Solids! How much in your stash?

     In my time, I have made several quilts that are totally solids.  I have made a few more that are mostly solids, with a few prints sprinkled in.   I am taking a workshop this weekend with Maria Shell, and am so excited to be experimenting with her techniques with solids.   I had to put together a bin of fabric to take to the workshop, which provided me a great reason to start to take stock of the solids in my stash.

     I have been keeping my quilt fabrics in bins in my laundry room, organized by colors, primarily, with a few bins for solids by color family.  As time went on, more fabrics were just folded on shelves, or tucked away.  As I work on setting up my new sewing space, I have been moving only the fabrics for current projects upstairs.   Time to haul the solids up.  

     I did not take before pictures of the mess, because it was embarrassing.  Although I had, years ago, regularly ordered half yard color bundles from a now-defunct on line store, I didn't really think  I had many solids, and was wondering if I needed to get more before the workshop.  Now that I am done with the sorting process - the answer is NO!   

     So, I unloaded the bins, and started pressing.   I made half yard cuts from one yard pieces, and folded up the neutrals where I had more than a two yards.    Cuts that were about a quarter yard were separately pressed and folded.    I have a smallish bin of smaller but still usable pieces.  

     I started by putting together a bind of primarily half yard bundles of different colors of fabric, to which I also added some quarter yard cuts in other colors.  Turns out, this bin has 35 yards total of fabric!  I truly had no idea! 

Workshop bin!  

     But, that wasn't the end of it.  I made up a separate bin of half yards that were duplicates of the ones in the workshop bin.  Another 12 or 13 yards total.  

Extra smaller bin!

     I folded the neutrals (light tan, white, grey, black, and some yards of a deep navy) to put on my shelf.   Probably another 12 - 15 yards.

Neutrals on the shelf!

  I have a much smaller bin of bits and pieces.  I am not going to worry about how many yards are in this bin.  I just am going to figure out what to do with these bits! 

Bin of scraps. 

     As I was writing this confession, post, I realized that I didn't photograph a bin of solids that is still in the basement.  Last year I got organized to make a pixelated quilt, and chose a gray tone photo to work with.  I carefully ordered about 8 yards of various colors to work with.  However, my two current art classes are focused on black and white and the value scales, so I am getting my fill of all shades of gray and have put that project aside until classes are over in May! Next semester, painting and color theory -  can't wait!   

     So, when I add those numbers up, it is really a shocker!  I have at least 70 yards of solids in my stash!   I'd better get cutting and quilting! (and better stop shopping!)  (and I don't even want to think about how much printed fabric I have).  

      How much solid fabric do you have in your stash? 

Take care,
Gretchen