WIP Wednesday - State of the Stash

I’m working on a Seekrit Project this week, so rather than posting a picture of a lot of blurred out or black bars across it, I thought I post a picture of my stash.

State of the Stash - October 2014

I do have two drawers next to this shelving units that contains batiks (FQs or so) and novelties (50% holiday fabric and 50% random novelty), and a bin of FQs, but this is the bulk of my quilting fabric.

I’m still favoring the cool colors more than the warm, and I could probably use some grays and blacks as well. The chicken-and-egg question is do I not use more black and gray because I don’t have it, or do I not have black and gray because I don’t use it?

For comparison, here is my stash two years ago:

State of the Stash - A huge mamajamma

So yes, my stash overall is smaller, but that is on purpose. I started tracking Sunday Stash reports in early 2012, and my net used yardage from 2012 through last weekend is over 600 yards .  That’s a whole lot more yardage out than in!  My stash is manageable and doesn’t feel overwhelming. I still have enough fabric on hand to make projects without shopping, but I also have room to add fabrics if I want.

I’ve also spent more time working with my scrap stash, which isn’t shown in either picture, and those are used in a lot of charity projects and mystery quilt and general last-minute gifts for people. In general, I’m happy with where I’m at with my stash, although I wish I had more money to spend on fabric!

9 thoughts on “WIP Wednesday - State of the Stash

  1. Looking good. I’m working towards decreasing my stash too. I don’t sew as much as you or as much as I used to for that matter. But I will get there. Some of the new fabrics are just too irresistible. Tami in Denver

  2. Seeing this gives me hope! My stash is out of control. For the last two years, I’ve been focused on using what I have and it feels like I haven’t made much of a dent. But I keep plugging away. It might help if I spent some time actually organizing it. Your stash looks so dang pretty! :)

  3. I wish I could keep my stash half as organized as you keep yours. A few episodes ago you mentioned growing your hair longer and having a pony tail, should you or shouldn’t you at 40 years old. My next birthday I will be 60 and I still have a pony tail, you are only as old as you feel, and you should feel young and energetic or at least try to convince everyone else that you are.

  4. I’m afraid I don’t have a camera with a wide enough lens to photograph my stash. Some people have drink and drug habits but in my case it has been a fabric habit. I’ve been on the 12 step programme for the last couple of years and I have reduced it by several hundred yards but I’m afraid there is no noticeable reduction so far. The last quilts were made with a set of fabrics with 1999 on the selvedge

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