Thanks for the reminder that even very simple quilts are beautiful. Not every quilt needs to be complicated, and if the notion of complication is what stops me from using what I have, I need to shake it off.
I am enjoying your ideas so much. You are sensible, polite, and easy to understand. You don't talk down to us, and give us ideas to try now. I love that you are wanting us to use what we have. Too many are working for some company and keep wanting us to buy kits or expensive tools. I hope you keep making new videos, you are a refreshing change.
Thank You very much for your advice. I will share this video with my daughter my baby 38 years old. S he started quilting at 12. We passed a quilt store she saw a quilt in the window and said I want to do that. We went inside to get more info and signed her up. I took notes for her. I saw her do her first flying geese, then mama signed up and we both have been buying fabric ever since.😲😊 thanks again
I shopped only my stash for 3 or 4 years after watching a lady in her 80s with 2 teen grandchildren buy a whole table full of fabric. These kids spent 2 weeks organizing her fabrics for her the previous month so she could find things easily in her 2 fabric rooms. My husband took 2 years to notice I wasn't buying fabric. My friend opened a quilt shop so got back in. Life is complicated. Great video.
I was happy to learn that I do almost all of the things you suggest. I do buy a fabric on the fly once in a while but within my budget and with a purpose for it in mind. :) I inherited all my mother in-laws quilting supplies & equipment. I went to a junk store and bought a chest of drawers for the fabric. I have used all but just a few "projects" worth, having to buy very little. Most of what I make is for her great-grand children. She left me projects half done but taught me how to finish. She quilted up to one month before she left us... In her late 80's! I feel so close to her when I sew and my grand children love knowing that they have a part of her in what I make. What a gift she has left us!
2020 or "The Great Pause" as I call it gave me the uninterrupted time I needed to go through my stash, scraps, and notions. I make/donate small 36"square quilts to a local hospital for their NICU/PICU in memory of a family member. Last year I made 99 quilts, 50 small Christmas stockings, several taggies, and over a hundred masks "shopping" from my stash and minimal purchases. Your tips, tricks, and strategies were invaluable as we're your videos of encouragement and inspiration. It was an AHA moment when you said don't keep the fabrics you don't like anymore. It was like you waved a magic wand releasing the guilt because I hadn't used it yet. . However, the tip I struggle with the most is not over buying. The bargain hunter in me has a really tough time saying no to that end of bolt discount. . . hehehe!!! Like my projects, I'm a work in progress too!!! Thanks again Karen for your wisdom and generosity!!!
I learned to quilt from my grandmother 62 years ago. After inheriting my mother’s quilting fabric, I can probably quilt for another 62 years! For the past few years I have only purchased fabric when I didn’t have enough for the backing. I am making a good dent in my stash. I also let my quilt group shop my stash.
I have been putting off watching this video. First off, thank you for no judgement. Secondly, I LOVE knowing how many fat quarter's or how many cakes make a simple quilt. The idea of knowing how much fabric I have has always scared me. But, now I can view that information as how many quilts I will have. I feel so much such more productive with that information. This feels liberating from a hoarder to a producer.
My grandmother would ditto your advice on fabric budgeting and buying just the right amount. She actually very rarely bought as much as the pattern called for. When we went shopping for patterns and fabric together we would take a few extra minutes to sit at the table in the fabric store while she analyzed the pattern cutting layout to see what she could move to have less waste. She almost always bought a little less and always had enough. She also always bought good fabric. It's easier to afford nice things if you only buy as much as you need.
I met a woman on our neighborhood "Buy Nothing" group on FB. She makes purses for African girls to carry and conceal their tampons, etc.... She makes the purses, and a charity group fills them and mails them off. I was thrilled to have someone to help me destash fabrics I've acquired that no longer make my heart sing or ones that just don't work that well for quilts, but are perfect for purses.
OMG I needed to hear you this morning, before I started ordering MORE beautiful fabrics just because I am on everyone's email! How do they find us? Started counting, just mentally, not even stepping into my sewing living room! Yes busted out of a sewing bedroom, now took over the never used living room! Clear boxes of all mentioned fabric sizes! In beautiful colors. If I sewed a quilt every week for the rest of my life, I would be the oldest living sewing woman alive in the world! And the rate I am going I won't even remember where my sewing room is very soon... Not funny just fact. Thank you for opening my eyes and closing my shopping. I am sure that my family thanks you too. Have a great day.
I just redesigned my sewing room and had to handle all my fabric. You are right about the need to know what you have. When I saw all the beautiful precuts I own, I have no desire to shop for more.
I recently moved to Hawaii to babysit for my one and only grand! Moving to Hawaii made me donate 90 percent of the fabric I purchased. I 've been quilting for almost 2 years now, and I had accumulated a significant stash! I mailed all my precuts because they were the most expensive to purchase, and would take up less space in my 405 sqft. apartment!! At the end of the day, I'm too tired to quilt now!! When I adjust to new busy day, I 'll come back strong. Love "Just Get it Done Quilts". Thank you for all your quilt block ideas. I'm anxious to get back to it.
In addition to the abundance of fabric, I have enough yarn to last a couple lifetimes. This is a great video with some good guidance that can be applied across different craft stashes.
I got many, (over time) 3or4 drawer units that are clear plastic and stackable (if you don't put the roller ball wheels on the bottoms!) . I have all my yarns, heritage family linens , embroidery projects, and fabrics roughly sorted by type (cotton, wool, stretchable, silks and nylon-ish .....) and all the cottons by colours - pretty much, lol. love them because i can see at a glance what there is and where, and very importantly, I can easily access all by simply pulling open a drawer!. no more un-pile-ing towers of crates and boxes to get at something that MIGHT be in that bottom one!!! Highly recommend. I got them fairly inexpensively years ago at walmart and staples in their 'office' storage solutions sections. (use them for all my clothes and sheets and shoes too)
So helpful! I am a 67 yr. old retiree and a beginner quilter. This advice is excellent! Your way of explaining the information is concise and to the point. Now I need to clear out my yarn stash!!! Very well done!
My mantra for this year was not to buy any more fabric but to make as many quilts as I can out of them. So far I have made 6 or so and then put them on my longarm. Man have I not only saved money but my stash is sooo much smaller. Love your videos. Thank you for taking the time to share them to us.
