Pam Sievers

My Patchwork Journey

Blaming Barbie for My Hoarding Tendencies

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I think I’ve become a hoarder. Ok, maybe I just fall on the hoarder spectrum because I am very well organized, and maybe I’m just stuck in the addiction phase. And who gets the blame for this? 
 
Now understand, I never owned a Barbie doll – I suspect she was too racy for my mother. No, I had a Tammy doll, marketed as “more wholesome and less curvaceous” than Barbie; I’m sure Tammy wore sensible shoes, had only one piece swim suits, was home early every Saturday night and went to Sunday school every week (oops – I may be getting into some other issues here). But if there hadn’t been Barbie, there would not have been a Tammy and I wouldn’t have learned to start sewing around age 9 making clothes for her.

My mother was a magnificent seamstress and taught tailoring, so she was excited when I took a strong interest in sewing at such a young age.  She also had a fabric store in my small Wisconsin town and fostered my creativity by giving me small scraps or samples of fabrics. From there, I imagined, designed and created the most magnificent wardrobe for Tammy. Barbie may have been cuter and sexier and of course, she had Ken on her arm, but she’d never have nicer clothes than Tammy. Evening gowns, Bermuda shorts with matching jackets, dresses, you name it, every Wisconsin snow day, I was sewing.  At a young age, I learned to love all textiles, but especially fabric, and all the creations one can make from it.

While living in Japan a few years ago, I began my interest in quilting, primarily as a way to utilize some of the beautiful used kimonos I could find at flea markets. I advanced my interest so I could justify purchasing the beautiful fabric I found there, and on my visits to neighboring Korea. With tons of help and encouragement from my sister, Barb, who has been quilting for more than 25 years, my interest in the craft has grown well beyond using worn kimonos.  

Do you have any idea how popular quilting is these days? All you have to do is stop at every third town across the back roads of this country and you can find a renovated old home transformed into a shop with the word “stitches” or “blocks” or “stash” in the name which are really a code words for your travel partner to go find a cup of coffee some place, and take a good book. Quilters can’t be rushed.
 

My fabric all neatly organized; except for the pieces in the tubs. Or the drawers. Or the other closet.  

So as I’ve traveled, I’ve stopped at too many of these shops – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Kansas…and I’ve discovered special fabrics, or great deals in every one of them. This winter, I took some time to get it all organized, and that’s when the truth hit me – I am a quilt fabric hoarder. You never know when you might need it, right? And no, I can’t throw that scrap away – it may have use in another project. The result – my quilting stash has grown to… well, the next time I want fabric, I’ll shop my cupboards first. From snowmen, to scarecrows to sunflowers, from polka dots, to stripes to triangles, I’m all set. And it’s all Barbie’s fault. Really.


By the way, there are 173 shops in Michigan that sell quilt fabric. By my estimates, I have 163 more to visit!


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Comments

  1. Hmmmm think I will request a quilt from you and help you pick out fabrics from your stash!

  2. LOL. We could have some fun! My goal is to reduce my stash so I can buy more fabric. I'm not sure that makes sense. Let me know if you have a color scheme in mind; just no orange – I'm out of that at this time!

  3. You're right – I probably did get it from my mother but I just can't blame her. And I also think this is much better to have than so many other addictions. Oh well – quilt on, I say!

  4. I'm going to share your blog with my friend, Wendy. She's a kindred spirit in the quilting world.

  5. Please do. I find most quilters share some of these same qualities. Thanks Kathy!

  6. Learning to quilt is on my bucket list! Maybe when you're ready to get rid of your fabric I can take over blaming barbie!

  7. Oh Alissa, I'd love to reconnect over quilting and I'd be happy to help you start your own stash. Together, we can blame it on Barbie! Just let me know when.

  8. The internet and paypal have changed the ability to hoard fabric. Now all it takes is a phone or computer and you can add to your stashes without changing out of your pajamas. My postal carrier will attest to the fact that packages have been arriving almost daily as I trade and buy fabric in any size, shape, color or pattern. I am now full immersed in and addicted to fabric shopping…. and don't let me see the words sale, discount or clearance…. that is like throwing gasoline on a bonfire. I think new qualifying adjectives need to be used in conjunction with the word stash… such as mini, mega, wonder and unending…… "Hi… my name is Lisa and I am a fabric shopaholic….."

  9. What's so funny about this is that I've really discovered I like buying fabric more than I actually like quilting! Maybe someday I'll write a piece on the quilters 12 step program. Thanks for the comment.

  10. You have the Fabric disease. Very common in quilters. My mother says she gave it to me and she is "Sorry". Your Mother probably gave it to you without even knowing it. Well, it's better than being addicted to drugs or gambling! Alicia the Fabricoholic.