I am working on it ... seriously ...

... on reducing my fabric stash and actually using it. But since the move in this house last summer the organization of this stash is seriously compromised.

A step back: In the last house we had a tiny kitchen but huge dining area space so I put the girls' old german blue wardrobe in a corner and organized NICELY - sorted after colors and seasons - most of my fabric in it. Easy access. Right there in the middle of the house with enough space around to spread it all out if necessary. The rest of the crafts stuff was all packed up in a closet in Leland's hide away/computer room.

Now: We rented a bigger house that's in better shaped and all the kids got their own room. Getting them to sleep is SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier, but there is no space for my blue closet beside in the garage which is packed with everything else that was in the extra room in the other house, too, plus everything else. So I am working on getting my stash used and reduced and reorganized that I can enjoy it again and actually find what I am looking for when I look for it. But that is a work in progress.

I don't like to admit that the last move left such a chaos behind - we are expert movers after all! - but Sew, Mama, Sew! is asking about our fabric stash, yours & mine. And through them you get to peek in lots of others fabric stashes and see what they are stashing away.

• What do you usually sew?
  I started out with quilts in all sizes and girls' dresses, now more little things for decorations and whatever pops in my head.
  


• When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy?
  If I go shopping for a specific project I just add a little more as what I need, if I just really like the fabric it depends on the price if I take between 1/2 - 2 yards. Usually 1 yard.
  


• Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
  Both, I try to avoid the fabric sections now because I do have a pretty big stash, but the special fabric I always find when I am not looking for it.
  


• Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?
  I used to wash it right away. Now only of I use it for quilts when I need it.
  


• Do you iron it?
  Before cutting it.
  


• How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
  By color, a few as collection and as season for fall and xmas.
  


• Do you have any special folding techniques?
  No, just trying to get them similar sized.
  


• How do you store your fabric?
  In my blue closet if I get finished organozid, currently there and in plastic containers and on top of my dryer.
  


• What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
  If you see something you just fall in love with add it to your stash, it makes you smile when you get to touch it. lol. There are a few stash staples you akways need from white fabric, tan, black, brown, so always have a few overall fitting patterns, too, that you easily can start on an idea without having to run to the store.
  


• When do you say enough is enough?
  Is there ever enough? I reach a point taht I carefully select the fabric I buy now.
  


• What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
  Let my daughters dig in my stash. lol.
  


• Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
  I love the blue print and for right now can't get myself to cut in it.
  

• What’s your definition of the perfect stash?
  The perfect stash is the one I can start digging in when I get an idea and end up finding all the perfectly right fabrics I want in it.
  

"The latest additions to the fabric stash."