Fabric Moratorium 2025
08-24-2025, 05:28 AM
#332
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
Thank you Lena! It has been fun looking for things to add to the hoard while doing the shop hop. Gave me a rather bizarre focus but it helped curbed the wild acquisition urges.
It was the first shop the first day out that I fell in love with the dragon fabric. By the next day I had a strong mental image of what I wanted. One of the ways I judge my success in quilting is by how closely does the result match the mental image. I want the dragon blocks alternated with quick crazy quilt blocks of the hoard fabrics. I want the individual pieces about 2" in the crazy blocks, the dragons themselves are 8" block with some border -- I will be cutting at 9.5. There are templates now, but I like the Karla Alexander Stack the Deck method where I will make each group similar but slightly different cuts.
The scan is my current design image. The Dragon Blocks will be pointed with the Reddish-Orange parasol fabric (which will also be used in the crazy quilt blocks), and then sashed with the dark metallic, and everything showing as background will be crazy dragon hoard. There are 12 dragons on the panel. The triangle on the scan is the actual (finished size) of the parasol piece, I'm not sure on the width of the sashing, I will want to semi-fussy cut it I think. They will actually go around only the dragon blocks so maybe I might miter the corners? Is by Makower so is metric yardage but I think I have enough.
The butterfly fabric -- Mariposa, is still current enough to be available. I had one of those "ooh, I want that" moments when I got it.
https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/hof...erfly-collage/
It was the first shop the first day out that I fell in love with the dragon fabric. By the next day I had a strong mental image of what I wanted. One of the ways I judge my success in quilting is by how closely does the result match the mental image. I want the dragon blocks alternated with quick crazy quilt blocks of the hoard fabrics. I want the individual pieces about 2" in the crazy blocks, the dragons themselves are 8" block with some border -- I will be cutting at 9.5. There are templates now, but I like the Karla Alexander Stack the Deck method where I will make each group similar but slightly different cuts.
The scan is my current design image. The Dragon Blocks will be pointed with the Reddish-Orange parasol fabric (which will also be used in the crazy quilt blocks), and then sashed with the dark metallic, and everything showing as background will be crazy dragon hoard. There are 12 dragons on the panel. The triangle on the scan is the actual (finished size) of the parasol piece, I'm not sure on the width of the sashing, I will want to semi-fussy cut it I think. They will actually go around only the dragon blocks so maybe I might miter the corners? Is by Makower so is metric yardage but I think I have enough.
The butterfly fabric -- Mariposa, is still current enough to be available. I had one of those "ooh, I want that" moments when I got it.
https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/hof...erfly-collage/
08-25-2025, 04:28 AM
#333
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Delaware
Posts: 1,620
Iceblossom, I agree that having a specific pattern helps to inhibit the buying impulse. Mine is usually chicken themed fabric, but realistic chickens as opposed to cartoon. I truly hope your quilt turns out as lovely as the plans in your brain. And my brain too now that I have an idea of your plans.
Many thanks for the link for the Maraposa fabric line. Hubby and I have raised and released over 200 Monarchs this season and have about 40 more to go. Only about 1 to 200-300 caterpillars ever make it to become butterflies. So we feel we have helped a little. This experiment began right after my last dog died and we joked about the caterpillars being our new temporary pets. It was a good transition into being totally pet less. But I still miss my dogs. I’m off to buy Mariposa fabric❤️
Many thanks for the link for the Maraposa fabric line. Hubby and I have raised and released over 200 Monarchs this season and have about 40 more to go. Only about 1 to 200-300 caterpillars ever make it to become butterflies. So we feel we have helped a little. This experiment began right after my last dog died and we joked about the caterpillars being our new temporary pets. It was a good transition into being totally pet less. But I still miss my dogs. I’m off to buy Mariposa fabric❤️
08-25-2025, 08:50 AM
#334
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
Oh, I hope you find many beautiful pieces in that line. Such a wonderful story to share with us too 
I just had an "oh noes" moment but it will turn out fine. When I looked again at the panel, it is 16 and not 12 dragons...
Will still have similar concept but minor correction/change.
I just had an "oh noes" moment but it will turn out fine. When I looked again at the panel, it is 16 and not 12 dragons...
Will still have similar concept but minor correction/change.
