Skip to main content

Stash organisation (and shock!) + some basic resolutions




I have been busy! I am in the process of documenting my fabric stash. This is the organisation part of the title; the shock part is just how much I have!

I am using Busy Lizzie in Brizzy's template for fabric stash data but in a different way. Instead of putting it on cards I have put my stash data on A4 sheets/4 per sheet and put in a clear document folder. I did this more because I had no card to print on and just wanted to start. I like this idea now - suits my needs better, but big thanks for the template of the stock card!

This has taken ages! On and off for a couple of weeks with a huge mess everywhere. I haven't finished yet. I have 2 giant bins full, and 4 baskets (seen above) full with 2 bins (not full) of fabrics downstairs that I'm not going to get into just yet - I kind of know what is in there and some is old quilt covers etc with some fabric but not much (thank goodness).

The top photo shows 2 pages of the 'stock card'. On the left are some of my silks (swoon), and on the right some of my 'special' fabrics (ball dresses, lace etc). The next photo shows me burn testing some of the 'not sure what it's made of'' fabrics, and the last one is 2 of the 4 baskets that fit in my built in cupboard in the sewing room. The winter fabrics are in a bin and also the knit in another bin. These will live downstairs (under the house) and my catalogue will let me just get what I need, when I need it.

I find when I decide to make something, I rummage through a lot of fabric to find what I want, then I see 5 or 10 other pieces I get inspired about, then I caress it and think and get distracted get out patterns and end up making a big mess but no sewing! I am anticipating that this organisation will keep me on track and less distracted.

Some things I have discovered:
1. I have A LOT of fabric
2. I have mostly (90-95%) natural fibres
3. I have a lot of silk and linen (such beautiful and quality stuff)
4. I don't have a lot of support items - linings, suitable fusing etc
5. I remember how much I paid and where I bought nearly every piece of fabric
6. I have mostly solids with prints only making appearances occasionally and more so in the last 10 years
7. I have A LOT of fabric....

This leads me to wonder why do I have nothing to wear when I have the skills, tools and 'raw materials' to make an entire wardrobe to suit every conceivable occasion? The answer I have come up with is - fit. Yes, the elusive good fit. When I started sewing I was pretty much a standard (short) size 10 with maybe some grading to 12 for the hip. Easy. Now, my middle aged, menopausal body is all over the shop and while I can make something technically very, very well, I am mostly lazy and impatient with fit.

So some basic resolutions for this year. I will try to not buy any fabric, but I won't berate myself if I do (great cop out isn't it!). I have been sewing for over 25 years and this reflects my differing tastes and what was fashionable at a place in time and is an investment (in what I'm not sure). I will sew with my beautiful fabrics and not be fearful of using it - I have A LOT so I need to use it and wear it and enjoy it. The second basic (but challenging) resolution is that I will try not to rush and just make something, but slow down and focus on the fit. No point making technically great clothing if it doesn't fit me! I don't want to keep making nice things that I can't wear.

Phew, that's a long post - but I haven't finished yet. Onto the shock part. The stats. Not counting linings, bag and sheet material (I used to make kiddie sheet sets and library bags for kindys) and small bits of fabric that are useful for kids clothing I have..... approximately 210 metres of fabric.
I did say I have A LOT of fabric. Is this too much? Ok? Average? How much fabric do you have and how much fabric do you consider A LOT or TOO MUCH?  I am interested in your thoughts. Thanks for reading this long.

Comments

Giggles said…
I think it gets easier not to buy any/much fabric when you do an inventory of sorts, because you realise what you actually have. I did one of sorts (not as detailed as you though) last August and whilst I didn't stop buying I certainly bought significantly less. Good luck :-)
Rosi said…
Hmm. Not sure if that's a lot or not. I can't compare it to mine as I'm not about to measure it up! I like you idea about keeping the swatches in a clear plastic folder. I think the fit issue is common amongst seamstresses and I have been enjoying Rochelle's (lucky Lucille) posts on her twelve pattern challenge and fitting issues. Good luck using up your fabric!
Marie said…
It is hard to make a call on whether a fabric stash is too big - I think it all depends on how productive you are as a sewist. If you sew up lots of things every year, 210m is not much at all. However, if someone like my Mum (who sews a couple of things every year at best), that amount would be huge for her.

