How do I downsize my stash?
 

I am needing more room for my vintage sewing machine collection and am thinking that room could come from selling some of my stash----I am going to try to post a picture of alittle over half my stash----cottons----(the wall is 16 foot long). I really am not able to ship out so what is the best way---ad in paper? on Craigs list? a garage sale is not really it, is it?......do I sell by the pound or yard or sack full? and how much is a fair price? I can't afford to give it all away but don't intend to get rich either. thanks for any suggestions you have......

Oh my, THAT'S a stash. lol. I can't tell you the best way to get rid of it - Craigs list might be a start, and a yard sale. Or, I might move to Iowa and relieve you of your burden. (JK) I'm sure folks will be along shortly with some great ideas.

Holy Moly! I wish I lived in Iowa! I have no idea but maybe you could do craigslist and do small lots of certain colors for so much a bag. Then if people wanted to mix and match colors they could but they wouldn't have to buy a mixed up bag. That's just what I think I would like if I was buying fabric from someone! :)

Good luck!
Candace

Oh my. I thought I had a lot and I have about the equivalent of two of your shelves (floor to ceiling). I'd start by asking here--and then of course, Craig's list or yard sale.

The problem with Craig's list is - do you want a stranger coming into your house to look at the stash?? What else are they going to scope out.
The problem with a yard sale is that everyone sorts through things and then leaves them in a mess. You'll be folding and refolding yourself until you're exhausted. Then they won't want to give you the price you want, they'll want to bargain. I'm not sure what the answer is, but that's just my opinion on those two options. Maybe sell them on this board. Just bundle them in some sort of arrangement, number them and put a price on them plus postage. It's worth a try. It will take time, but then - maybe not. Just my suggestion. I wish I had the money to help you with some of it. I'm fairly new at quilting and do not have much of a stash yet. Would be awesome to be able to purchase some of it.

You can gift some to me. Pm me for my address. lol.

If you can't ship, what about renting a booth at a quilt show? or a craft show? Buy ziplock bags. Mark size of piece, and figure on a price per yard and stick with it for all pieces.

or for that matter-------------do you have any consignment malls? One gal at our local mall uses the ziplock bags, marks the size of the piece, and then charges $3 per yard. Some small pieces, once in a while 3 yds.

A yard sale won't get any decent return for your money. Craigslist might--depending on your location.

If shipping is an issue and I agree the Craigslist is not safe for that amount because you would have too many strangers. I would say go thru a guild in your area. They are your prime fabric audience. A private sale to one or a couple guilds, yes they might be strangers as well but someone knows someone in that guild. Do a week long sale and as far as price. I would go 50% off what it goes for now. How many quilters argue with a 5yard price. It's a bargain. Good luck and I hope you get out of whatever you decide what you want!! Guilds are easy to find via internet and think big look up to an hours drive away you might be surprised how many would make the drive.

Wow! You do have quite the stash! I'm sorry I can't help. I have equivalent to one of your shelving units. I've never sold my fabric. Too bad you couldn't make the quilts and sell them, I would think that you'd get more bang for your buck. Considering that I've made three quilts recently and it doesn't even seem that I've put a dent in my stash, that would probably take you a very long time to see results.

If the reason you can't ship due to lack of funds, you could always wait until you receive payment for items that you sell on here first, then ship. Your stash is nicely organized though.

Do you have any local guilds in your area? Maybe they will allow you to set up before a meeting?
I sold a lot of my stash at yard sales - and then I sold the rest of that as a bulk fabric purchase on Craigslist. I was so happy to be rid of it.

Recently a woman contacted me to see if my guild would take her late mother's stash. I now have over 2 dozen boxes of stuff in my garage. I'll be bringing it to the next meeting to let the ladies go through it. The rest of that is going to be given to a retirement center so it can be used.

Great, now you have folks all over the world wiping drool off their keyboards!! LOL !!

The post office picks up right at your door for free!!!! and supplies boxes and envelopes for free.

I would go with the guild idea. We want to keep you safe. Also alot of churches make lap quilts for nursing homes and baby quilts for hospitals. Im sure they would appreciate fabric at a bargain. My church makes them, and a couple of times a year all the ladies take a road trip to buy fabric and go out to lunch. They don't always depend on donations.

If I was closer I would come shopping at your house.

You can sell them here. If you use flat rate shipping boxes , it's much easier. Post photo, and yardage . List the price for the group plus the flat rate shipping. I would put some pre-coordinated bundles together till they fill a flat rate box or flat rate envelope. You could do color groupings or by style. I have been downsizing my stash by listing them here. It was quicker and easier than a garage sale, craigs list , or packing them up to sell at a guild ( many won't allow it if you ar not a member).

I agree- stuff a med box- snap A PIC- post it here for a lump sum- call USPS to come pick up the boxes from your home

If the price is right you will sell all 15 in one day!!!

I could only wish that I lived closer....then I could personally help you out! LOL

contact your local quilt guild and see if they are making charity quilts. Ours here in Waco are making them for meals on wheels and for Kids that get displaced from their homes. It is the best way to thin your stash. They dont have to be fancy just blocks, panels. what ever you like.

have fun.

