After I created my quilted fabric and cut out the purse pattern, I started digging for embellishments that would work. I had decided to use burgundy with the ivory fabric, so I found some sheer burgundy ribbon that would work perfect.

One problem: it was only 1″ wide. Too narrow for the pleated satin I wanted to stitch on top of it. Solution: Stitch two pieces of ribbon together to make it wider. Perfect!

Then stitch the pleated shiny satin trim on top of the ribbon. I found this pleated trim on one of my fabric shopping trips and loved it. It turned out beautifully on the ribbon.

Then this ruffled velvet trim fit perfectly right down the center of the pleats. Stacking trim and ribbon is fun and creates a neat layered effect. I should do more of this to use up the huge stash of ribbon I now own.

I stitched the layered ribbon down the center of the cut-out pattern and then stitched the binding to the outside edge.

After I stitched the bias binding to the edge, I then encased the raw edge in it and tacked it to the inside edge by stitching in the ditch around the edge. Perfect edging!

The last step was to stitch the purse sides together and add the magnetic closure.

Add a ribbon/corded pin I found at the Houston Quilt Market one year and it’s finished! Quite stylish and unique! And every single bit of it used from my collection of stashes!

It’s at times like this that I’m so glad I have those little (or rather large!) stashes!

How should you press or iron the fabric after it has been washed? First of all, note that pressing and ironing are two different things. Pressing is lifting the iron and setting it down in various areas on the fabric to press out the wrinkles. No sideway motion is used with the iron. Ironing is moving the iron back and forth while the iron is sitting on the fabric. Many times it is best to press the fabric rather than iron it as ironing can cause distortion of the grainlines.

The easiest time to press the wrinkles out of a piece of fabric is right after you take it out of the dryer. It’s still slightly warm and the wrinkles are not set in yet. Or while the fabric is slightly damp, take it out of the dryer and press it. Be careful that it is not too wet as pressing or ironing a wet piece of fabric can distort it and cause grainline problems later on.

Use steam. Especially on cotton fabrics. If your iron allows you to insert water in it, that is the best way to use steam. If not, then slightly mist the fabric with water and press. Steam is essential to pressing out wrinkles and maintaining crisp, beautiful looking fabric.

Pressing and ironing is key to create looking fabrics and professional looking projects, so be sure not to skip the pressing because it will make your finished projects look so much better!

There are many benefits to pre-washing your fabrics before using them, but I have several reasons why I don’t like to pre-wash my quilt cotton fabrics if I can get away with it. As sometime pre-washing is necessary, I have come up with some solutions that are helpful in the following disadvantages of pre-washing.

(1) Once a cotton fabric has been pre-washed, it loses the sizing in it – that crisp shape and body. Fabric that has not been washed is easier to cut and stitch because it still has some crispness to it. The solution I have found to this is starch. Starch gives it additional body and stiffness to make cutting and stitching even easier than non-washed fabric. I use both spray starch and liquid starch; you can see here for some tips on using starch.

(2) I hate dealing with those raveling edges and twisted yardages. This is not such a problem with smaller pieces of fabrics, but numerous yards of once piece tend to ravel and twist on itself which can be a real headache to untwist and press out the set-in wrinkles from the dryer. To help with the fraying edges, I either cut a triangle from the corners of the fabric or I serge the edges. Serging the edges is a sure-cut way to prevent raveling. As for the fabric twisting on itself, if I can I try to cut a large piece of fabric in to smaller sections. If I am unable to do that, I will take the fabric out several times as it is drying and fan it out in the air so it is flat and wrinkle free and then continue drying. Or another solution is to hang it flat outside to dry to prevent the rumbling around in the dryer.

(3) Let’s face it, when I’m picking out fabric from a quilt shop or my stash, I want to get started right NOW, not wait until it’s been washed and dried. The solution to this: plan ahead. Simple. Easy. Sure…easier said than done! But- I can speed the process along by rinsing in a sink of warm water if it is a yard of fabric or less. By pre-washing fabrics as you purchase them and then putting them in your stash of fabric, they are ready to use the moment your fingers touch them.

