It has come to my attention that I have too much in the way of craft supplies. Ok, this isn’t exactly a new revelation, but it is one I’ve been trying to deal with for a while now. I tend to pick up fabric and other craft supplies I think I might need (someday) whenever I see them at a yard sale or thrift store. My fabric bins overfloweth. My stash of ribbons, trims, beads, elastic, etc. overfloweth. I treat my craft supplies a bit like my pantry in that I like to have it full so that when I’m ready I have everything I need. Unlike my pantry, however; I’m don’t rotate the stock in the sewing room often enough.
I’ve come up with a plan to change that:
- I’m putting myself on a craft supply buying fast. There will be no purchasing of any supplies whether new or previously owned until my current supply fits into the 7 drawers / bins that fit neatly into the sewing room closet.
- I’ve already put the fabric I don’t think I’ll ever use that came in all those $1 boxes from yard sales into our purge stack. This purge stack will either be sold at a yard sale later this summer or donated.
- Miscellaneous crafty items (beads, ribbons, etc.) will be cleaned out, purged, and organized. I have a few items I’m going to pass on to some crafty friends that I think could use them (I’ll email them first before passing on items that could be considered clutter).
- The stuff not being purged will be used up before I can finish my fast. I’ll be using the items to make gifts for the many birthdays and holidays that will be approaching. I also hope to sell a few items that I make from this great de-stash (the selling of items would go towards my Doing Not Thinking Challenge Goals).
I’m sharing this plan for a couple of reasons: 1) to keep myself accountable, and 2) to get your ideas, suggestions, links, etc. for project ideas. Most of the fabric I have is in smaller amounts, less than 1 yard, so I need project ideas that I can with those bits and pieces of fabric. I know how to do patchwork bags, quilts, etc. but I think I’m missing something in the way of small sewn items that could make great gifts. I look forward to reading your suggestions and sharing my progress and projects with you in the coming months.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Cool! I know this problem very well. With me it’s cross-stitch kits. So this year I’m stitching from stash. I did allow myself to buy a few at the stitch and craft show in March, just to fill a few gaps for gifts (babies and weddings). Looking at the stash objectively though I think I could easily extend the stitch from stash for another 5 years!
Will have to have a think to come up with ideas for your stash…
Sachets. You can *never* have any sachets filled with anti-moth herbs.
That is a great idea, I’m thinking dream pillows too! Thanks.
One of my coworkers uses her small bits of frabric to make things from Omiyage : Handmade Gifts from Fabric in the Japanese Tradition. Beautiful, small, useful gifts.
I’m gonna check that book out, thanks so much!
Napkins! Gracefully, deliberately, interestingly mismatched napkins.
Thank you, I need to remember that its ok for napkins to be mismatching.
You could make small fabric animals. I especially like the elephant softies that you see on etsy.com
There are so many possibilities. They would make great gifts for kids birthdays.
Another fun idea is fabric coasters. They are easy and you don’t need a ton of yardage to make them. I gave a few as gifts for Christmas last year, and they were a hit. They asked for more of them, and said they were the best coasters they had!
Good Luck!
I have a great pattern for scented fabric coasters that I completely forgot about, thanks for the reminder!
I love the coasters and napkins ideas, which leads to aprons, appliques for dishtowels and potholders.
I think your ideas to keep the buying at bay are great. I couldn’t think of much for suggestions, except baby clothes that you could donate somehow maybe. Cloth diapers, all sorts of small items like that. Hats.
One small suggestion…you could donate some of your overflow to a school or daycare. Buttons beads and such make great kid craft supplies;)
Thanks for the suggestion. I did give some stuff to a friend who homeschools, but most everything else isn’t really kid appropriate and buttons oddly enough are one of the few things I don’t have too much of. It’s a great idea though and as I purge I’ll remember to think about kids.
I was thinking of pillows using lots of small squares in patch work.
And I have the same problem with yarn and fiber. And I am still have the ‘goal’ of reducing my stash! I’m trying…
Ah, I feel your pain. We are preparing ourselves for (another) cross-country move and I had to get rid of 2 trash bags full of fabric. Not to worry, I kept almost twice that (don’t tell my hubby). I have only one sewing book, & I love, love, love it! It’s full of projects made from fabric scraps; stuffed animals, holiday decorations, baby booties…
Scrap Savers: One Hundred One Great Little Gifts (Quick & Easy Scrap Crafts) by Oxmoor House
I’ve also used those itty-bitty pieces of fabric to stuff pillows & stuffed animals.