Your stash

How long did it take you all to get a good "stock pile" of fabrics. Did you just buy what you wanted when you seen it? Do you watch for sales? Put fabric on every single wish list for gifts?

lol With 5 kids and a husband who drives over the road for 2 weeks at a time, money left over for me is very rare. And now I'm looking around at the sites and it's not a cheap hobby. We live in a very small town. So driving an hour to the closest fabric stores won't happen very often. I know that for now I am just going to mess around with old sheets/blankets/clothes to get a "feel" for it. But I can't imagine it taking more than a month of so of me using that stuff before I want to really give it a go.

So is it reasonable to take years and years before you have a good pile of different fabrics? I guess I could just be a "green quilter" and use old clothes and blankets to make everything. Hmmm, are there any quilters who are "green" and just use old things to recycle? Would that even look good? Would I be able to make any quilts that would last for a long time, with washing them and actually using them. Sorry for all the questions. Didn't mean to get off track. I'm thinking now I should run out and hit up all the yard sales and grab the cute stuff. But want to know what all the experts think first.:icon_bigsmile:

Thoughts? Tips?

I am a new quilter. When I started, my goal was not to buy a lot of fabric but just what I needed for the quilt I was working on at the moment. Now, I have to admit, I buy too much fabric. I have several fabric groups ready for a quilt and my stash is growing. BUT, I have only gone to my stash for one quilt-the owl jelly roll quilt. I needed white fabric for the eyes and had it. So, I have to admit that all the money I have put into my stash hasn't helped me yet. Maybe once I am able to really know what I am doing it will.

If I had access to garage sales, I would just buy fabric as I found it for good prices. Or go to Goodwill and pick up items to cut up for fabric or fabric that has been donated. The things you will want to buy is thread and batting. We all just think about the fabric, but you can't finish your quilt without those two things! And I still whine about the cost. Connecting Threads has good prices on thread and put their batting on sale every once in a while. And shipping is free to the US if you spend $50. Start saving for the purchase of batting when it goes on sale-very much worth it! I just bought some batting at JoAnns because I was in the States (we live in Canada now) and it was 50% off.

I don't think a big stash is all that important when you first start. Just buy what you need and maybe add a little yardage of the fabric you think you may use more such as solids. I find I need solids but never have it.

I have always been a sewer so I've always had lots of scraps. When I got really serious about making nice quilts I began buying a little bit of the basics whenever I could....solids, blenders and neutrals were what I started collecting first. I have always loved scrappy quilts so I would buy a little of a lot of different colors and prints and then I would have scraps left from them. In my case my stash grew over time to the point I needed to organize it. I use a lot of pre-cuts now and they don't leave a lot of scraps normally. I don't think that having a stash is that important as a beginning quilter....figure out what kind of quilts you love to make first and then let your stash grow from there. :)

Welcome Jilli :)

Moving to a rock in the middle of the ocean on your last dime for a last chance at VA medical insurance with only flannel and homespun left as your stash...I felt your pain last year. It's taken me a while to rebuilt and to find a place here that has good fabric at a good prices. I found one and I've been hitting the remnants section each time I visit.

Make sure you sign up at the websites of Joann, Hobby Lobby, Hancock's, etc. so that you get their coupon's. Joann's takes competitors coupons which means if Hobby has a 40% off a single cut of fabric, you can use that as Joann's as well with your Joann's 50% off single cut of fabric in the same visit. Besides your personal emailed coupons, you can also go the general website and print out the general coupons. As long as each coupon code number is different, you can use it at 1 visit to Joann's. Save up your $ and coupons for that trip. :)

Now remember those old quilts? They were all made with whatever fabric was available from feedsacks, dresses, shirts, etc. Fabric yardage was very expensive. Go to yardsales, thrift stores and by those cute 100% COTTON shirts, dresses, sheets, etc.

Will they be cute? Do a search on "Modern Scrappy Quilts" click on images and you will see so many cute quilts made out of small amounts of different fabrics. I save all my scraps. I can't get rid of them even though I'm in a tiny, tiny condo with no room to spare.

Don't give up, get the word out to family and friends, let them now that you're into quilting and in need of fabric, old cotton clothing, sheets. You'll be amazed how people will help you out. You'll get some that you can't you but don't tell them, just donate that on to a thrift shop. :)

Keep Calm & Quilt On!

Huggers, Ruby

PS. Just moved my DD and her family to Suwanee, GA and we actually drove into your town on one of our day trip. Beautiful area.

