As we come into fall, it seems like it will be easier to have projects finished and fabric out. Do you have more time to sew in the fall? It seems like I do, or maybe it is only because it is my favorite season and I am more inspired. With Fall Fortnight coming, I’ll have a great fabric out total next month, but this month was not so great.
For new readers, Stashbusters is easy and you can join in anytime. Just report what you have brought in and sent out over the past month, keeping a year to date total. You don’t have to inventory your stash, just keep track of what comes in and what goes out each month. 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, or to use, and wrap up the projects in progress, not to create more UFOs. The idea is awareness, and no judgement when the sale table beckons, a captivating print appears in the quilt shop, or retail therapy is needed. Yes, you can give away fabric and UFOs! Anything that leaves your sewing room never to return counts.
I promised to show you the lovely Asian prints that were a gift from Edy J when she visited this area on her way to South Carolina. Here they are! Gorgeous aren’t they? Each fabric is a half yard. Total in 1 yard.
At the guild meeting last month, there was so much stuff from an estate donation, that we all went crazy. At least I kept my choices to two categories – Christmas for more stars, and Patriotic for a new quilt design I have in mind. Then I got some zippers, cones of bobbin thread, magazines and some trims and templates. The great thing is that I can go through these at my leisure, and donate back anything I decide I don’t need. Counting 5 yards fabric in.
At the same meeting, I gave away a large bag of scraps left over from our scrap handwork program that I’ll show you soon, along with some fat quarters, selvedge strips and batting scraps. Fabric out = 4 yards based on weight of the bag and number of fat quarters.
I finished 15 more Folded Fabric stars, total 3 yards out. I don’t have a pattern for these on my blog, just do an internet search if you are interested. There are literally dozens of tutorials out there. The only difference is I do some stitching on the diagonal to all the corners for stability, and add a button in the middle for decoration.
Here are my totals for last month:
September Fabric IN = +6
September Fabric OUT = –7
September Net Total = -1
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -1-3/4
Your turn! Copy the chart below into the comment form, and fill in your numbers, If you need to find your year to date totals from last month, click on Stashbusters September.
September Fabric IN = +
September Fabric OUT = –
September Net Total =
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =
How’d you do this month?
From My Carolina Home 
Oh my, an estate sale. It’s hard to pass on those, putting someone’s legacy to work is always a good thing. I’ve bought little this year, background, some wide-back remnants to finish something, sale tables at the club. So, the 6 quilts I finished in September should be something to brag about! But…no. Last Wednesday was drizzley, not enough rain to help the parched landscape, but enough to spoil a 2 year old’s playground trip, & perfect for a quilt shop stop. Any stashbusting progress was totally wiped out as fabric colors not available in house were acquired for a bespoke quilt. On the positive side, blocks for said quilt are 2/3rds completed so it will appear in October’s out log. Happy Quilting!
Hey, no judgement here! Sometimes we just need to acquire more fabric, and that’s OK. Have fun sewing, and good luck with your October sewing!
I think I have a problem….I can’t resist a fabric deal. One of my guilds had its annual Treasure Sale. I picked up a lot of batiks. Some area already in tops but not finished so my totals for the month had more in than out. It will turn around this coming month.
September Fabric IN = +42.25
September Fabric OUT = –22.50
September Net Total = +19.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -40.5
Well done! It may only be a little over a yard but hey, it’s out!
Have been sewing a great deal this month but only one finished project. I’m working on two weekly projects and did finish a top for National Jelly Roll Day. Hope I have some finishes for next month. The good part is no purchases. I am only using stash!
September Fabric IN = 0 yds
September Fabric OUT = – 2 yds
September Net Total = – 2 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = – 75 yds.
You still had more out than in! That’s a win. Those new fabrics are lovely. I see lots of projects upcoming.
Those Asian fabrics are beautiful! Your choices from your guild table will get you ahead on your ornaments and other projects.
Not a great “out” month for me. Or I should say it was a better “in” month with bargains at the guild and quilt shops in my target colors and themes.
Next month should be better because I completed two quilt tops and have a good start on two more tops at our annual guild retreat. I’ve been spending considerable time finishing customer quilts but can’t count those. The business will continue to be busy for the next couple months so less time for my projects.
Glad for Stashbusters as it keeps me on track to just buy what I need. It’s changed my fabric buying habits in a good way. Thank you for your monthly posts!
September Fabric IN = + +17
September Fabric OUT = – -10
September Net Total = +7
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -82.75
Well, I didn’t do so well this month. I’m still going through the estate stuff. I found a box of black and white prints and a box of batiks that I pulled for me. I also kept a hand full of reproduction prints. Still have a lot of boxes to go through, and since my hubby packed the fabric, I don’t know what is in there. I guess I should have packed it so I could sort as I went. I did find 6 yards of a beautiful older print, but when I washed it, it feels yucky on the skin. I was going to use it as a backing for a vintage top I’m keeping, but I wouldn’t want that touching me. Back in the sale pile it went. I did pull the vintage top and some orphan blocks that I’m on the fence about. I’ll add them in when I decide. Still have a trunk full of vintage tops and quilts to go through. I’m excited about that one. Anyway, here’s the damage for September….
September Fabric IN = + 42.5 yds
September Fabric OUT = – 3 yards from my stash I didn’t like
September Net Total = + 39.5 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -26.75 out for the year
If I could only get some tops quilted, I could have some decent ‘out’ numbers.
I had a good month sewing, and hope to keep that going this month. I made 2 canvas storage bags for DH out of scraps, two duffles for recital gifts, a vest and a pillow cover. Lots of clothes on the docket for this month.
September In 0 yards
September Out 9.75 yards
September Net Total -9.75 yards
Year to Date -30.75 yards
I finished a throw size quilt for the out column in September, but then I went shopping with a 20% off coupon at the LQS to stock up for some projects planned for over the winter. And I won a door prize at quilt retreat this week.
September Fabric IN = +10 3/4 yds
September Fabric OUT = – 6 3/4 yds
September Net Total = +4 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +62 yds
Some days I feel like I’m playing hopscotch. Jumping from one thing to another and not getting anything finished.
September Fabric IN = + .25
September Fabric OUT = – 0
September Net Total = + .25
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -44.75
I finished two UFO’s this month, one for Project Linus and a second for a local hospice residence. I am also doing quilt repair for the hospice site. I am part of a two of ongoing block exchanges, but those finished blocks don’t count until they are a finished quilt. I am still looking toward reaching my yearly goal but it will be close.
I had the opportunity to pick through a quilter’s stash at an estate sale this past month. I left with 23.75 yards of “new to me” fabric for am amazingly low price. Then a purchased the backing for a large bed quilt. So…. in the end I dropped into the negative this month. 😦
September Fabric IN = +30.50
September Fabric OUT = –21.25
September Net Total = +9.25
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -53.50
Just like you, Carole, I made a little more progress and a small dent in my stash during September.
September Fabric In: 0 yds.;
September Fabric Out: 11.9 yds.;
September Net Total: -11.9 yds.;
Y-T-D Net Total: -81.0 yds.
Connie W.
I finally finished another quilt! It’s a baby quilt I need to gift to a cousin next weekend. And bought fabric for the cutest little ghost pillow pattern I saw recently. But overall good trend for me in September! 🙂
September Fabric IN = +0.75
September Fabric OUT = –3.5
September Net Total = –2.75
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +9.1