Taking Care of the Stash

My collection is huge. What you see in the pictures is a fraction of it. Most of the pieces are fat quarters or remnants, so the variety is tremendous. If you are like me, you love your stash even if some of it won't end up in a quilt. I would never say "This is a nice piece, but when would I ever use it? It doesn't go with anything." The pieces are beautiful things all by themselves. Since I have about six more years till I can retire, and I can only make a finite number of quilts before I die, some of my stash may never even get to audition for a quilt. But I love all of it! Antique tapestry repros, cream fabric with pink ducks on it, Asian border prints...

If you have a large stash that is packed away for future use, take it out at least once a year to love it all over again. But the most important thing you can do for your stash is to refold it. If the pieces are quarter folded, refold them into thirds. Smooth them flat on the table or bed while you fold so you don't get any hard creases. My sister taught me this trick. It keeps the pieces from stressing at the fold line if they are packed tightly for many years. It's also a wonderful way to see what fabrics you might have forgotten you had.