I started my first quilt in high school, and that's the time I started collecting fabric. Well, I'm in my 70's now and have enough yardage that I started selling fat quarters at a music festival I go to yearly and donating quilts for their raffle. This leaves me with enough yardage that I have closets full of my favorite colors and plastic bins full, and shoe boxes full, and plastic drawers full. Well, you get the idea. I've started working on my Mt. Scrapmore by cutting fabric down to usable sizes. For me that's 3" squares, 2" wide strips, 2" squares. These seem to be the sizes I use most often. I've got 3 quilts in the works that use those sizes and 1 quilt that is being made from the strings that are left over from all the cutting. And from all the cutting I've been doing recently, I have one small trash can of pieces to toss. I'm fortunate in having a very large room dedicated to my sewing. I've learned through the years what types of patterns I like to use and about how much fabric I'll need to make them. When I go fabric shopping now, I know to buy only 1/8th of a yard. 4.5 inches of fabric cut from each of 8 colors makes several of my favorite blocks. Therefore I only get a yard of fabric total.
Love your ideas. I had a major destash last year. I made bed quilts for my 3 grandkids and their parents for Christmas all from my stash. The only fabric I purchased was background fabric but that was limited. I just completed a queen + size quilt for my nephew using up my extra blocks from very partial quilts. I only needed to make 3 blocks for this one. I set it on point for a really nice scrappy look using up similar blue strips for sashinh and random reds for cornerstones. I even pieced the binding from a couple fat quarters. I am now down to 1 box of 1 yard and up fabrics, 1 box of fat quarters and 1 box of scraps. Moving into a very small house dictated something had to be done with all the excess. Forgot to mention, all the quilt backs were pieced together too, mostly from fat quarters which made them all reversible. Now I am on a very limited budget from a forced early retirement so I am concentrating on completing ufo and wip quilts. Once done, I am going to make miniatures!
Yes you are talking to me. I have just started a no shop for 30 days combined with a goal to use 30 yards. This video will be my enforcer. The key word is “limit”. I appreciate your efforts.
I'm just now going thru my stash and scraps. I'm so thankful I saw this video. My local quilt shop is having a sale today!!! But I already have so many scraps and UFOs. I'm staying home, thank you!
I am a new quilter and have been studying for about 6 months reading books, watching videos, talking with other Quilters. I have been doing this pre and post two surgeries on my eyes for cataracts. Now I have beautiful new eyes and can see perfectly clear conscience lines and color. However, while I have been studying I have also been purchasing fabric, tools, and references. I probably have ten years worth of projects. Not lying it has become an addiction. Thank you for this video it has helped me to be aware of my situation. I am retiring in a few months and have plans to take on these projects. Several are put together with patterns but there is still a mountain of fabric with no project assigned. I look forward to more of your videos.
I worked at a quilt shop for 10 years!! Enough said. Lol. I have more than I can ever use up. I went through my fabric and pulled for pillow cases and got started on them. That helped some. I just trying to make up fabric into usable items before I can no longer do it. No purchasing for me. Great video.
My town recently passed a plastic bag ban that goes into effect in January so market bags will be getting a chunk of my stash. They will also make great all occasion gifts for a while.
I'm not a quilter at this time. I do sew clothes etc. I still enjoy your channel. I just try to apply the same info to my own crafting choice. Thank you for your clear and handy videos. Much appreciated.
It's been that kind of week, from snowstorms to my internet connections going down. So finally, here is 5 Strategies to keep your fabric stash in balance with your quilting speed. We all have our own comfort level. Know your limit, quilt within it.
Prequilt is going to be a gamechanger for me! I'm here doodling pattern with my pencil and notebook with RUclips rambling in the background. Discovering your channel feels serendipitous at this moment!
I missed this video when it came out. I recently donated a lot of my stash to a new quilter and while doing it found a lot of fabric that I had forgotten, buried under more recent purchases. I like your new covid hair better!!
Oh dear! I have tub upon tub of vintage auction fabrics my hubby supplied me with. I share with 2 other women. I think as long as we happily pull out of them, not to mention the scrap from the scrap bin, we will just not worry about calculating. I appreciate your videos and sound advice. You are a joy in my life! Thank you!!
l just subscribed today and let me tell ya, this was the 3rd video l have watched and man did it hit home. l stood up and looked around my house and realized l have fabric stashed EVERYWHERE! ln the living room, the hallway closet, my bedroom, in my armoire, in drawers, closets and l have even put it in coolers because l ran out of totes to put it in. l have come to realize because of this video, that l have a lot of work to do without ever going shopping for at least the next 3 years! Thank you for this video. Sometimes a girl needs to just hear something that they have been ignoring.
COVID-19 is a great stash buster for the fabrics you don't like/don't know what to do with! So far I've made 23 masks with the random pieces I have from other projects, and with the left overs I plan on making bias tape ties for them!
My mom died last year. She was an avid quilter and sewer for over 60 years. I inherited the contents of her sewing room. (Yeah, new expensive sewing machines and equipment). But I also got her whole stash and UFOs. I found a girl's sewing club who gladly took a lot of the stash and excess equipment. But I still have a few years of quilts to make.
Thank you for reminding me that I need to add quilting back into my budget! I could probably quilt/sew for at least 5 years except that I share my stash with my friend who set up a sewing room in her house for us to share. I also have to buy batting and thread occasionally. I have found that simple flannel baby blankets or shopping bags make great "pallet cleansers" or warm up projects when I don't have time or inspiration for more complex patterns. I just discovered your channel yesterday and you are inspiring me already. Thank you!
I just love your style. You're fun, sensible, informative and creative. Great advice! I challenged myself the beginning of 2017 to craft and sew with only what I had on hand . . . and I had plenty! . . . unless I absolutely couldn't finish the project without purchasing something. i.e. thread, more glue sticks, etc. I stuck to it and, imagine that, I had plenty to make plenty! 😂 At 65, the road ahead is getting shorter; I don't want my 4 daughters to have to deal with all my stash 'n trash when I'm gone! Have a fab time next weekend!! ♡
You are very smart. I received a call at least three times a year from friends with a fabric stash of an recently departed relative. So much ends up in a dumpster.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts my friend thought of me when she had 3 boxes of her grandmother's fabric (1980s) to clear out of her storage. After washing & refolding polyblends, plaids, corduroys, etc. in neutrals, my church received large totes for the girls' orphanage we sponsor. Jumpers & overalls help preserve their school uniforms just for classes. 🤗
That's what I'm doing! Use what I have. For the last year I've only purchased interfacing, batting and one piece of fabric for a special request present.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Many of the thrift (charity) shops will take fabrics, etc. A friend runs a charity shop and has a few of us that will show up to help out by cutting blocks, roll fabric remnants, sort notions, wool & needles, etc. That sort of stuff sells pretty good & fast for the shops that take the items.
