It is the first Friday of the month, time for our Stashbusters check in. How’d you do sewing in March? Gather up your acquisitions and finishes, as it is time to report your progress.
I had a lot of fabric ‘in’ this month. Spending gift certificates and winning a prize pushed the total up higher than it would have been otherwise. Leading off, my fourth place win in the National Quilting Day challenge came with a jelly roll, fabric in = 3 yards.
Spending a gift certificate at our local shop, Beginnings, I came home with two yards of cute bee prints, and another jelly roll. Total fabric in for this = 5 yards. I also got a 60-degree triangle ruler so the disaster with the gingerbread hot pad might not happen again. There’s also a pattern for a table runner using it that I want to make.
Then there was the guild freebie table this past month. There were more bees in a pretty blue with shimmery silver wings that I couldn’t resist. That plus some cute sewing print, and two scraps of yellow meant I brought home 2-1/4 yards. The pattern seemed fun, and I plan to make one of the buckets from the sewing print.
Fabric out was really good this month, as I was more productive than usual. Finishing these Hungry Animal Quilts just after the last check-in started the month off well. Total out for two lap size quilts = 7 yards. Funny story with these, I intended to sell them in the upcoming show shoppe, but when I took one to the Area meeting of the guild, a member offered to buy it then and there. Before I could answer, another member yelled out a price $5 higher! My jaw dropped, and everyone was laughing. Before a bidding war could ensue, I let them know I had two, so both could have one.
I finished binding The Lady’s Garden, and it will go into the show for sale. Going by the pattern fabric requirements, I’m counting out 8 yards for the jelly roll, extra green fabric, backing and binding.
Then I was able to finish the handle hot pads at home that I started at retreat in late February. I made 22 of these, and got them priced in a basket for the shoppe. Based on my scraps calculator, I am counting 1-1/2 yards total fabric out.
Just last week, I finished the yellow bees table topper for our spring table. Fabric out 1-1/4 yards.
Once again, here is how I calculate fabric out when using scraps. Count a yard of fabric as about 1440 square inches (40 inches wide x 36 inches in length). Apply that number to the square inches of the finished quilt. If you have a finished quilt that measures 60 x 72, that equals 4320 square inches. Divide that number by 1440 and you get 3, so I would count out 3 yards. Be sure to count out the same for the backing, and add a bit for binding. It is a rough estimate but good enough for this challenge. For donated scraps, I weigh my scrap bags and count one yard out for each pound of scraps.
Here are my totals for the past month.
March Fabric IN = +10-1/4
March Fabric OUT = -17-3/4 yards
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -7-1/2 yards
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -17-3/4
Report fabric ‘in’ as a plus, and fabric ‘out’ as a minus. The goal is to have any amount in the year to date in the minus at the end of the year. If you need to check your comment from March to see where you were year to date last time, click on Stashbusters March Check In.
March Fabric IN = +
March Fabric OUT = –
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =
Remember, it is fine to buy fabric now and then. This challenge just to keep us mindful to get what we need, but not go overboard. So, now it is your turn! How’d you do this month?
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Check out Today’s Flash Sale at Fat Quarter Shop. April Sale 20% off the Basic of the Month Dainty Daisy by Beverly McCullough, 30% Off the Notions of the Month Triangles on a Roll, Patterns of the Month from Cluck Cluck Sew patterns, and The Perfect 5 Book by It’s Sew Emma is the featured Book of the Month. Don’t forget to see the Precuts of the Week, too!
From My Carolina Home 
just some small finishes this month so it seems like not much progress is being made.
March in— five yards
March out— three yards
year to date in— thirteen yards
year to date out— three yards
balance— negative ten
I had a pretty good sewing month, considering I was busy at church in the couple of weeks leading up to Easter. I brought in some fabric for a backing along with a couple of FQs that I needed to add to a quilt in progress. I had one quilt finish, along with a few smaller projects. I finished the month with more fabric going out than coming in, so that’s a win!
March Fabric IN = +5.25March Fabric OUT = –8March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -2.75Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -4.25
This month’s guild retreat helped me set aside time for several finishes. Couldn’t pass up a 50% off sale on several wide back pieces, though.
