Do you have a stash?

Do you have a stash?

When we become quilters we purchase fabric for our first project. After that first quilt we are hooked and start to plan the next quilt. We hunt for the perfect fabrics and in the course of that hunt, a few other fabulous fabrics find their way home with us. Not destined for quilt #2, but a “someday” quilt. Before we know it, we have a stash. Or, as some like to call it, a “creative resource center”.

Then, when we start to do the actual quilting (as opposed to making tops), we start to develop a thread stash. Luscious threads can be just as addicting as fabric. As quilting artists these are our paints. An artist would be very limited with only four colors on their palette. We do not want to limit ourselves!

But as a quilter, you need another stash as well. That is a quilting design stash. A place to go for inspiration and ideas when planning the quilting for a project. A great way to start your design stash is with books. Books of quilting designs, such as Dot to Dot Quilting by Cheryl Barnes, are a wonderful resource.

You’ll want to expand your stash with photos and sketches of quilting you see at quilt shows. Make a 3-ring binder with divisions such as Continuous line, Blocks, Borders etc. The more you start thinking about quilting designs, the more you will see quilting designs every where you go. Carpets, wallpaper, upholstery.

Tile is an especially rich source of quilting designs. When you get caught taking pictures of the wall in the ladies room and all the other women are thinking “Wow! She doesn’t get out much. She needs to have pictures to remember this by!” Then you know you are “A Quilter”

Taking classes can add to your quilting skills but it also adds to your design stash. Be sure to draw the designs the teacher shows. If you are lucky enough to get a handout, add that to your stash.

And our HQ Minute Motifs that are shared each week is an awesome source for designs! You can see them here

The next time you find your self reading those 3 little words at the end of a quilt pattern….. “Quilt as desired”, you’ll be glad you have your creative resource center.

What’s in your stash?

by Mary Beth Krapil