It Felt Like A Dream

I was in a room full of fabric and I was allowed to TAKE whatever I wanted!  This was not a dream. It happened to me through work connections last week.  Fortunately most of it was not cotton, but there was still an awful lot to choose from.

Yardage and strips on the left.  Chunks and bits on the right!

I got it washed and ironed and measured and was dreading seeing the numbers.  But then I realized I need to stop worrying about the numbers and be thankful for the blessing of free fabric.  The reality of our family is that there is nothing in the budget for fabric so this is just another way that God is providing for us.  

Unopened fat quarters.  Anyone like cats?

So I am pleased to report that I added 17.46 yards to my stash at a cost of $0.00.  

I've been commissioned to make a Baby boy quilt with no stipulations as to color or design. So I think I'll "shop my stash" and make a super cute quilt.  Those primary colored scraps that came in willl work just fine for my idea.  Can't wait to get more fabrics picked and pieces cut and then get sewing.  

I am working on a worksheet/tutorial showing how I calculate yardage on odd scraps.  It's not hard at all.  

Fabric Used/Out This Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 56.29 yards

Fabric In This Week:  17.46 yards free!!

Fabric In 2016: 72.13 yards
 
Net Used 2016: 15.84 yards stashed 

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times

Getting the Red Out

The red inspired me as a border for X Marks the Spot.

I think it is perfect and it kept me out of the red this week. 

Fabric Used/Out This Week: 1.6 yards
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 56.29 yards

Fabric In This Week:  0 yards

Fabric In 2016: 54.67 yards
 
Net Used 2016:  1.62 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

Stash is in the Red - Figuratively, Not Quite Literally

091116

On our Hurricane Day I went thrifting with my sister.  A first.  I love thrifting but it's not really her thing.  We were on the hunt for shorts and pants for our dad in memory care who tends to go through clothes faster than laundry gets done.  

We hit the jackpot at the first stop - pjs, 4 long pants and 8 shorts for about $30. Labor Day weekend everything was half off!!  I only go there on holiday weekends or end of the month for that very reason.  That was how I did "back to school" for the girls on our small budget as well. 

My sister was willing to make another stop even though we were no longer on the hunt for dad. That stop was not so good - for my stash.  It's a small thrift shop but they have a "room" dedicated to crafts.  Today there were bundles of red cotton.  Seems like all the same dye lot even.  I tend to go through lots of red and I have a project with red coming up for school.  You really can't go wrong with a good red.  So I got them all.  

Turns out there was an average of 2 yds in the $1 bundles on the top of the pile and an average of 5 yds in the $2 bundles on the bottom.  The largest bundle was 100" Wide.  Wowsers! I can use that for a backing.

Also turns out I was not charged for this yellow stripe which was over 2 yds.  

I got this cute 1/2 yd bundle for a quarter!!! Jo over at Jo's Country Junction collects firemen stuff and I was already working on a package to send her childcare kiddos.   So that is already out and doesn't count either way.  Whew ! 

The damage is bad - 23.13 yards - but good - $0.39/yard - for fabric I know I will use.   I don't think I have ever purchased that much fabric at one time so I am in shock even though it was so, so cheap. I really, really need to get going sewing.

Fabric Used/Out This Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 54.69 yards

Fabric In This Week:  23.13 yards solid red and yellow stripe

Fabric In 2016: 54.67 yards
 
Net Used 2016:  0.02 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

X Marks the Spot is a Flimsy

I'm so glad that I got the last blocks done before I had to move the sewing room.  So when I wanted something relatively simple this past weekend getting those blocks sewn together was perfect.

The story of all this red is coming soon.  A GREAT find!!

Having all the newly acquired red fabric lying around while I was webbing the blocks made me see the natural combination.  

I love the way it turned out.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes.

Stash report 090416

New school year. New aprons.

My mother made aprons for all the teachers my first year at the preschool where I work.   She used a bolt of decorator fabric that she had been given.  I had recently been given an old embroidery machine so I embroidered all the names.  Then teachers left and new teachers came on board and my mother was not around to make more.  Fortunately I had the bolt of fabric, so I have made a few more aprons every year.  This year I need more. 

A few teachers gave back their aprons when they left.  So I just unsewed the name and redid that part.  Much easier.  Maybe returning the apron needs to be part of the quitting process!  I'm especially thinking that because we had a Stephanie leave a few years ago and a new Stephanie is starting. That's a long name to do on my old machine that has to be re-hooped every 4 letters. 

The aprons got made 3 weeks ago but the embroidery just had not happened so made an executive decision - the names would be medium-sized font instead of large.  With all those 9-letter names and my lack of time I just didn't think it made much difference.   The kids can't read yet and the parents can read medium just as well as large!!  We had a hurricane day for Hermine so I took advantage and did it!!  Done is good.  Done is great!!!

Looking at how faded mine (in the middle ) has become, maybe I need to make a new one for myself!  Next year - maybe. 

Fabric Used/Out This Week: 2.67 yards for 4 aprons
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 54.69 yards

Fabric In This Week:  0  yards

Fabric In 2016: 31.54 yards
 
Net Used 2016:  23.15 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

A Finish at Last

Since I am now sharing space with Little S I am not getting anything sewn.  Legos all over the floor, no work table anymore, back to school/work for me, etc.  As much as I want to sew it just isn't happening.

I did make the work aprons for the new teachers. It took me a month but I did it!!

This turned out to be a 4 day weekend thanks to Hurricane Hermine. (Thankfully it went north instead of east and we didn't have anything more than high winds.)  I really, really want to sew something quilty.  I'm thinking either put the X Marks the Spot top together or finish the last few Spider Web triangles.  Neither requires too much concentration.  

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts to share finishes.