Pre-lude to, Buy Sewing Machines:
Buy Fabric: A Comedic Essay
More fabrics than quilts? Quilty/guilty, Fabric Acquisition Disorder (FAD), compulsive fabric buying when it is one sale; clearly the definition of addict. I choose well stashed, words will create reality.
Not one to stop anyone from a fabric fix, I encourage myself too much, after all, if you don't by fabric, the store won't be there.
Is there an approved program to insure the stash is busted before you die? Never sew a quilt with triangles, -don't say? Just get 'er done, then use that new bundle over there. What, I was suppose to have a pattern that wanted to be used with that?
Stop the wash, the new fabric is commanding, it was supposed to be located under that pile of fabric over there. The laundry will fold itself anyway, later, while more fabric is acquired.
"I should have bought all the rest of that green," and other regrets felt your better behaved self as the car pulls away from the store and the airbag light comes on because the front seat is loaded with fabric. Clearly, had there not been small children involved, and infinite diversion, you bill would have at least had two zeros after it.
Is the dryer done yet? The new fabric needs to be: ironed, petted, sorted, filed, lost under another pile for awhile, justified internally in regards to how one should use the excess fabric just acquired, and finally just folded.
Believe, in yourself. Forgiveness, fabric, they both start with "F". I can think of "F" words I'd like to say to people who tell me I have too much fabric, or rather that the "sewing collection" is too big. I would tell them to forgive the fabric up.
Someday, when outside it is below zero degrees and snowing, you have young children still and are pregnant, appreciate the forgiveness of fabric mistakes; these past mistakes will make the quilt, that one more piece you needed to finish a quilt will be there. THAT is what you'll do with it!
Really just want more creative time? Buy fabric. It will feel like creative time, almost, fantasize about it.
Really down because ah, you haven't bought any fabric when your not supposed to, but your studio is in boxes to be moved; buy fabric. Make a temporary stash on a shelf and screw whether it goes with a project or not. And when the door to the closet won't shut, admit yourself a hoarder,(full permission is granted to HOARD, remember the Civil War? Just don't forget needles, they ran out of those), move on, acceptance will make a better fiber artist.
On the night when a full crock-pot would be heaven sent, make peace with eating noodles cause the cook is too tired, and sew that fabric.
Resolved: quilts will be left in this world. Kids may remember how much they hated that crock-pot pot roast, and how cool just eating noodles for dinner could be.
And with satisfaction, when all you favorite color is depleted from stash, buy some extra cause mean people have way too much ego, and probably never had a quilt as a child.
The black book is a mega binder of quilty ideas. And there are books with post-its, and ideas for quilts that haven't made it in the burgeoning mass yet. These ideas take lots of fabric which is waiting to be purchased.
A smart phone is good for noting fabric requirements, but after years of sleep deprivation, it never hurts to buy three to four yards of a lovely.
There is always noodles, and FAD is way better than drinking or worse, and usually way less expensive than fine shoes.
Buy the way, don't buy crap cause it is cheap. No one wants to look at it or feel it against their skin when they cuddle a quilt. Buy quality fabric, so when each child gets their chest full of quilt someday, they will also get to pass those quilts on. Quilts will endure. Don't let your qulits get caught with fabric that can't last the years.
And even if the quilt doesn't get sewn, at least others will know you went for the good stuff, and smile.
Give yourself permission not to measure; focus on the delivery of your goal. We each have our own way.
And besides, if buying fabric inspires you enough to sew, its worth it.
Fabric awaits ironing, now go checkout that abandoned cart, chances are one of the fabrics will lead you down a path you'd never want to have missed.