I agree with selling it on the board, I have bought a lot of fabric from sellers on here and have found it easier for me.
Pat

I agree also.flat rate boxes are the way to go.15 large boxes will add up fast to get it moving-without strangers in your home.

Our local quilt shops does a yearly 'quilter's stash yard sale' for customers to rent tables in the classroom area of the shop and in the parking lot (if there are a lot of people interested). You pay the shop $20 and get to sell your stash to other quilters for whatever you want. See if your local shop will do one. It is so much fun! Our shop owner's grand kids have a lemonade stand and the shop owner sells hot dogs. It's a lot of fun.

Oooohh, look at all the pretty fabric. I can't give you any ideas, but I wish I lived closer.

Oh my gosh, I am not sure what would be the best way , Wish I was your neighbor!!!!!!

Make up some charity quilts. Make box lots and sell them on Craig's List. Have a 'trunk show' in the parking lot after your guild meeting. Put an ad in the paper and offer to teach teens to quilt (make kits for them). zip up piles of tablerunners, placemats & napkin sets, wallhangings, pillows and get a booth at a fair.

Maybe there is a board member who lives near you who could help you get started with the sorting, posting and boxing so you can sell here on the board. Then pay her with fabric. I think it is a good trade.

Fill some zip lock bags with a selection......either one color choice or mixed colors.....calculate cost of shipping and sell it on this site......Just a suggestion

harrish, You say you can't ship out, but if you use the flat rate boxes, print the labels and pay for postage on USPS.com and request pickup at your house that may be a possible way to go. You can go to USPS.com, set up an account, have boxes or padded envelopes sent right to you. The only thing else you would need is a charge or debit card to pay for it. I do this all the time and it is great. Usually I drop stuff off at the post office because I am going that way anyways.

Just something to think about if you want to offer stuff here or on other forums. Just make sure you state if you want extra for the postage or if it is included in the price.

Good luck!

Seems to me the easiest way would be to use flat rate boxes from USPS, stuff a box w/co-ordinated fabrics & post it here onQB. USPS delivers flat rate envelopes & boxes & will pick up for shipping.

I'm wondering why you canot ship out. When using the USPS Priority Flat Rate Mailers or Boxes, you can print the shipping labels on USPS.com & schedule for mailman to pick up at your door.

We would love to have you in IOWA. Come on over!!!!

for a stash that large, you need to pack lg. flat rate boxes with color ways, (like all pinks) and sell for an average price per yard + postage with tracking and insurance! and stick to your price! NO haggle pricing like car max! selling here will take you years and you will probably lose more than you want to! Craigs list is really good! and NO shipping!

Holy wow! I don't think even my basement is large enough to house that stash, hey I'm trying to build a stash how about trying to sell some of it on here if your wanting to sell the fabric. I was on here buying fabric again today, thank God hubby is going to be on the road for a week I can shop and squirrel it away without him knowing lol

A lady in our area---before I was a quilter--rented a hall like the Lions Club on a Saturday. She contacted all the guilds within about a 75 mile radius. Ladies from the guilds came and helped in return for some free fabric. Last 2 hours was a buck a yard and just about all of it was sold. Anything left went to the local thrift store. One day and the problem was gone.

I'm thinking you could open your own quilt shop...lol! Just kidding. I'm not sure how I would go about downsizing if you can't ship it out. I would think Craig's List would be better than a yard sale though. Good luck with it. :)

re: downsizing my stash!
 

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions-----I don't know anything about flat rate ( I have seen the advertisements on TV) and that does sound like a possibility. This is the greatest bunch of people---always willing to help!

You sure have A LOT of stash... Ill for one will be on the look out for your 'sale' ....

I would put an ad in the local newspaper for a fabrics sale. I went to one recently and it was wonderful. All fabrics were LQS quality and sold for $4/yd. ex: 3yd/$12, 5 yd/$20. She sold all pieces whole, no cutting. FQ's were $1/ea. Some special fabrics were given special prices. She didn't get rich and we didn't go home poor. Good luck to you.

Please be careful with craigslist.....lots of creepy people, and do you want them in your house?

Bag the stash....different colors for variety, and take it to your local guilt guild, church or nursing home...even some schools might use it. If you really want to make a few bucks, have a fabric yard sale this Spring.

Keep sewing - I'm driving to MN this spring (I hope!) - maybe I'll detour! Good luck!

My guild will be doing a "National Quilting Day" event on March 10. We need red, white (prints on white, cream, ecru, etc., that read as white) and blue. We would buy three pieces, up to 3 yards each, of each color of fabric. I'm assuming that your fabric is good quality. Also we'll need 4 yd. pieces for backs. We're doing 'lap size or larger' quilts for service men/women of our county returning from deployment overseas.
PM me with details of what you have in these colors. Any "military prints?"
We're willing to pay $3.50 per yard shipped. I know this is low, but I'm going on faith that the fabric is good.