confessions of a fabric hoarder
I sorted through my fabric stash. What can I say? My name is Christina, I am a fabric hoarder.
On Saturday I decided to wash all my quilting fabric so I would be able to use it anytime. I had no idea I had quite that many fat quarters. Honestly, I didn't. They were hiding in boxes. Before the wash, I bundled them up neatly to keep collections together and to minimise entanglement. This was a complete waste of time as you can see in the top photo. I actually had two Ikea bags of tangled up fabric. You have no idea how long it took me to iron those fat quarters. I have never in my life spent such a long time ironing in such a short period of time. I hope I never will again. However, it was worth every minute, the neat piles are very pleasing to my eye and soothing for my soul.
The colours come as a slight surprise. Green is not my favourite colour and yet I seem to have more green fat quarters than fat quarters of any other colour. The reds are underrepresented, which is a surprise. The blues are underrepresented, too. I love to wear dark blues but it appears not to be true for my quilting fabric needs. Generally, there is a preponderance of bright colours, which is me. But I am pleased that my subconscious self made me acquire many pale fat quarters, it makes it easy to play with colour value.
The tangled mess: what first annoyed me turned out to be quite liberating. I had a few entire collections, which I am now unable to pick out from the piles as a whole. I have freed myself of the self imposed need to keep the collections together and can now play with the fabrics as I please.
I am not sure what I am going to make, I have some thinking scheduled into my busy life to come up with a plan. There is enough fabric for at least four large quilts. Did I mention the many dress making remnants that can also be used? There is no particular rush of course, the fabric has been sitting in boxes for a long time and won't go wander off anytime soon. In the meantime, I am going to use all the small scraps I have also collected for a while to make something beautiful. I have been a busy bee cutting these scraps into manageable small strips. I can't wait to show you.
It looks like my clothes sewing season is coming to an end and my quilt making season is coming into full swing... it is a bit early and I still want to sew a cape. The shorts however will have to wait for next year.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. Thanks to you all I now know that butter in jam making prevents excessive foaming. I did wonder why my jam didn't boil over when I made it. Have a great day. xx
Oh my that is the most satisfying job ever. Now you can see all the squares and make up the colour runs. Happy Quilting. Jo x
ReplyDeleteGoodness, what an enormous heap of fabric, though you are only a true hoarder if you don't do anything with it for a few years! Perhaps you have lots of green because you don't use it. I sorted mine out and put it into drawers so that now I can pull open the drawer and see exactly what's there. It also limited the amount I kept, which was a good thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delicious pile of fabric. I can spy a few prints in there that we share in common :). I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness that must have been a labour of love. But don't they look wonderful now, just like a crafting shop. Bet you are enjoying the planning of that new quilt. Wonder what shaped pieces you will do this time? B x
ReplyDeleteI hate ironing and do as little as possible. Ironing as much as you did would almost make me give up quilting.
ReplyDeleteLove green as a decorating color, but haven't got a single piece of green clothing. I mostly wear blues and blacks.
Wow, you're an ironing machine! Good job. I love the way you stacked them so neatly. Someday, I'll have space to store a nicer stash of fabrics. For now, I just have a couple of desk drawers full, but I'd enjoy having more.
ReplyDeleteYou're not a hoarder but a collector! What a lovely stash of fabric you have. I don't quilt and as for my knitting, I don't have a stash. But when it comes to dishes, I have cupboards full. It's OK to have a passion for something. I'm sure the quilts will be lovely and fun to make. Pat xx
ReplyDeleteWow look at all those pretty prints! Can't wait to see what you're working on
ReplyDeleteWow, what a lovely fabric collection. So many possibilities! I shall look forward to seeing what you make next. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I am not a crafter and have no sewing talent whatsoever, but your colorful collection looks great and now that it's organized, you will surely find it easier to find a color. Green is not my favorite color, but it still is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful timing - I was just telling my sister today that I feel I ought to get rid of my fat quarter stash, but can't bring myself to do it because I love being able to pull something out of the pile whenever I want a bit of fabric! She encouraged me to keep it as I might want to make another quilt someday. (That's what sisters are for.) My collection doesn't really reflect my tastes either, but I do like everything in it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all that ironing. What a pretty collection of prints - I see as much orange as green, and lots of other lovely colours too.
There is something wonderfully satisfying about all those beautifully neat colour grouped fabrics but I'm glad I wasn't the one doing the ironing! I look forward to seeing what you make.
ReplyDeleteYour seriously have a gorgeous stash of fabrics there! Love all those beautiful hues. Four quilts.....you will be a busy lady. As you reminded me just recently, one can never have too many quilts. =)
ReplyDeleteThat looks fabulous now, I now realise I don't have that much fabric after all ;) When you put them back you could place them on their sides in shoe boxes for easy access, Kondo style. xx
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly a sight for sore eyes, such a wonderful collection of fabric. Looking forward to seeing what you create. Once again thank you for those beautiful Harris Tweed cut offs, perfect for making cards and toppers.
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