Fabric Hoarding Reformation - Is It Working?

Spring is finally here and I thought the start of a new season would be a good time to give an update on my fabric hoarding reformation.  I started back in January when I asked the question Are You A Fabric Hoarder Too? and loads of you raised your hands to tell me I wasn't alone:

The bottom line was my piles and bins of fabric had reached the point where I was trying to find space to store fabric more than I was using it.  Absolute craziness.  It was time to stop the madness.  And in February I shared my progress here, which saw me resisting the siren song of the fabric store and starting the chip away at my ridiculous stacks of fabric:

So now I'm 3 months in.  

Am I back to my fabric hoarding ways?

I can confidently say no.  I think I've turned a corner.  I'm not actively adding the the stash anymore (which had been an ongoing problem).  I can walk into the fabric store or see an email screaming BIG FABRIC SALE and not feel compelled to find something new - which was hard to resist a few months ago.

Just a few of my past impulse fabric buys

The good news is I have been sewing up a storm.  Instead of procrastinating or "saving for a special project", I've picked out a stack of Spring-style fabric from my stash and told myself to use them.  Now.  And it's actually happening!  I've just gotten terrible about photographing it and writing up blog posts for them, but one problem at a time, right?

Some of my stash-busting sewing for Spring

What's been working to de-hoard the stash?  

MINI-PILES.  It may sound a little crazy, but what's really helped whittle down my stash is putting several small piles right out in the open.  I'm not saying a stack as tall as the kids, but about once a month I'm taking a look through my bins and shelves and pulling out about 6-10 fabrics.  Right now I grabbed Spring/pastels and put them on my craft room counter. After a couple of days of just looking at them I started to separate it into  "Have an idea" pile and a "Don't Know" pile.  

Why they've worked: Seeing them out reminds me they need to be used, and keeping with the current season/themes around me encourages using them.  When I have a little free time I tell myself to start there. Not only have I used up about a dozen yards in the past 2 months, but it's also helped me get a plan for my projects better.  I don't have any more free time than I did before, but I'm using it more effectively.   Added Bonus: It's also given me a reason to sift through my patterns more too and finally use some that I'd forgotten about or kept postponing because there was a technique or step I didn't want to do.

OUT WITH THE OLD:  Seeing a handful of prints out in the open (not in a tightly packed stack) has also made me realize that my tastes have changed too.  Some fabrics that I LOVED a year or two ago, just aren't as fabulous to me now or what I originally wanted them for isn't needed anymore.  Hanging onto them doesn't make sense, so a few more of the "Don't know" fabrics will be added to my Etsy shop or given away.  

A few of the still nice, but just don't need fabrics

"1 IN, 2 OUT" RULE.  I mentioned this in my previous hoarding posts.  After I bought 6 yards last month on a trip in Canada, I then went to my bins to de-stash.  I pulled out more than 12 fabrics I knew I could part with, added part of them to my shop and donated the rest.  It wasn't even that hard to let them go.  Emotionally detaching from one's stash is the key to getting things under control.

And I've also been compiling some themed bundles to do a few fabric giveaways soon so I can give them to someone who is ready & eager to use them.

I've also learned a few more ways to keep the fabric hoarding from returning.  The LAST thing I need to do after I whittle things down is go on a fabric spree and do it all over again!

Stopping Future Fabric Hoarding

Buying With Purpose:  As I try to work through my stash one thing I've really noticed is how many fabrics I've bought because they were a fun print or really eye-catching, but I never had a clue what to do with them.  Even while telling myself to make something with them now, I'm still a bit stymied on what to create.  I let the "Ooohhh pretty!" design overrule common sense on what I could use or need.  Yes, that fabric may be gone if I don't buy it now, but more fabulous fabric will replace it.  It always does.  It's worth waiting for the fabric you really love AND know you can use.

Picking Flattering Fabric.  This is key for apparel making & I'd been doing it wrong.  With fabric it's so easy to fall in love with a print or type of fabric, but if you're planning to make something to wear with it - look at it in the mirror.  I saw a knit in the store I liked the other day, but when I saw it next to my face and hair, the colors didn't suit me at all.  I've got a number of multi-yard cuts I bought to make into clothing for myself and now when I look at them next to my skin tone I realize they aren't the most flattering, the weight is wrong or the print looks too twee or busy.  Which means I probably won't wear them that much.   Time to rethink what to do with them or give them a new home.  Going forward I'm going to be a bit more careful when shopping for fabrics for myself. 

