How to Overcome a Scarcity Mentality as a Quilter: Tips for Using Your Stash and Enjoying the Creative Process
Have you heard of the term “scarcity mentality?” Learning about it over the past few years has been crucial in helping me address some of the mental blocks that have held me back. About a year ago, I had a realization—this scarcity mentality had bled into my quilting! Today, I want to share how I’ve been working to overcome it as a quilter.
Note: If this resonates with you, consider seeking support from a counselor. This post is meant to raise awareness about these feelings and offer insights into how I’ve tackled them as a quilter. It’s not an all-encompassing guide. Also, I’m choosing not to use the word “hoard” here because it carries its own complexities and can be triggering for some. My focus is on overcoming scarcity thinking, not conflating it with hoarding.
What is a Scarcity Mentality?
A scarcity mentality is the belief that resources—whether it’s money, time, materials, or opportunities—are limited and must be tightly conserved. This mindset stems from a fear that there will never be enough, leading to anxiety, hesitation, and a reluctance to use or share what you have.
This mentality is common among people who’ve experienced financial or resource shortages in the past. Personally, growing up with limited financial resources meant that money was always a factor in whether we could or couldn’t do something. Even though my mother did everything to provide for us, the constant worry about scarcity stuck with me.
In quilting, this manifests as reluctance to use cherished fabrics, hesitancy to cut into new fabric, or fear of not having enough materials for future projects. You might save your favorite fabrics for a “perfect” project that never comes or feel pressured to stock up on supplies “just in case.” This mindset can stifle creativity, limit progress, and prevent you from fully enjoying the craft.
Shifting from Saving to Creating
Let’s get right to it: You need to use the fabrics you’ve been saving. Choose a fabric or collection you’ve been hesitant to cut into and make something with it. The best way to overcome this fear is to use the fabric.
Here are a few more tough-love tips:
• Don’t buy fabric just because it’s on sale. If you don’t love it, the price doesn’t matter. It’s not worth adding to your stash.
• Pass on fabrics you know you’ll never use. We all have them—those fabrics that will never see the light of day. Give them to someone who will actually use them.
• Set limits on scraps. Throw away scraps that are too small to be useful. It can be hard to toss that tiny piece of fabric, but let’s be real—you’re not going to use that 1/2” scrap.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
Are you saving your favorite fabric for a “perfect” project? Or waiting until your skills improve to use that special collection? The truth is, you love that fabric for a reason, and working with it will bring you joy—regardless of whether it’s used in the perfect project.
When you allow yourself to use your best fabrics, your projects will feel more meaningful, and the entire quilting process becomes more enjoyable.
Enjoy Your Scraps
When you use a fabric, you rarely use every inch, and that’s where the magic happens—scraps! Using your favorite fabrics creates scraps that can bring even more life to future projects. Each leftover piece is an opportunity to extend the joy of your fabric into new, creative endeavors.
If you are looking for a scrap quilt idea, I have lots right here!
Trust That There is Abundance
I know it’s tough when popular collections disappear quickly from shelves, but here’s the reality: more collections are always coming. Trust that there will always be more fabric to fall in love with.
For example, early in my quilting days, I didn’t buy enough of Denyse Schmidt’s Flea Market Fancy collection, and I regretted it. When some of the prints were re-released years later, I overcompensated by buying a ton—more than I could ever use. While I’m glad I bought some, I didn’t need to go overboard. It’s a lesson in trusting that there will always be something new to inspire you.
Trust Your Creativity
Not only should you trust your ability to choose a project worthy of your favorite fabrics, but also trust that using those fabrics will build and grow your creativity. Your creativity is limitless—it shouldn’t be restricted by fear of using up precious materials.
What This Has Meant for Me as a Quilter
As many of you know, I have a large stash of fabric. One of the main ways I’m overcoming scarcity thinking is by sewing more from my own collection. I still buy new fabrics, but mostly to complement or finish what I already have in my stash.
Do I still work with new collections? Yes, especially when I’m designing new patterns. But I’m making a conscious effort to use the leftovers as scraps and to pass on fabrics I know I won’t use.
Am I still struggling with this? Yes, it’s something that impacts not just my quilting but my whole life. It’s a mindset I’ll always have to be aware of. However, quilting has become an outlet to help me work through these issues.
Final Thoughts
I hope sharing my experience has been helpful. Overcoming a scarcity mentality is a deeply personal journey, but I know I’m not alone in struggling with it. If this post resonates with you, I hope it sparks some change in your own quilting journey. There’s so much joy to be found in using what we have and trusting that there will always be more inspiration and materials waiting for us.
Patty T on
I loved this article! I can apply it to quilting, knitting, cross stitch. I also appreciated the comments, especially Deb’s about “our 80 year old selves”. So true!
Donna in Seattle on
Thank you for writing this. My scarcity mentality was really triggered during the COVID shut down and I am just now starting to come back to a more realistic frame of mind. My husband is a ridiculous “I can’t use the last of anything” kind of person. This is the problem I am having with my quilt fabrics today. My fabrics move from bin to bin as the remaining yardage shrinks. I actually experience a sense of loss when I use that last scrap from the scrap bin. By the way, I am talking about 45 years of scraps so there can be lots of memories associated with that last scrap. I also have problems with cutting into my favorite fabrics. I love going into my stash to find the next quilt, but I do “save” that favorite fabric. I find I am picking less favorite fabrics, which really defeats the purpose. On the up side, the last “not favorite” fabric I decided to use turned into the one that sparked the quilt. I have learned a lot by incorporating the less favored fabrics. So there is that, but the fabrics that make my heart sing are still in the bin. I am going to challenge myself to use one or more of those special fabrics in my next project. Once again, thank you for raising this issue. I kind of thought maybe I was the only one who felt like this. :)
Lou Ann on
I didn’t grow up with uncertainty, but with parents who had lived through the Great Depression and rationing during WWII. So frugality was their mindset. And I found that the effects of COVID on product availability has influenced my purchasing habits. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You have made me more mindful of its impact on me.
