Time for our monthly check in for Stashbusters. For newer readers, just report what you have brought in and sent out over the past month, keeping a year to date total. No, you don’t have to inventory your stash, just keep track of what comes in and what goes out each month. Join anytime. There is no judgement when the sale table calls, an adorable print shows up in the quilt shop, a vendor’s offerings at the quilt show are uniquely appealing, or retail therapy is needed. There is only one rule, report as ‘out’ only what is completely finished, quilted and bound. For small items like purses or totes, they have to be finished and ready for use or gifting. The challenge is to complete things for gifts, to donate, or to use, and wrap up the projects in progress, not to create more UFOs. Yes, you can give away fabric and UFOs! Anything that leaves your sewing room never to return counts.
The freebie table at guild last month was a bonanza! I scored a new sewing chair for free! Another guild member had bought a very fancy, nicer one at Quilt Week in Paducah, so she brought her old one in to give away. I was helping the Re-Home Table committee, and got some paper and a pen to make a sign for it, and then I sat down on it. It is nicer than my old chair, so the sign went into the trash and the chair went into my car. Thank you, Sheila!!
More fabric came home, including 3 yards of flannel fall prints, a half-yard butterfly panel, some fat quarters of chicken fabrics and a roll of embroidery stabilizer plus some heat and bond. I couldn’t resist the brights on black, and it occurred to me that at least one I donated at some point in the past, LOL!! A couple of blue fat eighths will go to the patriotic quilt. Total fabric in for this haul = 7 yards.
I think this panel will go with a jelly roll I have. I plan to cut the butterflies apart, and use them in a simple pattern.
I have to count in this two-yard piece of chicken print. It was a gift that came in the mail from reader Judy M. She read that chickens may be a good seller for the booths coming up. I think I can use this as backing for embroidered pot holders and maybe some other things.
Fabric Out starts with the Japanese wall hanging I have named Kyoto Garden for the fabric line it used. Fabric out = 2-1/2 yards. Available for purchase $45 plus shipping.
Once again, for newer readers, here is how I calculate fabric out when using scraps instead of measurable yardage. A yard of fabric is 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 for the top. 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. In general, layer cakes and jelly rolls are about 3 yards total if you use the whole thing. Using this method, the rail quilt made with leftovers from the same jelly roll and layer cake as the quilt above counts as 2-1/2 yards fabric out. Lap quilt size, available for purchase $45 plus shipping.
I did this embroidery, and finished a little mug rug. Fabric out = 1/4 yard.
It will be offered for sale with this great mug I found at the thrift store. It’s a brand new mug and huge! I am going to have this for sale at the Fall Fiber Fair in October.
I had to order the new summer theme mystery box, Slice of Summer, at Sulky Threads. I love these boxes, like getting a present with lovely surprises. A bargain at $49.99 worth more than $85! Plus, order $11 more and get free shipping – I bought embroidery bobbin thread and a couple of dish towels to embroider. I will do a sew along with the projects in the box, so order yours if you want to play along. I didn’t get it yet, so the fabric in will be on next month’s report. I downloaded the project pdf, and it is an adorable zipper bag with lemons. Can’t wait to see the box!
So, here are my totals for now.
June Fabric IN = +9 yards
June Fabric OUT = –5-1/4
June Net Total = +3-3/4 yards
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -17-1/4 yards
Still on the good side of more out than in, but I need some finishes next month!
Your turn! If you need a reminder of where you were last month, click on Stashbusters June Check In and scroll to the comments to find yours.
June Fabric IN = +
June Fabric OUT = –
June Net Total =
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) =
How’d you do this month?
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Create your own patterns to use up that stash this week at Electric Quilt. Special deals!! Save 20% on all software, books, add-ons, and printables at Electric Quilt with code HAPPY4TH. AND save 20% on Barbara Brackman products BlockBase+ and Encyclopedia with code JULYDEAL, don’t wait! These sales end on July 7.
Fat Quarter Shop new July Lelia Boutique specials! Get 20% off the Basic of the Month – Magic Dot from Lelia Boutique, 30% Off the Notions of the Month – stabilizers and notions By It’s So Emma, 30% off Patterns of the Month by Lelia Boutique, and see the Book of the Month selections from Vanessa Goertzen of Lelia Boutique. Then, check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week.
From My Carolina Home 
What a great chair! Good for you, Carole! Love your mug rug! Thanks for sharing your amazing ideas and projects!
Have a great day!
Jodi
You found some great stuff — that chair is the best! And your overall total is still to the good!
June Stash Buster Check In:
June Fabric IN = + 4 yards for a UFO back
June Fabric OUT = – 19.5
June Net Total = -15.5
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -54.5
The year is almost have past and I have reached my half-year goal. Like so many, I have multiple projects in process and the plan is to finish a couple for our July Check-in. I do have to say I stopped at a give away table and took some, but I gave it all away so I ended up with a net in/out at zero. Just sharing the wealth of one quilter with another quilter.
Great totals! Good to share the wealth.
The prints on fabric have come a long way..I can see why it’s easy to stock pile.
June Fabric IN = +15
June Fabric OUT = –0
June Net Total = +15
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = +172
June has been a wonderful travel month. I stitched only 1 day! Rare for me.
I replenished my wide backing inventory as I have finished 31 quilts so far this year. I’m good with my results.
Well, I thought I was losing my mind. I started reading the post, and noticed I had already commented..then I realized that the link took me to let month’s check in. Hope others think to come back to the blog and find the July one.
