Quick Note:
If you're commenting using "Anonymous" and I understand because google is not playing nice with blogger - would you kindly sign your name at the end of your comment. That way I know who I'm replying too! Thanks...
Now to the blog post...
While I only made 6-7 garments in 2024, I bought a lot of fabric and notions...especially buttons. It didn't help that M&J Trimming in NYC is going out of business.
Some fabric was purchased because I got really excited when I started sewing again in the middle of the year. Then after the election, I bought ALOT more. I bought a lot of everything that America imports from China and Mexico. All because I truly believe that prices are going to rise on everything during the next administration and I want to be prepared.
Now I know I will probably need to purchase something because as hard as you try to prepare, you're never ready for everything. But my goal is to NOT have to buy to create. I want to create from what I already own, especially since I now own so much!
That leads me to this...do I track fabric in and out (hopefully primarily out) for 2025. My concern is that it will add pressure to my desire to sew. Because my desire to sew while consuming, it's not all consuming like it use to be. Before sewing was my primary creative outlet...but now, I read, I crochet and I venture out into the world more. Well I did in 2024, let's see what 2025 brings.
I've decided to try tracking. I want to know what I'm using and hopefully encourage me to sew more of my collection. Yes, I'm trying everything to "encourage" me to sew consistently. More complicated projects, more challenging garments, things that stretch my creativity.
So tracking tentatively begins this month. My only question is, and your thoughts would be appreciated here, do I track fabric that was ordered in 2024 but delivered in 2025. It's just 8 yards and I've already offset it with the 8 yards I've used so far in 2025. But do I track it? Also, do you track your in and out fabric usage?
This is my first Question of the Day in 2025 and the first since 2023. I hope you will talk back to me because I'm truly interested in your opinion.
....as always more later!
The fabric was purchased in 2024, so it is last years fabric. That is how I would track it. The 8 yards was used in 2025, so it is a 2025 stat. Enjoy the tracking. I’m planning on doing the same.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I would view it as well. Any fabric purchased in 2024 is stash for 2025. Anything fabric sewn in 2025 counts for 2025.
DeleteI am also in chill-mode when it comes to buying fabric and other sewing items. I bought way too much last year and want to get control of things.
L (You sew, girl!)
This is how I'm leaning. I want to leave what was done in 2024 there. 2025 is me moving forward, using all my raw materials and trying to buy as little as possible.
DeleteI don't know, I guess you can track what came in 2025 if that is what your curious about. l personal track my fabric usage. I used to look back at what I stash-busted at the end of the month as well as what I added. But I've been away from the sewing machine for several months and there hasn't been much need to track lately.
ReplyDeleteI also track my fabric so that I can find it and to help me decide if I have enough for a project without pulling out fabric. I started this tracking method a few years ago when my stash grew and resided in storage bins. I don't have the space or shelving to display it. So, I have a binder with a sample swatch and I list the fiber content, quantity, when and where I purchased it. It saves my back from dragging out binds to search for some inspiration.
Have fun tracking, I find it fun to look back and see what I managed to use and in a way it is a rewarding look back.
No, I don't track my fabric. Other than - is it falling off the shelves? Then again, my garment fabric purchasing has fallen off a cliff since retiring. So have pattern purchases.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, if it came in the door in 2025 - track it, even if ordered in 2024. 8 yards in, 8 yards out right off the bat doesn't have the same "woohoo!" feeling as as 0 in, 8 out has, but it's nothing to sneeze at.
Once you start making exceptions, it might be hard to stop.
Gail this is where I want to get to...nothing in and everything out!
DeleteI track everything. For 15 years I was knitting and tracked all the yarn I purchased and every single item I knit. My stash of yarn became so big that it worried me. I spent two years knitting it all up. Now I have bins of knitted items I don't wear. However, I learned a lesson and am applying reason to my fabric purchases. I still track my fabric and my sewing patterns, but the fabric is easier to track because my stash is small, around 20 pieces. I use a draft blog post for each, patterns and fabric. My lists are only available to me but I can see them wherever there's a internet or cell service.
ReplyDeleteI don't track but I should. If you bought it in 2024 it counts as 2024 not when it arrived. That, in large part, is out of your control. And you didn't buy it in 2025. That is how I look at it. Jean
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean...that's how I'm going to handle this!
DeleteI don’t track in or out. So much of life is regimented, that I give myself permission to go overboard on this one thing. If I see it, and I like it and can afford it, why overthink it!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your sewing adventures and am pleased you’re back to it.
