Stash Busting

9:21 PM 7 Comments A+ a-




I haven't been doing much sewing lately, both because of a busy schedule and a lack on inspiration, so I decided the best way to jump start my sewing was to completely terrify myself... As I was reading Musing's of a Seamstress the other day, I noticed that Sarah is keeping track of her fabric stash and how quickly she's getting through it with a yard tracker at the top of her page. I realized that, although I was aware that I have a ton of fabric, I had no idea how many yards I actually I have! I set out to inventory all my fabric and made an alarming discovery. I have 257 1/2 yards in fabric! Not including scraps under a half yard! Or projects I've already cut out but haven't put together! And to make it worse, I've only been collecting fabric for a little under 2 years!

Here are some of my justifications for such a huge number (not that it makes it okay, just trying to make myself feel better):

1. Many of the pieces are from estate sales and are vintage, so they're only 30" wide, meaning I need several yards to make a garment.
2. I am crazy about saving fabric when it comes to cutting out and I try to squeeze the pattern pieces in really tight. Because of that, I end up with lots of 1/2 yard pieces that contributed to the final number. Also, when I first started sewing, I tended to over buy fabric when I was purchasing for a specific project, so that accounts for some of it too.
3. Now that sewing is pretty much my main hobby, my family has taken to cleaning out their stashes and donating them to me. That accounts for a good 20-30 yards...
4. Finally, I love using bed sheets for making dresses, vintage or $5 twin flats from Walmart. Each sheet is at least 8 yards long and I probably have at least 6 or 7 sheets in my stash, which adds up to a lot.

No matter how I got it though, it's still a ridiculous amount of fabric. I also tallied how many vintage items I have stashed to re-fashion (25 dresses, 3 jackets, 14 tops, 8 skirts). I know I'm not going to be able to completely stop buying fabric, however I have to sew a lot faster and not bring in more yards (or re-fashion items) than I finish each month. Also, my goal is to get the amount of yardage to below 200 before the end of the year, a scary prospect considering 90% of my projects take 2 yards or less! I'm planning on checking my progess and the beginning of each month and setting aside 2 nights a week of solid sewing, no exceptions!

Anyway, that's my horrifying revelation of the week. Please tell me I'm not the only one with this much fabric!

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Sarah C
AUTHOR
August 5, 2011 at 11:19 PM delete

I am glad I could inspire you! If I use 212 yards this year I will still have 212 yards left! I cannot believe how much fabric I have bought this year. Plus, I am going to a new fabric store tomorrow. Eeps! Good luck on getting below 200 yards!

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August 6, 2011 at 3:18 AM delete

I am way too scared of the prospect of counting how many yards I have! Good luck with taming the stash pile!

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Gail
AUTHOR
August 7, 2011 at 1:53 AM delete

No you are not. I have a ridiculous, as yet unquantified amount of fabric. And worse, despite openly admitting that I have too much, I went to the Tessuti sale remnant sale and bought 7.5 rolls of quality fabric each containing at least 6 metres. My excuse - couldn't resist a bargain at $10 a roll. Alas, not all my purchases are so well founded - I have a number of expensive, uncut pieces too.

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Unknown
AUTHOR
August 7, 2011 at 5:43 PM delete

Dear... you are NOT the only one! I don't have that big of a stash, but I have a stash. It's been on my mind wondering how much money I have spent on fabric that I haven't yet made into a garment. Keep up the sewing - you will definitely get through the stash. And as for your goal, I think it's totally attainable!

Tiffany
pixiepatternandsewing.blogspot.com

P.S. Where are you finding these estate sales... clearly it's a market I haven't tapped into yet!

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Sewingadicta
AUTHOR
August 8, 2011 at 7:41 PM delete

You and I are in the same addiction .... but this is a very healthy and productive addiction. LOL

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Forrest
AUTHOR
August 13, 2011 at 12:25 PM delete

I feel so much better knowing it's not just me! Tiffany, I find estate sale listings on estatesales.net!

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August 20, 2011 at 11:18 PM delete

I keep thinking I'm getting through my stash but I keep adding to it!It's part of the fun. I think I would have an anxiety fit if I used up all my fabric anyway.I use estate sales.net too!

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