I’ve been taking a longarm class in June, so I haven’t been doing much finishing…just practicing. I have made 2 smaller tops to practice on, but they aren’t finished yet.
That means nothing in – nothing out for June. So I’m still 73.75 yds out for the year.
I did find out a friend wants me to come look at her mother’s stash of quilting stuff and take care of it for her. I will be planning to donate most of it..I’m hoping there won’t be much I just can’t let go of. This could be bad…😂😂. Will keep everyone posted.
If you are receiving the posts via email, just click on the title to reach the post on the blog site. The link to last month’s post is there so people can easily find the previous post to remember their year to date totals.
I got a lot of my retail therapy fabric washed and loaded into my stash but I also finished up 3 care quilts and one paper-pieced BOM so all is good.
June Fabric IN = +37.25
June Fabric OUT = –39
June Net Total = -1.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -54.25
Not any finishes in June but I have been reorganizing my stash and gave away a good bit of fabric. I have put all my kits and UFOs on a shelf. Every time I think about them I remind myself that I really don’t need to buy more fabric. LOL.
June fabric in=0 yds., June Fabric out= -13 yds., June Net Total= -13 yds., YTD Net total -63 yds.
That is a great chair, and so nicely covered! I did two duffle bags for students this month and only had to purchase the lining fabrics. This month is a dive into stash, Hoping to complete two tops, a pair of shorts and a pair of cropped pants along with a few pillow cases. We’ll see how much I get done even with Christmas in July going on!
June In 4 yards
June Out 7 yards
June Net Total -3 yards
Year to Date -16.1 yards
Carole, you did great at your guild’s free table! The sewing chair is wonderful, especially at that price. I will have something in the Out column someday, hopefully next month.
June Fabric IN = + 7 1/2 yds
June Fabric OUT = – 0
June Net Total = +7 1/2 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = +66 1/2 yds
Great score on that chair! I was naughty & bought a quilt rack ahead of the sale I was setting up a few years ago. I usually let everyone go first before I pick out stuff, but it was too good to pass up & I’m sure everybody else already had one. Only fabric in for me this month, & well over your 7 yds at the club sale. I already used 5 yds for a backing and there’s plenty left. On the positive side, I have finished 3 quilt tops & have 9 patches laid out on the design wall for another one so maybe I’ll break even by the end of July.
Love the mug rug and the saying on the coffee cup gave me a good laugh!
Fabric In notes: A local shop hop with lots of fun activities and sales, gave me the opportunity to snag some quilting goodies. Good news is that I bought backgrounds and fabric colors needed to complete quilts.
Fabric out notes: I completed an embroidered bench pillow and donated 41 yards of fabric.
June Fabric IN = +18
June Fabric OUT = -44
June Net Total = -26
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -87.25
Appreciate the monthly reminder to report in. It keeps me on track!
Jo Anne
June was an interesting month for me. Wisconsin had its statewide shop hop but I had only a few days to go. So I went to the shops in my area; they are the ones I frequent the rest of the year. Also my guild’s show is held over the Fourth of July weekend so I was binding like crazy…my hand has almost recovered! So where does that leave me:
June in—5 yards
June out—23.75 yards
YTD— +19.5. Finally more out than in!
Love the new chair! Great score! I’m not keeping track, but did manage to make a purse on my embroidery machine this month. Not much happening in my sewing zone because I had shingles and a dental emergency. Thank goodness I am almost back to normal.
what a score with the chair!
I could have used two extra days before this report but I guess I will have a good start for the next report!
June In +46.5
June Out -23.7
Net for June +22.8
Net for year +13. Thankfully I should have a finish or two early July. Then I have some pillowcases to make!
I really do love the stashbusters posts, these are such good reminders to use our fabrics and get UFOs complete! I discovered a couple of quilt tops and a wall hanging the other day and this is inspiring me to finish them.
You did pretty good, still more out than in. Love your new sewing chair. You really did score!
June Fabric IN = +10
June Fabric OUT = –0
June Net Total =+10
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) =+29.25
YIKES!! I should have a couple of finishes for the month of July. Fingers crossed.
Looking forward to the finished project using the butterflies panel, Carole! My output for June and July will be reduced in favor of time outdoors and some travel. However, I’m still getting more fabric out than coming into the stash, and that’s good news in my book.
June Fabric In: o yds.;
June Fabric Out: 7 yds.;
June Net Total: -7 yds.;
Y-T-D Total: -60.55 yds.
Connie
Well, it’s been an interesting spring for me. One project only in April, then no sewing at all in May or June. In it’s place was a four-week visit to 5 cities in Europe: Amsterdam, Cologne, Germany, Brussels, Paris, London. Mid-May to mid-June. Since returning in June, my time has mostly been spend with catch-up! I joined a FQ Club in January, and receive 12 FQs each month, a total of 3 yards. So, with NO sewing in May or June, and FQs coming in, I’m running at a deficit at this time. Not to worry, tho, I’m back at the sewing machine again and will have some progress to report for July.
June Fabric IN = +3
June Fabric OUT = 0
June Net Total = +3
Year to Date = +5.5
I am closing the gap on the fabric bought to finish a few of these projects for June!
Prior YTD Fabric Used = 36.25 yards
Prior YTD Fabric Bought = 43 yards
Current Month Fabric Used = 6 yards
Current Month Fabric Bought = 0 yards
Net Fabric = +.75