I am a self-proclaimed “Fat Quarter Hoarder”! When I enter a fabric store I head straight to the fat quarter section. I specifically look for unusual patterns, or color combinations. Most of the time I find just one fat quarter that appeals to me. I grab it and put it in my cart before anyone else finds it. What am I going to make with it? I haven’t a clue, but it is unusual, one of a kind……and I must HAVE IT! What this means in real life is that the items I make are usually one of a kind. Once I use the cherished fat quarter, I cannot find another like it.
Wait! What!? What is a fat quarter? A fat quarter is a piece of fabric that is cut between 18″x22″ or 20″x22″. Sewists who do small projects, or who quilt, don’t want or need to buy a whole yard of certain colors or patterns of fabric. So a fat quarter is 1/4 yard and saves money and produces less scraps.
So, my collection of fat quarters fill three bins in my sewing room. I organize them by color, or theme. Then, when I look through them to match a fabric in one of my sewing projects, I tear through the bins, and they totally get unorganized…..because I am matching like colors, then matching contrasting colors, then mixing them with the themed patterns. It becomes a total mess. I want to get started on my project, and tell myself that I will put the fat quarters back in order….later. Well, the last “later” I told myself was two weeks ago, and three projects ago.
My plan is to organize it tomorrow morning. Right…..no, really…..sigh.
Handmade By Deby Cadigan 