It’s inevitable that fabric gets pushed down to the bottom of a box, or to the back of the closet.  Reorganizing my fabric has given me a chance to “find” different fabrics that, I must admit – I had totally forgotten about

image: C Findlay-Harder

I’ve got fresh ideas for clothing, decorating and crafts – and all without stepping foot into a fabric store (which is probably sensible…)

So when was the last time you “rediscovered” your stash?

Now if I could only remember which box my scissors and pins are in…

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

In honor of Fat Quarter Month, Sew Mama, Sew has been asking quilters and fiber artists about their fabric stash.  In fact, they’ve even started a fabric stash group on Flickr!

I decided to get in on the fun as well and answered their stash questionaire:

What do you usually sew?

• I sew everything from clothing, accessories, quilts and artwork.

When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)

• It depends what kind of fabric it is.  For quilting or fiber art, normally I’ll buy a metre or so (depending on how expensive it is of course!)  For clothing I’ll normally buy several metres – but that can change depending on if I have a specific project that it’s for.

Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?

• It depends on the day!

Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?

• Oh yes – many years of working in a fabric store has left me with a decent allergy to fabric sizing.  I get red welts on my arms, sneeze and generally feel like I have the flu.

Do you iron it?

• Normally yes – I may cheat and cut something out straight out of the dryer, but I try and be a good little seamstress

How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)

• I start out by sorting by fabric type.  I try and keep all of my cotton quilting fabrics together, and then sort through different types of clothing fabric.  Quilting cottons are then sorted according to color.

Do you have any special folding techniques?

• Umm… is sticking it in a box a special technique?

How do you store your fabric?

• Most of it ends up in plastic totes.  I know that plastic isn’t always the best for fabric, but it’s not practical to instal a shelving system in my current studio.

What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?

• Figure out what kinds of fabrics you love to work with.  I am a real natural fiber hound, so I don’t tend to collect a lot of polyesters – even if the prints are beautiful.

When do you say enough is enough?

• Are you hiding your fabric from family?  Are you ashamed of it?  Are you over-spending your budget?

What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?

• Go do a search through the archives – I’ve got tons of them!

Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!

• Hmm… that’s a hard one!  I’ve got tons of fabrics that I adore

What’s your definition of the perfect stash?

• A stash that works for you and that has everything you need!

image: © C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Fun With My Fabric Stash

Funny Face shared a great tutorial for making a chain necklace out of fabric:

image: Funny Face

Martha Stewart has a free how-to using fabric and wooden beads to make this pretty necklace:

image: Martha Stewart

I also had fun using glue and fabric to cover wooden beads!  You can also wrap little pieces of fabric around a straw or knitting needle, and glue them in place – just like making paper beads.

Post from: Blisstree

Funky fabric jewelry

There is a lot of doom and gloom around the economy these days, so I thought it would be fun to find a little lighter take on it – why sewing is good for you and the economy!

1. Buying fabric, patterns and notions support businesses and help keep them running.
2. Those fabric stores employee people, who now have a job because of you.
3. Sewing your own clothes can save you money.
4. And if you’re saving money, you have more money to spend on things like groceries, mortgages or even just paying off a credit card.
5. You can also teach your children to sew, which means that they are more self-sufficient.
6. If you can sew, you can repair your own clothing, which is another great way to save money.
7. Sewing can be a great stress-reliever – if you’re happier, your whole family will be happier
8. Keep your money in your community – sewing means you don’t need to buy garments and accessories sewn in factories overseas.
9. Sewing encourages creativity – it might lead to a new job or way of making money for you.
10. Isn’t it fun to feel virtuous about being a fabric-aholic?

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

10 reasons why sewing is good for you AND the economy

Scared of buttons?

Never!

Apparently some people are… and enough people that medicine actually needed to come up with a name for it.  Of course, after seeing “Coraline” yesterday, I can understand that more people may be creeped out by buttons than before.

It’s an amazing movie, but not for the faint-hearted…

Post from: Blisstree

Do you know what “Koumpounophobia” is?

I’ve got a special contest treat for you all, my lucky Tangled Thread readers

One lucky winner will win the “Spring Fling” fabric inspiration pack:

That includes 9 six inch squares of 100% cotton quilting fabric in the spring colors & prints shown here.  The winner will also receive 48 inches of white satin Easter egg ribbon and 3, 9 inch pieces of beaded fringe (in the colors shown here).

Sounds like fun?  Want to enter?

Here are the rules…

• To enter, leave a comment on this post describing what you’re going to make with the Spring Fling pack.
• Please leave a valid email address – I can’t let you know that you’re the winner if I don’t have an email address.
• Due to shipping costs, the contest is only open to residents of North America.
• One entry per person.
• The contest runs until midnight, Friday January 30th.
• The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email.
• The winner will have three days to respond, after that a new winner will be selected.
• I reserve the right to edit or delete any comment not adhering to the contest rules.

Good luck!

photo: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

***Bloggy Giveaways*** Win a Spring Fling fabric inspiration pack!

Do you need a little inspiration for arranging your sewing room or studio?

Sewing.org is running an ongoing reader challenge to share your sewing room with the world.  You can browse through photos of sewing rooms and studios – and even submit your own sewing room!

I’m not sure if I’m willing to submit my sewing room to that kind of scrutiny at the moment…  Of course – it could be a good way to inspire a good studio clean

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Need a little inspiration for your sewing room?

She’s going to be launching her new line titled “Paris Hilton – the Creativity Collection” at the upcoming annual Craft & Hobby Association trade show:

“Paris Hilton, internationally recognized model, singer, author, and entrepreneur will be available on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm in the Wooky Entertainment booth #2500, to unveil Paris Hilton, the Creativity Collection™ a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewelry making and fabric embellishment. Paris will be on hand for photos and signing autographs.”

I suppose we have all sorts of other celebrities who have craft lines.  There’s Martha Stewart, Vanna White, Project Runway – even Hillary Duff is in on the crafty action!

quote from Craft & Hobby Association press release

Post from: Blisstree

Paris Hilton, craft diva?

I’m getting back into my normal schedule of studio life and teaching after December’s excitement and energy.  I definitely need to spend some time getting my studio and fabric storage area cleaned and tidied again.  I seem to have the habit of pulling fabric out, looking for inspiration… and then leaving it out.  Ah, the joys of being a visual person

I ran a month-long series on Tangled Thread during March and April last year called the “De-Stash Challenge“.  If you’re looking for ideas on how to de-stash and de-clutter your own sewing room, the series is worth checking out:

• De-stash Challenge, introduction
• Day two check-in
• Week two check-in, pattern de-stashing!
• Week three ideas
• Week four - got extra yarn?
• The final check-in

De-stashing and “shopping your own stash” are also great ways to save money and make you think about whether or not you really, truly need that new piece of fabric.  After all, if you’ve got ten boxes of fabric already – isn’t there something in your own stash you can use?

I’ll be running the challenge again this year – but you’ll have to wait for March until the official kick-off.  Let’s just consider this practice for now…

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Clutter buster ideas for your sewing room or studio

Well, this year Fabric.com has decided to start the fun early – you can pick up Christmas fabric, on sale, right now!

Just click on the link, and enter the code “AC128″ to enjoy the savings.  It’s like a Christmas gift to yourself!

image: Fabric.com

Post from: Blisstree

Christmas fabric is on sale…