Fabric Points Challenge

Last week I posted a picture of my enormous stash of fabrics. 

I love it and I’m so excited to have it all out of storage and in the garage. My fabric stash is made up of at least 50 percent gifted fabric. I have been sewing for about seventeen years and throughout my sewing journey I have been blessed with boxes, bags and bins of fabric that others have given to me because they were getting rid of it or came across it at a yardsale and thought of me. I don’t keep everything that I’m gifted, but I do keep most of it and for a while it was accumulating faster than I could use it. I’m hoping to change that now that it’s easily accessible and I have a little more time for sewing.

I’m already excited to dig into my stash. It’s amazing to walk into the garage and find a veritable fabric store. Over the weekend my two youngest sewists said that they needed fabric to make capes for Red Ribbon Week and they were each able to find a fabric that worked for them right there in the garage. That, to me, is amazing. I love being inspired by what I have and the challenge of making things from materials on hand (thrown together meals are some of my favorites) BUT I also know that, especially in these somewhat depressing times, I really enjoy me some fabric retail therapy. So, in my effort to shift the balance of buying vs creating in favor of creating, I’ve come up with a little challenge for myself.

I’ve created a system of points based on finished sewing projects.  Every 10pts is worth $1 to spend on fabric of my choice.  I can earn extra points for more difficult patterns and, of course, for using stash fabric, trims, notions, etc. rather than buying it. Here’s what it looks like:

I mentioned the challenge to my mom and she came up with her own point system and criteria and will be earning towards another trip to the fashion district in LA, which is probably what I will be saving for as well. She also mentioned it to a quilter friend who has come up with a quilting version to participate in. I’m in the process of making one for my oldest sewist that will be based on skill-building, quality and working with patterns. 

It’s costume crunch time but I’m almost finished with a Wednesday Addams dress that should score me 70 fabric points, yeah!

Buttonless Cardigan

I admit that I suffer yearly from fall wardrobe envy.  I’m not proud of it. The truth is that living in the desert requires a very different wardrobe than in other climates and I have little use for something like a wool coat or styles that utilize lots of layers. Case in point, it’s late October and I’m still in shorts, tanks and sandals... all in the same outfit. So when I came across Simplicity S8951 it seemed like a great way to feel like I was sewing for fall.. desert fall, that is.

The main fabric is a ponte knit from the clearance section of JoAnn Fabrics. There was just over a yard of it left which was perfect for this pattern. Ponte fabrics are such a wonderful weight. They hang heavy but without feeling hot. The bands are a cotton/spandex ribbed knit from my stash and I love the color contrast. So 80s working mom! When I tried it on I was disappointed to find that it was a little snug in the stomach area (I just started working off my pandemic weight so it might be awhile before it fits right) so I left off the buttons. Honestly, though, I probably won’t add them even when/if I could button it easily. I don’t think I’ve ever buttoned a cardigan and I like the look without them. 

This project was an excellent reminder of the importance of pressing as you go. It always amazes me to see my wobbly seams smooth out with pressing. I wasn’t sure if the ponte would handle the same heat as the ribbed so I used a pressing cloth which was a little more effort but the memory of my “holey” Seamwork Rory continues to haunt me. 

In other news, I've come up with an excellent challenge that I think will make working through my crazy huge stash of fabrics even more fun and I've inspired my mom to join as well. More on that to come.

The Stash

Not everyone has a stash. There are some highly disciplined and organized people in the sewing community who buy only what they need, when they need it, and use it immediately. I am NOT one of those people. I tend to buy first, plan later... sometimes MUCH later. Hence, the stash. For the past 8yrs my fabric has been in a storage unit making it more difficult to plan and sew with any regularity but over the summer we moved to a bigger house with a nice big garage so...

It’s here. It’s finally all here at the house and, good gracious, I have a lot! It turns out that when you collect at a faster rate than you create, it tends to accumulate... hmph, go figure. The final tally is 27 bins, not including trim, interfacing, notions, etc. Let me be clear, these are just MY bins: my mom’s fabric is still in storage. 

I know the standard response is one of shame but, honestly, I am SO excited! There are just so many possibilities in here! I don’t think I’ve done a stash-busting challenge since... 2011 so it’s definitely time for one. This is going to be great!