I honestly have no idea how much I have. Some years back I spent a lot of time measuring my fabrics and made a record. However, over time I have forgotten to add new purchases, take out fabrics that I have sewn etc. I have a few shelves and drawers for my fabrics. I figure if all of them are full then it is too much and it is time to get sewing.

What I do at the moment is record my fabric purchases and fabrics used for the year. I aim to use up as much fabric as I buy, even better if that fabric is from the stash.
Kristy Chan said…
I think the size of your stash is relative to the amount of storage space you have, the amount of sewing you do and how much you love your stash! Ie if you sew lots then you need lots of fabric, if you have mostly fabrics you love and not too much fabric that you are meh about then it's good and if you have enough space then no harm! I'm about halfway through cataloging my stash and am up to nearly 500m, but I'm weeding out bits I don't like, I have lots that I do love and I have the space for it so I'm happy!
Judith said…
LOL!!! Great post ~ I have never thought about cataloguing my stash, but it would make a great rainy Sunday project. Love the date of your orange piece ~ 1980's certainly the good times for fabric stashing ... J
Carolyn said…
You do have a wonderful stash! but I really like your resolution to sew up your beautiful fabrics and to really enjoy the process of doing so. That's the whole point really, isn't it :)

Popular posts from this blog

The saddest dress, then a few more.

Well hello. It's been a while. It was 8 months from the last post to the previous one to that and it's a bit longer this time. The last day I wrote was 10 Jul 2021. On 12 July my son and I were finally seeing Tim Minchin  after booking it before we went to Europe at the end of 2019. It was going to be April 2020, but changed a few times and although it was a school night (year 12 for Alex) we went for dinner and sat in the show. My Mum had gone to hospital that morning and my sister was still at the hospital with her. Just after interval I got a message on my phone, "get to the hospital now". So we raced out and to the hospital where. although it was a lockdown and no visitors allowed, all 10 of us were allowed to see Mum as she was end of life. I won't go into the whole thing but Mum didn't die that night, but because of lockdown, we were not allowed to go and see her until a week and a half later when we were allowed just to discuss palliative care. By the n

Bubble O'Bill: take 2; bikinis

With some time at home, I've been sewing a bit lately and I finally had time to make the bikinis for my son's girlfriend for her birthday. I cut them out in February from some scrap fabric my friend gave me. I made my son some swimmers   and I see someone has some for sale if you feel you are missing out 😆.   I had to piece together the bikinis as I had nearly nothing left over. I made the top back and the briefs from the free Madelynne Noelle pattern and the front top from another Madelynne pattern I can't find a link for it but was Mallory Lane. It's a basic top with scrappy back. If anyone wants it I have the download. Looks like it's not available any more.  All this piecing and mixing was purely from fabric limitations. The other fabric I mixed it with was ombre from aqua blue to purple and matched well. I asked Liv if she wanted a frill down the centre front to break up the print as I wasn't sure she would, but she loved the idea, so on the went. She tr

Emergency Rashie KS2600

I go to aqua aerobics 3 or 4 times a week and I like to wear a rashie as it's outdoor and it's a bit warmer in the (not very cold usually but really warm this) winter, and I can't reach the spots for sunscreen. In Brisbane you must wear sunscreen every day even in winter as we have the highest skin cancer rates in the world and I don't want to be any more wrinkly than I am! Anyway, I went to the Gold Coast to see my friend for a few days and I left my rashie at her place and I she wouldn't get to Brisbane for a few days so I pulled out KS 2600. I saw this pattern listed on a pattern site and then became obsessed with it till I got it but this is my first chance to try it. Isn't it lovely! I wanted to test it to see how the fit was. I've made McCall's 7417 a few times but it's long between the shoulder and the arm for me and even though I have made a few it wasn't ever a great fit but it is a quick sew. The pants on the McCall's is a good fit