Confessions of a Failed Fabric Faster

Forgive me fellow bloggers and readers for I have sinned.  I have fallen off the fabric wagon (again) and, this time, I’m off to stay.  I have passed the point of no return.  I pledged to buy no fabric at all, for any reason, for one whole year.  I made it to four and a half months during which time I gorged myself on yarn and gadgets instead.  My fabric stash has decreased somewhat but I now have so many  knitting projects lined up I may have to move back to the U.K. so that I can wear woollies all year round 😉  Plus I have gadgets for patchwork, sewing and knitting that I probably have no need for and can’t even remember what some of them are supposed to do – the exception being  a 12.5 inch square patchwork ruler which makes me wonder how I ever lived without it.

Four and a half months isn’t so bad though is it?  Maybe I was too ambitious and, if I’d said six months at the outset as some of you wisely suggested, I might have been able to stick to it.

Like any addict, I will attempt to tell you ‘it’s not my fault’, ‘I was led astray’, ‘I needed it’, ‘it was for a good cause’ and some of these are true but, after managing to avoid Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Silly Sunday or whatever other day they have made a day to spend money, I gave in to temptation and shall list my deviations from the path of frugality, self control and discipline so you can come to your own conclusions.

Temptation No. 1 

(previously confessed)

 

Offending Article:

A length of vintage French fabric featuring Little Red Riding Hood images.

Excuses:                      

It was too good to miss.

It only cost 2 euros.

It is vintage.

It was bought at a charity event

This has already been confessed to in an earlier post (2 months into the fast) and I was granted forgiveness by my kind readers due to all the above excuses and some they made up for me themselves (bless you all)

Temptation No. 2

Offending Article:  

One metre each of marbled and batik fabric for making the backking of my F2F block swap quilt which I am putting together using the quilt as you go method.

Excuses:

I had already committed to the F2F swap before my fast began.

If I don’t start putting the blocks together now, I will lose interest and it will fester in my ‘to do’ pile.

My local fabric shop had a 50% sale on and I had to make the most of it.

I like to support local shops (when it suits me!!).

As I am ‘quilting as I go’ I couldn’t do anything before I had the backing.

Temptation No. 3

Offending Article:  

A half yard bundle of Gelato Ombre fabrics at a good price from Massdrop.

Excuses:                    

 I’ll let the Massdrop blurb explain  –  “Gelato by Elite is an ultra-gradual ombre pattern with vibrant coloring and a dramatic appearance. The 75 x 75 cotton sheeting changes color from the selvedge edge to the center, then back to the opposite edge. For a gorgeous finish for your next quilt, the Gelato Ombre Half Yard Fabric Bundle is a sleek collection of unique prints.“

                                          Sort of like this

and, if you need any more excuse, I am very short on plain fabrics.

Temptation no. 4

Offending Article: 

Cotton canvas fabric adorned with Eiffel Tower and other French motifs.

Excuses:                

A customer wanted me to re-make a sewing box that I had previously made and sold but I had no fabric left and had to order in some more.

 

Temptation no. 5

(or ‘while I was there on that same website’)

 Offending Article(s):  

Cotton canvas fabric adorned with Eiffel Tower and other French motifs – in a different colourway.  Little fleur de lis on green.  Gorgeous button fabric.  Beautiful sprigs of oriental blooms on fresh blue background and adorable little baby clothes hanging on washing line held by little birdies.

Excuses:                           

Absolutely none!

 

I could have lied to you and kept my failure to myself but, what’s the point?  I managed four and a half months and reduced my pile of fabric somewhat.  Maybe I’ll try again next year but aim for 6 months instead of a year – I think I could probably do that.

On the plus side, my version of ‘Dry January’ – ‘Firsty February’ – where I am abstaining from alcoholic beverages for the month, is still on course.  However, another confession – it was nearly derailed last night when I could barely countenance my roast pork dinner without a glass of something dry, white and containing around 12%.  Unfortunately  Fortunately. the house was devoid of such a thing as I had shocked the staff of my local supermarket (and probably put several of them out of a job)  by leaving without any bottles of wine in my trolley in preparation for the miserable month.  Again, unfortunately, fortunately, a deranged (if you listen to my daughter) phone call to my neighbours to pretend I wanted to borrow a bottle of wine to put in the cooking, was thwarted as they weren’t in!  So I had a glass of coconut water instead.  I will, again, confess all if I don’t manage to stay the course.

Nobody can say I don’t try.

Salut!

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