Time for the last Stashbusters check in, the final count of how much came in and went out for December and the 2025 year.
I did OK for the year, finishing with more out than in. December ended with more in than out. I bought with half a yard of this fabric, so I could get this motif along with the one I used in a project.
The mystery box had just over 1 yard of fabric. The little piece is 10-inches square, hardly enough to count.
A friend gifted me with these two cute prints, total in 2-1/2 yards.
For fabric out, the little mug mat counts as 1/4 yard for top, back and binding.
Then, my Worldwide Quilting Day project is 1/2 yard + a smidgen out for top, back and binding. I can’t show you the project, but here is the challenge fabric.
There was no re-home table in December at our guild party, so fabric out was sparse. On the flip side, though, I didn’t bring anything new home from it. I spent much of my sewing time in December working on the denim jackets which have no fabric out. Here are my totals for December and year end.
December Fabric IN = +4 yards
December Fabric OUT = –3/4 yard
December Net Total = +3-1/4 yards
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -9 yards! Yippee, I made it!!
Your turn! If you need to see where you were at the last check in, click on December Stashbusters and scroll down to find your comment.
December Fabric IN = +
December Fabric OUT = –
December Net Total =
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =
It’s New Year’s Eve, and I have my annual reminder for my readers for good luck in the new year. Don’t forget to hide some money outside tonight! Bring it in on New Year’s Day for good fortune all year.
Here’s the link to my New Year’s Good Luck Lunch recipe for Jumpin’ John, a little bit spicier and heartier recipe than Hoppin John for serving your good-luck black eyed peas.
Happy New Year!!
Fat Quarter Shop’s Year End Clearance Sale is going on now! Get the best deals of the year today!
Sitewide Happy New Year Sale at Electric Quilt! Customers save 26% on all products at ElectricQuilt.com with code HAPPY26 from now until January 5. Save on the EQ8 software, Upgrades from previous versions, EQ8 Lesson Books including Deep Dive Photos and Panels, Dear Jane, Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Quilt Patterns and BlockBase+. If you have wanted to get EQ8, you’ll never find a lower price. Classes not included.
Milk Street‘s New Year’s Sale $26 off a $100+ order. The sale includes cookbooks, kitchen wares, their incredible knives, and Precision Rolling Pin, along with spice blends like Flavor Jolt, and specialty foods.
Amazon’s Winter Sale has amazing savings on lots of items. Check out the clearance on holiday items, quilting supplies and kitchen essentials.
From My Carolina Home 
Happy New Year to a special web friend!
Lenora
Happy New Year, Carole.
Can you show the denim jackets you are working on? I don’t remember seeing them. Thanks, Rose
I haven’t shown them yet, because I am still working on them. Soon!
Happy New Year to all! I’m excited to share my final stats. Thanks so much to my county library’s Innovation Lab with a computerized long arm quilting machine, I finished another queen and a full size quilt in December. One was started more than a decade ago when I began my quilting journey.
December Fabric In: 0 yds.;
December Fabric Out: 30 yds.;
December Net Total: -30 yds.;
Y-T-D Total: -131.4 yds.
Wishing you another year of creative joy, Carole!
Connie W.
Happy New Year! We make a black eyed pea dip called Texas caviar that is my favorite for New Year’s and also in the summer. I need to remember to hide some money – we did that last year and 2025 was pretty good to us – at least no big financial disasters 🙂
Your fabric-in choices have so many possibilities! Your friend has good taste in fabric!
I won Disney licensed prints in a silent auction benefiting charity that will be perfect for Sleep in Heavenly Peace quilts. I also found bargain fabric that fit into my 2026 quilt plans.
I had high hopes for fabric out but that optimistic bubble burst. The last customer quilt went out December 22nd not leaving enough time to finish my quilts as I had to catch up on the home front e.g. holiday prep, shoveling more snow in December than I can ever remember, etc. The optimist in me says that January will be a good month for finishing and delivering the charity quilts.
Fabric in: + 20 yards
Fabric out: -15 mostly give aways
Net for December +20
Net for the Year -75.75
Thank you for keeping us on track with Stashbusters. The Stashbuster experience helps me resist fabrics that did not fit into my plans or palette and gave me the motivation to get quilts out the door. Your time and effort spent administrating this effort is great appreciated!
Well, the year ended on a good note. No fabric in. For my “No Buy 2025”, I did pretty well. I only purchased some fabric for a very specific projects and got it at an amazing price, so I’m okay with that. The rest of the “in” fabric was free.
The hubby also took yesterday off and tore my longarm apart and worked on some timing issues. We think the skipped stitches are taken care of…hopefully. I’ll find out today if I get a chance to get back there and tackle the last pass on the crumb quilt.
