Stash Equilibrium

[atherleisure]

I've been trying to work down my stash the last couple of years. This year has not been so successful. I made the eyelet dress from stash materials, but then I bought fabric and embroidery threads for the Regency dress. I made that dress, but since I bought extra fabric with a couple of other small items in mind, it's not a net zero project from a stash perspective. I made the 1840's nightcap from stash materials but then bought yarn for the 1921 bathing suit. It should use up some leftovers from previous projects too, but if I overestimated what I need, it might leave the stash in worse shape. I made the 1876 dress from stash materials, but over the weekend I went to a fabric store with my mother and bought fabric for a 1940's dress. At least the 1876 dress used 11 or 12 yards (plus a ball of yarn!), and I bought 3.5. The Eleonora stockings and the 1902 vest are both from stash materials, but I bought yarn for a sweater when I bought yarn for the bathing suit. I also bought the materials for the "Street Scene" cross-stitch.

Here's hoping I can spend the rest of the year making the projects that I already have materials in hand for. Ideally next year too.

Comments

[hharris]

That's why I don't count anything that's approx. 1 - 1.5 yard, or less, as stash. Those leftover bits add up. My figures are a lie!

[atherleisure]

I liked that idea. I just went through the cottons bin to update my records, and I took anything that was less than a yard out of the register. I don't think I had ever tracked anything that was less than half a yard, but even a yard is generally leftovers rather than stash.

[marianme]

So far seems like the amounts acquired may are less than the amount used, so that’s good. For trying to reduce total stash, maybe not as good. If looking to reduce total space, sewn garments take up more room than folded fabric, so using stash creates more costume volume. Then again, costume hobby volume still may be less than auto hobby volume.

[atherleisure]

Stash is a difficult thing. It's nice to be able to want to make something and already have fabric for it and to buy fabric when it's a very good price, but at the same time, it makes for such a list of things that are yet to be made.