crafty pat

I am going to use my stash for awhile to try and make more room in my sewing room. I found several bags with patterns and fabric ready to start. So no new fabric for me for awhile.

MacThayer

I thought I had a great stash until I realized it was mainly focus fabrics, and nowhere near enough blenders. That comes from only buying fabric that I absolutely love, and feeling justified in buying it because I absolutely love it. So when I went through my stash a while ago, I made a list of the colors of blenders I would need, and started shopping those. I would literally write down: light teal print/dots to go with Parrot fabric ---- something like that. Then when I shopped those sales on line, I had a specific list to work from. If I wasn't sure the fabric would work, I could always just pull out the "Parrot fabric" and make a judgement. That helped to eliminate a lot, and give me confidence about the ones I did buy. I'm still working on it, but I've increased my stash of blender fabrics considerably. I now realize the blenders are just as important as the focus fabrics -- the ones that stop me in my tracks -- because without the blenders on hand, I'm at the quilt shop at the last minute paying full price for fabrics I could have gotten for $4.00 a yard on those specials I like to hunt down.

raptureready

I try to build my stash at garage sales, thrift stores such as Goodwill, and auctions. I only buy at the fabric at the fabric store if I want it for a specific quilt. Still, I spend about $100 or more a month on threads, fabric or gadgets while I'm there on retreat or making a trip there between retreats.

A few weeks ago I was in my favorite LQS and happened to drop in on their buyer. She was complaining because she hated raising prices on items but THEIR prices were skyrocketing too! It's not the fabric stores but rather the manufactures, the distributors, the price of raw goods, etc. making the prices go up. The fabric stores are just desperately trying not to go under. It's their misfortune that they're the ones we see so they have to take the heat from all of us.

Cosy

A couple of years ago I purchased 3 yards of fabric (very pretty stripe in red, yellow, gold, looking very Christmasy) just because I liked the colors and the design and it was 1/2 price. Still haven't used it, don't know what I would use it for. So, usually, no, I don't buy unless I know what I am using it for. But I usually buy extra to build a stash, and often shop my stash to finish a project.
eta: that's the only time I've bought just for the fabric, not a project, and since I haven't used it, probably won't buy that way again.

mucky

I'm at the point where I don't need a stash. I'm trying to reduce it so someone else doesn't have to dispose of it. It's amazing what can make with what they have. I also love scrappy quilts.

Sandee

So.....I do purchase, mostly from Connecting Threads

I get alot from Connecting Threads, also. They are having a very nice clearance sale right now! $ 2.48 & up. Batiks under $6.00. Shipping is fast.

sylvia77

I buy fabric on sale and when I absolutely have to have it.

wishfulthinking

Great idea, MacThayer! I'm gonna make a list!

Havplenty

yes there have been a few of those estate sales in my area. there is a post of mine on this board where it was raining thread at an estate sale i attended. one estate sale taped the fabrics into bundles and priced them at $2/bundle. it is a good way to find stash fabric inexpensively. but other than that, i buy specific.

IAmCatOwned

You are using the higher cost of fabric as an excuse to buy tons of fabric that you aren't using anyway (been there done that). How does that make sense? Especially if you have ANY $$ on credit cards costing interest! On the plus side, if you have no credit card debt, then it makes sense to buy backings - lots of yardage and many of us don't need a really specific fabric for the back.

My suggestion is to stop buying the sale fabric. Start working on projects from the fabric you already have and buy locally for filler fabric. It will cost you LESS because you will only be spending money on a project you are working on now. It's hard, but I think in the long run you will be happier with stash that is regularly used. Remind yourself that if you died tomorrow, your heirs will sell your remaining fabric for 50 cents a yard. That's the average price I've paid for gorgeous fabric at estate sales.

I was bad this year (an Asian collection that went from zero to 40 yards). It's ok though. I have now learned to occasionally give myself a break.