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When I first started quilting, I eagerly jumped in with both feet. I almost immediately signed up for a "color of the month" stash builder club. Each month, 12 beautiful 1/2 yard cuts would arrive in my mailbox that I would lovingly fold and place on a shelf to admire.
I imagined having one of those beautiful sewing studios with a wall of perfectly stacked FQs arranged in rainbow order to pull from whenever I wanted to make a new quilt. Makes sense, right?
Wrong.
There were several things wrong with this approach (for me).
The fabrics I was getting in the stash builder boxes were full of novelty prints that I don't use. They are cute and fun, and I held on to them because I might have the "perfect project someday". But, I've come to realize, unless specifically requested by a client, I'm never going to reach for those kinds of fabrics. It's just not my style.
My style is still evolving and changing. The fabrics or colors I'm choosing right now will probably be different next year. Even though it is fun to look at, my small stash is taking up space we don't have a ton of and will just have to pack up and move again (thanks, Army).
The "stash builder" buys new fabric collections as they are released, buys basics and blenders to have a variety of fabrics to mix and match for any project, and (probably) has the wall of beautifully stacked FQs.
The "project purchaser" buys a pattern (or creates one), determines how much fabric is needed, and purchases that amount. This quilter may have a small stash of basics and blenders and/or a scrap fabric system, but generally buys what she needs when she needs it.
I'm the second.
It didn't make sense for me to have a stash (however small) of fabrics I was probably never going to use because I was buying what I wanted when I needed it.
I'm using more solids than prints these days.
With pattern writing, I've found that it's better to make the cover quilts with solids so the pattern stays relevant. Using a fabric line that won't be available in 6 months could make the pattern look outdated, or frustrate a quilter who wanted to make the cover quilt but can't because that fabric is no longer available.
In the scenario where I pictured a wall of beautifully stacked FQs arranged in rainbow order, I'm imagining a forever house. One that won't be packed up, moved across the country, and then rearranged into a new house that may or may not have the same space or layout.
My husband is in the Army so we get to move every 1 to 3 years. Someday we will have a forever house, but until then, I need to part with the fabric I know I won't use so it is one less thing to pack, move, or store.
I created a destash page.
These fabrics are fun and beautiful and someone who will actually use them should have them! I'm getting rid of almost everything at ridiculously low prices, so feel free to take a look around and see if there is anything you want or need for your next project! There are also some good stash builders in there if that's more your style too. ;)
Tell me, are you a stash builder or a project purchaser?
Read more: Click here to read about my fabric scrap storage system