I actually saw a quilt on here a while back that someone had made out of their sons and hubby's old shirts. It was all in blues, and stunning. I also watch a you tube video where the instructor showed how to 'de bone' a shirt. You would not believe how much usable fabric there actually is in one. I have to agree with saving your money for batting and thread. You can find great fabric or clothing to cut up at yard sales and thrift stores. You have to remember, just like the others said. Our grand mothers and great grand mothers used old clothing and such to make theirs. Don't let the cost keep you from doing it. You can manage on a very strict budget.

To be completely honest. I only really enjoy and love the scrappy and rag quilts. Those 2 designs, I guess, are what I think I would totally enjoy making and even using.

I guess, I am worried that someone, somewhere, will tell me that I'm not a real quilter if I'm not buying yardage and huge bolts. I'm pretty sure there will be lots of people in my RL that will tell me to get over it and laugh at me. So far I have only told those who I know will not be rude. Well, I told one of my brothers but our style of relationship leads people to think we really hate each other. So him talking doesn't count. LOL (I said that with love.)

I will always look in the thrift stores for fabric. I have never seen any here. But I will start going to others. Pretty much I have to drive 30 minutes or more to get to any type of store that will have any kind of fabric. There are NO stores here. But next week I should be able to go have a look around. School starts and I will only have 1 kid at home during the day!!

But thank you for saying that it's ok to do "green" quilting. That makes me feel better. LOL And if that's not what you were saying...just let me think you did. Hehehe

I would check yard sales, estate sales, 2nd hand stores. Sometimes you can find really good things at very cheap prices! When I decided to start quilting last year I was lucky enough to find a quilters garage sale. She was trying to reduce some of her huge stash. I bought two boxes of assorted scraps, a beautiful bag of batiks, quilt magazines and books! I was in heaven! I've been using a lot of those scraps and if I need more yardage to add to it I check the stores and try to buy on sale. Your stash will grow as you go along. If you have friends or family that sew you might ask if you can have the scraps. Have fun and enjoy your new hobby!....................Just thought of another idea. If you go to yard sales check the clothing...I noticed quite a few cute prints in children's & girls clothes at yard sales lately. They could be cut up for quilt projects. Clothes are usually cheap at those sales!

I would occasionally buy fabrics that I liked, but most often lower quality. I asked for gift cards or money for my birthday and Christmas and used that to get sewing supplies and fabric. I got a wonderful set of Mundial scissors/pinking shears/thread clipper as a gift one year. I used flat sheets a lot for quilts (and curtains). Now I can afford to buy better fabrics and also I go to secondhand shops and buy 100% cotton men's dress shirts which serves two purposes: I get cotton fabric cheap and I also add buttons to my button jar. When I started quilting, I had three little ones and my husband, at that time, drove OTR too. I understand totally how you feel. You'll get there. Just pick up little bits at a time and like others have said, watch garage sales and such for things.

Jilli, Don't let anyone tell you that you're not a real quilter......if you are just starting a quilt or making them for years.....you are a quilter! If you haven't looked already...go to the gallery and look through the albums for ideas and inspiration. Pick and easy design at first and go from there. You will get a lot of support and answers to questions on this forum. A lot of us have not been quilting that long so you are not the only newbie! Good Luck!

I think being a green quilter is awesome. My stash built up over a year now is small but good now. I will go to thrift stores for fabric, but now will look for clothes to use.

What colors/prints would you like to use to make your next quilt if you could buy whatever kind of fabric you wanted?

I decided that I couldn't be a quilter.....until I actually started doing something. So I took 2 old sheets and pinned them to an old blanket-that is kinda quilt like, it was fluffy. Got them cut down, with a little left on the edges. I'm proud of my little quilt. And as soon as I have more time I will start sewing. Doing things by hand for now. No machine. And the baby is moving around like he's getting ready to wake up, so it will have to wait.

I feel better about it now. I have always done things different so why should I change now. :) The only camera I have is on my phone so I have no clue how to upload pictures. It will be cute. One side is yellow with little lady bugs, dragon flies and butterflies and the other side is plain ole white. My 5 yr old daughter is telling the other kids that it's hers. LOL

Oh I am totally going to look for wild crazy fun bold colors/prints. I'm going to try making a scrappy quilt. Think Dolly Pardon's song coat of many colors. Just everything color and print wise. LOL I'm a little crazy like that.

