How to build up a stash of fabrics, trimmings and other items for slow stitching! 

Great video, Sarah. I have been sewing and collecting fabric for more than 50 years so I have a very large stash. Happy to have found something I can do with it. Ginger Cat 🐈 is lovely. My cat, Gertie, is curled up on my lap as I watch.❤️🇨🇦

Thank you, Ginger Cat!-oh and Sarah 😂 This was brilliant. I appreciate the info about playing with the design before!

I WISH I watched this video before I spent a fortune buying 1 yard cuts from several Amazon sellers. Yes, I now have a gorgeous collection of prints and some nice solids, but I could have just gone through our closets. I have LOADS of my husband's ties I could use, as well as his old jeans and A LOT of my clothes that don't quite fit anymore. I'm down to a large and an XL from a 2X and sometimes a 3X, IE too much to take in to keep wearing. You can imagine the amount of fabrics I have from my "fat clothes". I'm still going to go through my closets and dressers. My husband and I mostly wear natural fibers, so that makes my resource perfect for slow stitch. Thanks for sharing your goodies and where we too can find lots of lovelies.

Hi Sarah, can't thank you enough for inspiring me to take up my embroidering hobby again😊😊😊. Keeping my post short though i have loads to share with you. In a nutshell: Have created a small sewing and embroidery kit to carry with me whenever and wherever i travel ( which has become very frequent with me taking off almost every 10 days)!! Since i am not an expert , my embroidery work has not been always perfect. But for some reason, even those imperfect impromptu creations of mine have left me feeling so happy and blissful😊. I guess it has been a kind of slow stitching all these years but i was unable to give it a name until now when you mentioned it. Have always enjoyed the process of creating something . And at the end, The beauty of a less than perfect embroidered piece has never failed to give me lasting joy.😊 I guess that's the reason for my love for hand embroidered work, which, as is so rightly said, like meditation. We forget ourselves and the world around us!! Am I using up small pieces of fabrics and threads to create tiny items like pincushions and needle books. Am Using those to try and practice different kinds of embroidery on patterns that i create as i go. As regards fabrics.. i have absolutely no reason to complain. Have become a hoarder!! Being from India, the range of colours and textures available to us is amazing vast, especially cotton ( which i use the most). i have been saving up every tiny piece and strip from leftovers from blouses and dresses not to mention the yards and yards from cotton saris that have lived their life!! Thank you sooo much once again☺️☺️☺️! PS: My post / comment is not as short as i promised or would be!! Apologies for the same

I do love your videos - between “they’re still pansies”, Ginger Cat’s look when you moved the pillow, and Eric, I had a lovely time. And that’s before all the ideas you shared. I have a narrow roll of quilting fabric that was on sale years ago. The colours are technically ‘my colours’ but the pattern is not. Watching thism, I realised it’s the perfect size to be a base for a sampler project (or several), to use as a base for the needle book I want to make, can be pieced together to make a larger piece. I’m very inspired now. Thank you.

This is just what I needed to see. I don't have a lot of fabric since I don't sew. Thank you for all the tips!!!

Excellent! I enjoyed seeing all your stitch pieces. The last piece was especially beautiful. Thank you for sharing all that you know it certainly is inspiring my stitching.

I’ve bought a number of items from local charity shops to deconstruct - shirts, skirts, ties. I look for cotton mostly, but silk ties. I was amazed at how they’re constructed the first time I took one apart. Deconstructing is definitely a cathartic process.

I was wondering when Ginger Cat would make an appearance - and he did, with his usual confidence and style. Your "pet spider" Eric, on the otherhand, seemed as overwhelmed by stage fright as I was by seeing him skittering on the table and back into the bauble-box!😮😂 Wonderful video.❤

Thank you Sarah and Jonathan for your video. I am in the process of gathering "bits" at the moment. I think many are slow stitching as doilies are becoming difficult to get at a sensible price and a lot are snapped up to make slow stitching kits on line. Or being sold as vintage. I found a few in a charity shop along with a plain cotton duvet cover. I felt I had won the lottery. Depending on the pattern, net curtains can be good to cut up. I bought a couple of mini charm packs to start me off 42 pieces of fabric all a couple of inches square. Just a thought for those who have no stash yet and perhaps can't get out. Good to see Ginger cat 🐱🐱

