Still Sewing from Stash

Saints have been canonized for less forbearance and dedication than I have shown in keeping my New Years Resolution to sew from stash!  Every day I see desirable fabric (and imagine projects I'd make with it), and every day I leave said fabric uncut at the store.  At Fabric Depot, I put on blinders and get only the notions or interfacing I need.  At the Mill End Store, I marshal myself like a woman and a Roy and remind myself that if I want any of their delicious wool, or printed cottons, or textured silks, I will simply have to whittle my stash down to size!  At Goodwill, I don't even walk by the section next to curtains and linens that has their fabrics. 

Fabric Merchant of Samarkand. The Library of Congress [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons

So how have I done? 

SEWING FROM STASH

I have been very good about sewing from stash!  Since my resolution, everything I've made for myself (or at my own instigation) has been made from my own fabrics.  I finished my quilted Jumps (a UFO and stash fabric), worked up a pillow and some pillowcases, made a new petticoat, a retro style shirt, a lined scarf, a new lunch bag from organic cotton, a 1919 dress, a sheer shirt with bishop sleeves... et cetera. 

A side benefit of this push to sew from stash is that I'm using patterns which I haven't used before! 

On the other hand, my UFO list (and my resolution to finish one UFO before starting another) has not been as inspiring.  It turns out--act surprised, now--it turns out that finishing old projects is not nearly as exciting as starting new ones, and there's nothing like a bit of boring but necessary sewing to motivate me to turn my attention to fun but unnecessary sewing.  So I guess I'm not a total saint... I can feel my halo tipping.

THE LIMITS OF STASH

As I pull things out of my stash to use them, I sometimes find myself wondering why on earth I have them at all!  Recently I pulled out a yard of 60" wide jersey, thinking I'd make a pullover sweatshirt, and I found it was covered in stains, the kind you get when you wash it with something that bleeds.  I wouldn't enjoy sewing with stained fabric or wearing a stained shirt, so I put it in the giveaway bag for Goodwill, and that's out of my stash. 

HAVE I CHEATED?

Once... maybe.  But it was entirely justified and I checked with my accountability partner.  See, I told my wee niece I was going to make her a hat, and did she have a preferred color?  And that precocious pip told me that she wanted "teal and sparkly pink"!  I had neither in my stash, so I hemmed and hawed and finally bought some sparkly teal.  But that was for a special request, so I don't think it violates the spirit of the resolution!