Please Help!!!
 

I have been sewing and collecting fabric most of my life now I'm overwelmed with fabric and feel that I won't live long enough to get it worked up I have given a quilt to just about everyone that I know and I still have a large stack of blankets left. My so called home is over take with fabric of many many colors and designs. I have 4 rooms filled with fabric and could not tell you what all of the fabrics that I have I have tried and tried to straighten them out but have soooo much I don't ever get it right. I feel like I am going to die with the one that has the most fabrics. Does anyone have any ideas that could help me get this overwelming down to a reasonable amount that I could handle I have tried to help people on this board when they need a piece to finish something but never get a responce back on what they need.I have been watching people post they have soo much they don't know what to do and I have them all beat.

How about having a sale. You could contact your local guild and offer some of the fabric to members at a reduced price.

thanks for the reply I have tried a sale and only sell very little it just really don't make a dent in what I have. I have almost as much as most of the stores in this area

You do not say where you are

Sometimes posting fabric lines on here in the classified get great responses, once you have over 20 posts or whatever the rules are. I have bought quite abit off here over the years, one to help fellow board members and two because I can't resist collections, be it colour groupings or specific lines. Good luck, and start posting. When I closed my quilt store four years ago, my stash grew into mountains. I moved about 6 times in 3 years and moving it all was horrendous. I have bought very little in the past four years, except from fellow board members, and believe it or not, I have made a dent it in. I find making lap quilts for the Nursing home where I worked and a homeless shelter (usually about 10 quilts a year) helps alot. Since quilting is my passion, I do it daily and how many quilts can we store to pass on when we are gone?

It sounds as if you really want to get rid of your fabric. If I had that much fabric and couldn't sell it off, I would be looking for places to donate it.

Sounds like you need some friends to come help you out. As KSdot wrote, you may need to seek out your local guild. If you get the help to organize it you could rent a merchant booth at a local quilt show. The thing with yard sales is that people expect deep discounts so you will not get what you paid for it. I have gone to some estate sales that were selling quilt shop quality fabric for around $5 per yard (name brand stuff like Hoffman, Kona bay, etc) and Jo Annes/Walmart quality fabric for $2. I felt that was a fair price even though some of the fabrics I knew were several years old and probably bought for $5 per yard or less but in speaking with the people selling many people did not. It was half of what you would pay at a store today so I found it fair and all the fabric was in excellent like new condition. I got some beautiful stuff and was happy with my purchases.

You will only be able to sell the fabric if it is in like new condition and if your home is non smoking and also no pets have been able to get to where you have it stored. While many of us love our furkids, there are just as many who are deathly allergic and can not consider buying fabric that has had cats or dogs near it.

If the fabric has been stored a long time and is musty smelling or faded or if mice have gotten into it you will have to sell it at a steep discount like $1 or $2 per yard or even less depending on condition.

Additionally it is not easy to get the word out to local quilters without the help of a guild. You could advertise a yard sale on Craigs List and make sure you use words like quilting, sewing, material and fabric in your ad so when people do searches it will come back. Log it in yard sales and in arts and crafts.

The items for sale here also need to be yard sale price and you need to be more active on the board, I believe. I never go into that section and since the board changed I don't know the rules. If you go to that section of the board, the rules are posted. You could try selling on E-bay. Many people sell fabric there but you need to be able to post pictures of it and again, you need to get it organized.

If you mention where you are located I am sure members of the QB that live nearby will definitely offer to come help you out and even buy some of your fabric. I know I would consider it if you lived close to me.

If recouping some of your cost is not a concern you can always donate it.

in our community, the senior center has a group of quilters that make donation quilts out of donated fabric. you could check on that in your community. are your fabrics cotton? where do you live?

Thanks for all the replys and ideas. I live in Texas. If anyone needs a special fabric please let me know.

I really believe that Tartan has the best idea. I believe that before you sell, you need to organize it. Just ruler folding will help so much in saving space. I have all my fabric ruler folder and in drawers, each drawer has a particular background color in it. But you can organize the way that works best for you. If you do clothes sewing, I would separate that fabric from the quilting fabric. If you have clothes sewing fabric that you don't or won't use anymore, then that would go in a separate area, to be either sold or donated. If you start in one room, don't leave it to work in another room until it's organized. I would read the criteria first, as far as selling on here is, one of the problems is that you can only list a few items at a time, which from what you've described would take years to sell here, I would list the fabrics on either Craig's List or e-bay to sell.

