How to NOT Buy Fabric!

Hello Again Stashbusting Friends,

  Once again I did not photograph my new favorite blouse, or do my tutorial for you, or any of what I had planned. My Korean language classes started up again and my little brain is feeling squished or like part of it is being rewritten as I try to fit another language in there. I'm not complaining though, I've always wanted to learn another language and it's exciting to see it start to take shape but it leaves very little brain power left over for writing the comprehensive, informative and madly witty blog posts I had planned to start doing this year.

Before I start I just want to say this isn't meant to make anyone feel bad and I don't want to sound harsh because that's not my intention. I want to help you and me live in freedom with our stuff.

Everyone on twitter is going through withdrawals, (Hi Guys! I also got on twitter! Come find me!) so I thought why not post something already partially written. Finally! Time for some photos!

Look it's my itty bits stash and my ribbon and elastic drawers.

More small pieces and sadly I do serge in that mess. 

Oh look! Some coherent thought:

It has been a great year and I’ve learned a lot about my fabric buying habits. If your goal was like mine, to use up all the excess fabric you have accumulated and not buy any more than my existing space can hold, you don’t want to go back out and make the same choices that landed you in that situation in the first place. Here’s some tips I’ve learned to keep the stash under control 

Delete all the emails! No matter who they're from; Connecting Threads, Fabric.com, Girl Charlee, etc. Don’t even read them. It's marketing at work!  If you can’t see it you can’t realize how necessary it is to your life and you can’t purchase it. 

Ask yourself, "Will I live long enough to sew all this fabric up?" Cindy's tip on thinking of fabric as sewing time explains this clearly. 

Only Shop with a plan or plans. Depending on what you sew you may only need one or maybe all of these plans. 
Personal Sewing: Know what you love to wear/sew with. Make a list of the holes in your wardrobe that you want to fill. List the patterns you have and want to make and the kind of fabric you need to make them.
Basics list. Those go to colors or neutrals or staples. The cream knit you always need for undershirts or leggings. Buy it when you see it. But don’t be like my Alzheimer's lady who bought a tube of toothpaste every time we went to the grocery store. She had ten, twelve, brand new, still in the box, large tubes of toothpaste under her bathroom sink. Don’t have fabric Alzheimer's.

Random Sewing for Others: If you don’t already have what you need in your stash make up personal lists for the individuals you sew for or buy only what you need for that project. I know the not-nieces and nephew’s favorite colors that I may occasionally buy but otherwise I buy what I need for the project I’m going to make for that person only after I've found.
Quilting/Home Decor: Keep a list of what you have so you can make an intelligent buy. Think about how much fabric you have now and how many quilts you will have to make before it is gone. 

Some other things I do,

• Start a Pinterest Board. Mine's called Fabric I Want To Wear. For some reason when I pin it it makes me all happy and it feels like it's mine!

  

  I just realized this may be a good way to figure out my colors too..

• Remember the pieces you love already at home languishing away unused in piles everyone kicks. Remember those you live with giving you the hairy eyeball as you truck more fabric into the house. Remember your checkbook balance. Remember whatever you need to remember to guilt you into not buying more fabric. Just try to make it positive cause according to Inception, "positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time."

  

  I'm not even sure what all's in this pile... but I sew right next to it.

• Just say NO! Just say, "No". Say it with my guys, "No." 
• Remember you'll forget! Hehe, really though in two weeks or a month we won't remember that fabric we had to have. We will remember this!

Oh yellow fabric I still haven't used... I'll get to you eventually. 

Sadly this isn't even the bulk of my stash. I can't show you it cause it would give away part of the curating challenges coming up... I counted and there's over 150 pieces of fabric not shown. 

So do you have any tips for NOT buying fabric? 

Crazy Costume Critiques: The Marvelous Moonacre Edition

Well today didn't go at all as planned so I thought we'd might as well drift off into another land and discuss the world of Moonacre. This whole movie felt like a forgotten dream which I later realized was because I HAD read the book as a teen. (Check it out, much better than the movie. "The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge)
As soon as it opens you're faced with a mode of dress that has never been seen in our world...

Is this what the framework of a bustle looks like? They just chose to wear it on the outside? 

 Highly decorated backsides seems to be a theme of the movie because if we're not running around in one of the backward bustles we're running around with a small fabric store tacked on the back.

