I promised myself–No more fabric buying! Even if it is on sale, a great sale. Well, except white background fabric needed for the scrappy pink pinwheel baby quilt I am making on consignment and the baby quilt for my husband’s niece. And, I did need more of the particular colors requested for the niece’s quilt—but after those, no more fabric shopping, for real!! I had found forgotten fat quarter bundles and yardage when straightening up my sewing room after the sale. (I can’t really say “cleaning” up my sewing room—) Not only is buying more fabric financially irresponsible but I was adding to the ecological problems of textile production. So I sincerely pledged to myself to use what I had for at least this quilt sale year –October ’22 to October ’23. I am not going to keep track of the number of yards I have used from my stash as I have seen others do; probably couldn’t. But I am going to keep track of projects that came from my storage closet. What will I do with all that money I save???
But then I remembered—it is less than a month to our Quilter’s Christmas Party! Years ago, we decided to not celebrate birthdays with gifts or give notepads and funny coffee cups to each other at Christmas. We would acknowledge our friendships with FAT QUARTERS! Each participating quilter requests a particular style or color, resulting in approximately 20 usable fat quarters.
Most of the fat quarters are used to create items for the Quilt Sale. Shirley R used her fat quarters that she received last year to make this quilt. This bright fall leaf quilt was perfect to use in our advertising campaign.
I had requested red, green and white Christmas prints and received this beautiful collection. They were used in table runners, wall hanging, pot holders and microwave bowls. A person can’t have too many of these in your stash.
So folks, I had to go shopping for fabric! I love this tradition and look forward to it every year. Fun to look at all the new fabrics on the shelves. Fun to buy the requested color without worrying if it will go with my other fabrics of that color in a particular project. Fun to go to a shop others might not, so my choices will be unique. Questions do come up–is that a “true” green? is a small enough print? is that cream or light beige? But for me, it is one of the best holiday activities.
Today, my husband and I explored a near by town about an hour a way with a quilt shop and a great deli–that was an added bonus. I do support the quilt shops in my town, but today was a multi-purpose day–outing and shopping.
I bought light blues, indigo blues with small prints, grunge, floral with little, bitty flowers, white on white, brights, fall colors and Christmas prints—-and that should conclude my fabric shopping for the year!!
We have some new items for sale—maybe some are perfect Christmas gifts!
Reversible dinner napkins are a “green” or ecological gift. Measuring 16″ x 16″, they would work for either lunch or dinner well. Each set of four is $30.
Needing an hostess gift when you visit over Thanksgiving? This set of fabric coaster are reversible and the batting gives added protection. Each coaster is $6.
This table runner is larger than most and would work in any season of the year. It. measures 18.5 ” x 52″. The traditional colors and blocks helped name it “Prairie”. It is $50.
Know someone who will be expecting several visits from the Tooth Fairy this coming year?
There is a pocket for the baby’s tooth on the reverse side of this Care Bear pillow. Wish Bear is cross stitched in a gender neutral color. The pillow is approximately 12″ square and is $25. Perfect for a baby shower.
I look forward to sharing what we received and made from our fat quarter exchange. And I promise to be accountable to you on my “Use My Stash” campaign.
Quilts, Etc. 