In order to do something different each week of the year, I have a list of challenges to undertake...

Sunday 10 March 2013

Week 10 - Organise Fabric Stash

This is a fun challenge this week!

It's amazing how I have accumulated bits and pieces of fabric for my quilting considering that I have only been at it a relatively short time. It is all the more amazing when you chuck into the mix how loathe I am to part with money - there's a recession on donch'a know, and fripperies like wonderful pretty printed cottons for quilting are up there in the 'wants' rather than the 'needs' list.

One way to square the conscience is to start off with a good friend who sends you a big jiffy of 'offcuts' for you to play about with; and for gift tokens for the local quilt shop to be on your birthday and Christmas lists.

The other way to square the conscience is to buy cotton fabric from charity shops every now and again - you not only don't spend much per go, but the money is going to a good cause. We all win!

This is why you will find me rummaging through the bins of curtains in the local charity shop; and going through the racks of XXXXL size clothes, as a big girl's summer dress can yield a couple of yards of lovely cotton print for next to nothing.

And this is why I have two collapsible crates stuffed to the gunnels with all size of bits of cotton in all sorts of colours; prints and plains; large pieces for backing, small coordinating fragments for scrappy piecing. And every time I want to have a look for something, the whole damn lot gets pitched out on the floor, rifled through then put back in a completely random fashion.


Time for action - so this evening in the company of Radio4, I have sifted and sorted, piled up and refolding and now have a crate of big pieces for backing; a crate of browns & beiges, one of reds and yellows, one of greens and blues, and a sort of miscellaneous which has both extremely striking fabrics, the weediest of pastels and any black & whites.


I'm more than happy with the resulting orderliness - so week 10 Challenge: done!

4 comments:

  1. Well done, but just think if you had a 5 year old granddaughter who loves fabric scraps and in 2 minutes it can look like you never tidied it. That's my dilemma, but I do love her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can see that happening! Catch 'em young, Sue, get her sewing!

      Delete
  2. I'm not going to laugh, and giggle, and smirk. No really!

    The other great benefit of organising like this is you can see exactly which colours are missing from your stash .... helps to have a 'purpose' when you're not really fabric shopping in charity shops.

    BTW, you might like to add men's shirts to the rummage list. I once got nearly two yards of brand new cotton plaid for £1.25 from a sale at a local clothes store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought about the organisation showing up the gaps, but you're right! Clever Hobbit! :-)

      Delete