Have you made arrangement for your stash?
 

Years ago I knew that my stash would outlive me and that its value would not be appreciated by many. The thousands of dollars that makes up our stashes should not go out into a dumpster as I heard this happened recently when an older quilter died and her survivors just considered it a big waste of their time to go through it.
I decided that as I prepared my Will I should take care to preserve this stash and be sure it was not tossed or found of little value. I placed in my will that what my children did not want for personal use should be given to a guild I belonged to years ago. I need to update that a bit since I am now in a different guild. But no matter it is to be put to charity quilting!
I know a lot of us do not think about this valuable asset but should. How many have made arrangements for their stash. Loved ones may just not want to deal with it.
Just a thought

You have a good thought. A friend of mine passed away last fall. Her stash was huge! Her family had a garage sale to sell it. It was a big turn out with the local guild as well as a sewing group she belonged to. There was still a lot left over and I am not sure what they did with that. My oldest daughter is a quilter so she will take mine. The other kids all agreed they think she should have it all.

One of my DIL'S would probably take a lot of it. My boys wouldn't trash my things though. They would donate to a good cause. I've already told them. It's hard to imagine people trashing things that meant so much to someone.

So many quilter's don't make provisions for their stash. This past year two friends estates have gone up for sale. Family has no idea what to price things, so often someone looks on online or somewhere else and expects things to go for huge prices. 30 year old fabric doesn't sell for huge prices. It's a good thought to provide for it.

All of my belongings will be inherited by my only daughter. I just organized all of my crafting and sewing supplies with a list of what is in each storage box. I also have a sewing machine inventory telling her what I paid for each machine, the accessories I have for it, and what each machine does. I told her she can do whatever she wants with it. She knows a lot of people all over town so she probably won't have a lot of problem finding homes for my things.

There is a note stuck inside my storage cupboard door with directions to contact the local Project Linus coordinator. Not for a while though I hope!!

My BFF, Imogene, and I have known each other for 45+ years and have sewed/quilted together all of that time - traveling all over the area to quilt shows, fabric shops/hops, etc. She worked part-time at a quilt shop and was "paid" with fabric. She had one whole bedroom lined with bookcases with bolts of fabrics, etc. A second bedroom was her overflow from the first bedroom. Both bedrooms had big closets full of fabric, etc. Then in the basement was her quilting room with long-arm, rolls of batting, etc. She had a massive stroke but lasted 5 years before she passed away. Every single time that I went over there (which was very often) she insisted that I go into her room and take home some fabric - to "shop" her stash first before going to the store. Her DH piled up a bunch of furniture in that room so that she could not get in there with her wheelchair - so she would sit outside in the hall while I was in there. They did sell her long arm, etc. before she passed away. She had a sister (in town) who also had a long arm business and she had 3 daughters. Imogene had one daughter-in-law and two grand daughters - none showed any interest in quilts or quilting. After she died, I did not go into her bedrooms - just visited with her DH in the family room for months. I did not ask what he was going to do with her things because I just thought that he would give things away to her sister, nieces, daughters-in-laws and granddaughters. So, imagine my shock and horror of going there one day and he said "Nikki, go look in Imogene's sewing room" - so I did - and it was empty. I came out and asked where the things were and he told me that he had spent the past two days burning everything - we live out in the country and can burn if we wish to. But, I was able to look into the closets and see her plastic totes with more fabric in them, that she did not have room to put them onto the bookcases. I just told him that I was taking home all of the rest and I did. I found a bookcase in the hallway that had her quilting books in it - so was able to rescue them too. I even found some antique quilt blocks, pieced by hand. So I called her sister and she said that they were either from their grandmother or their handicapped aunt - so, of course, I saved them for her. I did find all of her cutting mats behind a dresser and lots of rotary cutters and rulers. So, not all lost. No thread or paper patterns though.

I left a letter for my daughter who will inherit everything about the important stuff to me that was not important enough to be formally in a will.

