What's your favorite?

I pulled out one of my 'standbys' the other day to snip a piece for a little swap wallhanging I'm making and was pleased to see that I still have a lot of that particular piece of fabric. In my stash I have several pieces like that -- bought several years ago (most of them at estate sales) and now so out of production it's not even funny. In particular I have several that are so good I eke out little bits in various projects, trying to make it the yardage last as long as possible. One piece is perfect for tree trunks. Another is just perfect for greenery and still others are just really good worked into a background or added as one piece of a block. When I use up one of my favorites, it really makes me sad. For instance, I just ran out of my favorite batik that I use for flames or feathers or autumn leaves. Nothing else is quite as perfect, in my eyes.

So here's the question: do you have favorites in your stash, valuable pieces of yardage that you snip here and there, adding to projects in little pieces and making the original yardage last as long as possible? Oddly enough, when I got out the three pieces I really have put into almost every project I have done, all three were made by Samash & Sons fabric company, and all three from the late 1990s. (Obviously these were from estate sales and somebody had great taste.)

Pitch in, I want to hear all about your favorite pieces of fabric.

Sunny

Reply to
Sunny
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Reply to
Roberta

Reply to
Jennifer in Ottawa

Yes, I have a favorite, done by Jennifer Sampson for Miller or Kaufman back in the 90s, in the Southwest line. In the multicolor of what looks like the southwest beaded rosettes, rich rusts and dark oranges, spots of turquise blue and reds, forest green. You get the picture. It also came in a blue color way and a tan color way. Long out of production, but I hope to find more someday.

G> I pulled out one of my 'standbys' the other day to snip a piece for a

Reply to
Ginger in CA

How nice of you to ask. Yes, I have favorites. One is really easy. I like to invite a few ants to the picnic. Doesn't have to be a big piece, just a few ants is fine and there's usually a print available when the hill gets low. Your question made me realize that my current favorite just might still be available. It is Michael Miller's Meadow Grass. It works beautifully for vines, leaves, landscapes; just all sorts of places. I found several shops that still had some. So very glad you mentioned our need for standbys. Polly

G> I pulled out one of my 'standbys' the other day to snip a piece for a

Reply to
Polly Esther

And I have some bee fabric that is one of my favorites to sneak into quilts. When I was doing a lot of machine applique 15 years or so ago I had a couple of favorite pieces for texture. Those are tiny now and I won't cut into them except for special stuff. Taria

Reply to
Taria

Oh, yes. I've done a lot of scrappy quilts, and I look at those pieces really fondly. I was sad to see them used up. On the other end of the spectrum, I've bought (make that, hoarded) fabric I absolutely loved four years ago, and now I don't love so much. But that was when I first started learning to quilt, I think my taste in colors/ patterns has developed and changed since then.

Reply to
Sherry

Oh, yes. I've done a lot of scrappy quilts, and I look at those pieces really fondly. I was sad to see them used up. On the other end of the spectrum, I've bought (make that, hoarded) fabric I absolutely loved four years ago, and now I don't love so much. But that was when I first started learning to quilt, I think my taste in colors/ patterns has developed and changed since then.

This last part has happened to me too, and it's why I try to make myself use my *favorite* fabrics, even if I want to hoard them. There were quite a few that I hoarded so long that I didn't like them anymore! Lately, every time I catch myself thinking "I might do another project sometime where this fabric *might* work better" I remind myself, "You are not immortal, what are you saving this for?" This has actually been kind of working!

Iris ( but still hoarding that perfect purple that I should have bought more of - drat!)

Reply to
I.E.Z.

Well, thanks for that -- it's nice to to know someone else does that. I positively adored 3 Sisters Faded Memories, the pink and green, when it first came out about 4 years ago. I have a whole box of it, and can't seem to figure out what to do with it. Still like it, but not so much, and it just gets pushed back in favor of bolder colors. When I very first started quilting, LQS lady said there is a rule about that. She said, "If you really like a piece of fabric, buy 1 yard. If you really love it, buy 3 yards. If you absolutely adore it and can't live without it, buy 6 yards." It's a good thing I didn't listen to her about the six-yard part.

Sherry

Reply to
Sherry

I do tend to navigate toward bold/jewel tones. When i first started quilting, I would buy 3-4 yards of everything I saw. Lately I've been digging those peices out for backings. I do love Laurel Burch. Have quite a few of her peices.

amy in CNY

Reply to
amy in CNY

I like fabric. Most all fabric. I have a collection that is too big. (Yes, when I can't find what I want, or buy the same fabric for the

3rd time it is tooo big.) I do have pieces I have set aside, or purchased for specific projects. Some of those are changing and the fabric is being used for other things. (Pieces bought to make shirts for DH, where the fabric is 54-60" wide make great backs for smallish quilts. and it is cotton. ) One of my continuing goals is to get more organized and do something with some of the fabric I already own. (But a lot of times what I am making is class samples and they need to be made with current fabrics available in the shop. sigh.)

Yes I hoard, but not specifics, just good fabric.

Pati, in Phx.

Reply to
Pati, in Phx

My favorite fabrics don't tend to be the most practical. I love lush florals and paisleys with a bit of gold. Many times these fabrics sit on my shelf because they frequently don't play well with others. Usually, I end up using a bit in one of my scrappy quilts, then adding a bit to the next scrappy quilt, etc. until it is gone. Consequently, I end up with several quilts with some of these favorite fabrics in each one. It makes me happy.

Michelle in Nevada

Reply to
Michelle C.

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