I've been trying to write this post since the first of August and couldn't seem to get it done. So Imma gonna just do it now.
Last July, I made a pledge not to add anything to the fabric stash until my birthday this year (July 11...a year later). I'd had to clean out the spare bedroom I use for cutting, which had somehow accumulated all the fabric purchases for the previous three years, in addition to fabrics I'd pulled from the bins with the intention of sewing them up and then never getting to it. It was a mess.
I did not make a fabric purchase...at all...from July 1, 2015 to Jan 29, 2016. During that time, I sewed up 16.5 yards. I started letting myself purchase fabric on the condition that I sewed it up immediately...and, excluding of a couple of pieces, totaling 7 yards that I bought to replace basic fabrics that I sewed (gotta keep those basics stocked, you know), I purchased...and sewed... 29.5 yards of fabric between 1/1/16 and 7/1/16.
That's 46 yards of sewing all by itself, not counting the 'from stash' sewing that I did.
And I almost made it. Those 4th of July sales caught me, and I added 15.625 yards in the first two weeks of July...most of which has still not been sewn. I kinda fudged by saying my last purchase was 7/1/15, so I made it the required year. Sort of.
And there have been sales since then. You can look at the sidebar and see that my fabric in is now exceeding the fabric out for the calendar year by about ten yards....which isn't TOO bad, considering I bought fabric in anticipation of costuming needs that did not develop...at least, not yet.
When I was a teen, I happened to see a friend's mom's fabric stash and was astonished that anyone would purchase fabric and then not sew it. Now, with the demise of Hancock's, not to mention most independent fabric stores, it's hard not to buy fabric that sings when I spy it...because who knows if it will be there when I want to sew it?
Which is a kinda crazy way to think.
It was a great discipline for me to make myself sew what I bought. I think...I hope...I broke the tendency to purchase without sewing.
I don't know that I'll get all the new purchases sewn by Christmas; I've upped my work hours a bit and embarked on an online Master's degree, so my sewing time has dropped again.
But, before I tackle the new purchases, I think I'm going to see if I can clean up some UFO's. Time to get those off the sidebar.
And I'm going to try not to order any more fabric until I have sewn up what I can (not tackling costuming until I need it...) from the recent purchases. Or at least get back to parity...lol...
I understand this struggle trying to keep the fabric purchases down when you're not sewing as much. Because even though I have more than enough for 2 lifetimes, I am trying to be more conscientious in my fabric purchases.
ReplyDeleteI know...and I've had at least two pieces of truly beautiful fabric arrive this year. But what good is beautiful fabric if it's boxed up in the attic? First...I gotta quit buying so much...then, I gotta not be chicken to sew the good stuff... ;-)
DeleteWhat good is a stash in boxes is a very good question. I haven't bought fabric in a very long time. But I have almost no time for personal sewing anymore, and what little free time I have is spent sitting on the couch with my husband. I do a little knitting, if anything. So my fabric sits... and waits. I love my fabrics and I need clothes. But the thought of it sitting in those boxes makes me kind of sad... maybe I can find a way to squeeze a couple hours in each week.
ReplyDelete'The thought of it sitting in those boxes makes me kind of sad'...yes. exactly. I need to just go browse my stash when I have the urge to browse the 'net...
DeleteIt's a catch 22 for me too with purchasing and stashing fabric.
ReplyDeleteI have really tried to scale mine back and sew more from stash, I don't record like you do though so I'm unsure whether its working. I've stopped online purchases completely as they seemed more prone to issues.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about being afraid that you won't find such nice fabric when you want it - I think that is what contributed to my large stash. I have really tried to cut back on purchases and shop my stash first, but it can be hard!
ReplyDelete