Thank you or being the new friend that you have become. I found your site by accident, but fell in love with it. I am a white knuckle quilter, always wondering if what I do is acceptable Because you have no criticism of simple projects, I feel 100% better.
Ive always loved sewing since i was a kid, i can't afford the pricy fabrics, but i cut up anything i can find even scrubs lol, love all your videos, i love scrappy quilts hope you make more videos on scraps
Hi Jenny- you are so clever to see creativity in in older fabrics! well done!..keep enjoying yourself! hugs from Australia...where I live is quite tropical, hence not many quilts are needed, but I can offer them to chairty..cheers!
Yes! Fairly new to quilting, but I do have a good size stash! A few months ago I started shopping in my stash and have sworn off visiting quilting stores until I use my stash up, or unless I need something for a project, which is rare. Thanks for the tips and strategies!❤
Another great inspirational video. I think I would have to live two lifetimes to use all my stash. Am almost done cutting up 3 bags of scraps to usable sizes like squares and strips. Last year I measured and organized yardage. Making progress. But there is so much fabric eye candy on the internet when it comes to fabric. I limit most fabric purchases to local quilt shops and shows to help resist temptation. Have fun at Quilt Con.
Great advice! I am a senior on a very limited budget and new to quilting. Raising 5 girls, a fabric junkie. Just learning how much fabric to buy for a specific size. So many cute fabrics out there hard to resist. Began this journey With fabrics i have had for 25 -30 yrs. Great practice pieces for block demos.
I have been avidly quilting for 30+ years PLUS I owned a fabric store for a brief amount of time. I had to close it due to both parents with Alzheimer's, and a lot of the fabrid followed me home. I have been de-stashing for several years now by donating to our guild. At almost every meeting I jave someone thank me for sharing. I still have a ridiculous amount of fabric.... Thanks for your ideas. They will help!
You are awesome, I just started quilting about 3 months ago, and I probably have enough to make about 10 quilts lol... I bought some but grandmother gave me a lot also
Thanks for the tips!! I shop from my quilting friend's stash and she gets stuff from mine. I recently pulled all my quilting fabric out and sorted and refolded it to fit in a narrow shelf unit I have. I figured if I could see it I would be inspired by all the pretty colours!! It also gave me a chance to see what is lacking(plainer fabrics and larger prints). Now I can easily shop from my stash and shop from my friend's place or the charity shops and the store when I have to. I also watched your scrap prep video and I spent a good chunk of today, sorting and cutting some Christmas fabric. I narrowed down what I want to make as per your suggestion and cut my fabric accordingly. Thanks and Happy Quilting!!
I just found your videos and Love you! Even though I taught piecing & quilting for years I enjoy watching you. (I wish I'd seen this one years ago.) I will pray for your son. Be well, you are amazing.💚
Lady you are a wealth of information....i am not a quilter....hec i don't even sew yet but want to learn so i am watching many many videos on the subject. i like your ethos and you talk a lot of sense that i know will help me with my sewing jerney. Thank you. x
Love your utube videos . You are so funny and so informative. . Got up this morning and dived into my stash . Have now about 10 projects cut and put together for some serious sewing this week. Am going to commit to not buying any more quilting fabric till I clear a few of my plastic boxes. Thanks for the push.
Thanks for so many great tips! I don't quilt, but I sew garments. My fabric stash is getting a bit out of control, so you gave me some great things to think about. Ultimately - they aren't going to stop making fabric, and there will always be something beautiful out there to buy.
I'm so glad I found you. You are the encyclopedia of quilting. Happy happy happy you have made me!! I have fabric all over my house so that it looks like I have a manageable amount of fabric. Ha ha ha. My family knows that I am a fabric hoarder. 😂😂😂 I have been inspired to do something about it by your channel. I live in West Paducah,Kentucky and getting ready to get ready for my niece and 2 of her friends comming for the quilt show,Lord willing I still have time to collect my fabric and tops for organizing. I would love to binge watching your channel, but no time for now. Thanks for sharing.
I love it! You've got some great nuggets about creativity and staying motivated. I have learned so much from your videos I am STILL clicking my heels about pressing correctly. Thank you. Tha k you. Thank you.
Absolutely LOVED all your ideas here. I know for myself personally it can be hard not to buy the latest fabric, but I am really trying to be very intentional, and you are 100% correct, we CAN’T take it with us!!! Keep your videos coming, love them!!!
wow!! thanks for the prequilt info!! what a terrific site! im a buy fabric first, design later type quilter. stash control is unknown territory for me.
I have a very tiny fabric stash at this point. Right now, I can only buy the fabric I need for my next project. Everything must have a specific purpose and my next 4 quilts are already planned. If I get them done in time, I might enter 2 of them in our local and state fairs this summer. The other 2 are for a couple of babies who are both due to be born in August. I also have garments that need to be made.
Found your website a few weeks ago, and really enjoy it. Love the advice you gave in this one. I have been quilting for 3 years, and already have a sizable stash that I am trying to use up. I just didn't understand how addictive fabric could become before I started quilting. I have been buying some kits lately to speed up the process, since the idea was to donate them to the fire victims here in Northern CA. But my pregnant daughter-in-laws ( both) saw them and really loved them, so now I have to dip into my stash to make the ones to donate. Thanks for the advice about the PreQuilt website. I will try to use it to design my own quilts with my stash fabric. Really enjoy your tutorials and your sense of humor. And the video work is excellent! Thanks!
Those first years are problematic for fabric buying. You need more fabric for all the quilts you want to make but you are still not sure what your personal style is or how to arrange the fabrics.
Thanks, this is very informative as I am a beginner quilter. Today I sewed my first quilt top (baby sized) using my first ever sewing machine (took me a long time to learn how to thread it). My goal is to buy, sew and quilt in that order with no accumulating material, only true scraps and current projects. I hope I can keep to that. You're right. There is lots of beautiful material and there will be more beautiful material, so there is no need to buy something just because I like it. Thanks!
