fabricholic

[maryq]

Susie

You poor dear, no fabric stash! my heart goes out to you!

I am a bonafide member of the Bad Girls Club..... We buy fabric for no reason at all except "It's There". I have a closet full and every now and then I have to go to my sewing room and just LOOK at what I've got. I think only maybe twice have I bought fabric for a specific project. I am slowly working on a quilt for my God Daughter (have most of the pieces cut) and bought fabric for my son--he's a golfer so I got golf themed fabric. The rest is there just to HAVE for when a mood strikes me or for swaps. I can't resist a good sale on fabric either, so when QIAD-Linda posts new stuff on sale, well then my credit card gets a work out! There's a ton of fabric websites that have some gorgeous fabric as well and I also go for the clearance aisle!

Little by little you'll be able to build a stash! Good Luck!
And when you find yourself buying fabric for no real reason, join us at Bad Girls Club!

Maryq

[gardenquilter]

susie susie susie - we need to get you going! how much yardage do you buy as much as you think you can get by with, always at least 1/2 yard if taking off the bolt and as many fat quarters as will fit in the bag. Ok I exagerate a little bit but not much, it is great to have a pattern in mind when you go but then it I have a pattern I may very well get 20 different fabrics when I only need 2

the best advice I ever got was when I start a project I take cutting from each fabric and attach to a piece of paper and label them as background, focus, accent, sash, post etc then when I leave home I take that with me it allows me to pick up fabric that can be worked into my quilt
I am also always on the look out for fabric that can be used as border, and as center and then I work out the math how many fussy cut centers can I get how long is the longest quilt I make and then how much border do I need

[Quiltcreator]

Oh, goody, a brand new person to corrupt. Susie, we will have you in the Bad Girls club in no time. Just listen to our advice & go out & purchase accordingly.

[gardenquilter]

quilt creator is right and just in case you can't get out there is always on line, although i am more able to control myself on line because a lot of times for me it is about touch

[Susie]

You folks are a hoot! Well, I am just going to have to get with it...I wanna be a bad girl too! (There are some who would question my "good girl" status!). Thanks for all the tips. I am going on a girls weekend trip with some past co-workers in a couple of weeks to Black Butte Ranch near Sisters Oregon. I know there are quilt shops there as they have a big show there once a year. I am going to drag my friends there (even though NONE of them quilt!). That will be the beginning of my stash. I have to get my husband to start building cabinets! He has a gargage full of woodworking tools...I say it is about time he put them to good use!!!!!I will keep ya all posted with what I buy.... (I think my first quilt that I do start to finish will be something like the Don't Fence Me In Quilt in Eleanor's Still Stripping After 25 Years book. That should be one of the easier ones, don't you think? Maybe I better make it for dear husband......
Future Bad Girl

[Evie]

Susie, I just finished a Don't Fence Me In quilt top. Haven't quilted it yet, waiting on the backing.

What I learned is that you might need extra fabric. The instructions say you sew 4 2 1/2" strips (width of fabric) together, press, then cut into squares. You should get 5 8 1/2" squares. I didn't because some of my fabric was closer to 40" than 44/45"! I was really disappointed. Make sure you measure the width of your fabric. I was 18 blocks short for the full/queen size quilt. I wound up putting a border around it to make up the difference. The quilt did go together real fast.

[Susie]

Oh thanks Evie for the tip. I will be sure and measure the width.
I probably won't even be able to start it until I finish up these hand-quilting projects (I am one of those weirdos that like to finish things before I start something else). But when I go shopping on this trip I will be sure and measure the fabric (and probably buy a little extra as insurance and to start a "stash".)
Susie

[cindyg]

Susie - you are not a weird-o. I like to finish a project before starting another, too. With everything else in my life I just can't wrap my mind around more than one quilting project at a time except to do an occassional block for something special like Linda's quilt or the tornado people's quilt. Most of the quilters here are whirling durvishes (sp?) and they try to make you feel guilty if you don't have 50 things going on at once and if you don't have 10,000 yds. of fabric. LOL LOL So, relax, and do things your way, and be prepared to take teasing - LOL LOL

[SewGlad]

Susie,

I am so glad you are "crossing over" to our side. There is no such thing as too much fabric!!!!! Of course, non-quilters don't understand why anyone could look all day a fabric and consider it a highlight of the day. I get quiver all over just thinking about it. This is a condition that we DON'T want a 12 step cure program. Just go with the flow and enjoy.

Ruthie

[Cathy32078]

Amen to that Ruthie. My new dear sister. Yep, Susie we are all happy that you are crossing over to the Bad Girls Club. It is so much fun!