08-28-2025, 09:59 AM
#335
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 469
Well, I thought I was going to be able to get some headway on this project UNTIL......I went to town yesterday and when I arrived home there was a note on my door stating that a person thought about getting rid of several items when her sister mentioned my project. It was ALL felt. Now I have to come up with a way to use the felt and keep the children at the hospital safe as well. ALL ideas most gratefully welcome. Was not quite 3 yards. Cannot go to the children in the hospital.
08-28-2025, 12:00 PM
#336
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
@MaryKa Do you have a daycare or early learning center that might want the felt? There are various concepts of things like Molas that can be made even with a limited set of colors, this project maybe more Scouting or 4H, but depending on your hospital length of stays, sometimes they want craft things for the older kids. Sure -- can be very restricted!
https://assets.ctfassets.net/f1fikih...-sew-molas.pdf
I had a primary (public) school art teacher who was glad to get all my crafty stuff, especially since I typically had enough for at least one class project. All sorts of things went to her in my early purges of my sewing room, when I decided I was only going to keep category "quilting" and not craft or garment or whatever.
__
As for me, is a shame that I had a perfect concept for the dragon hoard quilt only to find out I had an incorrect design consideration. I could still make it with 12, but it would no longer be the perfect solution leaving 4 unused dragons. I'm getting closer to a new design -- is a shame in many ways that I prefer rectangular quilts, but that might be a partial solution to this project (going square that is). I really liked the idea of using the borders printed with the dragons, further reinforced with the dark metallic borders. I can still do something with that concept. But I've also been influenced by my Labyrinth Walk top and I like to interconnect things so they are easy to do, but look cool. Haven't quite gotten the vision for that yet but some progress made/some ideas ruled out...
So, in the mean time, I'm finishing up with I call the grass quilt project. Here's an in-progress shot of the layout on the design bed. I need to double check, but I think I have enough of the Daisy background to make triangles (top and bottom) for the green ragged side, and I have plenty of the side border material for the Daisy side.
https://assets.ctfassets.net/f1fikih...-sew-molas.pdf
I had a primary (public) school art teacher who was glad to get all my crafty stuff, especially since I typically had enough for at least one class project. All sorts of things went to her in my early purges of my sewing room, when I decided I was only going to keep category "quilting" and not craft or garment or whatever.
__
As for me, is a shame that I had a perfect concept for the dragon hoard quilt only to find out I had an incorrect design consideration. I could still make it with 12, but it would no longer be the perfect solution leaving 4 unused dragons. I'm getting closer to a new design -- is a shame in many ways that I prefer rectangular quilts, but that might be a partial solution to this project (going square that is). I really liked the idea of using the borders printed with the dragons, further reinforced with the dark metallic borders. I can still do something with that concept. But I've also been influenced by my Labyrinth Walk top and I like to interconnect things so they are easy to do, but look cool. Haven't quite gotten the vision for that yet but some progress made/some ideas ruled out...
So, in the mean time, I'm finishing up with I call the grass quilt project. Here's an in-progress shot of the layout on the design bed. I need to double check, but I think I have enough of the Daisy background to make triangles (top and bottom) for the green ragged side, and I have plenty of the side border material for the Daisy side.
08-30-2025, 04:22 AM
#337
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
While I was working on the grass quilt (columns done, ready to put together at sewing group on Tuesday), my mind was full of dragon images. Then hours spent with a flurry of graph paper and pencil. And then the solution came to me, Buttercup has to suck it up and make the project square. Otherwise, I was so happy with my initial design and concept and couldn't come up with anything I liked better. Hardly a worst case scenario. Good timing because it will be the next project.
Bonnie Hunter project doesn't come out until Thanksgiving, but she gives the colors on Halloween. This should keep me going until that project.
I don't keep as good a track on fabric out as some of you. My big push was to stop fabric coming in so much... Almost all of the greens came out of my "smallest piece" box -- for me that is a strip 6.5" wide and some of them used up what was left, the small strips went into the crumb box. There are no more than 2 each, some only have 1. I designed the project to work with/use up the daisy fabric. Picture is what is left of the 3+ yards, there will be a couple more sashing pieces a couple of inches long. If I had the choice, I would have made the sashing about 1/2" wider -- but I simply did not have that much fabric.
Edit: Also, the daisy had been in the stash for over 10 years and survived all the previous purges. It was (past) time to use it! Some of the greens were from the 80s and it was also time for them to leave the stash. All in all, still short of being quilted down, but I am pleased with this project. It will be for donation.
Bonnie Hunter project doesn't come out until Thanksgiving, but she gives the colors on Halloween. This should keep me going until that project.