March in = +16
March out = -14
March total = +2
Year to date total = +9
It was a good month for me..especially as I found more fabric in the apartment than I expected.
March Fabric IN = +6
March Fabric OUT = –12
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =-6
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -34.75
Our local Shop Hop was held in March. Considering that, I didn’t do too badly. Besides, I’m supporting my local quilt shops. Lol!
March Fabric IN = +13
March Fabric OUT = –7.5
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = +5.5
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +25-5/6
March was a happy month with several finishes. The most rewarding finish was for the guild’s quarterly UFO Challenge. It alone was 14 yards and was over three years old.
March Fabric In: 0 yards (yes, 0!);
March Fabric Out: 21 yards;
March Net Total: -21 yards;
Y-T-D Total: -1 yard!
Doing the happy dance here,
Connie W.
So…… not a good month as far as numbers. I bought fabric to make 2 baby quilts this month. The tops are made and the backs pieced but not quilted yet. My mom also asked me to make her some placemats that match the table runner I made her for Christmas 2 years ago. I happened to come across some of the fabric at a sale so picked up that to make her for this Christmas. I am also starting a King size quilt for our church auction so had to pick up 8 yards for background and also picked up the backing at the same time. So, lots in this month but hopefully next month will be a lot out.
March
In: 33 yards
Out: -4.25
Monthly Total: +28.75
Yearly Total: +26.5
We all have those months now and then! Hang in there, you’ll have those finished soon, and be able to count a lot more out.
March Fabric IN = + 00
March Fabric OUT = – 42.91
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -42.91
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = 26.7 (I purchased 2 bolt of wide backing in Feb).
March saw 4 twin size UFOs and 4 new tabletoppers finished! Great month for me.
A good month for stash busting. The only fabric in was a jelly roll door prize at a retreat. Out is a lot of the tops I’d finished earlier but just now got quilted and donated.
March Fabric IN = +3
March Fabric OUT = –45
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = – 42
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = – 71.5
Well, that was a fabulous month all around! I’m so glad you had two of the alphabet / hungry animals quilts so that no fighting would happen, wow.
What super prizes you received for your challenge quilt! Congratulations! Your challenge design was super and it turned out great!
Good month on the Stashbusters front!
I took in needed background fabrics and material needed for current projects.
Mostly gave fabric away to others for backing, binding, linings, gifts, etc. and it added up!
March Fabric IN = +8.5 March Fabric OUT = – 35.5 March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -27 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -63
April will be a big month for finishes. Have a few quilts close to completion and these will go to different charities.
In the past few years, I’ve seen quilters and sewist who’ve passed away and left behind astonishing amounts of fabrics. I don’t want anyone to have to dispose of hundreds or thousands of yards of fabric when I’m gone! I’d rather destash now in a purposeful way.
I’m in my third year of participating in Stashbusters and I’ve netted 620 yards out so far. I must have started with over 1,000 yards of fabric. Had no idea I had that much!
THANK YOU for administering Stashbusters! It’s made a difference!
Thank YOU for participating! Your all time total is impressive! I totally agree, destashing in a purposeful way is the idea of Stashbusters. I’m going to have a lot of yards out later in the year with a pillowcase project that will take a yard each. I plan to bust through everything I have that I don’t really love.
We’re in the midst of the ‘All Texas Shop Hop’, with lots of new beautiful Texas wildflower fabrics (definitely my biggest weakness, lol). I didn’t do much actual sewing as I was transitioning from our Arizona home back to our Texas home. I spent quite a bit of time cleaning and reorganizing the sewing room in Texas, especially hanging more pegboard for my threads and embroidery hoops which cleared off my work tables significantly. I identified yards of fabric that I will never use: home dec-ish stuff that is not in any colors in either home. I gave it away so I do have some fabric out for this month :-) I count this as a very productive month even if I didn’t finish any sewing projects
March Fabric In: +20.5
March Fabric Out: -12.5
March Total: +8.
Year to Date: +30.25
I managed not to purchase any fabric this month, which was great, but only made a couple runners and a tabletopper using up Easter fabric in my stash. I’ve been not well with sinus, cold, flu since mid-March. Still on the mend hopefully but not much sewing/quilting happening. I have a quilt sandwiched and ready to quilt so hope to have it finished in April.
