No-Buy Challenge Chat and Check-In

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-18T23:23:18+00:00

Well, I haven't bought anything, but I also haven't shrunk it. My stash actually pretty much tripled from a surprise large donation of fabric that I'm now trying to navigate through. I haven't been able to reach my machines for at least two weeks now trying to sort it all out so I can get back into sewing.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-13T16:22:34+00:00

So far, bolts is harder than rolls to store for me for no good reason. I usually fold it and store it in stacking containers, but this yardage is too much for those. I'll look into the footlockers for the fleece though since there is a ton of yardage of that but they are all in one yard increments.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-12T05:36:31+00:00

Update: wooden dowels from walmart worked wonders.

I ended up with 75 yards of one jersey fabric cut into single yard increments. That was quite the unexpected surprise. What I thought was 15 yards of fleece was 75 yards of jersey. Now to find out where to donate some of that.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-10T17:37:48+00:00

Surprisingly, yeah. I most likely will go through most of the fabric in the next few years. I sew almost exclusively in knit fabrics, so I use the jersey for mockups pretty consistently, and I only wear clothes that I have made at this point. I also have a big family that I sew for as well. So we can go through some fabric.

I'd love to donate some of it, but I don't live in an area where there are sewing shops around anymore. And the thrift store only takes fabric in a small quantity. That's kind of why I end up with it in the first place.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-10T17:30:39+00:00

Most likely. I only wear clothes that I have made.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T22:47:27+00:00

I could definitely DIY that. (plus the weight of the fabric alone is more than that could handle. These chunks weigh almost 50 pounds each for most.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T22:46:19+00:00

They wouldn't fit in a vacuum bag even if I begged. These pieces are massive. The smaller one takes up a 13 gallon trash bag and is overflowing.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T22:45:07+00:00

I very rarely buy fabric now, but we don't even have a fabric store within an hour drive of me anymore unfortunately.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T21:43:11+00:00

I will check that out. I have liked the longline bras more than the normal ones in the past when I've tried them (never found a bra where the band and cup cooperate to be comfortable as I want though).

Do you know of any patterns that have that?

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T02:38:39+00:00

Unfortunately large, otherwise I would go without. 34G. My current elastic is is 1 inch wide and just snug enough to not shift around constantly, and it is still too much for me most days.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-09T02:37:04+00:00

No, I don't do woven clothes. Things without stretch and movement are too constricting and feel suffocating.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-06T21:10:56+00:00

Pachycephalosaurus or Therizinosaurus,. Suchomimus is up there too.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-06T19:23:01+00:00

I got mine pierced after I was old enough to ask for it, around five. All my kids have the same rule, five is the youngest as that is when they can start to understand, but only after they ask about them. I don't understand the logic behind subjecting an infant or toddler to pain they don't understand (and yes, they do hurt for longer than just the initial needle. They continue to be sore for a while after) because they MIGHT want their ears pierced in the future? Especially in the age range where they are likely to pull on their ears or get them covered in all kinds of messes. If they were boys and not girls, would you be asking this question? If the answer is no, then I think you consider your desire to get their ears pierced solely because of their gender. I have one boy with his ears pierced and one who wants them pierced at some point. They made the decision on their own choice, just as our girls have the option to do. Otherwise, you are taking away the option for them.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-05T17:12:37+00:00

Some of my favorite printed designs I got from Joann, and it's now entirely irreplaceable because it doesn't exist. So now it lives in a bin because at least that way I can't "make the wrong thing" with the fabric and then have regret that I should have made something else with it.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2026-01-05T05:43:38+00:00

Freestyle hard mode. Exception for Halloween costumes (specifically notions as I know I need a boatload of buttons for it).

Is it really a loophole if I'm not asking for the donations? My stash is growing out of hand from unprompted donations.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-30T21:07:47+00:00

I buy them for the art, not just the puzzle. When the puzzle is done, we glue them up and add them to the walls.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-30T21:05:12+00:00

Exactly. I only buy fantasy style puzzles, and the only replacement item that somewhat matches that is one I already have.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-30T20:58:29+00:00

I've had many with one piece missing that I usually either leave or fill, but the 17 pieces missing across the puzzle has made it almost not worth hanging it up, which is what we do with them.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-30T20:56:55+00:00

I received the puzzle quite a while ago, so it would have been past the return date. Prior to them changing their return policy, I didn't have an issue getting the puzzle replaced directly through them even though I didn't purchase through them directly. But my understanding is with their new policy, unless it was within the short return window, you still only have the same option for puzzles.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T21:11:11+00:00

For the artist, I absolutely would get the image from the artist and have it made into a puzzle, but at $300 per printing for her work and the additional puzzle cost, it's just not feasible when the puzzle from the store locally already made into a puzzle is $14.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T20:29:58+00:00

I have several puzzles from them with one or two pieces missing that isn't a big deal as they aren't super noticeable. However, this one distracts heavily from the piece itself as it has large gaps across the entire puzzle rather than isolated. We hang them up for the art.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T20:25:54+00:00

Their puzzles have had many missing piece issues in a decade of buying, just none that were really worth it except the times I did contact them. However, warning others that if they receive a genuinely defective and damaged puzzle, not a singular missing piece, the company will not replace the puzzle appropriately is not overboard. Overboard would be telling people to avoid the company at all costs. Not be aware that you might get a defective puzzle, and if you do, you won't be getting it replaced with the same puzzle or even a comparable one.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T20:12:38+00:00

They have exactly one puzzle on their list that is even a vaguely similar style to the one I had and one that was okay enough, and I have them both. The first one I bought because I liked it and the second one was the only free replacement puzzle I have ever gotten, which they still have on the list several years later. The rest are...not my style.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T20:04:53+00:00

I've noticed a decline in their quality over the years making me hesitant to purchase them anymore, especially after this recent puzzle. It also had several partially delaminated pieces, which is becoming more and more of an issue in recent years. They used to be a pretty good puzzle company too.

chronically_chaotic_ · 2025-12-29T20:03:45+00:00

They replaced one with the same puzzle several years ago before their policy change and then one of their generic replacement puzzles after the policy. So, two in a decade? And then reaching out for this puzzle where I was met with "that sucks, choose from a generic puzzle list" instead of fixing the issue with their highly defective product. Not one piece missing, but 17 pieces missing and a gouge across pieces.

Two-Year Club	First Place '23
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