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.