My dear friend and quilting mentor passed away earlier this year. Sadly she knew what was coming and that it was coming quickly.

Her stash was not huge but of very good quality. I also am friends with another quilter who does much charity sewing. That is where my dying friend wanted her stash to go. And it did. Her daughter took many of her tools and what she did not want my other quilting friend and I split as we desired. Her vintage machine went to her daughter and her newer machine went to her granddaughter.

Sadly my friend was able to help in the distribution of her quilting items. I finished up some tops for her; her SIL is in the process of quilting those for her family. I have one other of her quilts that needs to be hand quilted that she started years ago for her husband. I'll get that one done eventually.

It is very wise for all of us to make sure our family knows our desires regarding our stash; machines; tools; etc. I'm sure most families will abide by those wishes.

I hope this thread helps to prepare young and old of the value of their quilting and sewing supplies. I recently completed what I call my annual "stash bash". I tallied the yardage that came to close to 7000 yards of fabric. This did not include pieces under a yard. The majority of my fabrics are quilt shop quality that were purchased originally at between $8-20 per yard. Many are vintage. The very thought of these ending in the trash somewhere or burned up is beyond my comprehension. From time to time I will sell some at a garage sale only because I am out of space and I realize that these pieces are no longer to my liking. Please plan ahead.

I love fabric, simply love it all. If I had more space or more money I'd probably be up to my neck in fabric, but about 7-10 years ago I got the diagnosis that I have progressive vision loss and the likelihood is high that my vision will go out before my fabric does. Since I live in a small house packed full of stuff and since I no longer work I no longer have the expendable budget I once have, space and budget are real concerns for me.

So I made the decision to start reducing my stash and I've reduced it probably by about half even though I am still bringing some fabric home. I have some projects planned just because they will use up part of some large collections of fabric and once made I will feel better about reducing that out of my stash.

My husband understands the joy I get out of my fabric and if something happens to me he knows how to contact "the quilt ladies". Fortunately for me, I buy very little new and mostly buy yardage at thrift stores so the cost isn't anywhere close to retail. Like I bought some bags this weekend, mostly 80s stuff but about 10 yards in a bag for about $3.99. Lot easier to justify at that price than $100.

Anyway, my plan for my stash is to use up/give away as much as possible in the next 5 years -- especially using the fabrics I've saved for "some day" because today is that day! I sew some most days. Some projects are for me/family but most are destined to be donations. I need to find a better way for quilting down my projects or at least sandwiching them together than I currently have. I love to piece, I'm not so fond of the quilting...

My adult granddaughters know I want them to donate all of my stash to a quilt guild that makes quilts for charity agencies, hospitals, and other worthy causes.

It only matters what is done with a stash to the ones that know the value the stash was to the quilter. If someone said the woman took her husband's collection of old newspapers to the dump who would be upset over it unless it was another newspaper collector?

Thank goodness I have two DD's and a DIL that quilt and usually with me. So all of my supplies and fabric will be divided amoung them I have four sewing machines and they will also get them. No arguments from this side They all own more then one machines themselves, LOLOL

This is a good reminder to let my family know my wishes in case anything happens to me. I would first offer the fabric to the 3family members who show an interest in sewing (my DIL who is the mother of twin boy and girl), my older sister who is a quilter, and my niece). Ditto my machine, assuming it outlives me. After that, I have a friend who sews for charity and belongs to a guild. I hope my stash is never so overwhelming that getting rid of it would be a huge burden to my loved ones, which is why I'm resolved to use up my 3 dressers' worth before buying more, except if I get a special request for a quilt or a very specific reason.

NikkiLu,
I hope you are not feeling ill will toward your friend's husband.
My MIL was a knick-knack collector. They were every where! Wasn't a space empty enough for you to set down a coffee cup, no exaggeration! Within the first week of her passing, my FIL got rid of all of them. Seems it had been a bone of contention, but he never said a word. Just quietly endured until he didn't have to anymore. There were a few things my daughters might have liked to have, but nothing of any great expense, just stuff they remembered as always being in Grandma's house.
Tho' burning her stash does seem excessive, it might have been something he needed to do in his grieving process.