Unless were escaping and have to leave our hoops behind then we must run around with the pillow attached to our bums.
(upper right corner)

 If this wasn't enough the highly detailed use of accessories would let us know we're not in Kansas anymore.

"I have the scariest mask you've ever seen" gives way to "Cameo Momento" to "it looks spiky but it's soft and tender like my heart"

I have a feeling the costume department must have had a lot of fun with this movie. Every thing is so lush and layered when it's not totally random.

Tons of beading and embroidery! This movie gives love to the men of the cast as well
 Everyone gets a jacket and waistcoat and don't forget the cravat. After all we are on a safari.

When we're not distracted by the back of the gowns the fronts present an equally
dazzling array of embellishment and detail.

But the real masterpiece of this movie is this red velvet beauty. I couldn't narrow down the photos because it moves and drapes so beautifully. You can almost feel the weight of this dress in the way she moves and the velvet glows, begging to be caressed.

Sorry about the quality of this one.
I had to play with the settings a bit so you could
see the dress silhouette better.

You can also see the backgrounds are just as lush as the costuming. I love everything about this story. Have you ever seen it or read the book? Psst, it's on Netflix...
After seeing it I dare you not to pick up any beading or embroidery on your next sewing project!

Sewing WITH Kids

Kids and sewing. The opinions on this subject are vast and varied. "Yes, I love it." "No, I hate it." "This is the proper age." "No, they need to be older"... and on and on it goes. I am one of those who greatly enjoys teaching kids to sew and think no age is too young if the child shows aptitude and interest. Last week the not-nephew and two of the not-nieces came for a visit and we worked on a project together. I decided to share some tips I've learned to help make everything go smoothly and be enjoyable for the whole group. Enjoy!

Have the Proper Mindset.

This has two key parts. 1. You and the kids WANT to do this and have patience today for it. 

2. Don't expect the same results as the pattern maker or what you would make on your own.

I chose ImagineGnat's free Peanut Baby Pattern.
They thought the photo was really neat
 and wanted to make them!

This is what their's actually ended up looking like. :) 

Be Prepared
Before I even called the kids to the crafting table I had traced and pinned the pattern to the cardboard so it was ready for them to color. Next time I would draw the hairline and the "neckline" before I gave it to them because they didn't know where to put the face or the best area to color.
We had a talk about the "special fabric markers" so they needed to be gentle with them. I gave them free reign on colors and design. I did help the 2 year old color her's as she was having trouble with the fabric and marker pressure.

Overall they moved through this project much quicker than I expected so having everything at hand was key to keeping the momentum going.

Take Breaks (if needed)

After we had finished coloring our bodies, heat setting the fabric markers and choosing the fabric for their hair I sent them off to watch a movie while I finished cutting the dolls out and sewed on the hair. (I did change the pattern here by making the dolls only one sided and the hair is unflippable.)

They came back recharged and ready to sew their peanut babies together. They each took a turn sitting on my lap, pulling the pins as we sewed around the doll. Sometimes I put their hands under or on top of mine so they can begin to feel the rhythm of the fabric and machine but this time we were in a hurry to get these babies done! 

I clipped the curves and they turned them right side out and stuffed the dolls. I helped make sure the stuffing was going in smoothly and they weren't balling it up into knots. Once they were stuffed they eagerly watched me invisibly sew the holes shut to finish their peanut babies.

I think they look pretty pleased. 

Have Fun

This is a time to introduce/infect others with the same love and joy you get from sewing. If you're having fun it doesn't matter so much how the project turns out because it's been made with love. You are filling a child with knowledge of a useful skill, the joy of creating, plus time and attention. Embrace it.

Final Notes:

•  I was working with a 5, 4 and 2 year old on this project and they all did very well. I had to help the 2 year old the most. This teaches all sorts of great motor skills and all that jazz!
• This is a great time for them to realize the length of time it takes to make something which may eventually curb the "make me everything" syndrome that kids seem to go through
• Choose the comfort level you and the child are at. They all helped me use the iron to heat set the colors. We discussed irons and it isn't the first time they've ever been around one.

How about you? Do you like or want to teach children? What do you think are some of the benefits of crafting with kids can have? Do your kids have the "MEE" syndrome too and if so how do you handle it?

