Five year rule
 

I use the five year rule on my clothes- if it's not used over a five year period -it goes- with the exception of my fabric stash should it be applied to my sewing studio?? I have mixed emotions but I need some space!

You can't get rid of it after 5 years....no fabric should be sewn until it's properly aged! After 5 years it's just getting mellow....

What do u need the extra room for?

It is probably a good rule, but not sure I could not do it! But I haven't been quilting for 5 years yet........

After five years, you are allowed to get rid of 1. Old, bent needles and pins. 2. Worn out rotary blades. 3. Bits of batting smaller than 2" square. 4. Nubs of chalk pencils. 5. Dried out glue sticks. 6. Dull seam rippers 7. That partridge in a pear tree (it takes up a lot of room). Keep everything else! :)

I think looking at something for, well, lets say 5 years, and not having a plan for it is draining. Let it go. Someone else will love it and be able to use it....You will feel better about your space and not the "weight" of the things you are not using or enjoying.

I will second Angelia NR reply. I though it was a 10 year rule.

I keep a lot of clothes that I haven't worn in 5 years. Mostly my wearable art stuff. Some of it is so nice, I just can't let it go. Other than that, I sort at the end of the season when I move things upstairs and get rid of stuff then.

I've never had a rule for my stash. I have used fabric that was way older than 5 years so I'm not doing that. I do occasionally sort and get rid of some of the 'why the heck did I buy that" fabric. Other than that, I just keep sewing it up. :)

clothes .... yes......stash....... NO! As soon as you give it away, you will wish you had it back! Ask me how I know!!

Get rid of old friends....never! Bonnie Hunter is still uses some of her scraps from the 198O's. Wish I had my icons back above the Quick Reply box and I hope they fix the site soon!!

What about that stash of must have items you must have at a show but never used and put away somewhere, they go first.
Stash just fold and stroke then keep.

I just cleaned up my knitting machine(it was a project for an everything went wrong sewing day ;-) ). It has been packed away for over 20 years. Wow it's a beauty. I had often thought that I should get rid of it but now I am so glad that I didn't. Where would I find one now in such perfect condition? So nope, not 5 years.

I just used fabric in my stash that I have had for over 10 years. It was one of the first good quality fabric I ever bought. I love working with my old pieces it brings back such wonderful memories for me.

My sewing room also has my clothes closet in there. Lately, I've been cleaning out clothes on a very frequent basis in order to make room for fabric. That being said, anything I no longer like, be it clothing or fabric, is likely to make it into the donation box - no matter how old it is. I will confess that I have a length of a silk woven fabric that I bought probably 20 or more years ago that is still hanging in there. Maybe I'll do something with that soon:)

Toss scraps. No one wants them, and I won't use them. I don't like scrappy quilts. If I can make Candies using a Sizzix die, and it's a fabric I really like, I will, but if the scraps don't fit there, or don't look like something I'd want in the future, bye-bye.

Periodically, I do go through my stash. Sometimes I put fabric I no longer plan to keep on the free table at Guild and sometimes I either keep it for charity projects or donate it to Guild for charity projects.

Clothes, yes. Things in my sewing room, never, unless it is broken and can't be fixed. I use fabric of all ages. Many rulers I haven't used in years but one day I may want to make a pattern that will require one and they are too expensive to replace.

I throw nubs and pens that are dried up. I just don't need to waste time on that. I'm going through some boxes now and getting rid of some things. Already have 2 large bags going to Salvation Army.

Well, I didn't really mean my stash, but more like gadgets that didn't work, sewing notions that belonged to others that I probably won't use! I'm bad about rescuing supplies at EstAte Sales because I can't stand them being tossed. My mother did a different type of sewing so I have all her stuff .. I don't have room for my fabric for all the junk. The plastic boxes for fabric is a great idea, but really takes up room.

I share sewing space with a home office and I have a Pfaff, embroidery machine, a Tiara, rolling cutting table and office furniture that now stores quilting supplies and one large metal storage rack for my boxes and stash that is not in boxes. Then theres the Go and all its dies, a computer, two monitors a printer with stand. I'm so busy moving stuff around so I can sew that I can't sew !

Maybe you could contact the local quilt guild and see if anyone there would e interested in them. Also your local school may be able to sure some of the things in a sewing class. Budgets are tight in schools and it is worth asking about.

I have some fabrics that I bought when I started quilting in 1992. Hang on, you will either use them or something else and then the space will be available. You just know when you get rid of something that a month later you will need it.....