Thank you! I love your videos and how informative they are! I love the way you film, teach, show, explain everything. The way you talk/teach is VERY soothing. Now, it's time for me to go get reacquainted with my stash...and display them, instead of keeping them out of sight in various bins! 💖
Thank you - great video! I really appreciate the info and the humor. On my way to a "handwerk" event (hand-work: quilting, etc) here in Holland this Sunday and I am definitely go with a budget. Have a great time at the Big event this weekend. I hope you have fun!
Just found your video tonight as I was researching QuiltCon and Nashville. Thank you for so many practical tips, and I hope to try out PreQuilt for my next quilt with my layer cakes. I will watch this video again and jot down more notes.
I use tubs only for scraps I have cut from leftovers. A bin for 2.5, 4 inch strips, another for 5 inch squares, 10 in squares. Fat quarters and larger I keep in hanging shoe or sweater organizers, then i can see the fabric I have. 2 yard and larger are hanging so I can see potential backs. I am only buying what I have to buy to finish projects.
I’m sitting here sewing a string quilt to use a large collection of strings as I’m listening to your informative video. I have been avidly quilting for 30+ years. Two years ago, I designated a storage area that want to Finally want to end up for fabric storage. Lol, I’m no where near that goal yet. Therefore, I’m intrigued learning about PreQuilt. I just added it to my home screen. Now, I have just finished two community quilts. One of your ideas for tackling my stash and goal of adding one per month. I already have enforced for just short of a year to “NO NEW FABRIc” rule. Every tine I think that I have to to buy “one” fabric that I “really” need to keep going with my quilt, I keep searching and low and behold, I have come up with “just the right fabric”. Two years I have also followed with your tip of Shop with a Budget!! It is very helpful and reassuring to me that I have a visual goal of the exact space and storage units for my end goal for my fabric. I can mentally see that I am moving forward toward that goal. Another thing for me is that I have scoured Pinterest for a specific purpose! Most of us will admit that the new fabrics are mush more alluring than what we purchased 10-20+ years ago (and less). For me, making this an important task, I have been to identify quilts that I can make with my old, and older fabrics that will be just as stunning as my new quilts. And God bless Kona white and snow. Lol. I just finished a wonderful Evening Star quilt done in plaids..... from eons ago with a few newish ones for a special daughter in law. She loves it and was absolutely overjoyed to receive it. I even used good size pieces of older fabric for the backing. Yes, it did take me an extra day to piece it but it turned out to be perfect for the quilt. A few country prints featuring snowmen that had lost their appeal a long time ago were the perfect accents for the plaid pieces I used on the back. Best of all is the satisfaction and happiness I had and still have resulting from taking another large step toward my goal of reaching a Specific, Limited amount of fabric that I will allow myself to have on hand. And believe me, I have allowed myself Plenty of room to have a fabric collection. As I challenged myself I’m learning that using my old, and I do mean old fabric doesn’t mean that I’m limited to making blah, dreary, unappealing quilts. The one exception to my plan is that I can always have a reasonable amount of Kona white and snow on hand. Other exception is that for 2 specific quilts I have planned I will need a specific amount of a background fabric that will have to be purchased. LOL, I even calculated exactly how much I need and that is what the purchase will be..exactly and no more. I really found your video to be encouraging and I know I will carry it in my head and it will pop up if/when I have any weak moments.
I have a gazillion meters of fabric... not even kidding. People were clearing out during lockdown and I chose to save the fabric from landfill. It's a complete mix of cotton, dress fabric (knits), denim, upholstery, curtaining... I could sew for 10 years and NOT see the end of it. I've only just started quilting (I've made most of my own clothing), but the choices I have are overwhelming. It started as a good deed, but now I can't see the wood for the trees (even after a full day of 3 people sorting through it all).
Sometimes I give fabrics to a local thespian group. She also makes items for a church charity. I also loved your crumb video. I make cage mats for the local shelter. I also made small quilt blocks out of the extras( crumbs) from a 30s quilt I am making. It will probably make some nice smaller quilts for gifts. Great advice. I try to shop from my stash and only buy small amounts when I need too to finish.
Thanks for the reminder that even very simple quilts are beautiful. Not every quilt needs to be complicated, and if the notion of complication is what stops me from using what I have, I need to shake it off.
I am enjoying your ideas so much. You are sensible, polite, and easy to understand. You don't talk down to us, and give us ideas to try now. I love that you are wanting us to use what we have. Too many are working for some company and keep wanting us to buy kits or expensive tools. I hope you keep making new videos, you are a refreshing change.
Thank You very much for your advice. I will share this video with my daughter my baby 38 years old. S he started quilting at 12. We passed a quilt store she saw a quilt in the window and said I want to do that. We went inside to get more info and signed her up. I took notes for her. I saw her do her first flying geese, then mama signed up and we both have been buying fabric ever since.😲😊 thanks again
I shopped only my stash for 3 or 4 years after watching a lady in her 80s with 2 teen grandchildren buy a whole table full of fabric. These kids spent 2 weeks organizing her fabrics for her the previous month so she could find things easily in her 2 fabric rooms. My husband took 2 years to notice I wasn't buying fabric. My friend opened a quilt shop so got back in. Life is complicated. Great video.
I am 72 and love simple patterns. I started quilting 3 years ago. I'm a new subscriber and really love this advice.
Thank you
I love her too!! How are you doing now? Still quilting? I'm really interested!!
I was happy to learn that I do almost all of the things you suggest. I do buy a fabric on the fly once in a while but within my budget and with a purpose for it in mind. :) I inherited all my mother in-laws quilting supplies & equipment. I went to a junk store and bought a chest of drawers for the fabric. I have used all but just a few "projects" worth, having to buy very little. Most of what I make is for her great-grand children. She left me projects half done but taught me how to finish. She quilted up to one month before she left us... In her late 80's! I feel so close to her when I sew and my grand children love knowing that they have a part of her in what I make. What a gift she has left us!
Thanks for sharing. I love quilts with stores. I'm sure your grandchildren will too.
2020 or "The Great Pause" as I call it gave me the uninterrupted time I needed to go through my stash, scraps, and notions. I make/donate small 36"square quilts to a local hospital for their NICU/PICU in memory of a family member. Last year I made 99 quilts, 50 small Christmas stockings, several taggies, and over a hundred masks "shopping" from my stash and minimal purchases. Your tips, tricks, and strategies were invaluable as we're your videos of encouragement and inspiration. It was an AHA moment when you said don't keep the fabrics you don't like anymore. It was like you waved a magic wand releasing the guilt because I hadn't used it yet. . However, the tip I struggle with the most is not over buying. The bargain hunter in me has a really tough time saying no to that end of bolt discount. . . hehehe!!! Like my projects, I'm a work in progress too!!! Thanks again Karen for your wisdom and generosity!!!
