In this episode of Love to Sew we discuss our fabric stashes. Learn how we organize our fabrics, what we like to stash, how our partners feel about it, and what to do with unwanted items. Together we confess how much fabric we are each hoarding and come to realize that it’s OK to collect fabric as part of a sewing practice. Do you have a growing fabric stash? Listen to this episode for great tips (and maybe a little bit of moral support) when it comes to organizing and managing a fabric collection.
How do you organize your fabric stash? We want to hear about it! Please leave us a voicemail so we can share your methods with our listeners. You can call us at 1-844 SEW-WHAT, that’s 1-844-739-9428. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Helen’s Fabric Stash:
Helen uses Trello to organize her fabric stash. You can read more about how to set up Trello for fabric on the Attack of the Seam Ripper blog.
Caroline’s Fabric Stash:
- Cora is another app that will help you catalog your fabrics.
- Blackbird Fabrics denim
- Closet Case Patterns Ginger Jeans
- Closet Case Patterns Morgan Jeans
- Alina Sewing and Design Co. Hampton Jacket
- True Bias Ogden Cami
- Sam’s Miniature Wargaming
- Rifle Paper Co. Les Fleurs Fabric
- Our Social Fabric
- H&M Garment Recycling Initiative
- What Katie Sews de-stashing via Instagram
- Helen’s Floral Acton Dress
Caroline’s beloved plaid fabric:
- Dressew Fabrics Vancouver
- Atex Fabrics Vancouver
- Blackbird Fabrics Rayon Challis
- Blackbird Fabrics Cotton Shirting
- Grainline Studio Penny Raglan
- True Bias Hudson Pants
- Megan Nielsen Virginia Leggings
- Deer + Doe Plantain Tees
- Blackbird Fabrics Banana Print
Thanks for listening to today’s episode of Love to Sew!
How do you organize your fabric stash? We want to hear about it! Please leave us a voicemail so we can share your methods with our listeners. You can call us at 1-844 SEW-WHAT, that’s 1-844-739-9428. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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Okay – that H&M Recycling Program tip was AWESOME! Thanks. About the “how to store a stash”, I always thought plastic was a bad idea and that we’re supposed to use something breathable? I mean, I use scraps for tiny quilting scraps but I have also noticed a stale odor if the bags are kept closed too long.
Yay! Glad you like the H&M tip. I havent found that my fabrics get an odor, but maybe that is because I use them and pull them out regularly to look at them. It is a good thing to note, though, for long term storage! Thanks!
Just got into the podcast and it’s now my go to dog walking listen. I’m currently travelling the USA in an RV (yes, I have my sewing machine with me) but it means I can’t have much in the way of a ‘collection’ but you guys have me day dreaming of then day when I can 🙂
@minimaedelcreates
Hi Samantha! It is great that you are traveling with your machine! I imagine it must be hard to pass up the fabric deals you encounter in your travels, but at least you have a reason to keep the stash small! Thanks for listening 🙂
I found it HILARIOUS that Caroline thought that ~100 pieces of fabric was an embarrassingly large stash. I may have that many pieces just from her store! *hides under desk*
Hahahaha, yeah I think a lot of sewists are in the 100+ club. We are fabric rich, it’s fine!
I do have a big fabric stash (I keep it in a filing cabinet) but my bigger concern is my pattern stash … ^_^U I can more or less “control” myself and avoid buying fabric but I can’t refrain from buying patterns! Seeing all the beautiful makes and tester versions always inspires me and makes me want to sew something as beautiful (even if sometimes the pattern didn’t appeal to me at the beginning…). I have already soooo many patterns I doubt I’d have time to sew them all in a lifetime!! X( (and I still keep on buying more every time there are new realises..).
Congratulations for the podcast! Good job ladies! :))
I do have a big fabric stash (I keep it in a filing cabinet) but my bigger concern is my pattern stash… I can more or less “control” myself and avoid buying fabric but I can’t refrain from buying patterns ^_^U Seeing all the beautiful makes and tester versions out there inspires me and makes me want to sew something as beautiful (which never is…) even if sometimes the pattern didn’t appeal to me at the beginning. I have already sooooo many patterns that I doubt there is enough time in a lifetime to sew them all. But I still keep on buying more patterns!!
Congratulations for the podcast! Keep on with the good work, ladies! 🙂
Thanks Dolors! Our pattern collections are large too, maybe that is a topic we can tackle in a future episode. I always buy them on sale, too, so I know exactly what you mean! Thanks for listening!
Just listened to the podcast and I have stash envy! Last night I went to sew some bonnets for an upcoming baby shower (I never sew gifts ever) and I realized I had zero fabric I wanted to part with and every piece was spoken for for an upcoming project. This definitely made me want to have more fabric on hand for such moments, especially if sewing is going to be a bigger part of my life, which it obviously it will be.
Thanks for the podcast! Ps. Set up my pattern wish list in trello! And will soon start organizing my patterns in there too. Don’t ever stop making this podcast, it feeds my soul. Xo
Oh my goodness Shelagh, thank you so much for your comment 🙂 I love your point that having a larger stash is handy to dip into for selfless sewing. Another reason to grow the stash, lol. Either way there’s no reason to feel guilty, like we say, it’s a collection! Thanks for listening!
I love in Adelaide on South Australia. We have very limited options of brick and mortar fabric shops. So whenever I travel interstate I usually stop somewhere and inevitably buy up fabric. And then it becomes a souvenir aswell as a usable item.
Hi!!
I just found your podcast and i’m addicted!!
I loved this episode! but kinda hid when I had to think about the number in my stache (still haven’t counted it) but it did inspire me to have a cull while I archived what i had in trello. What an amazing app!! So much fun and great way to get the creative juices flowing again.
Thanks Ladies cant wait to listen to more!!
Hi ladies! I just found your podcast, and I’m OCD enough that I have to start from the beginning.
This episode brought up an issue I’m currently having. I just started sewing and was gifted lots of fabric from my aunt. I’d like to try to use this fabric before I invest in more because I’m still learning. However I don’t have the details on the fabric and I don’t know enough about sewing and types of fabric to know what fabric would work best for different patterns. Do you have any suggestions on how I can figure out what to use where?
I’m really enjoying the podcast so far! Thank you so much for offering up your time and knowledge. It’s a great and entertaining resource for a newbie like me!