And on that note, I did a bit of Spring cleaning to get rid off some old clothes and one thing that stood out was how much clothing I've made for myself that I don't wear.  Either the fit isn't quite right or the print looks better on the hanger than on me. It's clear I've done the same thing picking patterns for myself as I have with fabric.  I'm considering those past projects as good practice for honing my sewing skills, but in the future I'm going to be choosier on selecting patterns for myself too. 

I've still got a long way to go.  Actively going through my stash makes me realize just how hoarder-iffic I'd gotten, but I'm going to keep with it so I'll end up with less full bins and more finished projects.

And if YOU have any other ideas, experiences, hoarding anecdotes, etc. go ahead and share them in the comments.  We fabric hoarders love to know we're not alone!

The Fabric Hoarder Update: Reforms a Bit...Also Buys More Fabric

Many of you will recall my post from a few weeks ago, Are You Fabric Hoarder Too?, and I want to give an update on things in Fabric Hoarderville. After seeing an explosion of page views for that post, and hearing so many comments echoing my situation, I realized this topic struck a chord with many sewers & crafters out there.  I've tried a few of the ideas I mentioned for reducing my hoarding and wanted to share my results and some things I've discovered along the way.  

Good News - I have made progress on reducing my stash!  
Cue the sound of angels singing.  
Here's what's happened so far: 

Sewing More.  I've used up a good amount of my flannel (some of it years old, some recently bought) by making some much needed pajamas pants.  They were quick to make and ideal for winter nights.  It's reminded me that not every project has to be something complex or unique looking or even a new design/pattern.  It was fun to be able to knock out a few useable items in a short amount of time and know they'd look good since I'd made them before.  Next up on my to-sew list are my fleecy/fuzzy fabrics as tops.  
Verdict: Definitely will continue to do this regularly. 

Selling My Stash: I've listed a bit of my fabric stash in my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog.  I started with prints I knew I didn't need or couldn't see using for a project any time soon and quite a few are already gone.  Emotionally detaching myself from my stash and getting realistic on what I'm really going to use has been worth it.  The fabric is going to someone who wants it and I'm making extra space on the shelf & a little money at the same time.  Verdict: Definitely keeping this up.

Some of the lovelies available in my shop, The Green Hedgehog

Giveaway/Donate: I'm starting to get some random outgrown clothes, stuff we don't need, etc. ready for a donation to Purple Heart and am including some fabrics I never really wanted/needed to the mix.  Mainly, stuff I was given from prior hoarders looking to de-stash on an unsuspecting newbie.  I'm also compiling a few bundles of small cuts/scraps of fun prints to giveaway here this spring.  
Verdict: Still need to get them out of the house, but it's a good start for unused stuff.

Using Self Restraint:  I've been pretty good.  I've ignored the dozens of fabric sales and coupon codes hitting my inbox and mailbox.  A new Hobby Lobby has opened by me, which I'm excited about (the nearest had been 30min away before), but since I don't need anything right now, I haven't gone yet.  I even went into Jo-Ann Stores to buy elastic for my pajama pants and only came out with said elastic.  After a while I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.
Verdict:  It works and is a huge improvement for me.

Ok, since everything sounds good thus far, 
on to my fabric buying...
(cue any "so much for getting rid of your stash" thoughts).

We just got back from a kid-free long weekend in Canada.  Of course I planned to check out fabric shops.  I told myself I was allowed to get a few things, but only if they met these 3 requirements:

1. They were hard-to-find at home 
2. An unbeatable price
3. I could think of an immediate project use for them.   

Considering the impulse picked piles I usually come home with, I think I did pretty well.  I saw a few other things I liked, but when I couldn't think of what exactly I'd do with them, I told myself no. Here's what I came away with -

I'm a huge old-school Strawberry Shortcake fan (as seen with my Fleece Strawberry Shortcake Hat and Themed Birthday Party) and had been looking for some fabric for a long time.  Len's Mill had a couple prints, so I got this one to make a pretty party dress for my daughter:

I found these cute kawaii prints there too.  I'd never seen them before and thought they'd make some cute bags/fabric baskets to organize my kids' stuff with.  They hoard toys and knick knacks like I hoard fabric, so some containers be useful.

As well as this colorful rainbow minky fabric.  I knew my daughter would be in love with this, since she adores all things pony/unicorn/pegasus.  The price was crazy good - under $8US/yd.  I'm either going to make her a blanket or do a reversible, mix & match top and pant outfit with some solids I already had.