I learned to quilt from my grandmother 62 years ago. After inheriting my mother’s quilting fabric, I can probably quilt for another 62 years! For the past few years I have only purchased fabric when I didn’t have enough for the backing. I am making a good dent in my stash. I also let my quilt group shop my stash.
I have been putting off watching this video. First off, thank you for no judgement. Secondly, I LOVE knowing how many fat quarter's or how many cakes make a simple quilt. The idea of knowing how much fabric I have has always scared me. But, now I can view that information as how many quilts I will have. I feel so much such more productive with that information. This feels liberating from a hoarder to a producer.
My grandmother would ditto your advice on fabric budgeting and buying just the right amount. She actually very rarely bought as much as the pattern called for. When we went shopping for patterns and fabric together we would take a few extra minutes to sit at the table in the fabric store while she analyzed the pattern cutting layout to see what she could move to have less waste. She almost always bought a little less and always had enough. She also always bought good fabric. It's easier to afford nice things if you only buy as much as you need.
I met a woman on our neighborhood "Buy Nothing" group on FB. She makes purses for African girls to carry and conceal their tampons, etc.... She makes the purses, and a charity group fills them and mails them off. I was thrilled to have someone to help me destash fabrics I've acquired that no longer make my heart sing or ones that just don't work that well for quilts, but are perfect for purses.
OMG I needed to hear you this morning, before I started ordering MORE beautiful fabrics just because I am on everyone's email! How do they find us? Started counting, just mentally, not even stepping into my sewing living room! Yes busted out of a sewing bedroom, now took over the never used living room! Clear boxes of all mentioned fabric sizes! In beautiful colors. If I sewed a quilt every week for the rest of my life, I would be the oldest living sewing woman alive in the world! And the rate I am going I won't even remember where my sewing room is very soon... Not funny just fact. Thank you for opening my eyes and closing my shopping. I am sure that my family thanks you too. Have a great day.
The struggle is real. I hope this helps
You calm me. I appreciate so much your common sense, non judgmental approach. Thanks for all your videos :-)
😎
Yes! Don’t you just want her to be your neighbor that you can hang out with? 😊
If you are ever in Toronto...
I just redesigned my sewing room and had to handle all my fabric. You are right about the need to know what you have. When I saw all the beautiful precuts I own, I have no desire to shop for more.
I know that feeling
I recently moved to Hawaii to babysit for my one and only grand! Moving to Hawaii made me donate 90 percent of the fabric I purchased. I 've been quilting for almost 2 years now, and I had accumulated a significant stash! I mailed all my precuts because they were the most expensive to purchase, and would take up less space in my 405 sqft. apartment!! At the end of the day, I'm too tired to quilt now!! When I adjust to new busy day, I 'll come back strong. Love "Just Get it Done Quilts". Thank you for all your quilt block ideas. I'm anxious to get back to it.
"Budget" is not a 4 letter word. "Debt" is a 4 letter word. Brilliant!
In addition to the abundance of fabric, I have enough yarn to last a couple lifetimes. This is a great video with some good guidance that can be applied across different craft stashes.
I have abundant of yarn too. I have knitted in years.
I got many, (over time) 3or4 drawer units that are clear plastic and stackable (if you don't put the roller ball wheels on the bottoms!) . I have all my yarns, heritage family linens , embroidery projects, and fabrics roughly sorted by type (cotton, wool, stretchable, silks and nylon-ish .....) and all the cottons by colours - pretty much, lol. love them because i can see at a glance what there is and where, and very importantly, I can easily access all by simply pulling open a drawer!. no more un-pile-ing towers of crates and boxes to get at something that MIGHT be in that bottom one!!! Highly recommend. I got them fairly inexpensively years ago at walmart and staples in their 'office' storage solutions sections. (use them for all my clothes and sheets and shoes too)
So helpful! I am a 67 yr. old retiree and a beginner quilter. This advice is excellent! Your way of explaining the information is concise and to the point. Now I need to clear out my yarn stash!!! Very well done!
Oh boy...I often wonder what knitters do with all those half balls of yarn
My mantra for this year was not to buy any more fabric but to make as many quilts as I can out of them. So far I have made 6 or so and then put them on my longarm. Man have I not only saved money but my stash is sooo much smaller. Love your videos. Thank you for taking the time to share them to us.
I started my first quilt in high school, and that's the time I started collecting fabric. Well, I'm in my 70's now and have enough yardage that I started selling fat quarters at a music festival I go to yearly and donating quilts for their raffle. This leaves me with enough yardage that I have closets full of my favorite colors and plastic bins full, and shoe boxes full, and plastic drawers full. Well, you get the idea. I've started working on my Mt. Scrapmore by cutting fabric down to usable sizes. For me that's 3" squares, 2" wide strips, 2" squares. These seem to be the sizes I use most often. I've got 3 quilts in the works that use those sizes and 1 quilt that is being made from the strings that are left over from all the cutting. And from all the cutting I've been doing recently, I have one small trash can of pieces to toss. I'm fortunate in having a very large room dedicated to my sewing. I've learned through the years what types of patterns I like to use and about how much fabric I'll need to make them. When I go fabric shopping now, I know to buy only 1/8th of a yard. 4.5 inches of fabric cut from each of 8 colors makes several of my favorite blocks. Therefore I only get a yard of fabric total.
I would love to hear one of you quilt stories
Love your ideas. I had a major destash last year. I made bed quilts for my 3 grandkids and their parents for Christmas all from my stash. The only fabric I purchased was background fabric but that was limited. I just completed a queen + size quilt for my nephew using up my extra blocks from very partial quilts. I only needed to make 3 blocks for this one. I set it on point for a really nice scrappy look using up similar blue strips for sashinh and random reds for cornerstones. I even pieced the binding from a couple fat quarters. I am now down to 1 box of 1 yard and up fabrics, 1 box of fat quarters and 1 box of scraps. Moving into a very small house dictated something had to be done with all the excess. Forgot to mention, all the quilt backs were pieced together too, mostly from fat quarters which made them all reversible. Now I am on a very limited budget from a forced early retirement so I am concentrating on completing ufo and wip quilts. Once done, I am going to make miniatures!
