Time to Quilt

Is Your Fabric Stash Helping or Hurting your Creativity?

I came across this Amy Smart blog post a few days ago. It’s a good read and in it, she linked to a series of posts written by Radha, the owner of Feel Good Fibers (an online de-stash marketplace).

The psychology behind determining when to de-stash (or declutter) and when to organize is pretty interesting. I manage to stay pretty organized. It’s the de-stashing that I have to work on.

We all know about “sunk cost” but that’s often not the only thing that makes it difficult to share your excess with others and equally difficult to keep it. Other than the money you’ve invested, the fabric can represent a project you were excited to make and now realize you probably never will. Or, those pieces of fabric can sometimes begin to feel like a massive “to do” list and more of an obligation than an exciting array of possibilities.

In the Feel Good Fibers series was this list of questions to ask yourself about fabrics you’re not quite sure whether to keep or let go.

If I saw this in a store today, would I still bring it home?
Do I have a real project in mind for it?
Does this reflect what I enjoy making right now?
If space were tight, would this earn its place?

The day I read it, I was looking at my batik fabric. I wouldn’t buy them today, as I rarely use them for matching projects. I either make a batik quilt or I don’t. I don’t mix batiks into other quilts, even scraps. Of the four questions, I could answer yes to the second one. I have a couple of quilts in my inspiration photos that I want to create and they’ll work perfectly for that. One of them is this Plaidish quilt by Kitchen Table Quilting. She has several other examples of the quilt on Instagram. (I have a bag of batik lights that’s not in this photo.)

The batik fabrics don’t need to clutter my fabric shelf since I won’t need any of it until I’m ready to make a quilt with them so they’ll be stored in the cabinet with my priority kits for next year.

Today I’m going through my wide backing. In case you’re curious at how I calculate in yardage for those, this is the formula I came up with – 14″ of wide backing is equal to one yard of regular fabric.
14″ x 108″ = 1 yard

It might be easier to show how I came up with that than to try and explain it in words.

Visualize a piece of 14″ fabric that’s 108″ long.
(The 108″ length is equal to 3 x 36″.)

If you were to cut that 108″ long piece of fabric into three equal pieces and then rotate them – you’d have 36″ x 42″ of fabric, the equivalent of one yard.
(The 42″ width is equal to 3 x 14″).

I have quite a bit of grey wide backing fabric from my JoAnn’s liquidation purchases that I’m working on counting. I’m not thrilled will all of it but, I hope to make more large quilts next year so I’m going to need it! Calculating how many yards it translates to sure will make the decision to keep it a lot easier.

A finish & a prewashing tip for stiff fabric

This week after I finished piecing my Christmas project I decided to make a little quilt using a few leftover Frozen and Olaf scraps.

The pattern I chose to use is a variation of the Villa Rosa Main Street pattern. I own a lot of Villa Rosa patterns but not this particular one.

I could tell by the finished size it likely used 5″ squares. I wanted mine to be a bit smaller so I could back it with a “width of fabric”. The Frozen fabric is also more popular with younger children so the smaller size felt more appropriate. I used 4 1/2″ squares.

Looking closely at the pattern photo I could see that it’s simply a modified 4 patch block.

Each 4 patch block has:

one square background fabric (I chose purple)
one square print
two squares print, each with a snowballed corner

To layout the quilt top, you just rotate the blocks – alternating the blocks using the background print as your guide. Block with the background in upper right corner, next to a block with the background in the lower left.

Most of us already have way too many specialized rulers, right? It’s just part of being a quilter! I’ve had this Trudie Hughes 3 1/2″ x 12″ Rotary Mate ruler for at least 30 years, and I can honestly say it was worth every single penny! The lines are super thin, which means I get really accurate cuts. If you click on the link, you can see a close up of the ruler.

Lately, I’ve been using it a lot more with my Go! Cutter half square triangles. You can see the “Speedy” markings on the photo in the link. Using the same size as the HST allows the pieces to line up so, no drawing lines, “sew and flip”, or trimming off the corners. Everything lines up perfectly.

I’ve also been prewashing some of those JoAnn’s fabrics I’ve been going through and as I’m deciding how much to keep versus how much to de-stash. Several of them are pretty stiff so needed some special care to wash out the sizing.

The method below works well.

