Organizing fabric for estate sale
 

I could use some advice please on how to organize fabric and quilting supplies for an estate sale. My eldest daughter passed away in August and left behind a ton of fabric, etc. My grandson is planning an estate sale and I am trying to go through the quilting stuff. Should I just put all the FQs together and all the yardage together, etc? Do I need to measure and label the yardage (I consider anything over 1/2 yard yardage)? I know some of you have purchased fabric at estate sales; can you tell me how it was done? Oh, I forgot to mention that my GS is hiring someone to handle the sale - there is everything from personal items to horse equipment to sell. My daughter took in abandoned and abused horses.

I would just quote a price per yard and have a yardstick handy for quilt shop type fabric. You can also shove some in bags and sell by the bag. It is too time consuming to try to put a price on individual pieces. My sister even purchased some of her stash "by the pound".

First, I am so sorry for your loss. This has got to be really hard to deal with. My thoughts are that IF you have the time, energy and inclination, I would take the time to measure and mark the yardage with a specific price-----you will make a lot more money this way rather than selling by the pound or bag. You can fold and group all the FQs together with a sign that says $1.50 each (or whatever price you choose). Any scraps and odd size pieces can be put in quart or gallon zip lock bags and price with a sign. But if this is just too much for you, let the estate sale people do the work in setting it up---they generally get a hefty commission at 30-40%, so let them earn it.

One of our guild members passed away last year and her friend and fellow guild member organized a sale to benefit her daughter, so she could go to college. They set up tables in a house that was empty and had two ladies set up at a cutting table to either just measure and tag or cut. Most of us just bought the whole piece. They sold it at 2.00 a yard. Most pieces were about 3 yards. It was a lot of work,because this lady had an enormous stash. Filled up every room of a 1200 square foot house.
Good luck, and I am so sorry to hear about your daughter.

I would hold a separate sale for the quilting items and notify local quilt guilds of the sale, and do this before the estate sale. I would probably not measure yardage but rather sell it by the pound. Have a scale and simply weigh the purchases. Have signs that tell people the approximate yardage per pound. If you have a lot of fabric to sell, I see this as greatly simplifying the process for everyone. I would also post signs that require a minimum of a 1 yard cut for yardage. You can have a separate table for precuts such as fat quarters and jelly rolls, and a separate table for tools. Those can be pre priced when necessary but, if there are a lot of fat quarters, I would just put up signs giving the price per fat quarter. Anything that doesn't sell at this quilters sale can go into the estate sale at half price. I think this approach would minimize labor and optimize profits as many quilters will pay a little more to have a good choice in a more quiet setting.

Edit: I do think you could also just sell the fabric for $2 a yard instead of by the pound. I wouldn't pre-measure and label, though. Just measure at checkout. A lot depends on how much there is. Some stashes that look huge to non-quilters are modest by the standards of many quilters.

I like the idea of selling the fabric by the pound. Most quilting cotton will weigh about the same.

That also makes it easier to price smaller pieces and scraps. I would put scraps in one gallon zip lock bags and price each bag the same. No opening or mixing bags.

FQ could be priced by the each or you could bundle them in groups of 5 or 10.

Precuts, if in originally packaging I would price at 50% or less than the original price. You can check online for approximate prices.

I would not offer to cut yardage. Too much work and you give up display space to set up a cutting station.

Books and magazines, depending on how many you have to sell, either bundle the magazines and sell that way or price by the each, but only have one price for books and one for magazines.

Thread, put similar colours in baggies and sell by the bag.

Tools this could be more of a challenge, but you could have one price for rulers up to 6 inches in any direction and another for rulers over 6 inches in any direction.

Try to find all the accessories for each machine and sell as is where is, no testing.

UFO, WIP, PIGS, if the pattern and supplies are easy to identify, bundle them up and sell them too.

Having the quilting sale separate from the main sale is a good idea. Invite local, and not so local guilds to come shop.

I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine your courage to do this sale so soon after your daughter's passing. Sending hugs and prayers. Your daughter must have been such a kind hearted soul to take in abused horses. She sounds like my sister.

The suggestion to hold a special quilter's sale is smart. Quilters will understand the value of fabric as well as the enormity of the work to organize such a sale efficiently. When I went to an estate sale of a quilter, the daughter had it pretty well organized. Bolts were leaning against walls or stacked not too high. Supplies were on one table. all Christmas prints were separate from the rest. juvenile prints in one section, machines in a side room. Granted, this was thru craigslist and I set up an appointment as it was 60 miles away. I was her last of many buyers. She started out measuring and cutting at the cutting table, but soon we agreed that she could use her wingspan. I didn't nickel and dime her. $2.00/yd was a steal.

I guess you need to decide if you'd rather do a little more work for more cash, or less work to get it over with ASAP with less $$.

If if it were me, I'd sell no less than 1-yard cuts off bolts. I'd price the whole bolt well so that people are motivated to carry the whole thing out.

fat quarters -- I'd group by color for easy shopping. $1 each.
thread-- spools in shallow baskets near register -- small $1 each, cones $2 each ?
Scraps-- stuffed into gallon ziplocks $1 each bag ahead of time.

Maybe be offer some sort of freebie for any purchase over $25 so that inventory moves faster. People at $22 might just buy $3 more in stuff to get something free.

Make sure you have plenty of hands on deck for logistical help, security, and moral support. I'd try a Friday andSaturday sale. Advertise well. It'll be worth the price of the ad.

I'd sell the leftovers thru the professionals. Here's to a great turnout and a successful sale. Again, my condolences.

Parents should not outlive their children and I'm so sorry you are having to handle this part of your daughter's estate. My heart aches for you.

I want to encourage you, if you have the time, stamina, and facility to hold a quilting sale separate from the estate sale, to do so. I have done this twice in the past 8 years, with my own stash preceding a move, charging $3 per yard - measured and cut at the sale - and have made over $1100 both times just by opening it to local guild members. I have never had a stash that filled a whole house either!!!

It's a good idea to have helpers to measure, cut, and to be eyes on the crowd. I took appointments at my own sale so I was not overwhelmed. You likely would make enough $$ to take them out to dinner afterwards with no problem, too.

I cut any thing from 1/4 yard to 2.5 yards, but sold fat quarters only if they had already been cut. To keep track of what each buyer was getting, I made slips of paper like below to send to the 'cashier'. It was a huge help to just mark a 'chit' in the correct space after each cut.

Best to you in this endeavor. Wish I could come help. :)

Jan in VA

I am sorry for your loss.

I also think a separate sale of the quilting and sewing items is a good idea.

Thank you for so many good suggestions. I wish I could implement all of them but it isn't possible. Because we are using a company that does only estate sales,decides prices, and handles all the details, I won't be able to set prices. I can, however, suggest!
A separate quilt sale would undoubtedly bring more money, but it really isn't possible. Just going through her things is stressful enough. Jan, maybe if you were here to organize me, I could face up to it�� And just as a loving reminder, ladies, be sure to get your mammograms every year without fail.