As the coordinator of a group that meets once a week to make lap robes for local area nursing homes and
the VA hospital here in Florida, we are always in need of fabric. We depend entirely upon donations to do our work.
We be more than happy to help you down size the fabric

I think a Craigs list as or E- bay would be your best bet. Enlist a buddy to assist you in this process, one who can stay on task and focus on the "mission" and bring any techinical assitance you might need. Consider selling in color coordinated bundles, for better efficency.
It sounds like all of this fabric is stiffeling rather than bringing inspiration.

I have found myself paralyzed by my stash as well, especially recently. I am about to donate a bunch of novelty prints to quilters who make blankets for Project Linus. I sew for PL as well, but some of the fabric didn't inspire me and I knew I'd never get to it, so better to put the fabric in the hands of someone who will bring it to life in the form of a quilt that can give someone pleasure.

head to the post office grab some med flat rate boxes- fill them and post here for sale for a min price plus shipping costs..
there are members here who are on a limited budget and would welcome some fabric they would be more than happy to receive..

I would go to your closest quilt guild an see if someone there is willing to help you out even just send them an email. You could just pick a project and just donate lots of fabric, I would think they would be happy for the dontations.

dchev you do sound very overwhelmed by your situation but there is always solutions available with a little work on your part. selling some of it and donating some of it sounds like a good plan. perhaps you may have a friend or relative that can come help you sort by colors if possible. if you have bolts of fabric it is easier for those looking to purchase to have a set price for the bolt. i wouldnt bother selling anything by the yard. if you yard pieces, set a price for the whole piece it makes it easier for those purchasing. for example 3 yards and under for $3.00 and 3 yards up to 6 yards for $5.00, etc.

for the sales, i would say contact local guilds in your area and let them know of your sale. quilters are always looking for fabric. also consider donating some fabric to the guilds also. there are most likely some quilt shops in your area that are participating in the 1 million pillowcase challenge that could use some donated fabric. you can check online for the shops in your area that are participating. i would just concentrate on one room at a time. i realize that sales can be slow but they do help to accomplish the goal. selling on ebay could be a bit challenging for you right now. craigslist sales or local sales seem an easier task.

you could also consider opening up your sale to QB members who are in your area. pick a sale day, post a thread on the board and those who are interested can come by and shop. each little bit you manage to rehome, is each little bit you no longer will have in your home. you will be able to tame your beast but take it a little bit at a time. there are various avenues to rehome your fabric so do it one stack at a time.

i remember when i was somewhat in your position, i had hugh packing boxes of fabric to rehome. i called the local girls/boys center and gifted them lots of patterns and fabrics for their afterschool/summer programs. i posted a notice in my church bulletin for free fabric and gave bags of it to sewers at church. i gave some to family and i sold some. i still have fabric left but its much more managable and i kept the more expensive silks and wools that i had.

I second the flat rate box idea but you can order them online so you don't even have to leave your house!

I for one would be interested as I posted a request for pillowcases and lap quilts for people with AIDS back in Novemeber and two members contacted me but so far nobody has sent in any items to the organization. They could use fabric , so that quilters could turn them into quilts. I would be willing to pay the postage on behalf of the group.

I am sure other charity quilters would do the same.

My address is 1643........, LOL!!!!

Jan in VA :p

I would be happy to fly in to help you and you could pay me in fabric! :-)

I agree.....sell it !!!! There are many different ways to sell, but make it easy for yourself. Set a price per yard, like $2/yard regardless of what it is. Sell in 1 yard increments only. If you have a complete line of fabrics, you can sell by collection. Have fabrics sorted by color....easier for buyers to find what they need. And if you live anywhere close to Indiana....pm me and I will be right over....seriously!

My friend's mother had an entire house of fabric and quilting supplies as well as a long arm. She sold most of it by advertising on Craig's list and was able to get rid of a lot. Donate what you don't sell - Salvation Army will come pick it up for you. You will feel so much better to deal with it even if it takes several attempts.

Years ago I had a mountain of fabrics and little time to sew. My husband at that time REFUSED to move all my fabrics. I had just had surgery, and was not in the position to argue with him. I contacted a friend I had who made quilts for project Linus and I let her come in and take alll the fabrics she wanted. We BOTH felt very good about it. Years later I got divorced. Now, I have two cabinets of fabrics and when they are full... I stop buying. It helps me keep sane...

You have been given many great ideas from this group!
.