Some quilt guilds have a free table to extend your fabric supply and quiler's garage sales could also help your budget for fabric etc.
Yes you are talking to me. I have just started a no shop for 30 days combined with a goal to use 30 yards. This video will be my enforcer. The key word is “limit”. I appreciate your efforts.
Fabric gives me hope and happiness!
I just love your videos.
You're always thinking smarter not harder and I love that.
I'm just now going thru my stash and scraps. I'm so thankful I saw this video. My local quilt shop is having a sale today!!! But I already have so many scraps and UFOs. I'm staying home, thank you!
I am a new quilter and have been studying for about 6 months reading books, watching videos, talking with other Quilters. I have been doing this pre and post two surgeries on my eyes for cataracts. Now I have beautiful new eyes and can see perfectly clear conscience lines and color. However, while I have been studying I have also been purchasing fabric, tools, and references. I probably have ten years worth of projects. Not lying it has become an addiction. Thank you for this video it has helped me to be aware of my situation. I am retiring in a few months and have plans to take on these projects. Several are put together with patterns but there is still a mountain of fabric with no project assigned. I look forward to more of your videos.
I worked at a quilt shop for 10 years!! Enough said. Lol. I have more than I can ever use up. I went through my fabric and pulled for pillow cases and got started on them. That helped some. I just trying to make up fabric into usable items before I can no longer do it. No purchasing for me. Great video.
My town recently passed a plastic bag ban that goes into effect in January so market bags will be getting a chunk of my stash. They will also make great all occasion gifts for a while.
@P Hawthorne And now fabric masks! Between the masks themselves and using the leftovers for bias tape ties is a real stash buster!
Shop from your stash is great advice ... instead of forgetting what is in the stash and buying more fabric. Such down to earth tips. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
I'm not a quilter at this time. I do sew clothes etc. I still enjoy your channel. I just try to apply the same info to my own crafting choice. Thank you for your clear and handy videos. Much appreciated.
It's been that kind of week, from snowstorms to my internet connections going down. So finally, here is 5 Strategies to keep your fabric stash in balance with your quilting speed. We all have our own comfort level. Know your limit, quilt within it.
Prequilt is going to be a gamechanger for me! I'm here doodling pattern with my pencil and notebook with RUclips rambling in the background. Discovering your channel feels serendipitous at this moment!
Would love to know what you think. We are still in beta and hope to build PreQuilt with the community from the ground up. hello@prequilt.com
I so love your teaching approach. As a little more than a beginner I’m so excited with your encouragement. Your voice I agree is so calming.
Prequilt looks like a fun tool!
I used to love doing difficult projects but noe the easier the better.
Thanks I think for me all your points are correct, I’m going to start buying from my stash
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Shopping with a budget is just good life advice, be it fabric or anything else :)
I missed this video when it came out. I recently donated a lot of my stash to a new quilter and while doing it found a lot of fabric that I had forgotten, buried under more recent purchases.
I like your new covid hair better!!
Oh dear! I have tub upon tub of vintage auction fabrics my hubby supplied me with. I share with 2 other women. I think as long as we happily pull out of them, not to mention the scrap from the scrap bin, we will just not worry about calculating. I appreciate your videos and sound advice. You are a joy in my life! Thank you!!
I'm green with envy. I'd love to dive into those tubs.
My husband worries about the next earthquake. Massive wildfire, not so much. Lol 😂
Hahaha, love it Karen, "Know your limit and quilt within it!"
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You bring us the reality when you do the math. Thankyou for the perspective. I must get quilting!
l just subscribed today and let me tell ya, this was the 3rd video l have watched and man did it hit home. l stood up and looked around my house and realized l have fabric stashed EVERYWHERE! ln the living room, the hallway closet, my bedroom, in my armoire, in drawers, closets and l have even put it in coolers because l ran out of totes to put it in. l have come to realize because of this video, that l have a lot of work to do without ever going shopping for at least the next 3 years! Thank you for this video. Sometimes a girl needs to just hear something that they have been ignoring.
Try a couple of the stashbuster quilts. They can burn through a stack or two. Shopping from your stash first is key
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Thank you, I will. I am really enjoying your videos! I have learned so much from you already.
COVID-19 is a great stash buster for the fabrics you don't like/don't know what to do with! So far I've made 23 masks with the random pieces I have from other projects, and with the left overs I plan on making bias tape ties for them!
thanks so much for your videos, they are very helpful, straightforward ...excellent
I love your videos! Thanks for the tip about PreQuilt!
Enjoy
My mom died last year. She was an avid quilter and sewer for over 60 years. I inherited the contents of her sewing room. (Yeah, new expensive sewing machines and equipment). But I also got her whole stash and UFOs. I found a girl's sewing club who gladly took a lot of the stash and excess equipment. But I still have a few years of quilts to make.
Well done with passing it on to those that can use it. Thanks for sharing.
Well that put a lot into perspective - now to get a game plan! Thank you for your knowledge!!!!
You're welcome
Thank you for reminding me that I need to add quilting back into my budget! I could probably quilt/sew for at least 5 years except that I share my stash with my friend who set up a sewing room in her house for us to share. I also have to buy batting and thread occasionally. I have found that simple flannel baby blankets or shopping bags make great "pallet cleansers" or warm up projects when I don't have time or inspiration for more complex patterns.
I just discovered your channel yesterday and you are inspiring me already. Thank you!
I just love your style. You're fun, sensible, informative and creative. Great advice! I challenged myself the beginning of 2017 to craft and sew with only what I had on hand . . . and I had plenty! . . . unless I absolutely couldn't finish the project without purchasing something. i.e. thread, more glue sticks, etc. I stuck to it and, imagine that, I had plenty to make plenty! 😂 At 65, the road ahead is getting shorter; I don't want my 4 daughters to have to deal with all my stash 'n trash when I'm gone!
Have a fab time next weekend!! ♡
You are very smart. I received a call at least three times a year from friends with a fabric stash of an recently departed relative. So much ends up in a dumpster.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts my friend thought of me when she had 3 boxes of her grandmother's fabric (1980s) to clear out of her storage. After washing & refolding polyblends, plaids, corduroys, etc. in neutrals, my church received large totes for the girls' orphanage we sponsor. Jumpers & overalls help preserve their school uniforms just for classes. 🤗
That's what I'm doing! Use what I have. For the last year I've only purchased interfacing, batting and one piece of fabric for a special request present.
