!
ReplyDeleteI am at around the same stage with my stash. Although I seem to be on a blender bender at the minute ;-)
ReplyDeletemy stash is so random that I have no idea what stage I am at!! I am very untrendy in that I very rarely know the names of any ranges or designers, just what works for me!
ReplyDeleteFun reading about the different stages, but it is so true. Loving those sheep and the purples.
ReplyDeleteLovely fabric!
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think I am just at that stage too. I went from having NO fabric in September of last year to a whole lot now. I have a bolt end store near-ish to my house and I bought most of my fabric from there. It's all designer, but there are a few prints that I won't ever use! Now, I've learned to pick the prints I want and stick with those.
ReplyDeleteI could use a class on building my stash. I tend to over buy and then don't know what to do with it all.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny cos purples are what I have least of too! Buying fabric is definitely an education! Jxo
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful purples - so true that good ones are hard to find.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely fabrics you picked.
ReplyDeleteROFL, love the different stages of fabric buying! I started with collecting pieces for bee blocks and swaps, plus a bundle on sale that I had no clue what to do with and have just converted into a Stained quilt. I've only added lines in a couple of charm packs and layer cakes since then, except for Prince Charming and Echo (and I have big plans for them so I can get ;o) ). I'm at the stashing a variety of things for different purposes now, and funnily enough, Brenda's got a package headed my way too... :oD
ReplyDeleteI am at the stage that, having spent so much money on the earlier stages, I have to be choosy!
ReplyDeleteI still can't bring myself to sort into colours, it's all by collection/designer, or if I am not that into it, it can live in the 'heap'!
Lovely, just lovely! If only I could get through my stash, I might justify buying more! (BTW I am away on school camp for the next 3 days- maybe my pouch will here when I return!)
ReplyDeleteI think we've all been through those stages. Buying what you like and what you think will work with whatever else is in your stash comes with getting confidence in your fabric choices I think.
ReplyDeleteLove what you bought - especially the Woodlands.
I love those Anthology purples, very nice! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am at the stage where I find I'm not that much into purple! What does that mean?
ReplyDeleteThose solids are lovely. I agree it's really hard to find good purples. As for fabric stages, I am at the "I have so much fabric, I need to use it up and not keep looking at it!" stage.
ReplyDeleteyum.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely at the buy what I like stage.
Which means consequently I have about 3 piles of blue and yellow, orange and red take up one small pile collectively.
I don't even think purple exists other than in my fat quarter collection.
I am trying to amend this, but it's not so easy when you're on a fabric diet...
I'm at the buy only what I really really like and that will fill holes in my stash. I'm trying to buy small scale prints, or prints that will be great for binding. I used to buy lots of larger focus prints, which are lovely but don't all work together.
ReplyDeleteNice purples. Still feel safe with pre cuts. Hopefully moving on to buy what I like. Di xo
ReplyDeleteYour fabrics are awesome!I can´t go to a fabrics shop without buy any.
ReplyDeleteSuch nice fabrics Susan - the purples are lovely! How about this pattern for your layer cake + solids:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/05/easy-strawberry-fields-bricks-quilt.html
beautiful fabrics and totally putting me in the mood to buy more fabric! I tend to buy what I like. Do you purchase from the US and is it more cost effective? prices are so high here in the UK X
ReplyDeleteI was the same with fabric purchases when I first started sewing - now I have all my stash colour coordinated and over the last few months I've been trying to fill colour gaps - purple being one of them! I am still a terrible impulse buyer, I saw a leap year day sale on etsy on the 29th and couldn't resist!
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely fabric...you know you'll make us all want to spend! I think I have the same purple problem as you, so good idea to get those hankies ;) x
ReplyDeleteLove those MW dots. I need them in my life. Which LQS was this? Bramble Patch?
ReplyDeleteGreat choices :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what stages I've got through - desperate for anything, oh it's in the sale and 'so and so' might like that?!! I'm only getting what I LOVE now!! Can't afford to make mistakes! Very good post :)