Linda in 🇨🇦
I don't track fabric in but I do track fabric out. I do charity sewing for the high school clothing bank and I have fun trying to use up my stash to meet their needs. I was not going to buy any fabric in 2024 but found out my favorite company, Alexander Henry closed its doors when the main artist Marcus DeLeon died, I went out and tracked down every A. Henry print that I coveted and bought it because they won't be making anymore. And I bought denim to make jeans since my work jeans are wearing out. And I just bought swimwear fabric for 2025 because, again, I need to replace some swimsuits. But I have loads of clothes so really, I'm not going to be making much for me so there is no real reason to buy more fabric. I'm glad your sew jo has returned and you are once more posting, I check in on your blog daily, even if it's to see what is new on the Blog Roll.
ReplyDeleteHey Theresa!!!!! So wonderful to see you! I'm an old SG poster and have wondered how everyone is doing. I'm like you in that I'm so glad to see Carolyn has gotten her sewjo back! I too check in here daily to see if she's posted and/or what's new on her Blog Roll. Carolyn, sorry to be mentioning you as if this isn't your blog!!!! So GLAD that you're posting more. Can't wait to see what you'll be making in the coming months. I think that if the fabric arrived in '25, then count it as a '25 addition and track it accordingly. If you've already made (used) up the same amount of fabric, you seem to be ahead of the game already. Happy New Year to you and everyone replying. Hope all your sewing endeavors are successful ones. :-) Kim
DeleteP.S. Carolyn and Theresa, CCL from SG started up a sewing group over on Discord called "Sewing Nomads". If you'd like, check it out, everyone is so welcoming!
Hey Theresa and Kim! Kim thanks for the information about where the Stitchers Guild folks have ended up!
DeleteI don’t track fabric in because collecting fabrics is a separate hobby from sewing 😄 but this year I’m again tracking fabric sewn. Not fabric out, mind you, because it’s not about getting rid of it. It’s about actually sewing. So I think the biggest question is, why do you want to track anything about your fabric? The answer should help guide your decisions about what counts and what doesn’t.
ReplyDeleteAlex - Fabric sewn was what I was tracking. Though I've recently given away (as in mailing out this week) about 30 pieces of fabric and never thought about tracking how many yards it was. Though I should because it has gone away from the collection and some of those pieces were 4/5 yard pieces.
DeleteI don't track as such but do use Stash hub to keep me informed what I have and what I could use it for. It helps me track what I have, but also what I have done and what I want to do. It is my go to tracking tool. TBH I am starting to get to a point where the inspirations projects greatly exceed my actual stash. The stash itself remains pretty stable though :-).
ReplyDeleteMy goal for 2025 is simply that my fabric stash should fit in its allotted space by the end of the year. Currently there is significant overflow, partially as I really got into the re-use/scrap thing.
The visual aspect is really my main tracking to that extend
Gilraen - I've tried using an app or program to keep track but I have such a large collection that I never get it all entered. Though it's amazing how I can remember when, where and who I was with when I purchased 90% of the collection.
DeleteHey Again Carolyn! I just wanted to add a bit about the fabric buying. I think that your purchasing fabrics before things like "tariffs" and such is a really good strategy. Hadn't thought about it in that way. I too have SO MUCH fabric and yes, I do still purchase yardage, just not indiscriminately like I did when I was younger. So for me, fabric buying to get ahead of the game isn't a major concern. I just need to really try and sew down what I have. I do not feel bad or guilty about my fabrics, in fact I'm so grateful to have my very own fabric store with a curated collection of goods that I love to see, feel and use. I also knit, but unlike one of the other posters, I don't have a ton of yarn. Now, I do have SOME yarn, but knew better than to be buying a lot, since my main needle arts endeavor is garment sewing. I didn't need large stashes of both fabrics AND yarns. Anyway, I need all kinds of clothes, and this year I intend to sew up a lot of things for myself. I usually sew more for others. Again, Happy New Year to you and yours! Glad to see you back. Kim
ReplyDeleteKim - you know I'm not ashamed of my fabric collection at all! And I thought about adding some special pieces and some basics to the collection before things got out of hand pricewise. I really want to be able to eat, pay for my utilities, save and create in peace.