That's wonderful. Thanks for sharing
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Many of the thrift (charity) shops will take fabrics, etc. A friend runs a charity shop and has a few of us that will show up to help out by cutting blocks, roll fabric remnants, sort notions, wool & needles, etc. That sort of stuff sells pretty good & fast for the shops that take the items.
Thank you or being the new friend that you have become. I found your site by accident, but fell in love with it. I am a white knuckle quilter, always wondering if what I do is acceptable Because you have no criticism of simple projects, I feel 100% better.
I love that you talk with a smile always on your face. You are so inspiring!
+K Schallert 😊
Ive always loved sewing since i was a kid, i can't afford the pricy fabrics, but i cut up anything i can find even scrubs lol, love all your videos, i love scrappy quilts hope you make more videos on scraps
Hi Jenny- you are so clever to see creativity in in older fabrics! well done!..keep enjoying yourself! hugs from Australia...where I live is quite tropical, hence not many quilts are needed, but I can offer them to chairty..cheers!
Yes! Fairly new to quilting, but I do have a good size stash! A few months ago I started shopping in my stash and have sworn off visiting quilting stores until I use my stash up, or unless I need something for a project, which is rare. Thanks for the tips and strategies!❤
Terrific suggestions! I never heard of PreQuilt!
We would love to know what think of it. Thanks Beth.
I could open a store with the amount of fabric that I have...and I love it!!
Everyone has their own comfort level
I’m a newbie quilter so I’m still learning. Found this video to be very informing. Thanks!
Thanks for watching
Another great inspirational video. I think I would have to live two lifetimes to use all my stash. Am almost done cutting up 3 bags of scraps to usable sizes like squares and strips. Last year I measured and organized yardage. Making progress. But there is so much fabric eye candy on the internet when it comes to fabric.
I limit most fabric purchases to local quilt shops and shows to help resist temptation.
Have fun at Quilt Con.
The struggle is real. Only another quilter would understand
Great advice! I am a senior on a very limited budget and new to quilting. Raising 5 girls, a fabric junkie. Just learning how much fabric to buy for a specific size. So many cute fabrics out there hard to resist. Began this journey
With fabrics i have had for 25 -30 yrs. Great practice pieces for block demos.
I have been avidly quilting for 30+ years PLUS I owned a fabric store for a brief amount of time. I had to close it due to both parents with Alzheimer's, and a lot of the fabrid followed me home. I have been de-stashing for several years now by donating to our guild. At almost every meeting I jave someone thank me for sharing. I still have a ridiculous amount of fabric.... Thanks for your ideas. They will help!
A couple of beginner quilters mentioned their struggle with affordability. Perhaps teach a beginner group and include the fabric
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts thanks-good idea!
You are awesome, I just started quilting about 3 months ago, and I probably have enough to make about 10 quilts lol... I bought some but grandmother gave me a lot also
I LOVE your helpful videos.
Thanks for the tips!! I shop from my quilting friend's stash and she gets stuff from mine. I recently pulled all my quilting fabric out and sorted and refolded it to fit in a narrow shelf unit I have. I figured if I could see it I would be inspired by all the pretty colours!! It also gave me a chance to see what is lacking(plainer fabrics and larger prints). Now I can easily shop from my stash and shop from my friend's place or the charity shops and the store when I have to. I also watched your scrap prep video and I spent a good chunk of today, sorting and cutting some Christmas fabric. I narrowed down what I want to make as per your suggestion and cut my fabric accordingly. Thanks and Happy Quilting!!
+Sherry G what a great arrangement
I just found your videos and Love you! Even though I taught piecing & quilting for years I enjoy watching you. (I wish I'd seen this one years ago.) I will pray for your son. Be well, you are amazing.💚
I'm making an honest effort to sew my stash. Smart help
Lady you are a wealth of information....i am not a quilter....hec i don't even sew yet but want to learn so i am watching many many videos on the subject. i like your ethos and you talk a lot of sense that i know will help me with my sewing jerney. Thank you. x
Thx so very much for your funny easy presentations. Keep up the honest videos, love you, inspirational 💓
Best, most helpful quilt advice of all time! Thank you!!!!
Love your utube videos . You are so funny and so informative. . Got up this morning and dived into my stash . Have now about 10 projects cut and put together for some serious sewing this week. Am going to commit to not buying any more quilting fabric till I clear a few of my plastic boxes. Thanks for the push.
Thanks for so many great tips! I don't quilt, but I sew garments. My fabric stash is getting a bit out of control, so you gave me some great things to think about. Ultimately - they aren't going to stop making fabric, and there will always be something beautiful out there to buy.
Thanks for watching
I'm so glad I found you. You are the encyclopedia of quilting. Happy happy happy you have made me!! I have fabric all over my house so that it looks like I have a manageable amount of fabric. Ha ha ha. My family knows that I am a fabric hoarder. 😂😂😂 I have been inspired to do something about it by your channel. I live in West Paducah,Kentucky and getting ready to get ready for my niece and 2 of her friends comming for the quilt show,Lord willing I still have time to collect my fabric and tops for organizing. I would love to binge watching your channel, but no time for now. Thanks for sharing.
I love it! You've got some great nuggets about creativity and staying motivated. I have learned so much from your videos I am STILL clicking my heels about pressing correctly. Thank you. Tha k you. Thank you.
You're welcome 😎
I hope you are having fun! Can't wait to check out prequilt, but have to make some labels and sew them on my finished quilts! Yippee!!
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Thanks so much for your videos! I’ve gotten back to quilting and I’m loving all your ideas, you’re a pleasure to watch and learn from.
Absolutely LOVED all your ideas here. I know for myself personally it can be hard not to buy the latest fabric, but I am really trying to be very intentional, and you are 100% correct, we CAN’T take it with us!!! Keep your videos coming, love them!!!
Really useful tips, thanks. On the other hand we help the environment using what we just need.
Sharing is nice!
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Thank you. Great advice.
Thanks Karen. I needed that nudge.
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Oh my thank you so much for this video I just learned so much 💓
wow!! thanks for the prequilt info!! what a terrific site! im a buy fabric first, design later type quilter. stash control is unknown territory for me.
Me too! I love to make scrap quilts so the scrap bin isn't really the problem for me. I also don't like to follow patterns.
This was great! Such practical & important points!
Thank you for the tips!
Thank you so much for your videos. They are informative and enjoyable to watch.