I want to thank all for the help it has inspired me to sort through the piles it will take me a long time but I know now with all your help and ideas I will make it.

i hope you have stopped adding to it :)
start using what you have- shop in your own (store)
try organizing according to theme/design instead of colors- that might help-
as in-
put together everything that would work well for baby quilts,
girl/kids quilts, boy/kids quilts
reproductions
blenders
florals
landscapes--- get my drift?
as you sort start in one area-don't worry about what is in the next room- only worry about what is right in front of you
as you get going you may come across stacks that you figure you will never ever use- set those aside- then snap pics of them- measure them and post them in the classifieds- people will buy them from you
but first is not adding to what you have- no matter how much you love it! write down your goals---do you want to get down to one room? do you only want to organize? decide exactly what you want to accomplish---and write it down---then work toward that goal- if you feel the urge to 'shop' -browse on line shops---looking- even adding to a cart---then empty that cart and move on---don't actually buy anything (window shop) until you have reached your goals.

If I had too much fabric the first place I would post about it would be here on these boards. Like alot of us, I am pretty strapped for funds most of the time, and getting fabric here is a life saver to me. The first place I check each morning is the items for sale here. I have bought several things, and be very pleased at the quality and the prices. After that I do not have any ideas that have not already been posted here for you. Good luck!

Do a yard sale this spring and put out your least favorites. You'll be left with a more manageable pile to sort and enjoy. And by the way, tell yourself you HAVE TO live long enough to enjoy your favorites.

you could start making charity quilts or call a local quilt guild, they would love the fabric for charity quilts to be donated to children or families in need

We have chairity groups that are begging for fabric....make prayer shawls, laprobes for elderly at senior homes. hospital crib blankets. These groups need it so badly. Contact your senior citizen organization for help in donating. Hope this helps, I have used this way many times to reduce my stash.

I have looked and looked and can't find any material that might have to do with computers. Would you happen to have any?

Why don't you invite some friends over and have a quilting party? You could make lap quilts to donate to an organization such as Quilts for Kids. (quiltsforkids.org) They even have simple patterns on their website you could use to do so and they go to kids who are suffering from terrible diseases. It certainly would make you feel better knowing all that fabric is going to a good cause.

Could you make quilts for those getting kemo treatment at oncologist offices? I just recently contacted my oncologist and offered to make quilts for her patients and she was delighted! I just made my first year after breast cancer surgery and starting to get my energy back, so I thought to make quilts for those less fortunate (I was lucky to only need radiation)Just check your local oncologist office. If you don't find one, I can give your the name and address of mine and would not mind repaying you for your postage. Or call me Phone number removed for safety - please send by PM

If your guild has a service group, reach in grab a stack and donate it to them. If yor guild is a 5013C you can take a donation credit on your taxes. If you don't have access to a guild service group, call around to local churches to see if they have a similiar group. I found a home for a stack of double knits with a church group who makes blankets for a overseas charity...they were happy as punch to receive the gift. Since you have quilting fabric How about making pillowcases for charity (It will give you a change of sewing for awhile.) Donate to Million pillowcase challenge or Salvation Army, or Children's hospital, or Shirner's Burn Hospitals. When all else fails...TAke a small stack of fabric and give to your guild as a meeting door prize. The key is start small....If you sew with a group my guess is that there is someone who is really suffering in these ecoomic times from lack of employment or fixed income you might invite them over and give them enought fabric to make a quilt or bedrunner, etc. They will be appreciative and you will diminish your stacks. ( I speak from a similiar problem.....I have 8 black garbage bags of material from my Mother's sewing room. She is now in a facility with demetia and can't sew any longer. I have been slowly washing all of the fabric and finding new homes for it.)

There are several of us who live in Texas. Do you need some to come and help you to organize? To deliver fabric to groups who will make charity quilts or otherwise help you out? You speak about thinking about dying with all of your fabric left behind. When my mother was getting older she did not have the energy to deal with large problems like your fabric might be. This is why I am asking if you need help.
I definitely do NOT mean to imply that any of us would come and help ourselves to your fabric, only come and be willing hands to help a fellow quilter. There must be some of us some of us in reasonable distance - 100 miles or so- of you.

I would go through and pick out my favorites. Save the blenders and get rid of all the focal fabric you don't like.
I know I have a lot of focal fabric I bought because the price was right and now know I will never use it.
You could sell it or donate it to a guild that does charity quilts.

I have to say first, I wish I had that delemma.Anyway,if I was in your shoes I would take a yard of each fabric and donate it to a quilting guild,if there are smaller pieces you don't need or want put them in a box and sell them to the wonderful people on the board.If you need help with all this send out feelers to see if a board member livesby you and will help with the organizing.

Good Luck !!!!!!!

Where in TX are you? Lots of quilters in TX...you might find someone who is willing to help you.

My husband is working in South Texas for the next few months. I travel to see him. Maybe I could make a stop by and help. I also sent you a PM offering to buy :o) .. Would love the opportunity to the chat with and hang out with another quilter ..

I am in Austin maybe I could help you out LOL