A friend of mine is currently living in an assisted living facility for the mentally impaired. She hasn't been able to take care of herself for about 3 years now and has been unable to knit or sew for even longer. Her DH passed away a year ago and so her daughter is slowly cleaning out their house. My friend was just shy of being a hoarder. Her daughter has given me most of the items she finds that has anything to do with sewing - including her Pffaff sewing machine. I took it to 2 different repair shops and the estimate was over $600 to repair so I gave it to one for parts. I knew it was a treasure to her but I already have 5 machines that do work and do not have that kind of money for a 6th one. Her daughter didn't want it back because no one in the family sews.
My daughters don't sew, in fact no one in my family sews except my sister that lives 1300 miles away. People used to sew because it was a way to save money and it was a necessity for mending. But now it's expensive and truly a luxury because you can buy clothes for less than the price of a pattern and fabric - not including zippers, thread, and buttons. You can buy bags for less than the fabric.
I am not going to worry about what happens after I am gone. The family will do what they want with it. They know the value because they were there when I bought most of it - they have even bought a lot of it for me. We do what we need to do when it's time and I don't want to make requests of others they may not be able to do.

Thank you for reminding me that I need to leave notes for the family (and probably have a discussion with them) concerning my quilting equipment, fabric, and supplies. I'm not going to tell them what to do with anything, but will outline some options and be sure that they know that there is value in almost everything. If none of them wants an item, and no one wants to take the time and effort to sell it, there are lots of organizations (including my guild's philanthropy program) that would make good use of it.

I don't have a big stash (just a few scrap bins, some fat quarters and a bit of yardage all of which I am trying to work through) but I do have a collection of vintage machines in working order and a lot of "gizmos" so I have told Mr. Stitchnripper to call the quilt shop I go to on Fridays to quilt with my friends, and the quilt shop owners and friends know that if they get the call they can have first pick, donate to a place that won't ditch the machines, donate the rest through their various guilds, etc. The shop is about 2 miles from my house, so I don't foresee a big problem.

My oldest sister passed away 2 years ago. Her husband wanted all of her quilting fabric gone asap. A lot went in the trash. Some to Good Will. Her books they gave away at the memorial.
My own sewing room is deep and seems to be getting deeper every year. My daughter doesn't sew. But maybe someone else in the family might want some of it. The local quilting groups would take it. Maybe I should start sewing faster.

My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly during routine surgery last summer, so there was no list or final instructions for her husband and kids. She was not a quilter but did some home sewing and a lot (!) of crochet. She lived halfway across the country so when we flew out for the funeral my father-in-law had me go through her sewing and craft stash. None of her family was interested in anything at all. He insisted that I take her sewing machine, a small Janome she had just purchased a year before. I could not take much since everything had to be shipped back home, so I took a few of her crochet items and the afghan she was halfway finished with. I thought I could figure out the pattern and finish it for her granddaughter. The rest of the yarn and crochet and misc craft items were donated to a women's prison program near them. I shipped my dirty clothes back home via USPS and took the Janome as my carry-on luggage for the flight home - there is no way I would put it in checked airline luggage!

about burning things : Schools in smaller towns display a composite picture of each graduating class. Many years ago our school took theirs down while the hallways were being painted. This was the days of having a burn barrel by the alley and someone happened on a janitor burning the group pictures, frame and all. They got him stopped but about 10 years were lost. Some have been replaced, but not all.

I printed out a "Quilters Last Will and Testament" https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005...ters-will.html

framed it and hung it on my wall in my sewing room. DH saw it and thanked me for letting him know what to do with my sewing stuff, then asked me to add my "beneficiary's" phone number to the bottom (I taped it to the back instead).

I have no doubt he'll make that call if I go before him.

