Hi, my name is Jess, and I'm a fabriholic. The time has come for an intervention. For real.
Just to put things in perspective, I have been quilting for a bit over two years. This is my stash as of a few months ago (it currently looks nothing like this, just so you know. It's back to its normal level of chaos.) I think you might understand now why I feel the need for a complete fabric diet.
Some of you may remember my pledge at the beginning of this year not to buy fabric during 2013. Admittedly I did last four months before falling off the wagon, and I have been far more restrained than last year, but still. I think it would take me half a life time to sew my way through these shelves of fabric.
So. The intervention. After a prolonged Instagram conversation a few weeks ago, Rebecca and I decided to make a pact not to buy fabric in 2014. I'm embarrassed to admit this is already making me break out in a cold sweat (and I'm not really joking.) This is an official ban, and we have rules.
GOALS:
- To use the Stash I already have!
- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.
- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.
- Save the $$ I spend on stashing. For me, this is going to mean I start saving for a long arm. That dream simply isn't going to happen while I spend every little bit of my quilty earnings on fabric. And it's a dream I desperately want to happen.
- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.
FABRIC FAST RULES:
1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.
2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year. Evaluation July 1, 2014.
3) Create a UFO list and complete them!
4) Exceptions
- Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible. However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
- Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric. Notions acceptable too.
- Swap Mama Fabric: if hosting a swap you are permitted to by fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
- Quilts for Publication: if you are making a quilt for a publication and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you?
If you are like us and would like to commit to not buying fabric next year, we would love the moral support. Solidarity in numbers and all that. We have a button you can grab:
62 comments:
Wow, that sounds really hard. Good luck!
Sounds like a great idea. I am a total sucker for the newest fabric line, but my even bigger problem is books! As the sewing room is really small I may just have to do something about it in 2014 anyway!
In the interests of helping you - feel free to send any excess fabric my way. ;)
I would love to join you, but I know I'm too weak. Good luck with your goal.
I will totally join you, Jess. I have way too much fabric. I bought an insane amount of fabric when I went to the US in September and my fabric bins are overflowing. You know how expensive it is for us on this side of the world...well I was like a kid in a candy store! I will join you for 6 months and then reevaluate!
Will join in the UFO thing! I must finish some more and NOT be distracted but not sure I can stop the fabric buying.....but will try to slow down!
Want to use up my scraps next year so scrappy inspiration is what I'm after.
I do admire your principles though Jess! Well done!
I admire your decision and your intentions Jess! Let me think about it....not sure I can go 'cold turkey'!
I definitely need to join in - too many WIPS and too much fabric sitting on my shelves. I was looking at Downton Abbey yesterday and thinking that I 'need' some but I have no quilt lined up to use it for! I think it will be hard going but ultimately very satisfying.
I have to admire your resolve! I went a whole month without buying fabric earlier this year and it was tough - the day after my fabric ban ended the first thing I did before even getting out of bed was make an online purchase! I probably already have more fabric than I can use in my lifetime but I'm not sure I can go cold turkey for six months...
I have made these pledges before, and usually go on a binge before..... buy buy buy till my poor hubbie gets jittery. So I guess I am asking before I pledge am I allowed one binge... I even have the range picked... bark and branch that's it?
I will have to think about this one....I really don't know if I could do it! But your terms are good, maybe I can just make everything for publication lol
I'm hoping the impending beany and hopeful house move might distract me enough. God knows trying to explain why we need to look for a house with a sewing room even just to store what I've got will be trouble enough...
HELL no, I'm not joining in on that one!!!!!!! ;-)
Agh! Reading these comments scare the crap out of me! But no, we can do it, stay strong...this is necessary! Think of all the neglected fabrics we have waiting in our stash just waiting, waiting, and waiting to be used and fully loved! Okay I can do it - 6 months is not a year and will fly by!
The fabric companies are going to love you. Not. ;-)
I'm going to join you but I have to change your rules to fit me a tiny bit.
I'm going to make a post on my blog detailing my changes (they are minimal).
Oh, scary....I don't even really buy that much, but I have enough to keep busy for a whole year...you're all so very brave...I'll definitely be thinking about it. Favoriting the page and coming back in a few days.
i probably should do something like that...but i'm not gonna. good luck and i will keep my eyes peeled for your destash! ;-)
I'm impressed! Your restraint is amazing! I can't even go a week without making a purchase! I'll give this some thought because it would be good for my conscience to use what I have!!!