And they also carry some handy notions I can't find at home, like pleather strapping (going to use to make handles for purses/bags):

Plus these fun elastics - the wide grey one is super plush and the purple paisley seemed really different looking.  I plan to use these as "exposed" elastic waistbands and shoulder straps on skirts, pants and tops.

Over at Fabricland I got some cute candy print knit fabric.  I have a lot of binding & FOE in matching colors so I can see this being either pajamas or a fun top for my little miss:

And my husband found this interesting bonded faux suede that has some soft cuddle fabric on reverse and it was marked down from $40CA to $8CA per metre.  Will be using this for some historical/adventure costumes for my two boys.

The excellent exchange rate made all of these items a lot less than what I could buy them for online, so that also helped me decide what was worth getting.  
Verdict: Proud of my willpower to keep the additions to a minimum. Which also brings me to my last resolution...

"1 In, 2 Out" Rule.  For each item coming in, I've got to use up/get rid off 2 current items.  Once I get these babies washed, I've got to turn my eye to pulling out at twice as many items in my stash.  Then figure out a plan to use some within 60 days and get the rest out of the house via selling or donating.  I think I'm going to make a prioritized to-sew list comprised of the new stuff & things to use up.  It's a little ambitious, but I think I can do it - or at least give it a try! Verdict: We'll see how this goes, but I'll be too busy with this to buy more fabric, so I think it'll be a win no matter what;)

I'll be doing more follow-up posts to chart my progress, share more stash-busting ideas as they come and, if it happens, any relapses.  Stay tuned fellow fabric hoarders!!  

And if YOU have any other ideas, experiences, hoarding anecdotes, etc. go ahead and share them in the comments.  We hoarders love to know we're not alone!

Fabric Show & Tell: Fabric Shopping Across The Border

With the floor outside my craft room still under construction (aka all my projects at a stand still), I thought it would be a good time to do a little show & tell of some fab new fabrics I picked up a few weeks ago.  The husband and I took a kid-free weekend jaunt across the border into Canada.  Amongst our other adventures, I spent a few hours fabric shopping. Soooo nice.  

I head over there at least twice a year and always score some great stuff I can't get around here.  Today I'm going to share some of my latest finds and the 411 on fabric store differences in the US & Canada.

Store Options:
Here in the US the big chain sources for most fabrics are Jo-Ann, Hancock, Hobby Lobby and Calico Corners.  In Canada there's Fabricland and Len's Mill Stores.

What They Offer:
Besides fabric, Jo-Ann & Hobby Lobby also offer craft supplies and home decor. Fabricland just has fabric & home decor items like bedding, throw pillows & drapes.  Len's Mill offers all sorts of fabric and craft supplies, but also carries overstock clothes, packaged food, toiletries and other random stuff (we've bought plastic vuvuzelas, garden spades and socks there).  

Prices:
There's a bit of difference in pricing and I don't mean the exchange rate.  Here most quilting cottons are pretty inexpensive, but in Canada they can be $$$.  Like $14.99/yd for the same prints that go for $7.99/yd here. Same goes for Cuddle/Minky or Laminated Cotton fabric - upwards of $20/yd for low-end versions that would cost about $10 at home.  

However, knits & apparel fabric can be snapped up for very little in Canada.  I always find great stretch fabrics that would cost a fortune over here.  I found this fun blue & white interlock to make another wrap dress with and a unique textured green jersey and both were about $6/meter over at Fabricland:

The detailing on the jersey is really nice too:

For unusual knits, Len's Mill is my go-to place.  Warning though - they definitely don't spend much overhead on store design or pretty displays.  The one we usually visit is a giant warehouse with concrete floors and stuff EVERYWHERE.   Like a cross between a dollar store, hoarder's basement and fabric liquidator.  Some of it looks like it's out of a time warp from 1987.  Seriously.  What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for in hidden gems like this unusual pink & green tie dye ruffle fabric:

And this fun crochet chevron.  I think this would be great as a drape-y summer top over a tank:

Measurements:
Most fabric is sold by the meter (or should I say metre?) in Canada.  That extra 3 inches is a nice bonus.  At Len's Mill you can buy your fabric by the yard or meter and they have prices for both on each bolt. These beautiful textured knits were just $5/yd:

That store is also good for some hard-to-find or retired cottons, some at a pretty decent price.  I discovered these adorable prints from the Marty Loves Mars collection by Camelot Cottons.  Beyond cute:

I also loved these colorful apparel cottons (found at Fabricland).  Can you believe they were each only $2.74/meter after the exchange rate?!?  Insane!!!  At that price, I was able to grab a few of each. So many project possibilities with these...