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I have a very tiny fabric stash at this point. Right now, I can only buy the fabric I need for my next project. Everything must have a specific purpose and my next 4 quilts are already planned. If I get them done in time, I might enter 2 of them in our local and state fairs this summer. The other 2 are for a couple of babies who are both due to be born in August. I also have garments that need to be made.
This such a tremendous help! Thank you. I could probably quilt for 5 years and not be through my stash. You've encouraged me!
Cheerful and sensible advice!
Found your website a few weeks ago, and really enjoy it. Love the advice you gave in this one. I have been quilting for 3 years, and already have a sizable stash that I am trying to use up. I just didn't understand how addictive fabric could become before I started quilting. I have been buying some kits lately to speed up the process, since the idea was to donate them to the fire victims here in Northern CA. But my pregnant daughter-in-laws ( both) saw them and really loved them, so now I have to dip into my stash to make the ones to donate. Thanks for the advice about the PreQuilt website. I will try to use it to design my own quilts with my stash fabric. Really enjoy your tutorials and your sense of humor. And the video work is excellent! Thanks!
Those first years are problematic for fabric buying. You need more fabric for all the quilts you want to make but you are still not sure what your personal style is or how to arrange the fabrics.
I am new to quilting and I found this video to be so helpful. Thank you!
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I just found your channel a few days ago and have binge watched all of your videos! Love, love, love your videos!
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Thanks, this is very informative as I am a beginner quilter. Today I sewed my first quilt top (baby sized) using my first ever sewing machine (took me a long time to learn how to thread it). My goal is to buy, sew and quilt in that order with no accumulating material, only true scraps and current projects. I hope I can keep to that. You're right. There is lots of beautiful material and there will be more beautiful material, so there is no need to buy something just because I like it. Thanks!
I love your channel. I am from South Africa
We all know this but it’s so great to be reminded!. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
Thank you! I love your videos and how informative they are! I love the way you film, teach, show, explain everything. The way you talk/teach is VERY soothing. Now, it's time for me to go get reacquainted with my stash...and display them, instead of keeping them out of sight in various bins! 💖
I'm SO glad I found you on RUclips!!! Lead on!💝
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Couldn't agree more with your opening statement..so true
Thank you - great video! I really appreciate the info and the humor. On my way to a "handwerk" event (hand-work: quilting, etc) here in Holland this Sunday and I am definitely go with a budget. Have a great time at the Big event this weekend. I hope you have fun!
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Just found your video tonight as I was researching QuiltCon and Nashville. Thank you for so many practical tips, and I hope to try out PreQuilt for my next quilt with my layer cakes. I will watch this video again and jot down more notes.
It’s a great program
So many great ideas in your videos. Please consider doing a bullet journal video with a quilting slant. Have fun in Nashville.
Thanks for reminding me. Coming soon
I use tubs only for scraps I have cut from leftovers. A bin for 2.5, 4 inch strips, another for 5 inch squares, 10 in squares. Fat quarters and larger I keep in hanging shoe or sweater organizers, then i can see the fabric I have. 2 yard and larger are hanging so I can see potential backs. I am only buying what I have to buy to finish projects.
You sound so organized! A girl can only dream...
I’m sitting here sewing a string quilt to use a large collection of strings as I’m listening to your informative video. I have been avidly quilting for 30+ years. Two years ago, I designated a storage area that want to Finally want to end up for fabric storage. Lol, I’m no where near that goal yet. Therefore, I’m intrigued learning about PreQuilt. I just added it to my home screen.
Now, I have just finished two community quilts. One of your ideas for tackling my stash and goal of adding one per month. I already have enforced for just short of a year to “NO NEW FABRIc” rule. Every tine I think that I have to to buy “one” fabric that I “really” need to keep going with my quilt, I keep searching and low and behold, I have come up with “just the right fabric”. Two years I have also followed with your tip of Shop with a Budget!! It is very helpful and reassuring to me that I have a visual goal of the exact space and storage units for my end goal for my fabric. I can mentally see that I am moving forward toward that goal. Another thing for me is that I have scoured Pinterest for a specific purpose!
Most of us will admit that the new fabrics are mush more alluring than what we purchased 10-20+ years ago (and less). For me, making this an important task, I have been to identify quilts that I can make with my old, and older fabrics that will be just as stunning as my new quilts. And God bless Kona white and snow. Lol. I just finished a wonderful Evening Star quilt done in plaids..... from eons ago with a few newish ones for a special daughter in law. She loves it and was absolutely overjoyed to receive it. I even used good size pieces of older fabric for the backing. Yes, it did take me an extra day to piece it but it turned out to be perfect for the quilt. A few country prints featuring snowmen that had lost their appeal a long time ago were the perfect accents for the plaid pieces I used on the back. Best of all is the satisfaction and happiness I had and still have resulting from taking another large step toward my goal of reaching a Specific, Limited amount of fabric that I will allow myself to have on hand. And believe me, I have allowed myself Plenty of room to have a fabric collection. As I challenged myself I’m learning that using my old, and I do mean old fabric doesn’t mean that I’m limited to making blah, dreary, unappealing quilts. The one exception to my plan is that I can always have a reasonable amount of Kona white and snow on hand. Other exception is that for 2 specific quilts I have planned I will need a specific amount of a background fabric that will have to be purchased. LOL, I even calculated exactly how much I need and that is what the purchase will be..exactly and no more. I really found your video to be encouraging and I know I will carry it in my head and it will pop up if/when I have any weak moments.
Thank you for sharing your story. The struggle is real and only another quilter would understand. 😊
I just came across PC Quilt the other day. I have been trying to learn how to use it.
It's a fun program. Every time you use it, it becomes easier to use.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts. Very practical and useful info. Thanks!
I have a gazillion meters of fabric... not even kidding. People were clearing out during lockdown and I chose to save the fabric from landfill. It's a complete mix of cotton, dress fabric (knits), denim, upholstery, curtaining... I could sew for 10 years and NOT see the end of it. I've only just started quilting (I've made most of my own clothing), but the choices I have are overwhelming. It started as a good deed, but now I can't see the wood for the trees (even after a full day of 3 people sorting through it all).
Sometimes I give fabrics to a local thespian group. She also makes items for a church charity. I also loved your crumb video. I make cage mats for the local shelter. I also made small quilt blocks out of the extras( crumbs) from a 30s quilt I am making. It will probably make some nice smaller quilts for gifts. Great advice. I try to shop from my stash and only buy small amounts when I need too to finish.