Even though there are disadvantages to pre-washing fabrics, they are outnumbered by the advantages of pre-washed fabrics. So even if it takes a bit more time and effort to serge the edges, wash and dry the fabric and starch each piece, it is well worth it in the end!

Everyone has a different opinion about pre-washing fabrics before using them. Some will not even think of putting any fabric into a quilt or project without pre-washing it first and others prefer to use the fabric right off the bolt. Which is correct? There’s not really a right or wrong and for most people it depends on what the fabric content is, what colors are being put together and how the finished project will be used.

Contemplating what I really wanted to put on my Christmas wish list this year took a little thought, but it wasn’t too difficult. I can honestly say there aren’t too many things I just really, really want or just am dying to have. Sure I would like a new Bernina 830, but my Bernina 200 works fantastic and I love using it. There are always piles of fabrics I want and would use, but I have a whole stash in my sewing room.

Complete new sewing room furniture like a Koala cabinet set would be a perfect addition to my sewing room. But if I did that, then I would need a much larger area that what I have now. Which ultimately means more room, more furniture, more machines, more fabric, etc….and the list goes on and on.

As things would come to mind, I would consider it and then cross it off my list. I kept thinking to myself, “What is the most sought-after item I really need? What could I really use that would be beneficial to me in the days to come? What do I need to be more efficient, be able to get more accomplished and still enjoy doing what I do?”

Time. Yes, time. That’s what’s #1 on my list.

Let’s face it – time is valuable! I can have the greatest sewing machine in the world (which that 830 would certainly be at the top!), the most gigantic stash in the whole wide world (one sorted by fabric type and color, of course!), the largest and most organized sewing room ever built (which would hold everything I ever needed in my stitching!), but without the benefit of time, I just would feel hopeless. Defeated. Unable to accomplish anything.

I’m still learning to use my time efficiently and only do the things that I really desire to do with the stitching time I have available. If I plan to stitch every single garment, quilt, wall hanging, craft project and embroidery design I would like to, I would never complete it all – even if had 500 years to do it! And as a young generation stitcher, I have more years to stitch my projects than various others in this hobby.

For those of you who struggle with the same thing and I know you are out there, you have to pick and choose what you want to spend your time on. If your favorite thing to do is piece quilt tops, then do that and have someone else quilt the layers. Or if you hate selecting fabrics and just want to get to the cutting and sewing, then purchase kits which simplify the process. If your love is machine embroidery, then do it and forget about the embroidery by hand.

That’s not to say that venturing out of your typical area of stitching is beneficial, because it is and can prove valuable in giving you greater ideas and learning new things. Try new techniques, take new classes, learn different aspects of stitching and if you find out you love it, incorporate it into your stitching. If it’s not quite for you, than set it aside. You did it. You learned something. But you enjoy other aspects of sewing, quilting, embroidering, etc. more.

Discover what you love doing in this hobby and stick with it. Do what you enjoy doing and leave the not-so-desirable parts to someone else who enjoys that part of the project if at all possible. Sure, there are always aspects of any project that are more fun to complete than others, but do what you enjoy stitching. Because you only have so much time to do it in.

So if anyone one of you want to give me something this year, you now know what it is! Oh, and whoever knows of a website selling this much-sought-after item, just email me the link before announcing it to the whole world. I want to be sure to order ample quantities of it, because whoever came up with it, is sure to be selling out within minutes! :)

Ok, your brain is running with thoughts of driving to a fabric store, walking through the door, finding the pieces of fabric you want/need, purchasing them and then returning home. Or perhaps your thoughts run in the direction of…browsing online at various quilt sites, enlarging the image to see if you want that piece, typing in the yardage you want/need, entering your credit card information and anxiously awaiting for the UPS truck to arrive.

Yep, I know what you are thinking…She has totally lost her mind, what is she thinking asking how do you shop for fabric? We all know how to do that!

Before you totally think I’ve gone crazy and disregard what I’m about to say, let me ask you some follow-up questions that might produce some interesting and quite useful answers to everyone!

Do you shop with a friend or by yourself?
Do you always only purchase what you need? (Ok, I admit, that probably IS a crazy question!)
When you find a piece you like, does the price determine whether you purchase it or not?
How much time do you allow yourself to shop for fabric?

