I've been thinking about the Fabric Fast idea which is going around at the moment. I really like it because it seems a bit of an antidote to so much conspicuous consumption and I think the ingenuity involved in using what you have can be very satisfying (and is obviously in keeping with the original purpose of patchwork).
I've decided not to stop buying fabric altogether but for the time being I am going to try to buy fabric for a specific project only, and not to get distracted by too many other projects before that one is finished.
I've decided not to stop buying fabric altogether but for the time being I am going to try to buy fabric for a specific project only, and not to get distracted by too many other projects before that one is finished.
Before coming to that conclusion I did take advantage of having Christmas money to spend in the Oakshott sale and bought half yards of five fabrics! I only need fat quarters so wondered if anyone in the UK would like to go "halfies"?!
I'm going to go back to the Fabric Trading page idea I had way back - though I'll add to it fabric for sale. So you can find details of the Oakshott on my page!
I have been given lots of fabric by someone who was downsizing so together with the assorted materials I already had I shall not need to buy any ever again! I am determined not to buy anything till I have used what I have. I did make a small quilt using stuff I already had and since I prefer random type quilts rather than specific designs it works well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with using fabric from our stash and trying to stay focussed on finishing one project at a time! I wish I was in the UK - I'd happily share the Oakshotts with you! Enjoy using them!
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine! I think your idea is great! I'm joining you! Shame I'm in Spain, I'd share with you that oakshotts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, I hadn't noticed your fabric trader button before... Have often thought this would be a good thing to do when importing fabric.
ReplyDeleteI have very little space to store things, and I am very slow at making things, so nearly all the fabric I have ever bought has been bought for a specific purpose. Still, I have more fabric than I need because there is always left overs, plus I find it hard to throw out old clothes that still have perfectly usable fabric on them, so I have heaps of 2nd hand fabric to get through, yet, too.
ReplyDeleteMy goal for this year is also to stop accumulating things and start using them instead, but that applies to just about every area of my life. I don't need more recipe books, I need to start using the ones I have, that goes for art books, and craft magazines, and even my pins on Pinterest. Essentially my goal is to have less, but do more. It's hard to even get started on a project when I am surrounded by both physical and mental clutter.
It is a great idea. I don't buy a lot of fabric; I usually buy for a project and sometimes a few extra half yards when I feel like splurging. But this year I decided to use only what I have. Let's see how long it lasts :)
ReplyDeleteI'd be up for going halfies! I have never used Oakshott cottonseed, but would definitely like to. This would be a great way to start :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for 2014, I see you are already well sorted for the Oakshott but you could hold me as first reserve!
ReplyDeleteI don't have nearly enough to go on a diet yet! I generally only buy for specific projects, but I do still have a number of those in the pipeline... No more (well maybe a little) fabric buying allowed until I've completed those.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of not a fabric buying ban, but just buy for something specific! I have a tendency to just see pretty fabric and buy for buying sake!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea of fabric trading!
I love this idea, Catherine! I have been thinking about using only the fabric from my stash over the holidays because I went overboard with fabric shopping last year. It started with only what I needed for a particular project but ended up with buying anything I liked at that moment. So I am on fabric fasting at the moment. :-)
ReplyDeleteI came to the same conclusion about the fabric diet, although I noticed that most of the bloggers doing it have stocked up very well before it starts! I'm planning to use up what I have as much as possible but I'll probably have to add to it from time to time. I did spend some Christmas money on cotton yarn to try to crochet a blanket, though. I'm finding yarn projects much more portable at the moment :)
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