Use pinking shears or zig zag edges to prevent fraying.
Open the fabric before washing.
Wash in warm or hot water with 1/2 cup baking soda (no detergent).
Add 1 cup vinegar to the final rinse (do not mix the vinegar with baking soda or they’ll be ineffective – wait and add it to final rinse).
Throw some wool balls in the dryer with the fabric to help soften it even more and reduce wrinkles.

A pre-wash of about 8 yards is what I aim for—because who wouldn’t want to launder enough fabric to create a parachute?!

My sewing room is turning into a fabric tornado, but sometimes progress means flipping everything on it’s head and rebuilding. I can totally deal with the creative chaos because my ideas will have the space they need to flourish!

Back to the future…

My first post – Time to Quilt

Reflecting on where I was 6 years ago and where I want to be next year.
Making decisions to improve the journey.

Today I finished quilting two Christmas wall hangings for my siblings. It feels incredibly good to know I’ll start binding them tomorrow and that they’ll be ready to ship well ahead of my Thanksgiving goal. ♥ When I agreed to make 6 quilts for a Veteran’s Day event, I had my doubts I’d be able to get to them.

I planned to make them last year but they kept getting pushed aside until it was too late. This year, I was determined to complete them on time. I can’t show the fronts yet in case my sister or brother sees this post! 🙂

As I mentioned before, I’m feeling burnt out. I’ve spent so much time on donation quilts that I haven’t had time for much of anything else.

Screenshot_20261017-155641 — ***This is not a random ad.***
***It’s a screenshot I sa***ved from a search to find out just how much a cute kid’s blanket might cost.

Making donation quilts gives me a sense of purpose, but I often wonder if the recipient truly appreciates my effort, especially with children’s quilts. Creating a quilt for a child can sometimes be more expensive than buying one they might enjoy just as much. If it were simply about giving a quilt or blanket, I could easily buy one from a big box store. I choose to make them because I enjoy the process.

I also love making beautiful quilts for family and friends, but I haven’t done much of that lately. Like the Christmas wall hangings, I don’t want to put it off until it’s too late. I dream that one of my quilts may someday become a cherished heirloom for my grandchild. Although I’ve made her quilts before, none are the beautiful ones that she’ll appreciate as an adult, remembering how much time and effort I put into them. Hopefully, she’ll feel how much I loved her when she’s wrapped up in it. I want to start making more of those special quilts.

You may be wondering where this post is going. We all have different journeys, and what works for one may not work for another. This is where I am and putting it into writing helps clarify things. So let’s get to it.

My challenge has two parts. First, I want to declutter my space to make my work area more pleasant. It’s organized, but I feel anxious surrounded by too much “stuff.” Second, I’m naturally frugal so I tend to quilt with fabric I already own and that mindset is restricting the types of quilts I create. I believe I can reduce the quantity but maintain the variety. I can clear some physical and psychological space to make the quilts I truly want to make rather than the ones I feel I “should” make.

I’ve given away fabric in the past, mostly Thimbleberries. Occasionally I’d miss having a piece I remembered but I still feel it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made when it comes to fabric. I’m not scared to try it again.

STASH REDUCTION

Donation quilts are enjoyable to make and usually quick to finish. Most of my fabric was bought with this goal in mind, especially during JoAnn’s liquidation sale where “end of bolt” fabrics were cheaper. In my excitement about being able to purchase fabric for a dollar – something per yard, I went a little overboard. Okay.. so I went a LOT overboard! 🙂 Three yards of fabric is plenty. Six yards means using the fabric for multiple quilts and begins to feel more like an obligation than a creative choice. I’ve started questioning if this is how I really want to spend my quilting time.

Looking back, I didn’t realize how much space my JoAnn fabrics occupied. I just read this post written after organizing it all last year. I was glad it fit neatly. At the time, I never dreamed that it would one day become a hindrance.

It wasn’t until I started the huggables project, which required storing both my own plus my friends’ small quilts and stuffed animals, that I realized my space limitation was quickly becoming an issue. It prompted me to begin decluttering rather than waiting for the new year like I’ve done in the past.

At the same time, my close friend sold her home and began downsizing. We’ve both probably been quilting about the same length of time. I’ve been thinking about all the difficult decisions she’s probably facing. As I continued to declutter, I began looking at my fabric from a different perspective. I started considering what I would take with me if I were the one moving.

