Curating a fabric stash is a frequently discussed subject amongst quilters. Many see this as a negative, but it isn’t, unless you plan to win the S.A.B.L.E. lottery or Stash Acquirement Beyond Life Expectancy.

Embrace your Fabric Stash

There are different ways that quilters start to acquire a fabric stash. You overbought for a project, you had fabric left over, you swapped out a fabric that was a better option, or even just because. It’s perfectly okay to have a fabric stash. The biggest benefit to having a fabric stash is you don’t have to go to the store or shop online when you’re choosing fabrics for your next project, unless you want to.

What Fabrics to Stash

Unless they are not your style, both solids and blenders are great fabrics to choose to stash. This way, you have a ready made stash of fabrics that will play well with others.

If you absolutely have to have x designer’s new collection, go for it. As long as you have the money and the space, I say go for it. There is nothing worse than regretting not buying the fabric you really, really wanted.

How Much to Buy

When I started quilting, I only purchased fat quarters. It was a lot cheaper and I got a variety of fabrics versus only buying large pieces of yardage. It was also a lot easier to store. However, you can only do so much with pieces that are only 18” x 22” (average size).

I started to buy yardage when my husband started coming along to quilt shops with me. While it is great to have large pieces available to use, yardage takes up a lot more storage space.

There is no wrong answer to how much to buy. It’s totally up to you.

Inventory

It is a good idea to take an inventory of your stash at least once a year. This way, you always know what you have. Take it from someone who loves blue and green fabrics and has four bins combined of those colours. It’s better to know what you have in order to not repeat purchasing the same fabrics again.

My Final Thoughts

I hope you found value in Embrace your Fabric Stash. There are some great reasons to have a fabric stash, but I know not everyone wants one. That is perfectly ok too. Simply put, you do you.

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