I don't keep as good a track on fabric out as some of you. My big push was to stop fabric coming in so much... Almost all of the greens came out of my "smallest piece" box -- for me that is a strip 6.5" wide and some of them used up what was left, the small strips went into the crumb box. There are no more than 2 each, some only have 1. I designed the project to work with/use up the daisy fabric. Picture is what is left of the 3+ yards, there will be a couple more sashing pieces a couple of inches long. If I had the choice, I would have made the sashing about 1/2" wider -- but I simply did not have that much fabric.
Edit: Also, the daisy had been in the stash for over 10 years and survived all the previous purges. It was (past) time to use it! Some of the greens were from the 80s and it was also time for them to leave the stash. All in all, still short of being quilted down, but I am pleased with this project. It will be for donation.
Last edited by Iceblossom; 08-30-2025 at 04:34 AM.
08-30-2025, 07:28 AM
#338
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 926
Lena - a beautiful story and a most excellent reason to make a fabric purchase. Heart-happiness is a big part of what we love as quilters!
Iceblossom - love how your grass quilt has come together from stash, and I am also keen to see your dragon quilt finish!
MaryKa - I think Iceblossom has a great solution for that felt - I'm sure any elementary or art teacher or scout/4H leader would be thrilled to get a bunch of felt they could incorporate into a project or craft activity. The mola idea is a great one and would allow for the use of all sorts of odd sizes, if that's the case with this windfall...
Iceblossom - love how your grass quilt has come together from stash, and I am also keen to see your dragon quilt finish!
MaryKa - I think Iceblossom has a great solution for that felt - I'm sure any elementary or art teacher or scout/4H leader would be thrilled to get a bunch of felt they could incorporate into a project or craft activity. The mola idea is a great one and would allow for the use of all sorts of odd sizes, if that's the case with this windfall...
08-31-2025, 12:23 PM
#339
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NW MN lake country
Posts: 3,797
Well, I thought I was going to be able to get some headway on this project UNTIL......I went to town yesterday and when I arrived home there was a note on my door stating that a person thought about getting rid of several items when her sister mentioned my project. It was ALL felt. Now I have to come up with a way to use the felt and keep the children at the hospital safe as well. ALL ideas most gratefully welcome. Was not quite 3 yards. Cannot go to the children in the hospital.
09-02-2025, 05:27 AM
#340
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,261
Today is my sewing group day and I hope to get the Grass project done. All (both) sides of the four V columns are combined, the sashing on the borders is on, I just have to do a couple more sashes on a couple of Vs and put the whole thing together. It is certainly a long quilt! Originally I planned to just chop off the ragged edge, but then I looked at what I had left of the daisies and since I had enough, made the end triangles. I'll get a length measurement at group, it is long and narrow but should still be under 3 yards length.
My actual Bday is Friday, but I celebrate on Labor Day weekend so that was this past weekend. I went to a blues fest and saw one of my most favorite current artists, did some sewing, and that was about it. My friend Barb in Arizona called (we were roommates back in the early 80s and our bdays are about 2 weeks apart so we usually celebrated in the middle). She asked if I would like some sort of present and when I was talking to her, I said no -- I'm feeling very full and content right now. And then last night I found a mushroom fabric that would go very well with the Bigfoot fabric I picked up on the shop hop -- same sort of vibe/design as the dragon fabric but beige-er. Anyway, I'm not too proud to beg and I know Barb likes to enable my fabric acquisition -- besides, birthday exemption! and it makes something I already bought usable. But maybe I should ask her for one of the "In my defense I was left unsupervised" t-shirts.
My actual Bday is Friday, but I celebrate on Labor Day weekend so that was this past weekend. I went to a blues fest and saw one of my most favorite current artists, did some sewing, and that was about it. My friend Barb in Arizona called (we were roommates back in the early 80s and our bdays are about 2 weeks apart so we usually celebrated in the middle). She asked if I would like some sort of present and when I was talking to her, I said no -- I'm feeling very full and content right now. And then last night I found a mushroom fabric that would go very well with the Bigfoot fabric I picked up on the shop hop -- same sort of vibe/design as the dragon fabric but beige-er. Anyway, I'm not too proud to beg and I know Barb likes to enable my fabric acquisition -- besides, birthday exemption! and it makes something I already bought usable. But maybe I should ask her for one of the "In my defense I was left unsupervised" t-shirts.