Hi, had to watch this video twice, once for your ideas and once to watch your lovely cat 😸

Love the Kitty

Fab .. lovely to see how you’ve used the pieces as well as where they came from. So many ideas .. thank you ❤

I love Ginger Cat!!!! ❤❤❤❤

😂😂😂 loved the humour and a great video with lots of ideas🌸🦋💕

I have said before I am a novice stitcher on a very tight budget, so I have to use what I have, but I am really enthusiastic about trying!

Such beautiful of fabric-wow- and ways to use these gorgeous fabric- thank you❤❤❤

I love this! I have a lot of quilting cotton but sometimes I want something a bit different for my projects. To the charity shop I go!

Thank for this great video. Had to watch twice. 🤣💖

Thanks Sarah! I'm still building my fabric stash and I've been utilizing old clothing to help with that. Luckily, because I'm old, have gone through so may phases and keep EVERYTHING craft related, I have a huge stash of embellishment items. It's good to see how you've used those other types of materials in your work. So many ideas, so little time!

Very useful video and full of inspiration...you really make fabric come to life!!😍☺

Great ideas Sarah. I manage to get a real variety of material from one of the charity shops in my town. They have such a selection, I can spend ages rummaging! Liz

Love this video. Gave more ideas. Every time I watch one of your videos I learn more😊😊

I love how you remember the delightful little stories for Some of the pieces you have collected🤓

Thank you Sarah. I have an embarrassingly large stash of fabric, after more than 30 years of quilt making. It's lovely to see Ginger Cat visit as well - he's adorable.

Yes, I agree. It is a cute dress and I would like to wear it too!

I learn so much from you. ❤

Love this video. It was fun laughing with the unexpected Jonathan's comments about the pansies and the 'pet' spider) (lol). I bought some 100 % silk ties years ago (very cheap at thrift store) Apparently the colours and motif from the ties could be transferred onto empty egg shells at Easter time. I also cut out buttons, sequins, etc. from discarded garments. and beads from broken jewelry. I have fabric scraps from quilting projects. Thank you for wonderful ideas. Really enjoyed your nice choice of fabrics Have great week!

Great video Sarah. Really interesting sources and textiles for stitching. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent video! I started slow stitching by asking a relative for any ties he didn’t wear anymore. You are absolutely right, I was astonished by the amount of material in a tie! Before you cut into that green scarf, you could use it as gift wrap. I’m obsessed with furoski gift wrapping and square scarves are ideal for it. I just use those long, narrow scarves that are out of fashion now for slow stitching.

So enjoyed that film Sarah. Thanks. You used the word "imagination"....I wish I had yours! 🎉

Thank-you for these lovely tips! I am just starting to slow stitch. I recently made a trip to a Thrift shop and not only picked up some interesting fabric but some lacy tops to take apart. I also have bits of jewelry that a friend gave me. I love the pieces you've done, they're so pretty

Sarah. This was a great video. Thank you! I love your creativity 🥰🌷🦋

You gave me the idea to look at my Goodwill shop for these items and I find a lot of ribbons, lace, and other sewing items in small bags there. I used to look only at men's shirts, pillowcases, and other items to use in quilting but now I look at other things. Found a large glass bottle for dyeing fabrics. Thanks for all the ideas.

Thanks for the shoutout :) Halfway through this video, I needed to go shopping. I was inspired, and I stopped in some charity shops and found some nice fabrics and lace. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

I love your work. You are inspiring and affirming.

I am building my stash. Just on Thursday of this week, I went to an estate sale and found a box of lace, many pieces of fabric-the lady of the house must have been a sewer for a very long time. Saturday is half price day, so I think I might go back for more fabric!

Perfect! I’m having so much fun with slow stitching. Thankyou Sarah for teaching us more in this avenue of stitching. It’s so freeing xxx

Great tips I hadn't thought of some of those things

Great ideas for building my fabric and embellishment stash. I love to see Ginger Cat. One of my cats always wants to help with my hobbies.

