LET'S TALK ABOUT DESTASHING - Karen's Quilts Circle with Kim Soper

[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

Happy Monday everyone. We are in that holiday week before New Years where you might have some unstructured time on your hands to be looking at your fabrics. As well as thinking about what I can do with them 2021, I'm also realizing that there is so much that has outlasted their welcome. It's time to destash. Kim Soper has many good points to share, and her website Feel Good Fabrics has many more. So grab your sewing and a cup of tea and enjoy.

[@joanhudson7317]

I just did a destash of my fabric this fall and put it up for sale. I decided my taste had changed in my fabric selections.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Well done! It's great to give your fabrics a new home!

[@daisy8297]

The time will come when you are ready and happy to destash, Karen! I have been buying massive amounts of fabric for the last 15 years and have just decided the time has come for me to start NOW. But if you had told me last year that I would even be be thinking about it, I would have laughed myself sick😱

[@gailrodgers3079]

Do I have a problem? I have no desire to weed out any of my quilting fabrics! I rarely buy fabric at regular stores, except a bunch of white toned or lightly printed white chunks as I never have enough. It is astounding how much fabric I have gotten by way of thrift stores or given to me. I have also been given just in the last few months, multiple rotary cutters and several new mats. I take them when offered as more than once I have raided my sewing room to find quilting supplies and favorite fabrics to set up a wannabe quilter. My SIL was up this Christmas and showed me the quilt that she was working on. However, she needed some more yellow fabric and I happened to have a large stash and like dispensing it to those in need when needed. I have to idea how to look at a piece of fabric and think that I am not going to use it in the future for a quilt, especially since I routinely make scrap quilts.

[@budoneof15]

Karen, This was a GREAT interview. You asked ALL the right questions. I’m excited to head to Kim’s site and shop. I’m a new quilter that is still learning.

[@janeroach3943]

Karen you did it again! I love your videos and look forward to new ones all the time. I started quilting this last summer after finding your videos and many others and am hooked. I am trying to set up a sewing room and my dream is to have a place where it’s somewhat in order and it seems like I have to sort and fold and destash after this busy holiday season. I will definitely check out her website and hopefully I will get my room organized as well.

[@myrahaws5148]

Couldn't agree more. I was going to leave a comment saying almost the exact same thing. Now I don't need to. Don't you just Love Karen's videos.

[@shawnaleewhitney6630]

Perfect timing! My craft room has been my office as I've worked from home since March. I've sat there looking out at the mess and disorganization seeing the possibilities, but not having time to do anything about it. I'm off this week and my #1 goal for the week is to get that room into shape before I go back to working in that room on January 4. Thanks for the strategies and inspiration! 🧵

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

That's a great goal for the week! Good for you for tackling that project.

[@pattweimer9268]

Having had house fire early November, my ?, stash woll be having a serious deep clean before i can make decisions. But before the fire i had a 'fair' amount of projected projects, nothing i planned to not own. I was sewing 2 to 10 hours , 6 days a week. Also knit. Rug hook, heavy reader. Widow, loves to cook for me. I'll see where the new normal goes for me. I think this is a sign to me, just not sure what that is. Thank you Karen for your user friendly site for those with experience & especially the newbies who need need straightforward, sensible, & just practical advice.

[@madhavidharankar]

Cannot thank u enough for this interview. I have been thinking of starting some initiative on the same idea! Hence, viewing this interview proved to be all the more useful. Ur youtube channel is my most favourite one. Keep uploading more such videos.

[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@audreyderby5926]

Everybody in fabric seems to be in the U.S.! So glad you’re in Canada, Karen!

[@martiabr2]

I get that same feeling, even though I’m an American, but lives abroad in Thailand. I would be so into this if they did internationally. I’d considered selling fabrics from Thailand. Lots of Elephant prints. :)

[@tamigilliam9647]

Such a good talk. I was relieved to hear that basting was not just my hurdle and other people had quilt tops laying about. It has given me some hope about getting them finished. There is a little voice inside my head that convinces me to not throw any fabric out because I can always find a use for it, even if it is the inside of a coin purse. Also I have purchased that "special" fabric and am afraid to cut it and ruin it. (I think you have a video on that). Maybe I can say this year I won't buy anymore fabric until I finish some projects but if I need to, I can purchase some batting, interfacing or hardware to get them done. Do you have a video on denial, lol ?