But, here are the fabric totals for December…
December Fabric IN = + 0
December Fabric OUT = – 11.75 yds
December Net Total = -11.75 yds
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +56 yds
Total fabric in for 2025… +144.5 yds
Total fabric out for 2025…88.5 yds
I’m thrilled with the out count! If I hadn’t had the opportunity to obtain all the free fabric, it would have been a stellar year for clearing out the stash.
Happy New Year! I only finished one quilt, 1 wall hanging, & 2 pillow covers, but I didn’t acquire any fabric so I stayed on track. Very little stash enhancement took place. A lot of incoming fabric was cast-off or club table re-homes. Shopping was project-based so net zero. If I wanted to, I could finish quilting a 3-yd that’s almost done, but I’m going to let it slide into the new year. I’m in a piecing mood today, watching the snow pile up outside.
Dec fabric in=0 yd
Dec fabric out=-4 yds
Dec Net Total=-4 yds
YTD Total=-105 yds
My goal was to use 100 yds from my stash, and I did it!!! For my 2026 goal I want to finish UFOs. I was searching for some specific fabrics in my stash this month and realized just how many UFOs and quilt kits I have. I shouldn’t need to purchase for all of 2026. LOL.
Happy NewYear Carole. I’m looking forward to another fun year sharing quilting projects with you.
Happy New Year, Carole! Fun to see your new fabric – those kitchen prints are adorable. I have to admit to giving up keeping track of the ins and outs of my stash – as long as I am sewing and finishing things, I’m a happy camper! Cheers to lots of fun projects in 2026!
Nice finish for your Stash Busting year, Carole, with the net decrease. I had more fabric in than out, once again, this year. But I still appreciate the Stash Busters challenge. Without the monthly accountability, I’m sure I would have even more fabric in!
Happy New Year to you! Hope your year in 2026 is the best ever.
December Fabric IN = +0
December Fabric OUT = –3
December Net Total = -3
Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =+48.5 yards
Sending you Happy New Year wishes back, all the way from New Zealand! I’ve never heard of hiding money outside before. I cant stay up till midnight, was safely tucked up still awake and reading my book, when I heard bang, bang, bang, a neighbour across the way was letting off crackers.
Stashbuster’s Report for December:
Fabric In +3.00
Fabric out -.5
Net +2.50
YTD -7.65
The year’s total is down quite a bit from last year. The first half of the year was taken up with planning our month-long European trip in May-June. Then, we took the trip, and used up another month getting caught up with family, work, etc once we got back. My part-time job is ending at our church (I am accountant), so the last several months have been devoted to writing an accounting manual and training my replacement. So, A LOT of time was spent in front of the computer and not enough in front of my sewing machine. My goal for 2026 is to get things made and have a decent showing next December! Happy New Year!!
Three cheers on more out than in! Well done!
Happy New Year Carole. I think your mug rug turned out great! I did finish a couple of projects, housewarming gifts for my sister so removed a bit of stash.
December In 0 yards
December Out 2.125
December Net Total -2.125
Year to Date -55.4 yards
Sending happiest New Year wishes to you
Thank you for inspiring us all year, Carole! With stash counts, projects, recipes, wildlife and everything else!
I wasn’t going to buy in December, but had the opportunity to get the last couple fabrics I need for a quilt I’ll start soon. The 2025 negative is small, but I’ll take it.
December In +1.25 yards
December Out -0.7 yard (rough guess – pieced-top pillow project)
December Net Total +0.55 yard
Year to Date -2 yards
Question for 2026: How do we count kits? I bought one (small Christmas quilt) and finished it in December (miracles do happen). I have the inevitable leftover fabric, but overall I consider it a win.
Cute fabric photos!
Happy New Year Carole! I’ve made the Jumpin John Recipe and so enjoy it – a lovely tradition. Thanks for another year of fabric, food & fun.
Best,
Jax
Sorry about the late response for my Stashbuster total. I am no longer getting your messages/posting. I went to your site and well, Ta-Da, you are still here and so am I.
December Fabric IN = +1 yard for binding a quilt and finishing a second projectDecember Fabric OUT = 11 yards used for folded stars, and gifted Christmas Fabric dog beds/cat mats and finishing a UFO from 2015!
December Net Total = 10 yards out the doorYear to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -96 yards out of my hands
My goal was 100 yards out the door, so I count this as a win. How do you measure all the scraps you used in donated dog beds any way. Close enough.
I am looking forward to starting at zero again and tracing just how much fabric I can faithfully disperse into the world in 2026. Happy “stash busting” everyone.
Prior YTD Fabric Used = 61.75 yards
Prior YTD Fabric Bought = 51 yards
Current Month Fabric Used = 2.5 yards
Current Month Fabric Bought = 0 yards
Net Fabric 2025 = -13.25
I am pleased that I am down, but I really want to push for more this year. Other years have been better so the challenge is on! (Last year was 72 yards down…gotta get moving this year!!).