Another month has gone by, time to check in with our efforts to use up the fabric in our stashes. To play, just keep track of what comes in and what goes out each month. 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. We all have to buy fabric now and then, and keep our quilt shops in business. There is only one rule, report as ‘out’ only what is completely finished, quilted and bound. For small items like purses or totes up to full size quilts, they have to be finished and ready for use. 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 as fabric “out”.
For my fabric “in” this month, I asked my guild buddies for some Christmas prints so I could make a bunch of Folded Fabric Stars for a holiday party with our car club, and they came through for me in a big way. Between their donations and the re-home table, I brought home 15 yards. On the “out” side, I donated 4 yards to the table.
Then, there was a half yard of lemon print fabric in my Sulky Mystery Box. I’m not counting the felt.
For fabric out, I have the Koi Pond finish. Front, backing and binding counting as 4 yards out.
I made 25 folded fabric stars this month, using up some of the prints I got from the guild. It takes one yard to make 5 stars. So, 5 yards out so far.
So, more in than out this month. I need to get busy for the next few months. The good news is that the quilting on Lemon Twist went well, and I made the binding yesterday. So, I’ll be able to count it out next month. The tension problem was in the top thread, it slipped out of the disc, and I didn’t notice it until I re-threaded the machine as part of the trouble shooting.
July Fabric IN = + 15-1/2 yards
July Fabric OUT = – 13 yards
July Net Total = +2-1/2 yards
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -19-3/4 yards
Your turn, copy the chart below into the comment form, and fill in your numbers
July Fabric IN = +
July Fabric OUT = –
July Net Total =
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) =
How’d you do this past month?
From My Carolina Home 
Friends, after three months away from my sewing machine, I spent the entire month of July sewing and sewing and sewing! One quilt as a graduation gift for my youngest granddaughter, then some smaller projects, one as a scrapbooking retreat door prize gift and two other projects just for me! My numbers for the month:
July Fabric IN = +0
July Fabric OUT = –14.25
July Net Total = -14.25
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -8.75
Yay! I’m back to where I have more “out” than “in”. It’s a good feeling!
That’s not too bad, considering that lots of the “in” will probably be out by the holidays!
July Fabric IN = + 2 yds
July Fabric OUT = – 15 yds
July Net Total = -17 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = – 78yds
I donated 3 quilts for charity this month so had a good number in the “out” pile. I am garment sewing for my daughter this month with her fabric so there won’t be much in the “out” line. My goal is 100 yards out this year. I will have 3 months to reach it. Holiday sewing will help.
Still in the practice quilt making mode. Finished 2 more tops. I’m back up to 13 needing to be quilted. Tried to start in one yesterday, but my LA won’t pick up the bobbin thread. Have no idea what’s going on. Worked on it for over an hour and couldn’t figure out what the problem was.
Later in the month I will be going with a neighbor to look at her mom’s stash and machines. Not sure what she wants to do with them, but I’m sure in the end some fabric will come home with me.
As far as this month goes, nothing in, nothing out. That still leaves me at 73.75 out for the year. Hoping I can add to that deficit this month!
Slow month with traveling.
July in— 0 yards
July out— 3.5
YTD balance—23 yards more out
Considering the amount of fabric in for Christmas Stars, you ended up pretty good! Between my last Club meeting in June & the end of July I finished 7 quilts, but the binding wasn’t completely sewn on #7 until August 1st, so I’m not counting it. This morning I finished a sew-a-long top I’ve been working on since February – happy to have a head start on August with those 2. It feels like the stash is going down but then I take a critical look at all the hiding spots, uh oh – still enough to last a year. This month I bought notions to keep my shops in business. Then I “window shopped” a sit down or long arm on a frame. It’s fun to imagine a bigger & faster machine.
I’m glad to hear you figured out your tension issue and was able to finish the Lemon Twist quilt! I knew you would!
I didn’t acquire any fabric this month, but donated about 15 yards to a church group that makes donation quilts and fidget blankets. I know they’ll use that fabric faster than I would if I kept it! I’m still cleaning out the sewing room of miscellaneous items to make more room to move around and breathe. It seems to bother me more as I get older. But, I’m hoping to sit down and do some sewing soon!
Take care!
Lisa
Glad to hear the quilting went well on Lemon Twist. Sounds like you are in the home stretch!
Been busy helping others with their quilts and projects. Did not move the dial on fabric out this month but have a quilt that just needs trimming, binding and a label. Hoping to make progress next week.
July Fabric IN = +1
July Fabric OUT = -1
July Net Total =0
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In or – Out) = -87.25
Thanks for keeping us on track with Stashbusters!
Jo Anne
You are doing great! You are still ahead tor the year with more out than in. Kudos to you for sticking with Lemon Twist. I have had a project or two that I was so frustrated with that they sat in time out for a Looonnnggg time before I could deal with fixing the issue and finishing them.
July in +16.25
July out -27.25
net for July -11
net year to date +2
a couple of finishes helped. I hope to have a few more next month.
Your Christmas stars will be such a nice gift for your car club! I did pretty well for me this past month. I need to get started on stuff for this month. First an attempt to upcycle a velvet jumper into a vest, then two duffles need to be done for book 2 kids, and I want to sew a button front casual shirt for me, and maybe a long sleeved one for fall. We’ll see!
July In 0 yards
July Out 5.75 yards
July Net Total -5.75 yards Year to Date -21.85 yards
The Christmas Stars are eye catching with so many combinations of fabrics. Great idea for your friends!
July Fabric In: 8 yds.;
July Fabric Out: 12 yds.;
July Net Total: -4 yds.;
Y-T-D Net Total: -64.55 yds.
Connie W.
I am checking in late, because I’ve been on a trip. Nothing changed for me in July. I am hand stitching down the binding on a quilt now, so I should have something to report for August.
July Fabric IN = +0
July Fabric OUT = –0
July Net Total =0
Year to Date = +66 1/2 yards
Can you send me the Star you talked about above
The little stars are not my pattern. If you do an internet search for Folded Fabric Stars, there are lots of tutorials out there, including videos, and a wide array of recommended sizes.
Thank you