[@maureenkomperda3421]

Karen, What a wonderful interview with Kim Soper on destashing your stash. I can’t wait to check out her site and Feel Good Fibers. My sewing room looks like fabric rubble or a tornado hit my sewing room. Just in time for the New Year. Thanx. Great Speaker!

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Thx Maureen! It happens to all of us- that's a great intention for the new year!

[@colleen6960]

I enjoyed the interview, thank you, & Happy New Year! Have to say though that I was a bit astonished by your comment "thank God for Maria Horner". Her fabric is great & if it wasn't so expensive here ($32-36/metre), I'd probably buy some. But when there are fabulous designers like Kaffe Fassett, Alison Glass, Tula Pink, Phillip Jacobs, Nel Whatmore, Brandon Mably, Stuart Hillard, Amy Butler..(list goes on!), who are all very successful internationsl designers and who all produce amazing work...& whose fabric I can purchase for considerably less, then they'll do just fine. However, each to his own I guess!

[@Fg4e]

Loved the video! I so get Kim with the basting. lol I just went through my stash again just before Christmas and donated all my "orphans" to my daughter. She has just started sewing and needed some to practice with. Worked out really nice!

[@beverleyhasler1521]

She was so lovely and interesting. I certainly have some fabric that “gives me no joy”. On the list for next week. Keep safe Karen 🌺

[@cheriwilliams7001]

I made two half square triangles the other day. They look pretty good (I cut the dog ears off). I’m going to create 7 more and then try to pice them into a block and pray that my points match. I believe I will go back to watch your video on half square triangles.

[@Deeloveshergoldies]

Do a strip swap. Cut into strips and swap. So many people like scrappy quilts. Easy done with 10” squares too

[@adeleswanson8494]

Another great interview. I really enjoy how casual the interviews are and getting to know quilters I am not aware of and what they are doing.

[@cheriwilliams7001]

I love your interviews. You always interview interesting people. Thank you.

[@barbaracarroll6026]

This was a terrific interview! I am just loving this series and I'm really getting a lot from it! Thanks!!

[@judidavieswebb]

Very much enjoyed yet another great interview with some very useful ideas.

[@LM_Auto]

Another great episode! Just visited the guest's website & bookmarked it; simply organized and a fresh feel to the site's design. Thanks!

[@kathyb.8769]

thank you for this new site. I have a lot of fabric that just isn't my style nor liking and it makes sense to get rid of it and fill that i do like and that will inspire me to continue to grow as a quilter and bag maker. Thanks again for all that you do and I will be checking her out online for sure!

[@lmorgan1028]

I am so enjoying these interviews! Thank you so much Karen!

[@patriciaferrito9245]

I also love my Kai scissors and rotary cutter. I got mine at Sew Expo in Seattle, which is the biggest show for garment sewers. I am organizing my sewing room in the beginning of 2021 and de-stashing will be part of that. Great tips.

[@Crafty-n-Krazy]

Yes I HAVE to get my sewing room done!!! Going to be referring back to this video many times!! Very good pointers and info..thank you for posting this👍👍👍

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Good luck! You got this!

[@wandab3843]

This was a really good interview.

[@rachelburgener819]

Karen & Kim: Thank you for such a wonderful interview👏👏👏. So much positive and useful information. What a grand idea to start the Feelgood.com, I’ll keep it in mind😀 Gods blessings and Happy New Year 🥰🙏🏻❤️😀

[@jean6061]

Quilters may also wish to donate their unwanted fabrics. They could ask if local schools, churches, or organizations would be interested. Our church uses donated fabrics to sew tied comforters for Christian Aid Ministries (which sends them to needy areas all over the globe) and that organization also accepts fabrics and sewing supplies (needles, thread) to send to needy areas.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Yes - Great suggestion!

[@sarahkinsey5434]

With the price of fabric and batting these days it's getting harder for groups who depend on monetary donations like churches and nonprofits who donate all of the quilts.

[@michellejohnson6796]

I need to destash. I will check it out soon

[@conniesimonich2327]

Great interview. She did a great job and I’ve just ordered a fat quarter bundle a week ago. Can’t wait to get it.

