I am like Tothill as I don't make quilts to last forever. I want them used and loved till there is no use left in them. This gives me the opportunity to make a replacement

A friend gave me her mom's stash. There was actually very little that I could use. She purchased what was available at the time. Fabric blends and thin fabrics. I made a few quilt throws for her then donated the rest to the free table at Guild. Life is too short to use fabric that is just okay. Some love scrap quilts and would adore a stash but for me, I'd rather have something I like not something someone else likes.

Today's fabric is very often a lesser quality. In the last 20 years of working in a fabric store, I can not believe some of the changes. This has been done to keep costs down (and even at that the cost has skyrocketed). But, most often, today's quilts are not heirloom items. While we hope our quilts are cherished and treasured and will be handed down thru families, this is no longer the case. I am thrilled that my kids have kept their baby quilts (the girls even took theirs with them to college), but other quilts they have outgrown, changed their tastes, changed their home decor, etc and the quilts have been passed down or given away. This is ok, I know they have been loved when they were used. Because of this, I am not as concerned with the lesser quality fabric. It is also one of the reasons I machine quilt instead of handsew my quilts. Having said that, trust your gut. If a fabric feels real thin or funky, do not use is. Throw it in the box used for trying out blocks or stuffing toys.

Fabric that old I would certainly wash and dry it to see how it held up, before spending my time putting it in a quilt.

I am also in the pre-wash school of thought, especially with older fabrics or those from unknown sources. If it holds up well after a good wash in hot water (no major bleeding, uneven shrinkage, developing holes, excessing fraying, etc.) and the overall look and feel of the fabric after pressing seems 'normal', then I would go ahead and use it in a project. If not, just donate it and get it out of your stash. Using questionable fabrics is just not worth the agony of having HOURS of work wasted on fabric that will not hold up.

I have about 220 "H's" finished of the quilt in progress that I am most concerned about (I have some of the fabric in one other). I am going to go through and re-evaluate. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help as I am working on my own. Cheers, Kelsie