My Stashbusting Pledge and Thoughts

Hello my name is Emily and I'm a Stashbuster! I was so excited to see there was a desire to continue this because I still have fabric piles that need to be taken care of. I've really enjoyed seeing everyone's pledges and they have given me ideas on how to better do mine! So without further ado here's my pledge

I, EmSewCrazy, commit to making 35 garments and various other projects from stash fabric in 2014. I also commit to not buying any new fabric/patterns/notions except for what is necessary to finish a project until all my fabric fits on my existing shelving. This excludes any birthday or Christmas money or gifts.

Why do you sew?
I sew to create a fun and better fitting wardrobe for myself. I sew to save money and my sanity. So, mostly garments with an occasional quilt, toy or anything else that can be created with cloth.

Why are you stash busting?
I'm sick of the piles and am tired of feeling guilty about buying new fabric when I have other fabric sitting around. I also really want to be a good steward of what I have.

What's on your list?
Last year I made a list and it really helped me focus. Out of the 48 projects listed I sewed 28. There were lots of projects sewn that weren't on the list but I'm too lazy to go back and count them. My list hangs on the wall where I have easy visible access.

My list for this year has several pieces carried over from last year and a bunch of new fabric projects that I'm super excited about. I'm going to write it here for my own records, feel free to scroll to the bottom if it bores you. 

For Me

• Sparkle Denim Bootcut Jeans
• Brown Corduroy Jeans
• Madras Plaid Shorts
• White & Pink Floral 50's dress
• Blue Flocked Rose Vogue Dress
• Brown Velvet Jacket
• Purple Hummer?
• Shelf Bra Tank Top
• Turquoise Corduroy Jacket
• Turquoise and Burgundy Colorblocked Dress
• Crazy Paisley Velvet Jumper
• Tan Stripe Hummingbird Skirt
• Red Plaid Upcycled Hummingbird Skirt
• Chiffon Top from Cotton Friend pg. 40
• Twist Neckline Pleated Dress from Cotton Friend pg. 58
• Cat Print Apron
• 2 or 3 Novelty print tops
• Floral & Tan blouse
• Brown & Black Dot Dress
• Polka Dot Cabarita
• Navy Stripe Cabarita
• Red & White Red Velvet

For Others

• Green Twiggy Dress
• Grey Long Sleeve knit shirt for Dad
• Upcycled Dog Tee
• 5 matching Cowboy print outfits for the kids
• Finish Pavlova Top UFO
• 2 Knit Tops for Mom
• Brown Wool Hummingbird Skirt for Mom
• Navy Wool Skirt upcycled for Mom

Ok, that's it for now... here's the small button if you want to put it on your blog. We haven't figured out how to code it yet... but you can copy and paste it into your posts if you wish.

Do you make sewing lists or are you like Windbreaker Heather?

January Stashbusting 2014

AGH I just love this kitty pouch!

January's Theme is Itty Bits to ease us back into sewing after the holidays. Our focus is on all those small pieces we keep around. If it's under a yard of fabric it counts!

Our Stashbusting Facebook group is up and running so do come join if facebooking is your thing. There's already an album set up for our January Projects.

We have the already inspirational Flickr group and our January Pinterest board that I've continued to collect fabulous small project ideas on all through the year.

I promised something new to keep you on your toes so here's January's Curating Challenge
I thought I'd start you off "easy". This month all you have are some questions to ponder. But questions that are building the foundation of a fabulous collection of sewing supplies! :)

Why do you sew?

For fun? For business? Quilting? Garments? A specific goal?
Take some time to think about this because your answer to this question will guide your sewing this year. It's time to bring this reason out into the open so we are conscious of it; because whether we realize it or not we are sewing to this reason. This reason should also dictate the fabric we buy. If we're buying fabric that doesn't match our reason it's probably going to end up a depressing ball cluttering up our space.

What's on your list?

Make a list! Even if you don't end up making everything on it. Right now we're fresh from analyzing all our sewing in 2013 so sit down and make a list of those things you know you want to make. Decide what you want to do with those pieces of fabric that have been crying out to you for the last few months.

Why are you stash busting?

If you've already written your pledge this should be an easy answer. But knowing this answer will help guide your sewing efforts and give you the fortitude to say, "No" when new fabrics start to tempt you.

So let me know! I may not be as scary as the Mistress of the Jar but I may sic the Sewasaurous Rex on you. Leave a comment or a link to your blog post with the answer to these questions. Me, the Fabric Elf and Sewasaurous Rex want to know... I'll be back Wednesday with my pledge, my list and my answers to these questions.