[@faithsmith7431]

Great video Karen. Hope you had a nice Christmas. I need to do this but I can't part with most of it. Bravo!

[@marleekosanke145]

Thank you she was such a joy to listen to and you are a joy also.

[@christopherseilaff8665]

What a great idea. An easy way to stop just moving things to the back of my shelf.

[@mary-annz.reynolds7778]

That was great 💕. I'll have to hook my daughter in so she can sell her stash. Right now she sends mr anything she destashes. I've got boxes of odd fabric, lol

[@reginabrown5059]

Thank you sooo much for this video! I’m wanting to destash and this is perfect!!

[@juliemorrison4348]

Great interview. Hard to know where to start a destash. I'm trying to cleanup odd pieces by using them first. Your patterns helped kick start the job. I had 4 tops done and over the last 2 days I managed to finish the pieced backings needed, load them on the long arm, quilt and bind 3 of them. Just the last and biggest to go. Very pleased with my results. When are more stashbuster patterns coming? Love all your great ideas.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Love the idea of a stashbuster pattern! We try and use our odd pieces on challenge projects too.

[@joyshewan5086]

Great interview! Mary is always fun and full of infectious energy! (and you are, too) Thanks!

[@Allsmilesgirl277]

THANK YOU!!! I have a large amount of fabric that I wanted to destash after the holidays! ❤️🙌🏻

[@michellecornum5856]

I've got to tell you, the only thing this did was make me go "YES! Another place to look besides Etsy to find another yard of that dang fabric I need to finish this!" I did the KonMari thing with my fabrics two years ago when I started the big redo of my sewing room. I thought "Psh! This is going to be easy, I love all my fabric, so this is going to be just a long sort and refold session." And then I came across it. A piece that was so -- NOT joyful. It was a piece that moved into my stash from my mothers stash because she didn't want it. I thought about making it into a baby blanket, but it was just not a pleasant texture, not a nice color (a grey so light it just looked like a grungy white), and I could only imagine it being abandoned and trampled on against a wall or in a corner somewhere. My outdoor cat ( who staunchly refuses to come in and has to be captured and brought in the garage during a blizzard) finds that it is adequate for padding her usual nest. Thank you for introducing us to this site. I have on more than one occasion had to set something aside because I need a bit. Like you, I'm not ready to de-stash. But I sure could use a look through someone else's fabric to find what I need. Thank you for this! Have a Happy New Year!

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Thanks Michelle! We also do "in search of" for our newsletter subscribers if there's a hard to find fabric that might be hidden in someone's stash too!

[@sabrinasalcedo2530]

I am really enjoying all your videos. You have so many great helpful tips. Thank you.

[@SheilaRyanTX]

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful resource!

[@nildamager1649]

Enjoyed this interview ... very timely ! Thanks

[@mariabrenneman8881]

Karen, you did it again. Another wonderful, interesting, and inspiring interview, this time with Mary. Looking forward to more. Already signed up to her website. Thanks.

[@salliebeard1899]

Thank you for sharing ☺️🤗💞 Great interview....sounds wonderful... Will check it out.... Happy NEW YEAR 🎉🎉🎈🎈🎈🎉💞🤗💃💃💃💃

[@cheyjan330]

Great questions, informative interview.

[@maureensmith4005]

Great show as always. Thanks Karen

[@dawnfilipowicz2209]

Thank you for another great interview!

[@sandramyer7081]

Karen, Great Interview! And Great Quilt behind her! Do you have quilters who are disabled ( like me) Diabliing took a different journey in my life but im impressed what we fo with are quilting- Let me know ideas, please!

[@francinemasse-bannon9750]

Great topic. Thanks for sharing this chat. I would really like to know when you start your de-stashing and how, where to begin. I’m getting overwhelmed! Having difficulty letting go etc.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Getting started is definitely the hardest part! We suggest trying to sort your stash into 4 piles - Keep, Sell, Donate, and Trash... here's a quick guide to get started: feelgoodfibers.com/how-to-declutter-your-sewing-space/

[@patricelipscomb9100]

I’m enjoying your videos so much Karen. Thanks for all the tips. I would like to purchase a stand for my iPad like the one you have next to your machine. Can you share any info on where to purchase one? Thanks again.

