So back in the Summer, I placed myself on a no-fabric and no-pattern-buying ban 😦 I’d been driven to despair over the state of our spare room/office/my sewing room and the amount of ‘stuff’ we’d accumulated. Over the last three months I’ve been slowly clearing the clutter and attempting to tidy up or use up my sewing stash. And I’ve survived it (I’m clearly and wilfully ignoring my unplanned purchase of the two Sew Over It patterns at IWM North a few weeks ago), just 😉
And despite my initial grumbling (I’ll be honest, I really like selecting a specific fabric for a specific pattern), I actually began to enjoy the challenge. I also (probably) saved myself a small fortune, as the way I see it, all of the below projects, with the exception of the odd zip here and the odd length of elastic there, were free.
In the light of the start of the silly season, I thought it a good time to reflect on what I’d achieved on my self-inflicted diet, before I give some serious thought to any future sewing-related purchases…
So I managed to make four new tops: three for myself and one for my daughter:
See here, here, here and here for making details.
I made two versions of the Megan Dress; the second version fitted perfectly:
See here and here for making details.
I made three skirts: one for myself and two for my daughter. I’m not allowing myself to count my Tweed Delphine, see here, as I bought the material specifically for that project, much though I was tempted to add it to the list 😉
Oh, and a ridiculously small pin cushion. See here, here, here and here for details.
I now have some seriously tidy sewing drawers, fabrics carefully sorted by type, get me! I still have a small stash of Summer-weight fabrics to use up, but inspiration for using these up is, quite frankly, totally beyond me now it’s truly Winter here in the UK.
I much prefer dressmaking to scrap-busting, but I also ran up these as token Christmas gifts for various friends and my #sewingsanta recipient (I’m hoping she doesn’t inspect my hand sewing too carefully…).
I’m chomping at the bit to go on a fabric/pattern binge, but I’m forcing myself to give some serious thought to what projects I tackle next. Restraint doesn’t come easily to me, but I’m getting there very slowly…
navybluethreads 
Bravo! Great work! I also love selecting a (new) fabric for a specific project, so can understand how much restraint it takes to use something from the stash.
Thank you! It’s so tempting just to rush into the next new project, so I’m glad I’m (slowly) learning to slow down 🙂
Good on you. That’s such a good idea and you’ve been so productive. I really should do that. I am participating in a fabric swap lunch soon, though really that mightnt help the stash problem ☺
Thank you and everything helps! We’re lucky to live in a fairly biggish house too, but we still manage to fill it with ‘stuff’ all too easily…
Well done for making a big dent in your stash! What a great collection of images showcasing your creations. Lovin’ the cute decorations too…..:)
Thank you! I’m actually amazed so many of then ended up wearable too. Think I probably did it at the right point in my sewing career (!??! For want of a better word). Any earlier and I’d no doubt I would have turned out a fair few ‘duds’ 🙂
Congrats, the clothes you made are gorgeous and it feels so great to use the fabric we have on hand doesn’t it? Pin cushions are adorable.
Thank you! Definitely going for a larger pin cushion next time 😉
Wow you’ve done so well. You must have had loaaaads of fabric!
Much more than I actually realised too! Made me tidy up what’s left while I was at it so good job all round 🙂 The only things that were beyond me were the really Summer-weight stuff, so not feeling Summer makes in this weather…
I need to stop buying fabric too but it’s soooo hard when you see a bargain. Love what you’ve made from your stash, especially the tops. The finishing looks very good; do you use an overlocker?
Thank you! Took a bit of thought, but really pleased they’re all wearable. Just did them on my normal machine, but booked on over locker course for January…
A lovely round up – what’s coming in part two? Did you make even more? I also like to buy fabric for a specific project but my rate of buying exceeds my rate of sewing so my stash is building quite nicely!
🙂 Made me smile, nope that’s it! I was thinking more along the lines of ‘strategic’ purchasing rather than just purchasing patterns willy nilly as I fancy, which is what I’ve done so far… I’m not promising I won’t let my stash build up again, but I’m trying 😉
Wow! You have made lots of gorgeous things! I bet you are so proud!
Thank you! Very pleased they were all ‘free’ and wearable too 🙂
I do like the placement of your stripes in your top, and the green fabric is lovely. Good on you for stash busting! (I only just BOUGHT more!)
Thank you! Restraint really doesn’t come naturally to me. I love the whole ideas part of choosing and buying patterns and fabrics but drastic action was needed to tidy up my shared sewing spaces.