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Originally Posted by Jilli

I decided that I couldn't be a quilter.....until I actually started doing something. So I took 2 old sheets and pinned them to an old blanket-that is kinda quilt like, it was fluffy. Got them cut down, with a little left on the edges. I'm proud of my little quilt. And as soon as I have more time I will start sewing. Doing things by hand for now. No machine. And the baby is moving around like he's getting ready to wake up, so it will have to wait.

I feel better about it now. I have always done things different so why should I change now. :) The only camera I have is on my phone so I have no clue how to upload pictures. It will be cute. One side is yellow with little lady bugs, dragon flies and butterflies and the other side is plain ole white. My 5 yr old daughter is telling the other kids that it's hers. LOL

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That's the spirit! "Green" quilting is what quilting started out to be, so you are as real a quilter as our great great grandmothers were! And I was going to suggest looking for blankets at thrift stores to use for batting, and clothes that can be cut up, as well as sheets and curtains.

That is what I did a couple weeks ago. The real test will be after I get it finished and then wash and dry it. LOL If after that, I still have a blanket that is still together...then I can say I made a quilt. My first ever sewing project didn't make it out of the washer alive. So that is the family joke.

I did learn something though. The Goodwill I always go to, they don't sell blankets during the summer months. They pack them up and send them away! I'm hoping that they will start putting that stuff back out this month. IF the heat ever goes away!

I have fabric left from previous quilts that I have made and from precuts for future quilts. Actually, I find that I seldom use fabric that I've accumulated from previous quilts. I really need to quit buying fabric for my bucket list and start coming up with ideas for using up my stash. I wouldn't worry about having a stash. Just watch for sales to buy material for the particular quilt that you want to make and eventually you'll have a stash. Goodwill and yardsales are an option, but watch that the fabric looks in good shape and preferably 100% cotton.

Jilli....I love your questions AND the answers you got to your questions! If this hasn't convinced you that you ARE a quilter I don't know what will!! Stand up and count yourself in with the rest of us and remember THERE ARE NO QUILT POLICE AROUND HERE.....!!! Also, there is more than one way to make a quilt. Hugs..

If you find older/vintage sheets to use as backing, just be sure that the ones you are using aren't worn in spots. If you get a fitted sheet that is worn in the middle, you can still use the outer edges to piece together. Look for 100% cotton sheets, I think you'll be happier. The same thing with shirts and clothing. Making quilts allows you to cut around damaged parts and only use what is still good.

Haha. I just went to the pile of sheets and pulled out the one that was in my head for another quilt. It's as thin as a sheer curtain. So I gotta figure out if I want to use it as a backing but instead of one piece, having a 2 layer back. ORRRRRRR cut out the backhoes and use them for applique one day. I didn't realize that sheet was that worn.

I will have to think about this though. I'm sure there is still a use for it. Just gotta have that AHA moment. :)

Jilli - I can echo everything you've been told above. My first quilt was made from men's neck ties. That's pretty green - and I still love it most. I also used the innards from the ties for a weaving project. Most of my stash has derived from scraps from other type sewing projects before I got interested in quilting. I pick up remnants whenever I see them. We have a Disabled Veteran's store here and I often find huge grab bags of fabric there. They are usually cheap enough that I take them home, keep what I really think I will use and take the rest back for them to resell. I do very occasionally find stuff at Goodwill here - but not that often. If your Wal-Mart has a craft/fabric section left, check out their remnant bins. Hobby-Lobby here often has some great finds, as well.

Good luck - OH, I recently was de-stashing and sent a couple folks here some fabric that I knew I would never use - so friendships do help out. My sister quilts and she TRULY has NO stash. She buys as she needs, makes her quilt, finishes, and then buys for the next one.

Sheets that I can pick up at the Disabled Veteran's store make wonderful backings, too. Be pretty wise in checking that they are in good shape, are something that you think you will enjoy looking at, and don't pay too much. Most of mine have been picked up for $5 or less - beats the price of some of the extra wide backing fabrics.

Relax and enjoy. You are one of the ways that creative ideas are born.

Not only is is OK.... for me it is "preferable" to use up stuff...it's been siad,,, but QUILTING was a necessity, before it became an "art".... For me there is NO FUN,,, i following directions... trying to get the exact color as the pattern,,, and sweating the 1/4"....
As you can tell from my writing style... :0... what people say and think of my work has never been a problem.... mostly because the people that i would actually hang out with,, would be praising me for "a good idea"... and asking me if they could "buy" it or receive it as a gift... (which is 90% of what i do with anything i make)....
So,,, if you have anything i particular your really pining for.... let me know... i have some pieces,, (not quilting fabric persay,,but can be used as such) that need a home... i'd be tempted to send you one hunk to start you on your quest.... pm me...:)

Nothing wrong with going green...I have several quilts made with sheets cut up for tops, thin blankets for batting, and sheet for the backing. In fact my mom still makes all her quilts with sheets for backing and ties them off with yarn. Just got a red quilt from her last spring and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Oh my gosh! You ladies(guys too if there are any here!) are just lovely. I am so happy to hear that other quilters are doing what I thought of doing!