[@brendafrye5875]

Great interview. Loved it. Can't wait for Mary Fons

[@denisewarrick4461]

AS usual Karen an excellent interview. Lots of tips and I am looking forward to having them in Canada. Maybe someone would like to start a Canadian version.

[@datdudeoverthere1040]

That feeling when your first quilt is also HST , chevrons, and you're not worrying about squaring. I do at least trim my dogears lol

[@rebeccah5105]

So excited for this

[@patriciagazey207]

Perfect timing once again thank you

[@diannewilson2710]

Great series Karen. Thank you!

[@susanirby8276]

This was a fantastic interview!

[@MsChris23456]

Awesome idea.

[@cs2178]

Just trying to catch up after the holidays (another title for your business?! :-) ) --- really enjoyed this interview.

[@deenamoody8162]

Great interview questions. Happy New Year.

[@michiganlighthouse]

Question - loved the video and will check out her website and IG. I wash all my fabrics as soon as they come in the house (except for precuts). Is it acceptable to sell washed fabrics as long as I state that in my listings? I would iron them first, naturally.

[@seams2travelterisingletonc264]

I just finished 2 memory quilts made from t-shirts and the basting & binding was my least favorite thing too! I personally ordered online the fusible interfacing and the clerk repeated exactly what I wanted. After getting home and working these quilts @ 11pm and all stores closed & my time crunching was running out. Advise to many online/clerk orders VERIFY your products before purchasing. Thank goodness the local Walmart was opened & I was able to buy basting spray. Life saver! Thank you for your quilt circle!

[@sharond8179]

Thank you for another great interview

[@margaretlowans8429]

It took we a while to get time to watch this. I feel at a disadvantage living in Belfast as this website is aimed at only the USA. I enjoyed the interview even with these drawbacks. I suppose my first move will be to get all my fabric in one place to see what and how much I actually have. 😷😘

[@janmathias140]

I am in Dublin. Maybe we could start our own fabric swap site?! Although I did hear Kim mention something about adding your location when selling.

[@margaretlowans8429]

That's a good idea. I hope to know if there's anything I have to part with by the end of the month. Are you in lockdown too?😷

[@jayneterry8701]

Any updates on this interview? I kind of stopped it when I heard it's in the states only. Ty

[@Cassieboce]

So enjoyed the interview.

[@dianasalyers8796]

Kai scissors are AMAZING!

[@barbararowe771]

Another great interview! My prob is I want nearly everything I still have, though I might need to re-think that due to space.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Totally and completely understand that feeling! So much of holding on to fabric is the emotion and memories from the fabric. We suggest maybe just starting with a one or two fabrics to destash or donate as way to get started to see how it feels.

[@polyesterbebe]

another great video

[@elizabethgeburt9329]

Was the name of the quilt pattern behind Kim Soper mentioned? It’s such a bold quilt - I love it!

[@toripavlik2730]

Wheel of Fortune block

[@seaborgium919]

I feel called out. As a man coming into quilting. It's entirely for color and texture lol

[@janetcozens5756]

Happy 2021:Let's Make this the best it can be (Huggsssss) 💖💖💖 to you and your family and Everyone on just get it done 😁😁😁😁

[@marionryley2098]

Not just my sewing room, my whole house!!!

[@lucilecamp975]

I checked the website but won't be purchasing any of the fabric. From what I saw, I can buy it new for as good or better price!

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

That may be true. Just to make two quick points - The mission of FeelGood Fibers is to promote conscious consumption and being able to buy from one another's stash. Also - all pricing includes shipping too. Thanks!

[@annablock8037]

I also looked at the fabrics. Everything out of my price range.

[@robbiemcgurran1800]

Super interniew!!

[@katehenry2718]

New concept: Fabric you're not going to use. Sell it??? Can't imagine this.... Had to look! By golly !!!! Ebay selling lots of quilter cloth by the pound or random piles. I had no idea. Nope not buying more. hahahaha. My shelves are full and there are bins by color. Gotta be 100 quilts in that lot. YEs going to use every crumb. Have fun everybody and keep toasty under your beauties.

[@marilynbook4211]

Great interview, I am really enjoying them and looking forward to the next one with Mary. I would really like to see if anyone in Canada is doing the same fabric buy/sell. I know on some of the Facebook pages like Quilting in Canada people ask if anyone has certain fabrics that they can buy. Something for us to think about.