The more I really looked at my fabrics I was able to see there were some I knew I’d never miss. There were also many that I knew without hesitation I’d want to keep. I asked myself, “if you wouldn’t miss it, why are you holding onto it?” This is especially true when I come across a 6 or 8 yard piece of fabric I’d bought at JoAnn’s. If I kept 3 yards, I sure wouldn’t miss the excess. I ask myself ” how many quilts do think you’ll want to make with this fabric?”

The fabric purchased for donation will be donated – just not in the same way it was originally intended. When I was explaining my decision to start downsizing my fabric stash to my husband a few days ago, without thinking I’d said “I’m not getting rid of anything. I just have so much I’m choosing to share some of it.” You might be surprised at how that simple shift in thinking changes everything.

My starting point:

Current stash	Approximately 1200 yards
Typical use	About 20 yards per month
New purchase allowance	Up to 10 yards a month (this is a ceiling, not a requirement)
First target	De-stash 20 yards per month (re-evaluate every 3 months)
Priority	Free up more physical space for equipment, fabric, and current project – keep reasonable amounts and share the excess

The amount of fabric that I think is reasonable for variety, and considering how long it would likely sit on a shelf, is 700 yards – equal to 3 years of quilting at the current rate (with no additional purchases.) That’s a hunch, and I really won’t know for sure until if get to the point where it feels “right”. My real goal is to own an amount of fabric that supports the quilting I want to do without making my room feel crowded. An amount that allows for choices, but also leaves room to occasionally enjoy purchasing new fabric for a quilt without triggering my frugal tendencies.

Here’s my plan; but I’ll be the first to admit it’s subject to change if it doesn’t feel like it’s working!

My weekly sharing goal: Share about 5 yards a week with friends at the quilting bee or with another group that makes adult comfort quilts. Some weeks may be more, some less. Again, this is a goal, not a rule.
At five yards per week, that would be about 20 yards every four weeks and up to 260 yards over a year. The actual amount will vary, and that’s okay. My friends will put the fabric to good use, so sharing it is a positive outcome—not a waste.
260 yards shared with friends, added to the approximate 240 yards used (20 per month), puts me on track to reach my stash reduction target of 700 yards in one year. The eventual amount that feels right could end up being 900 or even 600. Knowing that I’ll likely find my sweet spot within a year gives me something to look forward to achieving.
KEEP WITHOUT GUILT — Favorite prints, fabrics for quilts I genuinely want to make, useful basics, and a manageable selection of scraps I enjoy using.
SHARE WITH FRIENDS WITHOUT FEAR OF REGRET— Excess yardage, scraps, and precuts. Prints I probably wouldn’t choose today (without stopping to dream up ideas of how I could use them!)
Choose one shelf, drawer, bin, or category at a time.
Work for just 20–30 minutes per session, then stop.
Keep a designated outgoing bag for fabric to take to the quilting bee.
Prioritize the areas that bother me the most. The room’s comfort matters more than achieving an arbitrary number.

I plan to continue my June inventory tradition—done in my birthday month. It’s good to keep it current for insurance purposes but primarily, knowing what I have will help me make thoughtful purchases rather than impulsive ones.

A reminder for difficult decisions:
I am not depriving myself of fabric. I’m purposefully selecting the fabric, space, and projects that contribute to my overall well-being. I don’t need to finalize the size of my stash today. I can keep the fabric I love, share with my quilting friends, and progress steadily, step by step. It’s a journey.

There’s never been a situation where I couldn’t quilt due to a lack of fabric. But, there have been quilts I couldn’t make due to a lack of time.

With that in mind, I intend to be more intentional regarding the projects I commit my time to. I can repurchase fabric (or something similar) if I regret giving it away. The time I’ve given away because I felt compelled to utilize existing fabric is gone forever.

V.I.P. – values, integrity, priorities

Over time, I’ve come to realize that making quilts for veterans is most gratifying when it’s something we do together.

There is something special about sitting alongside other quilters, sharing fabrics and ideas, piecing with a common purpose, and knowing that the finished quilts will become part of a larger effort to honor those who have served our country. The camaraderie makes the work more enjoyable, and the shared commitment makes the impact feel even greater.

This year, I’ve made and donated 18 quilts for veterans. Four of them used string blocks created at a May workshop. Two other quilts were made using 12 donated blocks. Unfortunately, there wasn’t help to piece the 18 tops, quilt all 18 and bind 17 of them.

This year, I learned an incredibly important lesson – that trying to carry a project like this largely on my own can eventually take the joy out of it. What began with enthusiasm morphed into an obligation, and that’s not how I want quilting—or thanking veterans for their service—to feel.

