Is there such a thing as the perfect stash?

I think the perfect stash is one from which we can make quilt after quilt without running short on any particular color/fabric.  I also think that in order to be a good stash quilter, one must be a bit flexible.  I’m working on a top now and I had in my mind the perfect green for the border.  Not lime, not dark, not too bright.  I knew exactly what I wanted but I didn’t have it.  I am substituting another green and it will be fine.  But, a few years ago, I would have gone to the quilt shop and found that perfect green.

Would your perfect stash be the same as my perfect stash?

Nope!  Mine would have all tone on tone fabrics with a few stripes and some wild, happy prints . . just because they make me smile.  I feel pretty lucky that I love tone on tones.  They never look old.  They don’t go out of style or look like last year’s model (or the most desired fabric from 1995).  They’re classic!  I can order online and if what I get isn’t exactly the shade I was expecting it to be, that’s ok . . it will go with something one of these days.

What if you’re a fairly new quilter or for some reason, don’t have a stash?

It’s ok.  Don’t worry . . it really isn’t about the size of your stash!  Many of us had a problem with buying a bit too much fabric for year after year and we’ve ended up with an obscene stash.  I’m not talking about my own stash but there’s one friend . . out in CA . . who probably has the biggest stash in the whole world.  Vicky, that would be you!  It’s not a crime to have a large stash, nor is it something to be ashamed of if you don’t.

My stash feels pretty close to perfect.  Of course, it’s fabrics I chose and I know what I like to use.  Vicky was mentioning on her blog the other day about a lack of yellow fabric.  It seems that yellow is or at one time was a hard color to find.  So, for a while I’ve been buying yellow.  I think I’m ok on yellows for a while.

The color I’m lacking in my stash is purple.  Lately I’ve looked for purples and haven’t had a lot of luck finding purples.  There are so many shades of purple . . blue, red, gray.  I suppose that can be said for any color but just a true purple . . I have a hard time finding those.

Using my stash and not adding to it seems to be a personal challenge and I’m not having any trouble using my favorite fabrics and I haven’t been drooling at the online shops.  Maybe I’m cured??  Let’s talk about it after my trip to Paducah!