Things that were once cherished and handed down through generations are no longer as desired. Antique furniture and china are other good examples of things that most of our children do not want. I completely understand and do not want my daughters to feel that they must keep something just because.

Having just celebrated my 59th birthday, I hope to have a lot more time to use my stash, which is not growing at the rate it was when I started; I've found that I prefer "scrappy" so rarely buy 2 yards at a time (which I often did when I started quilting), unless I can see it in a border. I'm quite happy to have 1/2 yard of fabrics I love. Still, that stash has definitely grown this year.

When I am no longer able to sew, whether due to being ill, losing ability or interest, or death, my fabric will have already given me great joy. It is the only thing I love to shop for; I also love to see my stash and all of the possibilities.

Whatever is left when I can no longer enjoy it is to be given to my guild and a charitable group I sew with. Yes, it was worth thousands when I purchased it though the years. But I am content with knowing that it will go to others who will enjoy using it, whether for themselves or for charity. Perhaps they will enjoy getting something pretty with no cost, perhaps they will enjoy using it to make a quilt to keep someone who has little a quilt, perhaps they will enjoy looking at it as part of their stash.

My oldest Daughter and oldest Granddaughter know what I want done with my stuff, sewing and not.

DH and I will be drastically downsizing over the next year, so I will be getting rid of a lot of my quilting things. mostly donating them to my guild. Of course, I am trying to use up as much of my stash as possible. Unfortunately, our new house will not have the room for a stash or my many machines. My stepdaughter is somewhat of a sewist, so my machines will go to her. She and my 2 daughters in law can have what they want. Being that we are moving to an extremely rural area and I probably will not have guild membership there, my DH will either have to give what's left to a thrift store or trash it. Saddens me, but it is what it is.

Hubby wants it. He knows the value as he is my enabler. I also have a daughter that will take it and distribute it.

I have very little stash but my 2 sewing machines will go to my DD. As far as the stash, she will find a home for it. Most of my stash is no larger than fat quarters & the rest is no larger than 1 to 2 yards & very little of that. All of it is stored in about 10 plastic stackable bins that are about 7" x 7" x 12" each. I don't think I will need to add that to my will.

my oldest daughter knows I have a Quilters Will. She can keep the quilts, wall hangings, and quilty projects or distribute to her siblings. I have two sisters whom are quilters-she should offer them first dibs at the stash..then when everybody is ready they should have a party and invite my quilting friends and let them choose things they will use. After that if there is leftovers it can go to charity or however the crew figures is the best way to have it used. I have a sizeable stash of yardage- and now mostly string/crumb quilt. All of that can be used for dog beds because I know none of my family or friends want to deal with that- it's why I have it in the first place! My friends have been generous to me over the years, it's why I have the stash I have. It will outlive me I'm sure.

"But no matter it is to be put to charity quilting!" I am offering my opinion here. I would suggest not requireing that the fabric be designated for charity quilts. It puts undue pressure to be honest or dishonest with what was donated. reciently a local quilter with a massive stash passed away and one of her friends sorted through her stash and brought some lovely cuts to our guild meetings twice. Both time it came with the requirement that we could take the fabric but only if it was to be used for charity quilting. I and several others walked away from the table of fabric because although the intent is nice, we found it impossible to promise that the fabric would be used only for a charity quilt. Once a piece is in my stash it is there to use for any purpose, any quilt I am making. A small thing but perhaps an unneeded pressure. If you want to gift you stash to your current guild or your past guild, give it to them to use as they choose.

I was the happy recipient of my sister-in-laws stash when she passed away with ALS. She was a master quilter and did marvelous work. That was 20 years ago and I am still using her stash, her tools, her books and yes, I have made all of her grandchildren quilts from her stash. It has been a blessing and I continue to make quilts and give them away in her honor as my "missing mentor".

Yes, make plans for your stash. My plan is to keep diminishing the stash year by year and to then give my one quilting daughter a first go at what she may want and the rest to my guild.

