Hands up who can relate to this pie chart?! Especially those of us who fill up a flat rate envelope so we’re not wasting postage costs… Ahem.
I saw this on Pinterest and it started me thinking… what does motivate my fabric buying?? Well, there’s a few different options:
- “I MUST have this line!” – For me, that’s pretty much any Kate Spain. The latest was Simply Color by V & Co. When this is the case and I don’t have any particular ideas for it, I buy a layer cake, whereas for Good Fortune, I bought a fat quarter bundle as I was going to be making a throw quilt for me and my husband.
- Stash stockers – I’m a cheapskate and hate paying full price for most things. So when I see some fabric on clearance and I like the print and it will be a good addition to stash basics (think spots, stripes, zig zags, blenders), I’ll pick up a FQ or half yard if it’s super cheap.
- Need – This type of fabric buying is for particular projects, like needing to buy a solid grey for Totoro, or blues for my transport paper piecing. I try not to buy too much of it – just enough for my project and maybe a little spare for the stash.
- Just coz! – No matter how careful we are with buying fabric, sometimes it just jumps into our baskets, doesn’t it?! Those adorable Japanese dolls in 3 different colourways? And how did that Washi Tape in charcoal and cream get into my package of fabric for my sister’s quilt?!
In general, I don’t buy many, if any, full yard+ cuts of fabric. I like to buy the right backing for quilts as I make them, and binding too if I don’t already have something in my stash that will work. Don’t get me wrong, I looooove buying fabric as much as the next person (and my husband probably thinks I buy too much as it is, no matter how restrained I am compared to a lot of stashes I see)! And I think that’s such a huge part of the fun of having an Etsy store selling Japanese fabrics – I get the fun of buying the fabric, but without the blow to the wallet! Thanks to all those who have supported me in my first month – it’s been such a joy sending off parcels of squishy love!
What motivates your different fabric purchases?
Cherie says
Hmmm I’d need to think about that one. I used to buy just what I liked then realised maybe my tastes weren’t to everyone’s liking. When it came down to things to be selling I had to change my buying style and go for bits of everything =D
Kristy QP says
Haha I can so relate!! For awhile I only bought what I needed but somehow that’s changed into serious fabric hoarding because you just never know when you’ll NEED that fabric right? But I’m with you – I rarely buy a yard of anything – I consider half a yard a splurge (unless it’s a super awesome bargain!)
Books_Bound says
I love that chart! Too true. 🙂 The majority of my purchases have some project in mind… however, some of those projects are more distant than others! I think I’m still learning what I use and what I don’t, so I’m sure that my buying habits will continue to evolve accordingly.
Kara @me_and_elna says
Dude, I totally am/was/trying not to be that person! I have so much fabric (much less than many though, from what I see online) and I’ve decided I’m not buying ANY MORE unless it’s to finish a project that I already have fabric for. So far, I’ve been doing this for a month and haven’t strayed… we’ll see!
SoozeM says
I tend to buy alot of FQ bundles, at least then once I decide what to make I have more flexibility than either a jelly roll or layer cake gives (you can cut either from a FQ!). Plus I buy alot of fabric for backing to go with my FQ bundles when it is on sale (and I tend to buy enough for a huge quilt just in case). I don’t buy much in the way of basics or stash stockers, although if there is a single fabric I really like I will buy 1 yard and put it aside to make a bag with 🙂
Amira Ameruddin says
I love your blog..though its new, i see great future.. Good luck.. I am a ne follower.. Btw.. I pretty much have the chart up there.. But probably bigger on the stashing parts as i am new to quilting world