It’s one thing to talk the talk – but another to walk the walk.

Words are easy: Organizations can make promises, share intentions, and create impressive mission statements.

Behavior reveals the truth: Consistent actions over time reveals what an organization values, their priorites, and it’s integrity.

I’ve recently been disappointed by a situation involving a letter of appreciation that our group voted in July to send. I haven’t sought to confirm it but, as far as I know, it was never sent. That’s discouraging. It’s also a little embarrassing to continue to ask our community partner for help making deliveries when we’ve never, as an organization, shown that we value or have appreciated the help. A letter may seem like a small thing but it’s deeply symbolic – values, integrity, priorities.

Huggables project donations delivered to first responders by our community partner.

I share these thoughts not to assign blame but, to explain to my friends why yesterday, I chose to pass along my patriotic fabric to a group with an active Quilts of Valor program. I’m sure next month I’ll take another large bag. They have a team of quilters who work together to make and present quilts to veterans. I’m happy knowing that these fabrics will continue their journey toward that purpose.

The best way to keep something meaningful going is to recognize when the actions that happen when no one is watching – match what’s said into a microphone.

How to add a flange binding

This “how to” is not meant to be a full tutorial on how to attach a binding by machine. A simple Google search will bring up many, many existing pages and videos on the process. Instead, the goal is simply to share information on how to add a flange to your binding.

Why add a flange? Two reasons…

1. Sometimes you have the perfect fabric for your binding but don’t quite have enough of it. Flange binding to the rescue! With this method you only need cut your binding strips 1 ½” wide. 🙂

2. In other instances, your quilt border and binding may not look great next to each other, but a bit of flange separating them is all that’s needed. That was the case with this quilt.

I auditioned the binding I wanted to use and then, laid a piece of red fabric under it to see how it might look with a red flange. It was an easy decision.

Here are the measurements to cut your binding and flange fabrics. The flange is cut wider than the binding fabric. Cut as many strips of both fabrics as needed to get the length of binding needed for the quilt.

Flange: 1 ³⁄₄” wide strips

Binding: 1 ½” wide strips

Sew all of the flange strips together end to end. Then, sew all the binding strips together, end to end.

Next, sew the two long strips together and press toward the flange fabric. In this example, it’s the solid red.

Fold the binding in half carefully matching the raw edges and press.

The flange is very narrow so careful pressing is important.It’s easier to press from the flange side – with the seam underneath.

When you turn it over, you’ll see your narrow flange.

Sew the binding to the back of the quilt with the binding side down and the flange side facing you.

Press the binding away from the back of the quilt.

(This is applicable to all machine-bound quilts and makes it much, much easier to pull over to the front and stitch down.)

In this decade old Missouri Star video, Jenny Doan demonstrates the exact same process described above. The only difference is, some people prefer to stitch close to the edge of the binding rather than using the “stitch in the ditch” method described in the video.

Here’s a helpful tip for the binding’s mitered corner.

If you have an adjustment on your machine, move your needle position one click to the right. It’s not required to achieve a good corner but, it is helpful when stitching very close to the edge of the fabric.

Start by sewing the binding to the front of the quilt as usual.

As you reach the corner, fold the binding edge facing you upwards.

Next, fold the side binding over and secure it with a large head pin at an angle, ensuring the pin catches both the bottom and side binding to hold the miter in place.

Begin stitching but, stop a couple of stitches before you reach the pin. Finish those next few stitches by hand using the machine’s needle up/down functions or by the handwheel (so you don’t accidentally hit the pin and risk breaking the needle). Leave the needle in the down position.

With the needle down, pivot, and pull the pin out when it’s facing you. Prepare to stitch down the other side but – DON’T BEGIN STITCHING YET!

Important! Ensure your first stitch starting down the other side is positioned to stitch on the binding.

Skipping this crucial step will prevent you from achieving your desired result.
(Ignore the blue painter’s tape; yes, I misplaced my quarter-inch tape. I’m sure it will turn up the day I purchase a replacement.)

Notice where the needle is in this photo. The quilt was pivoted just one stitch too soon. It required turning the quilt back again in order to take just one more stitch.

This happens often – so go slow and take your time here. Look closely to see that your next stitch is going to be exactly where you want it. Had it not been corrected, the next couple of stitches would have landed in the flange, not on the binding where they belonged.

Here’s the finished mitered corner. Taking your time and using this one simple trick makes all the difference!