I just inherited two 6 foot tall chests full of old material from my grandmother in law. Some dates back to the 50's. I mentioned the fact at a yard sale I am having and have women coming by to purchase some- but have no idea what its worth... Some pieces are faded, small, etc. but quite unique. Any clues on how to handle this dilema???

Some questions -

Do you really want to sell this fabric?
If yes, why? (I don't need to know the answer to that - you do)

What does the traffic bear in your area?

Do you want to "make money off it" or "find good homes for it"?

Like many things, "worth" is a value agreed upon between a buyer and a seller.

The woman who inquired is a member of a quilting club here ( I live in a remote town in N. Az. ) I'm sure she would put it to good use- I am a beginner- haven't finished my first quilt yet. If I do sell her some- I don't want to get ripped off underselling a find

I think people tend to think "bargain/inexpensive/cheap" for prices when shopping at garage sales.

Are these fabrics all "quilting type cottons"? These seem to be hot items at garage sales now (at least for me as a shopper)

If you present your fabrics as an opportunity to purchase "unusual, no-longer-available, vintage, or unique" fabrics - rather than "garage sale stuff" - customers might expect to pay more for the items and be willing to do so.

As you may have noticed on the classifieds, fabric is going from being given away - the sender is even paying the postage - to about $10.00 a yard ($2.50 for a fat quarter plus shipping)

You may have noticed photos of "hauls" in the pictures section.

If it was mine, I would save out the pieces I liked - even if I had no plans for them at the time.

I just paid $4.00/yard ($1.00/fat quarter at a garage sale a week ago)

The truly beautiful/unique/good condition fabrics - you could probably get more for them. Haven't quite figured out why, but sometimes folks will buy four fat quarters at $2.50 each and balk at buying a one yard piece for $10.00

I think I would try selling the pieces as yardage first. And then go to the smaller pieces.

If the fabrics are "snobby name brands" - you could maybe start at $6.00 yard and see what happens. It's easier to lower a price than increase it.

The crappy stuff - that could go for $2.00 (or less) a yard.

The really depressing stuff - you could put that in a "free box" - sometimes what one person thinks is undesirable, another person has been looking for.

Just my thoughts on the subject. I realize it's not giving you a "definite" answer.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Bearisgray has great advice! I just wanted to say to make sure you keep some! Fabric is so expensive now...and hard to find used stuff! GOOD LUCK!

I am one of those people who has to ponder things for a while; if I do anything in haste, I usually regret it. My only suggestion to you would be to hang onto the fabric a while; meanwhile, you'll likely get answers to other questions such as what the fabric is worth ... both as value to you and as sale items.

Just a thought - you may want to check E-bay completed listings for out of print (OOP)fabric. For someone restoring a vintage quilt, you could have a gold mine. I'd love to see some pictures, myself. I have some Dresden blocks from that era that need centers. Not sure what would be a fair price, though.

Maybe advertise "vintage fabrics" and that might bring in some buyers willing to pay more than the average garage sale buyer.

Check out prices online for similar fabrics.

I would also suggest that you hold some back. You may regret it later if you don't :wink:

I agree with all of the above. Make sure you sort out the things you MIGHT want to use. I would say that the little bits (scraps) should be put in plastic grab baggies and sold for $2-5. Quarter yards - $ $2, Half yards - $5, etc. Unless you've done the homework and know to charge more for special pieces. Photograph stuff and put it on-line ( ETSY, Artfire are suggestions.) And when you have some left send it to me!