I save my scraps because there are several elderly people at the senior citizen center that want them. They cannot affford to by a lot of fabrics.

I'm not a hoarder but.... just found the most perfect color cotton for binding that was only 32" selvage to selvage and came fro my grandmother's dry good store (not called fabric stores then) which she had AT THE TUN OF THE CENTURY circa 1903! So glad I didn't get rid of that!

I have invited girlfriends over to do a day of charity quilts and let them go to town on material that seems to be hanging around a while. Last time we completed 6 lap quilts in one day and I cleared some space for some new material on the shelves.

***
*** Don't have this rule, BUT
*** starting today I am cleaning out closets.
***
*** I live alone and I am MAD at myself for letting my house & closets get soooooooo CLUTTERED.
*** I am tired of Moving something to get to what I want.
***
*** I am not but I feel like a HOARDER.
***
*** Going to take it slow and easy, BUT
*** SO TODAY IT BEGINS.
***

Angelia has nailed it!!! However I do have a further suggestion. Change the clothes rule to every 2 years and then you can use the extra space for more fabric storage. That would solve your dilemma of needing more fabric space.

On one point I must strongly disagree with Weezy!!! DO NOT TOSS SCRAPS!! If by some odd chance you are a quilter who doesn't want or use them, just box them up and send them to me. I LOVE scraps! I love making scrappy quilts. I will toss half my clothes to have room for more scraps!!
Although some quilters are a little misguided on this point, or more likely, they have their own unique outlook an scraps and scrappy quilting, there are always more than enough of us out here who are scrap-a-holics to keep scraps out of the bins!!

Well there are so many gadgets and gizmos when it comes to sewing and quilting. Keep the items you have used in the last 5 years, the rest I would donate. I love finding those items at the Goodwill and thrift shops. Fabric is getting so expensive. I would get rid of my clothes before my fabric. Plus my clothes keep shrinking so that makes it easy. If you need to lesson your load donate the pieces you fell don't talk to you. Hey is you could sell them on this board. Lot's of us hoarders here.

I have quite a stash of fabric, but I have donated a lot over the years. Several years ago a neighbor of a friend was looking for material for boy scouts to make pillow cases, I gave her quite a bit of fabric, mostly novelties that I figured I would never use. This past year my local sewing machine dealer was asking for donations for quilts for kids - they didn't care how large or how small. I have them a lot also.

But since joining this group I have been so inspired by all the projects that are shown that I am now really into using up my stash by making projects I probably would have never even thought about. If you donate some fabric that you are almost certain you will never use, that's okay. If you have quilter friends, maybe they can give you some inspiration as to how to use up some of the stash. I totally understand about needing space, I don't have the shelf units or the comic boards on which to place my fabric, it's all in totes, large, medium and small.

Now that good quality quilt shop fabrics are so expensive, I'm glad I have a stash to pull fabrics from.
If you really feel that you must get rid of fabrics that are 5 years old, find a group that makes charity quilts; they will be thrilled to get them. I make lots of scrap quilts from my groups scraps, they are fun to use.
Here are some pictures of my scrappy quilts I make for 2 charities.
Sharon in Texas
maker of charity quilts

Silly quilter, for more fabric of course!

I'm with her. No way am I getting rid of anything else.

I think 5 years ago fabric was not $12.99 a yard, so I would keep it.

Mending - either the "I know you sew , so you can fix this" type, or the "I know I sew so I can fix/update it" type should go after 5 minutes - five years is way too long to let it hang around and guilt you. Don't even cut it up for fabric if it's five years old.

I agree with maryb119, sometimes fabric has to age, like fine wine. Granted there are times when you need to sort through your stash and perhaps it needs to find a new home, but it's hard to let it go (gee, that sounds like a song I've heard) LOL.

I don't have that rule. If I can find feed sack fabric, I am going to use it (for example.) Fabric is like a friend.

I just used some material to make potholders that is dated to the 1970's. I really needed that piece to make several backs for the potholders. So the 5 year rule does not apply to me for my stash!

I'm still at the learning stage so every bit of fabric I can get my hands on (at a decent price) is mine for keeps, no take backs lol) I have quite a but of fabric but still find myself buying more for a certain quilt. I figure when I'm done with all of my kids quilts I'll have plenty of scraps to make the grand Childrens quilts from. I just love making quilts period! Sure is a lot more fun than making my own clothes for sure.
Jeri

keep it somewhere...I just used some fabric that I bought over 20 years ago to make my mother in law a quilt for Christmas. My rule to make the quilt was that I couldn't buy anything to make it but the batting. Even though the fabric isn't my taste anymore, she still likes that 90's vibe and it was perfect for her!

Miriam, we are on the sametrack for sure - I don't call it Green, though - just good old Yankee thrift! :) :) :)

yankee thrift = go green

I had problems adopting a two year rule a few years ago. However, once I set it in motion, it felt really great to have fewer things to fill up my space. I love purging now!

Styles come and styles go, but quilts are timeless, so don't trash your older stash! Some are still buying 1930's fabrics (of course remakes), but what goes out of style today comes back in style again in a few years. If you choose to downsize, you can give some to friends or quilt guilds, or nursing homes that do crafts with their occupants, or donate some to GoodWill stores or thrift shops that will take it.

No way will I get rid of mine...

Clothes? Yes, I can part with them...Fabric? Like for sewing? Whaaaaat? No way! And if my clothes are 100% cotton they can become fabric, like for sewing. Now that's a win-win!