Good morning from Denver Colorado🎉 Love learning so much from you! ❤🦋⚘️

something I found at the thrift shops are pillowcases. such a variety of patterns and colors and such. I made a mug rug out of a couple pink and red ones for Valentines day

Oh no! A couple of years ago we cleared out my late Mum’s belongings and there were mountains of old lace, doilies, faded or stained embroidered napkins… we had to be ruthless as there was So Much Stuff (not just of this but of literally everything) and we didn’t have room for it. She had loads of sewing stuff, and larger fabrics, which I kept in case the were useful (up until now my only sewing had been cushion covers, replacing buttons and darning socks) and didn’t imagine I’d ever need this stuff….. and of course now I’ve moved house, been inspired to get into more creative sewing and now I’m regretting throwing so much of it away!

It seems just before various holidays is a great time to pick up specialty items from thrift shops, etc. I really hadn't thought of that before. 😊

Lots of good ideas for finding things to use for slow stitching. I hadn't thought about using ties.

Hi Sarah Sheryl here from New Zealand. Your videos are inspirational. Talking about quilting fabrics I have the same two butterfly fabrics I bought here as part of getting a stash. I've used some of it cut out for a applique needle book. I've been watching a lot of your videos and others to get inspiration. It's a bit alien to me as I'm more used to cross stitch and tapestry work but slow stitching has really got my imagination. I need to take the plunge. I need to get more embellishments and need to go to our secondhand shops here to see what I can find. I would love to find a group here to share ideas and inspiration too.

Also a great place to find fabrics is second hand shops or tag sales.

Ginger cat appearances are the best!

Loverly bits & bobs you have there Sarah, & Yes, most Charity shops are Treasure troves for these sorts of things. I always get my Black or Blue Cotton, for Sashiko from Charity shop Trousers, the bigger the better. Lol. TFS, & take care too. ❤🙂🐶

Thanks!

This was a fabulous video! Even though I have loads of fabric and misc., it still gave me lots of ideas since I'm new to slow stitching. Source for the mini wooden houses and trees? Thank you!

Great video, great ideas. Thank You

Great video with lots of useful information. If you have a local dressmaker or someone who does alterations, they may be willing to donate their small offcuts rather than send them to landfill.

Thank you. Very helpful ❤

Would you be interested in showing a Kawani stitching? BTW, interesting, informative video today. I so enjoy your videos. TY😊

So funny 😊 I too enjoy slow stitching and like to shop the thrift stores for lace and fabric. Thanks

You are so very inspiring!!! LOVE your videos!!❤

Great information

Great tips!

Thanks you gave me a whole new crafting.😊

This was a very fun video, thank you! And I just love your cat, my favorite cat I ever had was a big ginger tom.

❤ your 🐈

Remember some of the fabrics from the class especially the butterflies

Hi Sarah another great video.l bought a big bag of Africa pieces for a Pound today from a market.l just need some neutral colours too go with them.l'm really going to enjoy using them .Some of the pieces are quite small,but like you said ," lt really don't matter" Look forward to many more videos

Hi Eric

Brilliant video Sarah…given me some more ideas. Thank you 😊🌷

Thanks for the wonderful ideas!

Off topic, but your dress is so beautiful.

Thanks

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!

I have a pattern I'm working on that had satin stitch for leaves, some I did are good, some are not so good, but I'm doing better are satin stitching. The other thing it has is the woven wheel for roses, which I have never done before, but it's easy enough. Progress. I do better at cross stitch. Slow stitching seems relaxing.

I just started slow stitching I embroider on my machine and do cross stitch but I wanted to try slow stitching

Haha! Hilarious when hubby wanted his blue jeans back. 🤣

Dashing down the charity shop tomorrow, l need a bigger house

Fun video Silly ginger cat

Ginger cat 😂❤

Warning! A little bit of stash can very easily lead to a lot of a bit of stash 😂😂😂😂😂

My problem is rather "how to not let my fabrics take over the apartment" 😅

🤔get your kid💖to design some?😊💖👍😎

Are you a school teacher❤

I could do with advice on how NOT to build stashes!

Thanks!