Here are my totals:
March Fabric IN = +0
March Fabric OUT = –3.75
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -3.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +8.50
Didn’t have much get-up-and-go this month….. mostly panels from a friend who got them from a friend, etc. They’re never square and well, I like the freedom of choosing my own pattern…but it’s for the kid’s hospital and the colors are nice…
March in – “0”
March out – 7 panels, 9 (ish) yards for backing, 2 yards binding…18 yards? That sound like an awful lot……..
p. s. I’m saving all the “extra” binding – 10 inch or so ends and will put them together for a kids quilt or fun picnic quilt. Add a little pizzazz!
March Fabric IN = +0
March Fabric OUT = –.5
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =-.5
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =-.75
Good news, no adds. I haven’t started any projects since we returned to Illinois from our winter California home. A friend bought a really cute basket for carrying pie, and needed a liner for it, so that has been my only sewing since we got back. I’m working on some wine glass covers, to keep the bugs out! No fun having swimmers in the wine. Another small project, to use up scraps.
Love your yellow table topper, so cheerful.
March Fabric IN = + 0
March Fabric OUT = – 17.75
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -17.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -32.25
Well, I was tempted several times to buy fabric, but I was able to refrain! I’m trying desperately to just sew from my stash this year, unless it is absolutely necessary to buy something to finish a project. I didn’t have any finished projects this month either. There are 5 quilt tops waiting to be quilted, but I’m without my Bernina, which is my quilter, and the hubs is waiting on parts on the new-to-me longarm. So, I’m treading water waiting….
However, I did go through my garment fabric again, and shipped off 10 yards of that. I’m getting really brutal with that fabric. I will probably go through it again this year. So, here’s my report….
March Fabric IN = + 0
March Fabric OUT = – 10 yds
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = – 10 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -45 yds
Looks to me like you are doing a fantastic job! I have some rayon I still want to sew into wide leg pants or skirts, and I need to get busy on that. When you get your longarm in working order, you’ll be unstoppable!
Your net total was a win! And I’m delighted you sold both quilts without even trying. I can see why — they were terrific!
March In +12.75
March Out -14.3
March Net -1.5 (WHEW!)
YTD net + 19
nine pillowcases and a charity top pieced for the Guild helped the “out” this month. Hopefully, with the progress made on a couple of larger projects in March, I will get at least one of them over the line by June.
I loved your Hungry Animals quilts and can see why they were snapped right up!
I went to a wonderful Empty Spools seminar in March and attended a great class. I couldn’t resist a cute panel at a local quilt shop or some $7 one yard cuts at the on-site shop, that accounts for my In this month. I didn’t get close to finishing my class project yet, so no out (again) this month.
March Fabric In = +4 yds
March Fabric Out = 0 yds
March Net Total = +4 yds
Year to date = +18 yds
March Fabric IN = + 13
March Fabric OUT = – 4
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = + 9
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = + 2
I cannot believe I bought that much fabric, but, yes, I did. It’s unusual for me as I am mainly using from my stash and scraps. I’m finishing some UFOs so that helps, too. I just know there’s going to be a nice pay-off for all of us…….in one way or another. :-) I’m getting to the point I want to save all the fabric from cutting, trimming, and straightening that I’ve been tossing in order to weigh it at the end of the year then count it as fabric out. LOLOLOL
The only fabric that came in was for the back of a comfort quilt donation that’s going right back out. Completed projects include 3 twin quilts, 2 kid quilts, 2 baby quilts, 2 table runners, & 2 placemats. There’s 1 twin I hoped to pin baste before the end of March, but that didn’t happen. I must finish an eclipse wall hanging for Monday’s event.
I finally finished a long standing project, the shacket for my Son in law, and finished another pillow cover and some other odds and ends. April should be a good stash busting month too, if I meet my goals. I have 2 duffels to make for book recitals, and plan to make a base layer mock up for DH.