DeleteStart tracking with what hits your door in 2025. I plan to track my ins and outs for this year. I already bought one piece of fabric this year. My plan is to be more intentional about what I buy. I already own a fabric store that has outgrown its storage space. I love buying fabric, but I can't stand fabric laying around, so I have promised myself to sew up the mound of fabric sitting on my storage bench.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
Towanda - I can proudly say that no new fabric has been purchased in the last 15 days! LOL! Now to stick to that!
DeletePerhaps it depends on why you are tracking - if its to monitor what happened to your fabric collection in 2025 then it makes sense to count fabric when it arrived, not when you purchased it.
ReplyDeleteIf it is about when and how often you go fabric shopping, then perhaps it should go into the 2024 side.
I monitor fabric in and out and it’s when it’s physically in my hot little hands, not when I purchased it!
Liz (He Cooks…She sews)
Liz - thanks for that! I'm tracking to see what I've sewn and what I've shared with others. Because no matter how much I sew, donate or share, I swear my fabric is reproducing upstairs in the dark behind the curtains. I think I've given it too much privacy and not checked on it enough!
DeleteI'm curious why it matters - how does the date help those of you who track it? I do keep track of what I have (amount, content, pattern) but not when I bought it. Sometimes I note which store or how it came to me.
ReplyDeleteThe only date that matters to me is what's on hand starting on 1 Jan. Anything purchased before then is considered stash. Also I want to know how much I spend in a year, so that dates matter.
DeleteL (You sew, girl!)
Suzee - my tags have dates on them too. I've been collecting for 40+ years so I want dates on my fabric when I finally pull it from the collection whether I'm using it, donating it or sharing it. L - my theory is the same as yours. Trying to curb my sewing expenses this year!
DeleteI have lots of fabric and when I did a big reorganization I folded it and labeled each piece by yardage, content and source….but I don’t track it. I’ve never been a good record keeper…heck, I was annoyed (but only for a moment) when I found out that I our library system kept your reading history only if you requested it. I’ve thinking about tariffs and Amazon too. I dropped Prime and have just placed my first TEMU order for some sewing supplies like zippers. I want some more boiled wool so have been eyeing a few foreign sites recently too. Good question, Carolyn. …Jane M
ReplyDeleteJane M - interesting. I think even Temu's prices are going to go up since they're a Chinese company and will definitely be affected by any tariffs enacted in this new administration. Also, I understand the challenge many people have with Amazon/Prime but they work for me especially since they don't discriminate against me when I shop in person. They deliver to my door and pretty much have everything on hand when I need it.
DeleteI have been vaguely tracking my fabric in and out by saving receipts and then checking purchases off when I use them. I've done so little sewing in the past few years that I haven't bothered, plus, I received a pickup load of donations from the husband of a smocker who passed away. Cataloging all that stuff literally gave me an anxiety attack. A friend is helping me inventory my Schtuff this month so I can begin keeping better track of what I have and what I use. Hopefully I won't buy duplicates of hawaiian prints this year.
ReplyDelete- Kathy P
Wow! Am impressed by the donation! Good luck with the cataloging.
DeleteHello Carolyn! I say if you’re going to track it why not track the 8 yards from 2024 as long as you indicate that it was 2024. I don’t track my fabric in or out. I used to, but because I wasn’t consistent I stopped. I do, however, have a three ring binder I use to keep the invoices of all the fabric I purchased. This way, I know where I purchased it from, and it has the description on it, sometimes with an accompanying photo. If I purchased it in a brick and mortar store, I attached the receipt to a standard piece of printing paper and put it in the binder as well. maybe you could call that “tracking in.” 🤷🏽♀️
ReplyDeleteMyra - that's what I tag on new pieces that come in without a tag. Like why can't all online fabric stores include tags!!! And I guess since I'm sewing again, I'm tracking like a progress report. How many yards did I sew, donate or share this month? Previously it was to see how much I was lowering the ever increasing numbers of yardage coming into my sewing space. This year it's more of what I mentioned before.
Delete"I want to create from what I already own, especially since I now own so much!" I feel so seen. Are you spying on my sins too. I wish I could find my sewing mojo. I will be watching your blog maybe something will rub off. Signed. Diedra aka A Needlewoman's Work
ReplyDeleteDiedra I hope it does rub off. I really do!
DeleteI don't have an opinion on your year question. I tried to track fabric in and out a few years ago and gave up. What I do have is a list of my fabric - noted by size, material, color and pattern. If I use it then it is deleted off the list. Though I like the idea of the commenter above who keeps a swatch too.
ReplyDelete