[@lizagervais8621]

I’m in Ontario and there is a Destash Ontario facebook page. There may be others.

[@lory6605]

How can we figure out the type of fabric it is, for example 80% cotton 20% polyester?

[@joycekaminski1943]

Thanks for giving me a kick in the @#$&*. I started cleaning up my sewing space several weeks ago, before the holidays, and then gave up. After watching your videos, I went back to the basement today and finished the job. I feel so much better having put the Christmas stuff back where it should be and tidying up the remainder of gubbins I had put down there, it looks so much better. Now I just have to tackle the pile I intend to make into dog beds for the animal shelter and I will be done.

[@abby7038]

I LOVE Megan Collins!

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Yes! We do too!

[@eileenhaskins2710]

What a pity that this lady is not in Canada!! As far as my destashing, I found that the local Salvation Army thrift store will take rags and resell them. I knew someone should take rags to be made into industrial rags, so that is one step out from under the mountain of fabrics.

[@SnapDragon764]

Heads up sewists...I have a PFAFF Quilt Style which needed repair so I took it to my PFAFF dealer only to find PFAFF quit maki g parts for it...it is not THAT old...I now have a lovely DOOR STOP....I would not buy PFAFF if they do not support the product

[@pattweimer9268]

I must say the same of JANOME, 9 yrs old. Spoken with company, various dealers. "Too old"," can't/won't ", help you. "Don't recognize the info on the screen.". (YOU), I don't know what I'm talking about. Oh yes, also, we will look at it for fee, usually about $ 124.00 & up, that is only for look/see. Anything else is more. What garbage. Was $1200.00 machine!

[@mariannefridberg4087]

oh my. try looking online for resellers, or if you have a good general sewing machine repair center nearby try that. here comes my "advertisement": i recently bought a walking foot and a bias tape foot for the 1970's Bernina i acquired from my mother in law.

[@joesmith261]

what were the brand name of the scissors sounded like Thai scissors?

[@sandramyer7081]

Kai Scissors

[@carolmorgano7158]

👍😊

[@IRISHLASS273]

Karen hope you and yours had a good Christmas and that 2021 will be healthy for all of us Karen my comment may throw a spanner in the works however here goes. .. What suits Kim may not suit everyone. We seem to have experts now for everything. Some of these "experts" are only 5 minutes qualified when they feel humanity will benefit from their advice. What about individuality and thinking for oneself? Creativity is meant to bring out these traits in us. If we all bought the same fabrics, how utterly boring would that be. Kim is trying to recover money from her buying mistakes. Good for her. When people enjoy their fabrics and are HAPPY with their chaotic CREATIVITY isn't that what's important? Happy to say I'd no idea who Marie Kondo is did some research. ANOTHER EXPERT making millions from peoples gullibility and insecurities She own a store selling knick-knacks which is a total contradiction of what she preaches Throw away your crap but buy mine. What is meant by MODERN QUILTING? To me all quilts were modern in the era in which they were first made.

[@feelgoodfibers9237]

Hi Janet - 100% agree with your sentiment about individuality and thinking for oneself! Our mission with FeelGood Fibers is to promote creativity, being intentional with our creativity, and making the most of our creative time. We're just trying to offer tips on how to organize our creative spaces to help enable that. Also - we'd like to clarify that our market is peer to peer. We are encouraging sewists to find new homes for fabric they will no longer use. Hope that helps!

[@fayehillis5289]

Which scissors were recommended?

[@peggyblanchard5167]

Kai scissors I have some too and love them

[@michelletothill8551]

Kai Purple handle.

[@lorih9499]

I lo

[@candicemcfee5288]

P

[@deborahbrady7885]

If I had known her business was USA only I would not have wasted time watching. Karen, since you are based in Canada maybe you can tell us upfront if the service is available to fellow Canadians. Very disappointing.

[@JustGetitDoneQuilts]

Her principles can easily be applied to Canadian destashing sites. And she is a lovely person

[@daisy8297]

I live in Australia, and certainly don’t consider it a waste of my time to watch anyone with an engaging personality and offering handy tips which can be applied by anyone anywhere!