I hope you get that long arm soon because you will be amazing with one. I have probably 2.5 to 3 times the fabric you have and I am not promising to not buy more. I will cheer you on and try to continue to use my own fabric up, that's the best I can promise.
I'm going to sleep on this and get back to you tomorrow. . .seriously considering. :)
I wish you luck (and wish I could take some of that off your hands....haha!). I have almost no stash so I have the opposite problem!!!
Brilliant, brilliant idea!! I'm definitely going to join in with this especially as I having been quilting for thirty
years my sewing studio is just overflowing and I am this week in the process of re-arranging and was intending to cull my stash - perhaps I will now hang to it all! Thanks for posting info.
Seems like a plan, although to be fair I've not bought much this year, but I have a big project just kicking off which means I can't honestly sign up to this because it's likely I will have to buy some fabric to fulfil the obligations for it!
I've been thinking along these lines too, but I might need a few days to get my head around commiting.. I like the fact that you will be evaluating after 6 months.
Now, you see, I would.... But I pledged to help Annie as much as possible with her fabric shop, and withdrawing my custom might have a detrimental impact on her bottom line...... Seriously, I have been much better this year, by pledging to only buy fabric for specific projects and not just to put in the stash. I've not been 100% successful - joining a stash club might have contravened my rule slightly.....
I am more than happy to join in with you for 6 months but I can not go cold turkey! I have a few quilts in the planning so I am going to allow a couple of exceptions but I think my pledge will keep me honest and accountable when it comes to spare of the moment purchases. I will blog my goals (and my exceptions):o)
I admire your resolve! I wish I could commit but I tend to run out of fabric in the middle of projects and need to be able to buy more :). Plus with my craft shows I need to be able to buy solids to use for pouch linings, etc. as needed. Good luck! I look forward to hearing how you do.
This is a great plan! Count me in :) I need to do it to save $$$
I would love to be able to live in there with all those beauties!My stash is nothing even close to this. I hope you make your goals.
um, my stash is bigger than yours. I'm not sure I can do it. I know there's a new Tula line coming out in the spring....I know I can't say no to that one. I will join you in clearing out that which I know I'll never use....
So what I'm seeing here is that if I sign up, I'll have to get all my fabric purchasing out of my system by January 1... wait, you mean binge fabric purchasing in the next two months is *not* the goal? :) :) Good thing that linky's open for another 50+ days while I sit on this one ;D
The only fabric I have purchased this year has been for a quilt I am making to donate to a raffle for Wounded Warriors. I will happily join you for another 6-12 months of no-buy! My stash is way too big and I need to get busy quilting my quilts - have about 40 of them to quilt - but customer quilts come first!
Well this is crazy talk, surely?? Haha! I have just bought 20 FQs online to collect in the US next week. That's my lot for a very long time. Perhaps unsubscribing from your fav outlets might help. What about if you won some fabric? That must be allowed, right??
A great idea to use up larger pieces (27" x WOF and the trim piece x WOF) --- to make pillowcases for ConKerr cancer patients. I used up a lot of my stash and have less fabric (made over 50 so far). Feels good to get rid of stash and help someone.
Yh... this is tough. I would have gladly sined up until I saw the new line from Joel Drewberry adn Anna Marie Horner. Don't say this to anyone but i MIGHT just have to treat myself to a little wonderfulness soon.
Hey, i would be glad to cheer you on in your endeaver. I bet if they ever start a fabric hoarding program, there would be more members than alcoholic anonymous has! babscorbitt@gmail.com
Can I? Can't I? Don't think I'm strong enough!
I might add purchase of background fabric is acceptable too. Sometimes the scraps need something to tie them together. Sounds like a great idea. I could likely do this. Joanne
I really need to but won't! Good luck. I know I could never stick to it. Just like a diet.
Up for the challenge? Never!! Tried and failed! I just love fabric.......!! Good luck with your challenge - I shall watch with interest!
I am joining you Jess. I don't have a huge stash, but definitely enough to keep me going for 6 months and I have spent way too much money this year on fabric. This will be good for me and I will be accountable - thanks! I don't have a blog yet but am working on it and will link up when I do :-)
Wow. I'll have to think about this. No fabric for 6 months? Don't know if I can do that or not! Great idea,,,and I'll be thinking on it,,,for My name is Mary, and I am a Frabriholic. Thanks for the food for thought.
I just spotted this on Sharon's blog and followed the link here. This is a great idea, and something I've been thinking of on my own for several weeks, and trying to convince myself I don't need! Ha! My stash is.....about like Sharon's.... possibly --I hate to say this word!!--larger, by a little bit...or a lotta bit....