Announcing The Stashbusting Sewalong 2014

YEAAAAAA!!! I feel like there should be confetti raining down the page like the snow does in Wordpress.... You guys loved the Stasbusting Sewalong so much we decided to bring it back for another year!! Cause, lets face it... we barely got started on decreasing those stashes... So I'd like to welcome you to, drumroll please....

THE 2014 STASHBUSTING SEWALONG!

There may or may not be a new button... we're working on it.

The 2014 Stashbusting Sewalong is a casual sewalong whose goal is to encourage us to reduce the size of our stashes by looking to them first. Every month has a fabulous theme you can choose to participate in if you need or want some focus to your sewing or you can just join us in pledging to destash in your own way. However it's done, as long as you use up that stash fabric you're doing great! We know we're in it together, and we know that others will be cheering us on as we go. There's nothing like working together to bust a stash!

Here's how you can join us!

• Leave a comment on this post with your pledge: "I, _______,commit to using ____ pieces of stash fabric in 2014. Additional option: I also commit to not buying any new fabric/patterns/ notions except for _______ until ______." Please include your blog if you have one.
• Post on your blog (if you have one) about your commitment! There's nothing like accountability and public shaming to get us to use up fabric that's been lingering in our stashes. Please share the link back to this post so others can join in if they want.

• Join our Flickr group (continuing from last year so lots of inspiration already there) 
• Join our Facebook page (coming soon)
• Follow our Pinterest StashBusting Headquarters (all new posts and any other useful info goes here)

We decided to keep the monthly themes from last year so you can see what each month holds on our Stashbusting Headquarters Page. But knowing everything that's coming is boring so we're adding a new facet to some of the months this year.  

The Curating Challenge!

Curate: to select, organize and look after items in a collection

This year along with sewing up what we've already accumulated we're going to do our best to bring a more thoughtful approach to our fabric/sewing stash so however big or small it is, it will be a beautiful whole instead of a mountain of madness. That way we will better control the stash instead of it controlling us.

Photo source. 

Now for some changes, Cindy is a school teacher plus she has gone back to school to learn more about sewing (lucky duck) and her life has gotten much busier. This year she'll be running our Stashbusting Facebook page, doing her own stash busting, and doing some guest posting for the series. Yes, people, we're going to have guest posters this year!! I for one, am very excited about getting to hear from others and seeing what they come up with for our themes. This way we'll hopefully still have one post a week to keep us in the stash busting mood yet leave time for me to tackle some more complicated sewing projects.

I think that's it for now. If you have any questions please ask. I'll be announcing January's theme and Curating Challenge on Monday. If you participated in Stashbusting 2013 remember to go Here and enter for the end of year prizes. With that a poem just for you!

Welcome welcome

One and All!

Will you fail 

Or will you fall?

Fabric's near

And Fabric's dear

Will you sew it up this year?

End of Stashbusting 2013!

Happy New Year Stashbusters!! Hurrah!!!

Can you believe we’ve made it through a whole year already? It seems like just yesterday Cindy and I were emailing back and forth about this great idea for a sew along that would last the whole year and now we’ve completed it. I don’t know about you but I’m pretty proud of us and of all of you! 

To wrap up the Stashbusting Sewalong 2013 we want to celebrate our achievements with some recognition and prizes!

1. To The One who Sewed the Most Items

2. To the One who Sewed the Most Yardage

3. To the One who Bought the Least Amount of Fabric

4. To the One who Accomplished her Stashbusting Pledge (this will be a drawing from all who did)

And finally, as a thank you to all who took the pledge this year, we have a $20. gift certificate from EmSewCrazy open to all who took the pledge no matter how much stash busting you got done…

To Enter: 

Hop on over to Cation Designs and leave a comment on her post listing how many items you sewed and how much yardage you used from the stash. She’ll tally it up and find the winners for categories 1 and 2.

Leave a comment here with your Stashbusting Pledge and how much of it you accomplished along with how much fabric you bought. I’ll be sorting through those entries and finding the winners of categories 3 and 4.

To win the $20. enter through Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let’s share and celebrate our achievements as we head into a new year! Happy New Year everyone!

Psst... I'll be back on Friday to announce Stashbusting 2014!