When I settled on quilting, I got rid of everything else pertaining to crafts. I have tried every craft known to man. I did keep my cross stitch things (some of them), but every thing else went. I put a couple of free ads in my local newspaper, and got lots of replies. That took care of all the fabric that I would never use. Then I gave all my ribbon and silk flowers to the school that my DGDs attended. I have never looked back and couldn't tell you about all the fabric that I gave away, but several new sewers and quilters were very happy campers. Some of my fabric is over 5 years old, and I don't have any plans to get rid of it. Some of the big box store fabric will be used for charity quilts next year. I have become a fabric snob. lol Not proud of it buy will admit it.
Sue

Whoa! Read your second post, Bama, and it looks like you are really crowded. I'm jealous! I'm equally crowded but I don't have all the cool equipment you do!

My advice is - if it works and you might use it someday andyou have room for it, keep it! If you'll never need to buy one again and you don't use it, dispose of it.

But for heaven's sake keep your stash - and like the other poster said, be sure to stroke it before you fold it and put away. :)

That said...I generally don't buy misc random stuff (except for shoes!), and I don't dispose of anything I have bought unless it is broken and can't be economically fixed. Toaster and hair drier breakdowns are big on my hitlist of breaks-every-two-years products which I hate. I am still wearing a gorgeous pair of leather boots bought at Marshalls/TJ's maybe 25 years ago and I get compliments, and all they need is soles, heels, and occasional stitch, and polish. When clothes leave my house they go to a recycling bin because they are not 'gently worn' LOL, unless they shrunk! I have kept gowns and outfits I love even if I never weigh 90LB again because...uh-oh! Because!

I have clothes that I bought at Robinson May so I wouldn't use that rule. I do try to occasionally sort thru my stash and try to purge the fabrics that I realize I will never get around to using them. I would NEVER give up my lovely collection of watercolor Hoffman. I have been slowly using them because you can't take them with you when you die unless the mortuary allows you to be buried with them.

I don't think that's true. I can't imagine throwing away all scraps. I can't remember how many quilts I've made from scraps. Lots.

I bought this floral print on a whim at the Paducah Quilt show in 2000. It isn't anything like my style and I had no reason to purchase it other than it spoke to me. When the tsunami and earthquake hit Japan in 2011, there were calls for comfort quilts to send to the people there. (Japan has a huge quilting culture) I made this Attic Windows quilt to send and it was absolutely perfect since the print was a kimono reproduction. So no, you can't keep something that you felt strongly about too long.

5 year old fabric is still a baby. you can't get rid of baby's that young. now, polyester from the 70's, yes it can go.

If it's fabric of any kind it stays, sometime it will be just what you need for that special project. Even the polyester double knit - makes great "pockets" for things like your friend's paintings that she wants protected to carry to an art show. Also wonderful for camping or picnic quilts.

Good grief - everything in my kitchen is at least 40 years old. My sewing machines are ALL over 5 years old and many over 50 or 100 years old and those are the ones that work after 5 years anyway... Some of my best shoes are older than that, too. My house is over 50 years old - 5 years... I think you need to look into going GREEN....

Wow ! This question sure brought everyone's sense on humor and fun personality...which is one of the many reasons I luv this Quilting board !

I made my avatar using calico from 30 years ago that I had saved from sewing for my kids and other projects. I got a great deal of pleasure making this and reminiscing about the fabric. I recently took a quilt I made over to a friend to look at it. I had used fabric that I had gotten from her when she downsized from a large house to a small apartment. It was so much fun watching her reminisce about her fabric. I vote for keep.

There ar no rules in quilting...not really in closet keeping either. Everyone is entitled to march to their own drummer. If I have something that I don't like or can't use I will donate it. If I like an article of clothing I will wear it until it dies, fashion be damned. Fabrics are all kept. Some of the fabrics that I thought were "ugly" worked up the best in quilts or small items. Kitchen stuff can collect and if you don't use it it is okay to get rid of it. Sewing/quilting notions should be sorted occasionally to see what you like and what you don't. Craft supplies that you won't use can be donated. You don't need to burden yourself with other peoples "rules".

Several places in this thread, it mentions that people are not reading all the posts. Even the first post. She says she would like to get rid of clothes that is 5 years old, NOT her stash.
I have some clothes that is more than 5 years old, but it's not a stylish, fad type. It's timeless classic stuff that I can still wear.

Five year rule on clothes? I give clothes a year, except for the basics. My stash? Rarely do I get rid of any of it.

If you're dumping clothes you then have room for more stash! Easy!!!

I agree 100% with you Jackie, just ask me how I know too. Recently went looking for somehing, couldn't find it then the light bulb in my head went off, oh I gave that away as I didn't think I would use it.

Agree with AngeliaNR. I have lots of those things to get rid of and they do take up space-less clutter anyway!

AngeliaNR, I love your list.

I have used material .I have had for way longer than 5 years..If u love it keep it..If u don't ..make a scrape quilt pile..U must have liked it at one time..So put them all together for a scrape quilt..U will be surprised how well u like it.

When I decide I no longer need/want some of my fabric I turn it into pillowcases and donate them to the local food pantry. That way it gets put to good use and opens up some room for new fabric. LOL It's a win win.