I find it interesting to see how others shop for fabric, so let me answer the previous questions for you…

Do I shop with a friend or by myself? That depends; it’s always more fun to shop with friends and usually I can bounce choices and ideas off each one another, which can really be helpful when trying to make a decision on a piece of fabric. But on the other hand, if I shop by myself, I’m the only one who knows how much I’ve actually purchased (online purchases are great for that!).

Do I always only purchase what I need? Hmmmm, I might have to think about that one for a moment….well, let’s see….you know, I think I can answer that question with a definite and quick “no”. Why else would I have a stash of fabric in my sewing room? However, that isn’t to say that there are times when I quickly find what I need, purchase it and leave without browsing. Although seeing a bolt at the cutting table or catching a view of coordinating prints online can sure be tempting!

Does price determine whether I purchase a piece of fabric? It can and sometime does, but when it really comes down to it, if it’s a piece I fall in love with, I’m going to purchase it no matter the cost. It can also depend on the purpose it is being used for in a quilt or project. A little bit of a more expensive fabric or trim can really complement a quilt and I’m still not investing hundreds of dollars in a small amount to put in that project.

How much time do I allow myself to shop for fabric? If I’m looking to match several pieces or find coordinating fabrics for a new project, I try to allow myself several hours. It takes time pulling out bolts or swatches and deciding what pieces blend together the way I want them to. If I allow myself too little time, I feel I’m being forced to make a decision and it may not be truly what I want.

There’s a few of my answers, now it’s your turn! How would you answer the questions listed above? Drop me an email or post your answers in the comments; it’s always exciting to see how others do their shopping!

If you have a blog and would like to post your answers, just copy the questions above, erase my answers and insert your own on your blog, making sure there is a link back to here. Then come back here and post a link to your post in the comments and we can follow-up on your blog to see your answers.

Perhaps the better question to ask is not, “How do I build up a stash of fabric?”, but “How do I build up a stash of fabric I will use in the future?” After all, your ultimate goal is to use that fabric in a project, whether it’s now or in 5 years time (or yes, sometime even later than that!). Unless of course you live in a state with snow and ice year around and that fabric pile acts as added weight in your vehicle!

It’s easy to build fabric stashes; just start buying pieces of fabric you see and like. But over time, you can end up with lots of fabric you may or may not use in the future. You want to buy versatile solids, prints and marbles, keeping in mind that if you don’t use this for the project you have in mind, could it be easily used for something else? And everyone once in a while buy a piece of fabric just because you love it!

For example: I love cute baby cotton prints. At this point I have no use for them, but I love to look, feel and of course add some to my stash of fabric. Will I buy a few here and there? Yes, but not much. I can only use those pieces for a baby/children themed quilt, tote bag, wall hanging, etc. It is not as versatile as a floral print or marble that I might be able to use a hundred different ways.

I try to buy pieces that I know could be used for more than one project. More and more I am drawn to marbles and tone on tone pieces that can easily be used as a background for embroidery designs in addition to being able to incorporate those into quilt blocks, tote bags, pillows, home dec items, quilt backing, etc.

Do keep in mind that solids, marbles and tone on tone pieces need to dominate your stash of fabric. Those pieces can be used for anything compared to prints which can have limited uses. You will use much more of your solid stash of fabric than you will prints. Most of the time a quilt or project will use a print or a couple of prints as the focal point and then multiple solids, marbles or small prints to coordinate with it.

Just think. How would it look for a quilt to have 10 different large floral fabrics cut into squares, diamonds and triangles and stitched together? It might be busy, cluttered and overwhelming. But if you pieced together a couple of florals and wove in some marbles and solids, your quilt would have a more appealing appearance.

No matter if you are just starting a stash of fabric or adding to a current one, be a wise shopper as you are browsing through the fabric aisles. Sure, there will be pieces you love and will purchase, but also take note if it can only be used a couple of ways or many ways. With that thought in mind, you are sure to add pieces that will eventually make their way into projects.

Anyone have any ideas you would like to share on what prints or solids you buy? How do you determine what pieces of fabric to buy to add to your stash and how much do you purchase?

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Be sure to check out these links for other great fabric information:

Unwanted Fabric: How do you get rid of it?