It's a lot of fun seeing what's different between the two countries and findings things you can't get at your usual spots.  If you ever have the chance to visit other countries, definitely scope out their fabric stores. You may find some hidden treasures like I did! 

A Fabric Mystery To Solve & The New Fabric Stash Spotlight

Today kicks off a new feature here at Sew Can Do: Fabric Stash Spotlight.  We're all big fabric lovers so I thought a regular fabric feature would be fun to do & a great way to share knowledge.  

Here's my plan:  Once a month (or maybe more), I'll share a unique fabric from my stash and give lots of fabric info like...

               ~ What it's made of?
               ~ Properties like stretch, thickness, etc.
               ~ Use ideas (best for apparel, decor, bags, etc.)
               ~ Tips & tricks for the best sewing results 
               ~ Where you can find the fabric

I've amassed an enormous collection of fun & fabulous fabrics over the past couple of years, but a lot of these beauties are still folded waiting to be used.  Sometimes they get forgotten about because they're tucked away or (and I'm sure I'm not the only one here), I've been hoarding/saving them because I love them but just haven't found the perfect project.  

Just a few stacks of fabric in my stash

The goal is to get us all inspired to use our stash fabrics more & to share fabric info. Then you can find out more about some great fabrics and get sewing more too.  Yes, I'm being a bit of a fabric buying enabler, but I think that's a good thing;)

Now, on to today's Stash Spotlight.  It's a.....MYSTERY fabric!

That's right, sometimes I'll need your help figuring out fabric too;)  Today's feature is something I picked up and have a lot of hands-on experience with, but I don't know what it's actually called.  I'd love to find out because I have GOT to get more, so let's see if you can help solve the mystery!  

Fabric Makeup:

My best description for this is Sweater bonded fleece, Flocked sweater knit or Fleece backed sweater knit.  I have two different prints of this fabric:  

Both are sweater knit on the right side, but on the wrong side are bonded with a layer of fleece.  It appears to be a yarn blend (cotton/acrylic?) on the sweater side and then polyester fleece on the back.  

Properties:

It's got the same thickness as usual fleece and a similar level of two way stretch along the cross grain (selvage to selvage), with a little give on the lengthwise grain (aka top to bottom).  It's also got a super generous 62 inch width which makes it so versatile.   
  

Uses:

Since this fabric has a built in fleece-y back, making use of both sides is ideal.  

- With hemmed edges it's great for hats, scarves, mittens and one layer throws or blankets.

- Clothing like tops, dresses and leggings are perfect ways to use it.  It has all the warmth and comfort of a heavy sweater, but without the bulk and is much more flattering to wear.  

I used both of these with a pattern for a slightly loose knit dress (Cynthia Rowley 2054 by Simplicity).  Since this fabric is stretchy, but not as saggy as the recommended jersey, it turned out to be a fun, more form-fitting version, which I personally prefer to a shapeless sack.  I shortened it a little more too so it's perfect with leggings:

Here's the same dress done in the brown snowflake fabric.  I tend to wear baggy layers in winter so I don't freeze, but hate how horrible it looks.  These are SO cuddly and warm, but still look super cute, so they're a huge improvement to the winter wardrobe: 

Tips & Tricks:

- This fabric sews a lot like traditional fleece so I'd recommend a ball point needle or using a heavy duty needle if sewing through 3 or more layers.  

- A walking foot isn't necessary, but it does make it easier to keep it from stretching or shifting while sewing layers.

- Unlike fleece, since there's actual sweater knitting & threads, this does fray, so I recommend encasing raw edges on hems and trimming with pinking shears or serging for inside seams.

- If using it for clothing, use knit or triple stitch on your machine or serger for seams.

- I've been washing mine on cold and line drying and it comes out beautifully.

Find It Here:

I found this fabric in Ontario, Canada at Fabricland, Canada's main fabric store chain last summer.   They don't offer fabrics on line, but I've found some real gems whenever I visit. The prices for apparel fabrics are ridiculously cheap and they have a huge variety.  But look out on the quilting cotton & standard fleece - the prices for those are bizarrely high.  I got these sweater knits for around $7/meter.  I love that you even score a couple of extra inches thanks to the metric system!  I searched online to try to find this fabric with no luck, partly because I don't know what it's "official" name is, but I'll keep looking.

If you know what this fabric is called or where to find it, I'd love to have you share it with us fabric lovers.  And stay tuned for another installment of Fabric Stash Spotlight next month!