Would you tell me the words on your button? The text is tiny and I just can't make it out. Thanks!
I am definitely ready for an intervention and NEED a support group. I decided to tidy up my sewing room on Tuesday. It has taken 2 days and a shovel to work through it and I am not finished yet. In addition to the fabric and notions in my sewing room and sewing closet, I have pulled out the plastic project boxes that are squirreled under the couch and chairs in the family room, pulled out the Rubbermaid totes in my bedroom closet, linen closet, hall closet, under my bed, and in the attic. I was shocked and overwhelmed and more than a little depressed. I will definitely be cutting myself off with the exception of backing I can't pull together from my stash and solid background fabrics. The past week has been hell. There are so many great online sales this week and a LQS is closing on Friday.
Thank you, it will a big help knowing that other quilters are also going through the same withdrawal symptoms.
While I'm considering whether I can stand a six-month ban on fabric purchases (Lord knows I could easy work out of my stash and never run out!) I will mention that if people are looking for a good home for their unwanted stash, our quilt ministry is always open for donations! They can read more about the ministry, called Piece*Love*Quilt, on my blog, ConfessionsOfAFabricAddict.blogspot.com. Thanks to the many quilt bloggers who help us, we haven't had to make any major fabric purchases for the ministry for almost two years now, and we've made about 500 quilts in that time!
I am all in!!! I so need to do this!!! I can get on such a roll buying and really need to stop!! So thanks so much for this place to keep me on track!!! Thanks Staci for showing it to me!!!
I wish I could join but I am sure I will not be able ..
You are all very brave to sign in ..
But I will try to buy less ..
Have a good 6 months diet ..
Claire Cazali
I wish I could join but I am sure I will not be able ..
You are all very brave to sign in ..
But I will try to buy less ..
Have a good 6 months diet ..
Claire Cazali
After debating for a couple of weeks I finally did it (and I'm already panicing!). I did have to amend my rules a little but I had to be realistic :). Thanks for hosting an intervention for those of us that need it!
I had been thinking about doing this, so I am totally on board. I think I have enough fabric to last the rest of my lifetime! So a 6 month hiatus is a good start. Now the UFO part will be very challenging. I have so many projects rattling around in my head dying to get out and be started!
I'm in! I do not have a blog, but I had already resolved to do this while making 24 baby or kid quilts for a local charity. May I suggest a way to swap some fabric so we feel like we have something new to inspire us???
I am so on board for this... I see your group is closed but I am still going to join in and will post on my blog!! Wonderful idea.
I'm on board too! Your linky is closed but here's my post to where I linked to you with my six month goals. :) http://meandelna.blogspot.com/2014/01/fabriholics-anonymous.html
Oh no, I have only just discovered this and made the pldge. Even if I am not in the list I would still like to join the Fabric Fast. Here is my blog post about it: http://thiscreativebliss.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/hello-my-name-is-nadine-and-i-am.html
Good luck to all of us and happy quilting.
Nadine (nadinesaupe@googlemail.com)
A message for SusanC- (No 68 on Mr Linky)
We can become better friends if you stop linking Pink Chalk Studio's blog in place of your own blog. Of course I've clicked on it and seen yummy new fabric. Of course I stayed longer than I should have. Of course I wanted to click on their shop link. Please do not sneak any more temptation my way- otherwise I'm gonna weaken and buy something...
well I'll do my best!
I 'found' a bag of fabric I bought last yr, in a storage room today.
If I can't keep track of my fabric, I think I do need an intervention.
Thanks for the button!
Is there a flickr group to post our finished UFO's to or our stash and de-stashing? I need constant reminders to stay on track and seeing others succeed is so helpful. I've got a couple of gift certificates that might make this possible so I won't have to cold turkey it.
Well I can't commit I'm afraid, though it looks like fun, whilst I'm sure my boyfriend would say I have too much fabric I have only been sewing for almost a year now and am on a pretty tight budget so I never have that much hanging about! If you fancy getting rid of any I am sure I could help though haha x
Based on the picture - if you are a fabriholic then there is absolutely no descriptor or hope for me!
Seriously.
As a fellow fabriholic,I felt fabric envy when I saw your stash :S I hope you are taming the addiction....
Some of you may remember my pledge at the beginning of this year not to buy fabric during 2013. Admittedly I did last four months before falling off the wagon, and I have been far more restrained than last year, but still. I think it would take me half a life time to sew my way through these shelves of fabric.
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