Fabric Buying: How many yards should I buy?

The next time you go shopping for fabric, take some of these ideas with you!

• Try picking a new color scheme you have never tried before.
• Choose bright colors if you tend to stitch with pastels.
• If you usually stitch with solids, try some marble or tone on tone pieces.
• Look at the wrong side of the fabric; many times the wrong side will also yield some good possibilities.
• Fearful of using stripes or plaids? Give it a try once and you may be hooked.
• Not sure about using other fabrics besides 100% cotton? Fabrics such as silk, sheers, velvet and moleskin can add lots of dimension to crazy quilting.
• Directional prints can be tricky when used in quilt blocks, but can add some interesting design elements.
• With a panel or border print, you can use it such as it is or pick out elements in the design and incorporate that into your quilt blocks.

I’ve been doing some cleaning and organizing in my sewing room and found three large garbage sacks of batting scraps. Yes, three very large, full to the brim sacks. The scraps range in size from 4-8″ wide and anywhere from 8-92″ long. Those sacks have been there for at least 4-5 years. And I haven’t once retrieved one scrap of batting from them since I put them there.

Why? I just have too many scraps I want to keep. I already have a small pile of batting scraps that I am pulling pieces from for potholders, pillows, small quilt wall hangings and other various projects. I will never use my entire stockpile of batting scraps.

So, I decided to take the plunge and toss them. If I haven’t used them in the past five years, most likely I won’t be using them in the next five years. I always like to keep batting scraps on hand to use for practice quilting sandwiches, little projects and even for picking up lint (works great as a cleaning cloth!). But I am also constantly adding to my batting stash with the scraps from large quilts and other larger projects.

It’s a continual cycle. I stitch a large quilt and my batting scrap pile is replenished. Gradually piece by piece, that pile diminishes and by that time I’ve stitched another large quilt and yet again added to the pile. The space I have that held the three large sacks of batting will be put to much better storage use (like fun fabric!) than just little bits of batting.

In my mind, I just can’t justify keeping that many little pieces of batting. Yes, I always want to keep some available for small projects and trial pieces. Yes, I will sew some larger ones together for a larger wall hanging or project. But there is also a time to just throw the little pieces in the trash.

My general rule is: If it’s at least 8-10″ square, I keep it. Many times I end up with strips that are 8-10″ wide by 80-90″ long, which is an excellent piece of batting to keep. By piecing one, two or three strips together, it would be perfect for a wall hanging, small quilt or lining a pillow or pillow sham. But if it’s less than 6″ wide, I toss it. Even if it is in a long strip. It’s just too narrow to do anything.

How about you? What do you do with all your scraps of batting? Do you keep every little piece or have a general rule as to the size of batting scraps you keep?

Automatically you usually reach for a solid piece of fabric such as denim, cotton or muslin. But pieces such as marbles, tone on tone fabrics and muted prints create gorgeous backgrounds for embroidery. A marble fabric or tone on tone fabric is a piece of fabric that has a dominate color, but swirled in it are lighter and darker shades of that same color. It could be swirls, splats of color or splashes of various shades in the same color family.

A muted print often mirrors a print fabric, but instead of the many colors used in a print, it is in a monotone color in lighter and darker shades. Many time fabric collections will have a very colorful floral print with the same floral print in another piece of fabric, but in a monotone.

Marbles, tone on tone fabrics and muted prints are excellent fabric choices for machine embroidery. Many times the fabric will help to enhance the embroidery and add more texture to the overall project. This is not to say that solids are not an option as far as embroidery because they are still very valuable choices. The choice of fabric will also depend on what kind of design you are stitching. A redwork or outline design would show off its stitches much more effectively with a solid background verses a marble. However a filled in design such as a blooming rose would grab your eye with a muted rose background.

The next time you start pulling pieces of fabric out of your stash for embroidery, take a look at what you are stitching and explore other possibilities instead of just solid fabrics!

Note: When I first started machine embroidery, my mind only thought of solid fabrics for embroidery. But more and more I love the look of a marble or muted print background that enhances my embroidery designs! Sometimes even a muted strip can look striking with the right design!

The navy and green dish signs are solid fabrics.
The yellow and blue are marbled fabrics.