March In: 0
March Out: 7
March Net Total: -7
Year to Date: -6.67
Woah, Looking Back at last month’s purchases! So my sister was able to pick up her gift box FULL of fabrics! 34 yards out the door JUST LIKE THAT!!! Did I say she is a wonderful sister? I also diligently sewed up teacher appreciation gifts bags for a friend to gift out to her coworkers – a total of 11 of them. At about 1/4 of a yard each…. About 2.75 yards out the door! I need to make up some bigger bags. HaHa.
March Fabric IN = +0
March Fabric OUT = –36.75
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =-36.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =+27.25
Maybe this coming month…. who knows. I’ve no big projects on the schedule as I’m prepping the fishing shack for our relocation to our next job site. I might be stocking up the camper for our next big adventure! I love creating a new sewing studio every where I go!
March fabric in = +1 yd
March fabric out = – 11 yds
March net total = – 10 yds
YTD total = -34
Finishing those UFO quilts really helps my total and a great sense of accomplishment.
I have been keeping track but not posting. Too much was going on with our home
Fixing things on the outside that should have been done right 29 years ago when the house was built! And yes I did buy fabric but most of it was needed!
3 quilts out the door. 1 gifted and 2 to Linus
Jan. Feb. March in. 18 yards
Jan. Feb. March out 12.75
Net total. IN 5.25
March Fabric IN = +3.75 yds( black &gold= Seth’s)
March Fabric OUT = PJ Pants= -2.25 yd, table runner Irish chain= .75 yds, thread catcher= < 1/8 yd Total Out = 3 1/8
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = +.625
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) -7.875
Some in and some out. Almost even Steven but not quite. Hopefully the IN, black and gold, will be in the OUT column for April!
Well I am late again. Can I use a quilt retreat this past weekend as an excuse? Well, I am using it. ‘Cuz it is the truth and you all know how much brain power it takes to get ready for three days of friends and sewing. :~)
March Fabric IN = +10.5 (Needed backings at a bargain price!)March Fabric OUT = –13.5 (Three baby quilts and some donations to the give away table.)March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -3.0 out the doorYear to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = 16.5 out.
As like everyone else, I have multiple WIPS that will disappear soon, I hope!
You aren’t really late, and certainly retreat is more important, especially if it helps get fabric out!
Didn’t do too well in March. ’Almost bought as much fabric as I sewed, lol.
March fabric IN: +2.25 yds.
March fabric OUT: -2.0 yds.
March TOTAL: + ,25 yd.
YTD TOTAL: +5.25 yds.
Well, long work hours and a serious illness in the family had an impact, but I did finish a big quilt for my daughter that’s been a WIP for years, so I’m calling that my quilting win for the month. Fabric IN includes a quilt for recently announced son-in-law-to-be – I must have a good Christmas gift for him, right?!? Plus a I needed a little more for 2 WIPs.
March Fabric IN = +20.37
March Fabric OUT = –9.11
March Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = +11.3
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +15.47
I do appreciate this challenge – I think more carefully about buying anything new, and look forward to a net decrease for the year.
That is indeed a win! I hope things are OK at your house now. Certainly a quilt for the future son-in-law will be lovely and greatly help your totals!
April in— 5 yards
April out— 0 yards
Year to date in— 18 yards
Years to date out— 5 yards
balance— 13 more yards in than out
no progress this month…being gone for three weeks will do that
New to commenting here but I’ve kept track of my fabric for several years (spreadsheet) with a goal of just using more than I buy. I’ve done well this year so far but this month I relaxed a bit on the buying when MSQC had a bolt sale on some solids that I use for backgrounds. But, I know I can catch back up in May (I make a lot), esp as I’m getting ready to piece a backing for a large quilt.
Fabric IN: +41.25
Fabric used: -30.65
Total: +10.6
April was not a productive month for me, either. I spent Easter and great granddaughter 2nd birthday in ID, and we got snow! But, I did finish the QOV Ohio Stars quilt #27, Made the Nine Patch Stars #28, and #29 is a cars quilt. I’m still working on a couple of UFO’s and BOM, plus about 3/4 done with carol Thelan’s log cabin, which is my leader-ender project made of 2.25″ squares (1200 of them!) So, no new fabric in, used up 30 yards, so YTD total is 290 yards!!