I don't want to be "cheap" but really I am cheap...er, well just frugal. But hearing others say that it's a good idea and that you even do it that way, makes me feel so much better. Truly it does.

I don't plan on joining shows and trying to win the best in show. But I would love to create things that people will enjoy for years and years. If I ever get "good enough" I might make some wall hangings to try and sell.

But another question...Thread. Where do you get yours and do you stick with 100% cotton or do some of you use silk? My Walmart only has all purpose thread. Will that do? Or should I go to Ben Franklin and get something else. I looked there a couple weeks ago and their thread is $8 a spool. Is that normal pricing?!?!

ConnectingThreads.com has 100% Egypian Cotton Thread around $2.20 a spool, think it's on sale for 1.79 right now. Great thread and my Brother, Viking and Singer love it. Many of the gals use it on this forum. It has 1200 yards to a spool, very cost effective and most of the time in quilts - it's the thread that breaks down not the fabric when it gets old. So you want to use good, quality thread. IHO :)

Ruby

I love your enthusiasm :). My very first quilt was made from a sheet and leftover Christmas prints that I had used for other crafting. I buy fabric and remnants where ever I can find them, and I love using sheets for backing. I made my grand son a rag quilt from his receiving blankets (but that is a different story). I have totes of my grand kids clothes in the basement that I am going to go through, and cut some of them up to make them quilts out of. There is nothing wrong with being frugal. I am very much like that when it comes to spending on myself. The easy way I can think of for you to upload pics that you are taking from your phone, is to email them to yourself. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Oh wow! That's wayy cheaper than the place I looked. Not that machine thread matters at the moment. I'm hoping that I can save up enough moneies to get one early next year. Or maybe get enough cash gifts for Christmas again this year. We shall see. But thanks for that site! I will totally use them.

It doesn't seem to take too long to build up stash - and then of course there's the bits left over. And what to do with them? I can't really help you with American shops and bargains but I can recommend a really good site to use up the leftovers from the wonderful creations that you make. It's www.quiltville.com . There are some amazing scrappy quilts which will give you ideas to use up nearly every bit of fabric that you come across. But beware!! I love scrappy quilts but somehow the scraps seem to multiply rather than reduce!!!! Good luck with it all - look forward to seeing pics of what you do.

If you will PM me I have some stuff I can send

I also love all the wonderful advice you read here. You're in a group of really wonderful helpful quilty friends here! I go to the Goodwill a few times a year, and when I do the first thing I look at is pillowcases. I look for anything that really catches my eye; florals, dots, stripes or anything with a vintage look and feel. I've made a few quilts with these. They're soft and cozy feeling right off the machine and people I've given them to LOVE them. I got the idea when I was looking for assorted fat quarters on Ebay and ran across a lady selling fat quarters of old pillowcases. It's a really cost effective way to build a wonderful stash of a huge variety.

Good luck! You're among friends here....they're full of wonderful ideas and will help you on this journey!

I have tons and tons of cotton/polyester thread from costume making, some 100% cotton Aurifil, and some big spools of polyester serger thread. I also have silk size 100(thin).

For machine piecing I have not noticed any significant differences in any of them. For hand sewing the Aurifil was the worst, it twisted and broke the most. The cotton/polyester was the best for hand piecing for me. (Well actually the silk size 100 is the best but GEESH it's expensive.)

I use silk for the top thread when I machine quilt on quilts for my family. I also use silk for hand applique-it is the BEST I have ever used for applique! I use hand sewing cotton for hand quilting.

I do have to say that silk is my absolute most favorite thread ever, but since it costs so much more I save it for special quilts on areas where the stitching is going to show, like the quilt top, or for things like applique where it's so nice to use and blends so well.

ebay has been a GREAT source for me. I have gotten all kinds of supplies at really great prices.

