How Much Is Enough?
Thursday, September 24, 2009 13:44
One of the quilting forums I participate in recently had a discussion about fabric buying habits, primarily, how much is enough. Now we all know that you can never have a large enough stash, she (or he!) who dies with the biggest stash wins, but when buying pieces for that stash, how much do you go for?
Personally, I feel I tend to err on the “not quite enough” side of the matter (although my husband would probably disagree), if I have a specific project in mind I will usually end up buying not quite enough to finish it off, or I’ll buy just enough for what I need, and then horribly screw something up half way through and end up having to re-cut. Somehow, no matter how much I buy, this will ALWAYS happen, I could be making a wristlet with ten yards of a print at my disposal and I will still end up short. I think I pissed off the crafting faeries in a previous life.
If I’ve spotted a cotton print and fallen in love, but have nothing in particular in mind for it I will buy anything from half a metre to two depending on the price, I steer well away from fat quarters and 25cm cuts, I just know they’re going to lead to frustration somewhere down the line when I don’t have enough to finish a project. If it’s cheap (think Spotlight’s $5 quilting cotton clearance) then I’ll go for two metres, but if I don’t have a plan for it, that’s my limit.
I buy black, white and natural homespun in 10 metre lengths when Lincraft has its online 50% off everything sales. I know that these are going to get used up eventually, and I’d much rather have them sitting around, even if they are collecting dust, than having to go out when inspiration strikes and risk interrupting the flow of genius! If I’m buying coloured homespun I’ll normally pick up 50cms more than I need, I like having that little bit left over to save for something later and it’s cheap enough that I don’t worry too much about wasting money.
I don’t buy much fleece, but my minimum is 1.5m, that way if I don’t end up using it for whatever reason I know I can churn out a quick no-sew blanket for one of the kids.
Stretch cottons, again I don’t buy much of, but if I do my minimum is 2m, I figure that’s enough to make a simple knee length circle skirt if inspiration doesn’t strike for anything else – though generally jerseys will sit and languish in my fabric tubs whilst I dream about having enough skills to make clothes!
Sticking to these rules I don’t have many regrets, either about the ones I bought or the ones that got away, yes, there are a few bits of fabric in my stash that I do wonder what was going through my head, but that’s what swaps are for! There are also a few bits and pieces where I wish I’d bought, or had more than I’d originally picked up. But overall I find this to be working for me.
What are your rules for buying fabric? Are you a conservative shopper? Or is more better?!
Related posts:
Liesl (Hoppo Bumpo) says:
September 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Since I have 40 metres of corduroy in my stash, I think we could safely say that I tend to buy in bulk. At my worst I think I have purchased 10 metres of one fabric without a purpose. If I see a nice dress fabric, I would buy somewhere between 1.5 and 3 metres.
(And I would say it speak volumes that I came here with the sole purpose of leaving a comment on this post and immediately got distracted by a link called http://www.thestash.com.au)
Kelli says:
September 24th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
These days, I tend to just buy what I need for a specific project, I found I had too many bits and pieces, I just gave them away. When I make a mistake or whatever, I like the way it makes me think to solve the problem with another fabric. I like my projects to have a little ‘mistake’ in them, it makes me remember the circumstances of correcting the error, and makes the piece unique to me
Edwina Morris says:
September 26th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I am trying to excercise restraint.. you know use what you have and all that. But if I do see something lovely at a good price then I will snap it up. These days I only buy good qual quilting cotton, I don’t bother with stretch or fleece…
Joanne says:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I’m trying to use what’s in my stash; if I need to buy (like I have 25 blue fabrics but not the ‘right’ blue) I restrict myself to just what I need. My weakness has become op-shop or garage sale remnants. Its always a surprise as you don’t know exactly what you’re getting until you get it home.
I think we get a bit precious sometimes. I try to remind myself of the quilter’s heritage- making do and putting every last piece to use.