When I unpacked my fabric collection one major thing I realized is that I neglected it when it was in the Sewing Cave. See it was so well organized and put away that when I added more fabric bins to handle the fabric buying overflow, I stopped paying attention to the main collection.
I saw that as I unpacked it.
Also, I own so much more fabric than I've been willing to admit I own. In all honesty, I'm an emotional fabric purchaser. Meaning it wasn't bought when I was happy...no when I was unhappy with a job I worked at for far too long...I bought fabric. When I was unhappy with my living situation...instead of dealing with it...I bought more fabric.
I saw that as I unpacked it.
Several years ago I wrote a blog post about how my fabric collection was my retirement fund. The internet gave me a lot of flack for that post. However, fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic...when everything shut down for months...my fabric collection was truly a good thing. For that reason and for the fact that it will take me into retirement, I am thankful for the fabric collection.
I saw that as I unpacked it.
As I put it onto the shelves, I wondered why I have so much green fabric when I don't really wear a lot of green. Oh yeah, it was the pantone color of the year and I bought all of the pretty hues of green. I've found 5 yard pieces of merino wool in red, navy and black - why so much? Oh yeah, fabric.com was having an amazing sale so why not buy all the basic colors.
So much of my fabric has stories behind it. Where I bought it. Why I bought it. Who I was with when I bought it. How I was spending my last disposable dollars to buy it. It's a living history/testament to my sewing journey...
I saw that as I unpacked it.
- I found the one piece I purchased as a 18 year old and have held onto for all these years.
- I found a few pieces I bought when I made my first trip to the original GStreet Fabrics in Maryland.
- There are pieces from fabric stores that no longer exist in the NYC Garment District.
- Pieces purchased from Mood Fabric when I was a Mood Blogger and pieces that friends have given me over the years.
- There are also pieces from online fabric companies that no longer exist.
I'm thankful for those memories.
I'm also thankful that I have this amazing collection. I can honestly say that I won't be buying any more fabric this year and probably not into the first quarter of 2021. Even if I start sewing from my retirement fund now, I know I won't make a considerable dent in it before I actually retire! *LOL*
Most importantly though, I've learned a few things about myself by unpacking and situating the collection. This is where I'm at now. Just like my extensive pattern collection (which hasn't been sorted yet), I will be sewing from what I have. It's time to make what I have work for me.
A tour of the fabric collection can be seen here.
The Sewing Loft is finally finished...
...and I'm spending my first weekend sewing. Sewing in what seems like a very long time!
...as always more later!