Well, I went to a Goodwill today. Was hoping to get some clothes 50% off. Well that didn't go well. The items that were on sale were either wrong material or they were just way too ugly lol. I did find a few more sheets to use as backing. So it wasn't a complete loss. I am hoping that I will be able to get to a different one soon. I can only make some tops once I get enough. In the mean time, I will be going through our clothes and pulling out what is too little or stained. Gonna make an effort to get enough scraps for a scrappy top.

I do have another question though, hope you don't mind. lol

Is it possible to hand sew an entire quilt without a hoop or frame? I'm afraid that it will be too loose. And then it will fall apart in the washer. And that would be heartbreaking!!!

Yes it is possible to sew a quilt completely by hand. Just be sure and get your stitching 1/4 inch from the edge.
I did my nieces Hexagon lap quilt completely by hand. Well all except for the binding. Its in y completed projects album.
She still uses it, and I checked in this past July when I was in Colorado. Its still holding up.

Are you talking about quilting it or piecing it? I know a lady that does not use a hoop to quilt. You don't need a hoop to sew the pieces together. When you are shopping clothes, etc., try to get 100% cotton or at least cotton blends. Also just because something makes an ugly article of clothing does not nescessarily mean it won't look good in smaller pieces in a quilt, lol

auntie, I guess I am not thinking outside of the box yet then. LOL Cause some of that was just oh my gosh what were they thinking!

I seen alot of items that felt oh so soft but they were 100% Argon..not sure if I am spelling that right. I know it started with an A lol And I didn't know if it was sew-able. Is that a word? lol

Tamara I will try to go find that! I want to see a completed quilt that was done by hand. I have a quilt that is pieced together, I just gotta trim in up better. Pinned and ready to go when the baby isn't walking/climbing around. I just took 2 old sheets and a thicker blanket/quilt, and I think I am going to tie it.

G'day Jilli ...........l havent finished my quilt but l started this in a class l was doing. Ive never sewed before either ....both my mum and grandmother tried teaching me how to sew but l wasnt interested as a kid. But now l am so here is a couple of blocks that l've done by hand. I started learning with a local class and the tutor made sure everyone did their 1st quilt by hand. It isnt hard mate you just gotta start. This hasnt bene finished yet l've only got 2 or 3 blocks to go But l've had some health problems which have stopped me inmy tracks with the hand sewing. Anyhow have a look hope you like them.

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Lisa those are beautiful! I wouldn't be able to tell that those were hand sewn. I guess that just means the pillows I made years ago weren't hand sewn well enough. LOL

Thank you for posting those pictures.

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Originally Posted by Jilli

I decided that I couldn't be a quilter.....until I actually started doing something. So I took 2 old sheets and pinned them to an old blanket-that is kinda quilt like, it was fluffy. Got them cut down, with a little left on the edges. I'm proud of my little quilt. And as soon as I have more time I will start sewing. Doing things by hand for now. No machine. And the baby is moving around like he's getting ready to wake up, so it will have to wait.

I feel better about it now. I have always done things different so why should I change now. :) The only camera I have is on my phone so I have no clue how to upload pictures. It will be cute. One side is yellow with little lady bugs, dragon flies and butterflies and the other side is plain ole white. My 5 yr old daughter is telling the other kids that it's hers. LOL

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My first quilt was also done with two sheets like that. It's still around as far as I know. When I got divorced, it disappeared, but I think my youngest daughter has it now. It rode in a semi for many years.

I'm also a mom of 5 and totally understand what your going through. My stash didn't really build til recently. If you have small boys or girls I'll be happy to help your stash with some novelty scraps. When I started I had no idea what to buy and I bought a bunch of novelties for the kids quilts and didn't use a 3/4 of them. All mine but 1 are teenagers. I have been trying to use up the scraps and have already started a grandchild collection of quilts lol I know crazy. I used to make the girls clothes when they were younger and had left over material I just made a quilt out of fleece, homespun, flannel, jean and corduroy. It has turned into everyone favorite quilt. You can make a quilt out of anything...Pm me your addy if interested and I will be more then happy to share some scraps!! Also Marshelldrygoods.com is great for a budget its the same fabric on other sites for 1/2 the price. Keep an eye on the daily deal here and if you love it, shipping is fantastic, add a 108 wide backing piece in a solid at the same time. 1 yard of the 108 is really 3 yards at half the price of 45" material. A cheap way to build up and the solid can be used as sashing for any quilt you decide to make. Good luck and Happy quilting!!!

Forgot to add ...if your doing by hand look up English paper piecing!!

I accidentally added to my stash today, I broke the zipper on my summer robe so that is going to be part of a quilt some day.:icon_bigsmile: