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Have you ever wished you had a total change of your stash? My stash is very small & limited & now I wish I had lots & lots more florals & a lot more bright & happy colors. This is just a thought of mine but I sometimes wish I could just start all over with my stash.

You can start over just a few peices at a time until you have what you want. Or offer to exchange with some of the other quilters. We all have some stash that we wonder what ever possed me to buy that.

I have gone through different periods of liking different kinds of fabric designs/colors. Accordingly, I have a stash that looks like a private quilt shop after all this time but it makes it nice to be able to go find just want I want when I am working on something new. It also makes it sort of a fun challenge to incorporate fabrics in a quilt in small areas that I normally wouldn't use if I didn't already have the fabric. I think it has actually helped me develop a better eye for color.

But that goes to my changing my taste regarding colors and designs. There is not much I can do with the crappy cheap fabric I bought in the first couple of years. I recall thinking that stuff was beautiful when I bought it but now, I touch it and want to wash my hands because it is so flimsy and I now know it is going to fade as soon as a light bulb shines on it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Penny Quilts,

I've always trusted my gut when stash buying, and it hasn't led me wrong yet. So even after all these years, I can pull fabrics out of my stash & fall in love with them all over again.

I did go through a period of feeling I didn't have enough 30's repro's, though. I knew I wasn't going to rest until I had more. I went out & had fun at a few LQS's, quickly filling that need. And now those fabrics are "too cute to cut into," so there they are, grouped in a big basket in color order, making me happy! (I do use them sparingly.)

Our guild put out a call for donation fabric this past winter, and even though it took awhile, I found a few fabrics I could part with & not miss too much. But for the most part, I am very happy with my stash choices.

My advice is to wait for sales & go shopping! Mother's Day is coming...if someone is going shopping for you, can you drop hints?!

Nicki - this reminds me of a story that makes me laugh. Once I told my neighbor (who was the lady that really got me going in quilting) that I was going home to get all the florals from my stash and make a project. She laughed after I left because she knew that I didn't have any florals! I just figured everybody has every kind of fabric, even though I don't care for flowers! When I told her how surprised I was that I couldn't find any florals, she just laughed at me!

My stash is okay... but I sure wish I could find more of certain colors,nice soft yellows are hard to find and more soft floral's instead of all the loud one's and the burgundy reds that look so yummy with olive greens like in the Louisa collection.

May: This place has yummy soft florals AND the other colorways you mentioned. Pricey but GORGEOUS!!!!
http://www.shabbyfabrics.com/

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I've always trusted my gut when stash buying, and it hasn't led me wrong yet. So even after all these years, I can pull fabrics out of my stash & fall in love with them all over again.

Me too! I pretty much still love what I have. I think mainly because I bought basics in the beginning when I could see how much prices were going up...30's,plaids, CW,florals,batiks, dots,stripes, children's novelties, Americana. And mostly on sale.

WillQuiltForChocolate's story makes me think of my appliances. There came a point where we had to start changing over to new ones and I realized I didn't have to keep matching to the old color (avocado green or brown) ...I could start out with a new one...white!!! (now it's getting hard to match that one...even though I love red.... NO on a red washer and dryer!!!)

So,Nicki,it might just be that time...Just start buying the stuff you like from now on...eventually it will go together! Do you have a color choice in mind? If my heart flutters and I can hardly breathe I know I hve a sure winner

Well, I pretty much like what is in my stash but I've been paying more attention to things I have made & received & have noticed that I lean toward the florals. One of my first quilts was a colorwash quilt of florals & it has always been a favorite of mine. Then in 2007 I made a wedding quilt (from a kit) for my boss's son & bride from florals & I loved it. Then in 2009, Quiltbea made me a little sewing caddy for my sewing machine as a little thank you that I just fell in love with. At that point I realized that I love fabric with flowers.

I'll start adjusting my stash to include more of what I REALLY like from now on. I guess it just too a while to know my very favorites. Of course I love ANY bright colors.

I often wish I had more patriotic fabric in my stash. I am always buying florals. I never get enough flowers.

nik, a good way to build a stash is to join the birthday ft qtr swap.

One year I did beige and off white. Another cats, this year bright pinks and turquoise to build both those colors. Think this is my 5th year and it is such fun... chris

cksvett, that's a good idea. I might just have to sign up next year. Thanks!

Start over NO! Add to fill in holes--YES! Sometimes, my tastes do change, but they also change back with time! Sometimes just adding a little more will "freshen" or balance a stash. I don't buy nearly what I used to because I do have a large stash. I do buy to fill in color/style gaps or larger pieces for borders/backgrounds or backing if there is a good sale. Sometimes, I will buy an entire project worth of stuff if it is a new "trendy" look that I really love or a vintage looking kit from a specialty shop (but that is much less often now as I'm trying to use what I have). If I buy a "whole" project, I make it right away so I don't loose interest in it and then leave it sit with the rest of the stash. All fabrics can't be "leaders"--you need some followers to make the "leaders" shine! Just when I think I'm not very crazy about a certain fabric, the next project comes along and it is the one that makes the others shine!

i love asian fabric,, my favorite, but i have florals, Victorian, (Robin Pandolf) patriotic, xmas, kids stuff, BRIGHTS!!!!, I so much of everything, the only thing i don't have much of is civil war and batiks and solids,

I LIKE that ImaQuilter ... fill in the holes

I have no more room to fill in anything. I need to get a lot of sewing done so I'll have room!

There's too many I love-brights,batiks,floral,novelties,30's,etc. I find myself overrun with baby stuff-need to get some made!
I'm in the process of making a wedding quilt and actually used 2 colorrs from my stash-BUT- had to go buy more of it (hehe). I guess I'll learns to get 3 yds of whatever instead of 2!!

Pam