Got a chuckle in looking at Bonnie Hunter’s site and specifically the Quitler’s Will. Just below the Will is an ad about making outdoor furniture covers. Well the picture shows a long rectangular object covered in fabric. Could it be a covered casket? Quite apropos, don’t you think?

Good post... gets us thinking! My charity guild has 'inherited' many such a stash from deceased quilters. It's hard to distribute the fabric, even for free in a guild. Every member is very selective on what they will take home, because most are already overloaded with their own stashes and don't have a lot of room to store more. It's hard to find it a new home. I already feel like I need to stop buying and start using up what I have at home in my stash. Permanently.

But... burning fabric and thread??? That seems so hateful. That man must have had some serious resentment against his wife's quilting hobby.

I read the Swedish death cleaning book and see the difficulties relatives are facing on this issue. My daughter doesn’t sew and I don’t maintain a stash. I’m limiting my machine purchases and getting rid of all excess. Once I started decluttering I grew increasingly uncomfortable with piles and storage bins. Other than a small collection of dinnerware (that she’d keep) the lone remainder would be collectible handbags which she wants. The rest would go to a consignment shop and Goodwill.

Thank you for posting this. I just wrote an email to my three kids (in their 40's) telling them how I want them to deal with my stash, and I included a link to this topic so that they can acquaint themselves with some of the issues and options. As I told them, I plan to get 30 more years of use out of it all, but nothing is guaranteed. (I will be 72 soon!)

I am so fortunate that my niece and her daughter are carrying on my quilting tradition and are already accessing my stash. So far as personal items (furniture, jewelry, etc.), I have already told them to keep what they want and sell or donate the rest. I do keep a notebook that has photos of family objects and their histories and also some of my more expensive purchases so that they can give special consideration to those items. I would hate for them to sell something I paid major $$ for at a garage sell for a few dollars. Better to try a consignment shop or antique dealer.

My guild gets so much donated fabric from stashes left that we have no place or no one to take it. We have enough fabric for community service to last for years. No one wants to take it home and we have to donate a lot of it to thrift stores. Our President asked the membership if we should put a hold on taking more donated fabric. No one really knew the answer. We don't like not taking it if someone wanted the stash to come to us. Our supply closet we do have is running over in fabric. The new quilters that join get sent home with bags of fabric. Many get overwhelmed with so much given for free and can't believe it. I do not want my stash if any left to go to guild. They will be like oh no, more fabric. LOL

I think a lot of this mindset is generational. My grandparents are in their late 80's and early 90's, and had borderline hoarding tendencies because of their experience with the Great Depression. My mom is 68 and, because she was raised by Depression babies, is also reluctant to part with anything. As a result, when Grandma & Grandpa recently moved into a retirement home, cleaning out their house and taking stuff to the dump fell to me. Mom kept trying to put a value on items that nobody wanted - not family, not neighbors, not garage-salers. My grandparents didn't buy "nice" things; they bought used, cheap things and saved their money. I'm actually thankful for this, because they can now afford the $8000+ a month it's costing them to live in the retirement home. But most of their possessions ended up going to the dump. I did keep a couple of items, and a few knick-knacks that were precious to me because they brought back childhood memories.

Having to go through all the years of stuff my grandparents saved made me realize just how much crap I have that is just that - crap. Clothing I haven't worn since my first baby was born. Sentimental stuff like the extra wedding invitations left over from our wedding, why am I holding on to that?? I framed one and tossed the rest. Then there's all the junk that people give me because they can't bring themselves to throw it out. My mom gave me a recipe box that my great-grandmother had since high school, I think she may have even made it. Well, I had never seen it before, so it meant nothing to me and out it went. It's amazing how liberating it is to have breathable space in my house.

I have told family that anything they don’t want is to go to a friend who will share it with others who quilt for charities. They won’t get peanuts trying to sell it and prefer it all to be donated to a good cause. Luckily they still need all the fabric they can get.