{"id":246,"date":"2015-05-04T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T15:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamsgeeky.com\/?p=246"},"modified":"2015-05-04T10:06:34","modified_gmt":"2015-05-04T15:06:34","slug":"fabric-stashes-a-cautionary-tale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.seamsgeeky.com\/?p=246","title":{"rendered":"Fabric stashes\u2014a cautionary tale"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

W<\/span>hen you first start sewing, the whole world of clothing\u2026 changes.<\/p>\n

Shopping for clothes isn\u2019t as fun anymore. Because you look at
\nsomething and go \u201cPshhh! I could make that.\u201d And you could! It might
\ntake some research and skill, but you could make that, and it would
\nfit better, you\u2019d love it more, and it won\u2019t cost as much!<\/p>\n

(Side note: Most of those are lies. Sewing for yourself can get<
\nexpensive quickly. Yes, you can save money, but only if you compare
\nyourself to designer or high end clothes. I stopped thinking about
\nsewing as saving money a long time ago, instead I think about it as
\n\u201cI\u2019d rather pay more for something that fits.\u201d And sometimes I
\ndon\u2019t love it more. Sometimes I wear it once then donate it.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Thoughts of a wardrobe or cute clothes in cat prints and chevrons
\nfloat across your mind\u2019s eye. \u201cYES! THIS IS EVERYTHING!\u201d So you go to
\nthe fabric store, and browse for the perfect fabric (which I guarantee
\nisn\u2019t there). You might not find the perfect fabric for what you
\nwanted, but Novelty prints are 30% off, and that X-Wing print is
\ncalling your name! You HAVE to buy it! You NEEEEEED IT! More than you
\nneeded anything in the entire world (please picture 23 year old Laurel
\nat the fabric store stopping herself from a toddler size meltdown over
\nStar Wars fabric before realizing \u201cI\u2019m an adult, I can buy whatever I
\nwant.\u201d) Oh, and this star fabric will make a perfect skirt, and I
\nthink I need dress pants for work\u2026. and Simplicity patters are 5 for $10.
\nBefore you know it, you\u2019ve spent $250 on a bunch of fabric, notions, thread, and patterns. You get home, and are SUPER excited about everything you\u2019re going to make RIGHT NOW! You\u2019ve seen Project Runway, you know that a ballgown can be made in 8 hours,
\nand you\u2019re just making a few dresses and skirts, you\u2019ll get all this
\ndone tonight if you don\u2019t sleep!<\/p>\n

Then your best friend calls and asks if you want to go out to
\ndinner, so you leave the bag untouched on your floor for another day.
\nYou forget about it. Maybe you even add a few more.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Yeah, pretty much something like this.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then one day while playing video games you go, \u201cHuh. Didn\u2019t I buy some
\nStar Wars fabric?\u201d You realize you\u2019ve accumulated this huge
\nbacklog of projects, some of which you don\u2019t even want to make
\nanymore. Did you really buy \u201cPeace and Love\u201d flannel? *face palm*<\/p>\n

Stashes are the most wonderful thing in the world to accumulate, then the worst thing to have.<\/p>\n

Well not the worst, but it can get a bit daunting, and most of it
\nisn\u2019t needed. (Well, that\u2019s not true either\u2026 I\u2019m a bit of a stash
\naddict, still in denial) there are certain things you want to have on
\nhand at all times.\u00a0 If I had a Sewing and Crafting fairy when I first
\nstarted, the first thing she\u2019d say is \u201cDon\u2019t buy something unless you
\nhave a project for it.\u201d But that\u2019s no fun.<\/p>\n

When I go to fabric shopping now, I bring a list of what I\u2019m looking for, the
\nyardage I need, notions, what to get if on sale, etc. I also find I am
\nmore likely to plan projects now because space is limited, and I\u2019m
\nmore focused on what I make and do.<\/p>\n

\"Tip<\/a>Cosplay tip:<\/strong> If you have several projects planned out for sometime in the future, keep a list of fabrics and notions you need on hand at all times because when you want blue pleather Murphy\u2019s Law says you won\u2019t be able just the right one. You never know when you might find just what\u00a0you need.<\/p>\n

So without any more rambling on and on\u2026here is what I stash away for a rainy day:<\/p>\n

Basically try to keep on hand any notion you will completely forget to buy<\/strong><\/p>\n