Can you believe this is the fifth episode of Stash Chats?! This week I met with Joy and picked up LOADS of great tips about how to organise your stash. Joy herself has a small stash of only 10 fabrics! Joy describes her stash as “small but perfectly formed”. The fabrics are all colour co-ordinated (hello rust!) so will look just as cohesive in Joy’s wardrobe as they do in her fabric drawer.
Here are some highlights from my conversation with Joy:
First up, tell us a little about yourself, Joy
I live in Cambridgeshire with my boyfriend (who never appears on Instagram) and my cat Juniper (who frequently does). I used to sew mostly dresses but my style has shifted in recent years and now I mostly sew shirts and t-shirts. Outside of sewing I love stationery, journaling and tea.
What are your favourite projects to sew?
I love making and wearing shirts. Probably my most sewn pattern is the FREE Paola Workwear Jacket from the Fabrics Store. I find it also works well as a shirt and I have recently made one in a Liberty Tana Lawn for a blog post on Sew Me Sunshine. I’m also a fan on the Nina Lee Bakerloo Blouse as it’s comfortable to wear but the large ruffled collar gives it a little something extra.
How long have you been sewing?
I got my first sewing machine in 2010 but I didn’t really know what to do with it and mostly used it for mending, alterations and fancy-dress costumes for a few years. It was only in 2016, when I discovered indie patterns and the online sewing community that I got super into it!
Has your stash changed over that time?
Definitely! While I’ve never had a huge stash by sewing community standards, I didn’t used to pay as much attention to fabric composition and quality or think about what fabrics I liked to sew and wear. I had a lot of cheap “mystery” fabrics from markets and often bought without a project in mind. I think the biggest it got was two Kallax drawers but I’ve always employed a Volume Based Stash Management System (VBSMS), i.e. if it doesn’t fit, I’m not having it!
These days, I’m much more intentional with my shopping. I plan makes in advance, I try to think about how well something will work in my wardrobe and what I’ll pair it with. I’ve also tried to be more selective about my colour palette. I have no idea what my “colours” are but I tend to steer towards autumnal shades and blues which makes pairing a lot easier.
How do you feel about your stash?
I love it! I found a larger stash with unassigned fabrics and colours and patterns that weren’t totally “me” very overwhelming and uninspiring. Now, I know exactly what I want to make and whenever I feel inspired to sew I can crack straight on with it!
What would the perfect stash look like to you?
TBH it’s pretty close! Sure, there’s plenty more fabrics I’d like to have in there but I feel like my stash matches the style and speed of my sewing and it feels good to sew through my stash before accumulating too many potential projects.
How do you resist fabric fomo?
I don’t get it as much as you’d think! Often if I see something I like:
– I’ve got something similar
– It’s a fabric I don’t like to sew with or wear (I’m looking at you, viscose)
– It’s a novelty print which always lures me in but actually, I don’t wear that much
– I can’t afford it!
– I know I won’t get around to sewing it within the next 3-4 months
I can be quite impulsive but I try not to buy fabric and patterns as soon as I see them. Instead, I let them percolate for a while to see if it’s something I REALLY WANT. I actually try and do this with everything – not just fabric and sewing supplies!
Joy’s Top Tips to Organise Your Stash:
- Create designated storage for your stash. The space available will set a limit on the amount you can buy and will prevent you becoming overwhelmed with fabric pouring out of every corner of your home.
- Only buy one season ahead with projects in mind. Being realistic about the amount you will sew and what you’ll actually wear means you’re less likely to buy fabric and patterns that won’t fit into your wardrobe and lifestyle.
- Take time to consider purchases rather than buying straight away. Avoiding getting swept up in the hype of fabric drops and new releases means you’ll be able to curate a stash that really works for you.
- Choose quality over quantity. Don’t buy fabric just because it’s a bargain. Invest in quality fabric that you really love and will want to wear for a long time.
- Pattern hacking means you don’t need a large pattern stash! Create endless styles by switching out sleeves, altering necklines and changing skirts – you could even mix and match features from different patterns. Plus it reduces the amount of fitting you’ll need to do!
Stash Chats takes place live on YouTube, every Wednesday evening at 8pm (UK time). The next Stash Chats guest will be Fauve, of Sewing Bee fame! Fauve is already a Stash Hub convert, so I’m excited to hear about how she’s found the process of creating a digital catalogue of her stash and project plans.
Follow us on Instagram for updates on future episode of Stash Chats and to ask our guests questions. Each week, I will be chatting to a different member of the sewing community and getting the inside scoop on their personal sewing stash and fabric buying habits. The aim is to open up conversations about our sewing collections in a judgemement-free space. We want to help everyone fall back in love with their stashes.