My friend's dining room was *filled* with her friend's fabric. She put out a call to her fellow quilters & to several church groups who sew for those in need. In spite of my over-full stash, the words "free fabric" had me in my car & headed to her house. I was amazed by what I saw! So much fabric! Fat quarters, small cuts, huge cuts. Cat fabric, Asian fabric (I came away with an Asian cat fabric), batiks, etc, etc, etc. There were zip bags filled with blocks & block parts. There was even tub filled with bandannas?
After several, round-eyed "oh my words!" on my part, I started thinking about how many plastic tubs would it take to contain *my* stash.
As many?
More?
But the good news is that though my friend's friend will no longer enjoy her studio filled with color & inspiration, her fabric has found new homes & will be put to good use. I brought home a couple of bags of WIPs to make up for charity quilts. One was a bag of bright batik blocks which made two quick quilts -- one to give, one to keep.
I am still absorbing the lessons.
The first lesson I was: people with too much fabric should not throw rocks at others who have too much fabric. I know a very few people who only buy fabric when they need it. Me? I. Buy. Fabric. I buy fabric because I LOVE fabric. I have too much fabric & now I have a little more fabric.
The second lesson was this -- don't worry about having too much fabric. Yes, it will present a problem to who ever has the chore of cleaning out my sewing room, but the very good news is that quilters will love the fabric I loved & will do good things with it. This dear woman's beloved stash is now scattered over Houston being loved & doing good.
9 comments:
Nice thoughts. I've been feeling like finishing some of my many unfinished projects, ideas, and inspirations. I think I have plenty for the rest of my life, even if it's a long one. But it's good to know that other people will benefit if I don't ever get them done. I, too, buy fabric simply because I love fabric. Never thought of it that way, but it's true.
Those are good lessons, and good for the husband to let people who love fabric find good homes for the fabric. Those are great batik quilts!
so so true. I too buy because I like it, because Jenny Doan makes me buy it, etc. someone will have a field day in my stash when I am gone......
love those batik quilts! gorgeous
Great post. I have seen this situation locally, too -- so I recently added a page of handwritten notes to our important papers with suggestions for local quilters to call when the time comes ... DH has written out some notes for local woodturning contacts for his studio, too. In the meantime, we will both continue to use and enjoy our studios and their contents without guilt.
Yay for this post!! I worry sometimes about how much fabric I have and all my WIPS but I'll remember this and be happy with my ocean of fabric. I love fabric, I used to buy it before I knew what to do with it, it's lucky I took up quilting! I love that you found asian cat fabric.
I totally agree...guess we have chosen the right friends..huh??? Judging from both the post and the comments...carry on we will!!
That is a nice story. It is kind of your friend to help the widower and generous of him to let her. Sometimes I worry that in their grief our precious stashes may end up at the tip. Who will HAND quilt all my quilt tops if I don't?
Lovely post! You take the guilt out of acquisition:)
I totally agree with you here! I don't think anyone should feel guilty about their stash as long as they are quilting. And when they are done, there will be plenty of others who will carry on the flame! (LOL - relay quilting, the new Olympic sport!)
Post a Comment