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Welcome to Week 4 of the Use Your Stash QAL! In this email you'll find prize information, social media prompts, and tips for this week's theme.

Note: Due to Quiltcon, next week's email will be sent on Tuesday.

Each week I will send you social media prompt suggestions. Note that these are totally optional, but I'm hoping to spark greater community discussions with these prompts as we evaluate our stash habits!

This week's social media prompt is this:

What is the state of your stash? Is it organized (and if so, how do you like to organize it)? Is it controlled chaos? Is it just a pure disaster zone?

This week we're discussing 🎉 Stash Organization 🎉. There are so many different ways to organize your stash, and a lot of it depends on the space you have to work with. I'll share some of my favorite resources and blog posts below about stash organization methods and tips!

1. Much of my own fabric is on bolts, stored in my cutting table and on shelves in a closet.

However, I still have plenty of smaller cuts that need to be stored of course! I've stored my fat quarters in an Ikea dresser using these storage bins for the last few years and love them (I know that Target makes similar ones that people love as well). I then have a basket next to the FQ bins for larger print cuts.

I then have my solid cuts stored in bins in an Ikea bookcase with doors. I know some people keep their solids beautifully organized on display, but I also know mine would quickly devolve into mess!

2. Make sure that your fabric is being stored in a way that keeps it safe. Check out this article on the Suzy Quilts blog for some excellent information from a textile curator!

3. Most storage systems rely on folding. Make sure you're folding fabric consistently to maximize your storage and keep it all nice and neat! This blog post from Polka Dot Chair has some great organization tips, and also dives into how to fold your fabric correctly.

4. Learn how some designers and see some wonderful real-life examples of how quilters organize their own stashes here.

5. Above all else, remember that the best method to organize your fabric is one you'll actually use! There's no point in a beaautiful display of faabric on shelves if it will be back to a pile in two weeks. Find a method that works for you!

PRIZES

The winner of last week's prizes is @angiesue222! If this is you, reply to this email with your address. They will receive

Quilter's Weekly Planner Pad, Customizable WIP Inventory Tracking Sheet, Set of 4 Aurufil Thread spools in neutral colors from Wild Plum Lane
Fat Quarter Bundle from Fabric Worm

This weeks prizes are:

A signed copy of The Quilted Home Handbook from The Weekend Quilter
A $50 gift card from Saltwater Fabrics

Winners will be chosen randomly every week using the #UseYourStashQAL hashtag on Instagram. Post every week for a chance to win! Note: it might seem odd to have fabric bundles or gift cards as a prize in a quilt a long designed to use your stash. However, week 5 of this QAL will focus on responsible purchasing and consumption, and these prizes can help accentuate your stash to make it even more usable!

QUILT A LONG SCHEDULE

Unlike a traditional QAL, we won't be focusing on some specific part of assembly every week - since everyone will be working with different patterns! Instead, each week I will be sharing tips, tricks, and resources around sewing more sustainably, using your stash, and intentional fabric buying. Each week we will also have optional prompts for social media posts that encourage you and others to think about you can use these ideas in your quilting throughout 2023. Share your progress each week for a chance to win some awesome prizes!

Note that by joining this QAL you are agreeing to receive emails from me. You can unsubscribe at any time, but please do not mark my emails as spam as that greatly impacts my business and others on my email list.

Amber

P.O. Box 1662
Beaverton, OR 97075, United States