Linda on
This well-written message certainly hit home! I can relate to it personally, but my husband definitely needs to take heed, too! I send a newsletter to a local group monthly, and, with your permission I’d like to add a link to this article in the upcoming newsletter. We all need to use up our stash, or only supplement it. Thanks for sharing.
Davida J on
Very good post 👍🏾
I was a textile designer for 20 years and accumulated quite a stash ! When I was out of work and got into a bad financial situation, I lost my storage unit and all the fabric in it. Since that I use all my fabric ! I stopped saving special fabrics and now make Charity quilts and get great pleasure in knowing that someone else will enjoy my "favorite fabrics " I just add certain fabrics so that I can finish projects.
Life is to short – okay and enjoy your fabric quilters !
Joan on
As everyone above, I too am “cautious” about using up fabric. However I even have “flour sacks” from the 1940’s and saving them is frought with anxious thoughts. Will they rot? Will the color bleed? Will I run out of fabric? ok that was a joke. But I also have stopped buying fabric “to match”. It’s a quilt, and when they were first “invented” they didn’t match. Hopefully I can continue to shop only for thread and batting. Thanks!
Deb on
We are seniors – and I think the biggest change to wrap around our brains was changing how to view what projects need doing, what to save, etc. We both came from homes with 4 children that were very fiscally challenged. We’ve periodically over the years ‘cleaned out’ items but in the last few years have done several really large culls of our personal possessions and our home is more comfortable for doing that. But also, viewing what projects need to be done and HOW to approach each. We no longer think of “how will this affect market value?” but now it’s “will this be the best way to do this for our 80 year old selves in the future?” Making things easy to maintain – no lawns, all raised planters and 2 different types of rock and its beautiful! Keeping energy costs down with new windows and doors, installing the latest most energy efficient wood stove insert, flooring that is easy to clean (washable rugs and NO carpet) and remembering someday one of us will be left. Will our home be the easiest to take care of for that person? We re-use and re-purpose with the mindset of saving money or give to others who can use things, but also to reduce what goes to the landfill. My quilt room is the last room where I need to work harder in making quilts to give to others, but also, making quilts, table runners, etc for our future generations when I’m no longer here. All our future family won’t love those things, but there will be a few that want a baby quilt from Oma. I’m not planning on lots, but just a few things that are really special to pass on. A new focus is making just for US – I’ve given away 98% of what I’ve made over the years and kept almost nothing for us. So that focus has changed – but only the special quilts and table runners, etc, that we both love. The family knows that when I ‘go toes up’ all the quilt library books are to be given to the town library, which has almost nothing in it, so the contribution of hundreds of resource books will be used and welcomed. Fabric? After family goes through it, I want that to go to the quilt guild ‘free’ table to be USED. In the meantime, I am happily sewing away each day, and at night – hand stitching in the recliner as we watch tv together with our little terrier between us. Simple life now, and we both are enjoying it after so many years of being in the rat race at very high pressure & stressful careers. Those ‘80-year-old selves’ aren’t that far off anymore!
Becky on
Wow, this really hits home for me, especially the idea of finding the “perfect” project for a fabric. Thank you for your insight and suggestions to overcome this mind-set. I will save this and re-read it regularly.
Nancy on
Wow! I do love to buy fabric, and i shop faster than I sew. Placing a few yards on the guild give away table does help cull my stash, yet it I seem to replace it. “fabric is my drug of choice” in an earlier comment resonates so much!
Jayree on
This really fits me. I will try to do what you suggest. I think it will help me a lot. Thank you so much.
Diane on
Your post really resonates with me. I have the same issue caused by the same limited resources growing up. I have tried to tackle it with some success. Next year I plan to focus my quilting on enjoying the fabrics that I’ve been holding on to. Thanks for your suggestions and for writing such an honest and judgement free article.
dianne on
I suffered from this with my Liberty Lawn fabrics for several years – gathered it, stored it, loved the luxurious feel and would sort and re-sort and was downright fearful of cutting it. Then, one day I just went for it and cut a bunch of it to make a Churn Dash quilt; then a quilt with all those scraps. I sew everyday in 2024 with this treasured fabric – making a 4.5" block a day log cabin quilt. This has definitely helped me dive into cutting those fabrics I think are too precious. As Becky said – the whole process is a joy.
Mary Ann Scanlon on
I am slowly moving into this space! Using my favorites has been freeing and I find I have not been as tempted by new offerings this year. Not completely there but moving along! Thanks for this discussion, I hadn’t thought about it in quite this way.
Linda on
Did you write this blog from my house?
Seriously, I could be a quilt shop! Before I retired I bought lots of fabric for when I retired. I’ve been retired 7 years and found I have money to keep buying more! I LOVE fabric…it’s in my genes! Fabric is my drug of choice. I need to read this blog every morning before looking at my emails. I grew up with a scarcity mindset and still struggle with the same mindset in my 70’s. I need to be reminded it’s okay not to purchase fabric at a good price, it’s okay not to purchase fabric because it is gorgeous, it’s okay not to purchase fabric because it feels like “silk!” I need to go cut and sew! Thank you for this needed reminder!!
Andrea Holley on
This is a great way to think about it. I don’t have a lot of fabric but I definitely have some I’ve been saving for years. I’m going to choose a project and use it. Thank you for the encouragement!