A scraps and no longer loving fabric whine
 

This is a whine, because I have a feeling of guilt. I need to thin out some scraps and some fabric that I don't like and know I will never use. Right now, our Goodwill is not taking any donations, and the only out side donation boxes up for other places say 'only clothes and shoes'.

I want it out of my quilting room, and I thought about giving it to churches or assisted living, or schools, but find that this isn't something that they want in my area. Then I thought about putting it on here for anyone, but I really don't want the expense of postage, and don't feel right to even ask for postage. Honestly, I feel like it is more of a hassle then a way of just saying here you go. I'm very rural and at the moment I don't drive, and this would have to be taken to the post office if I would do the 'send to someone way'.

I actually tossed some out in my trash bin (empty new bag) in my craft room, but the next morning I dug it out and put it back in the storage bins and cabinets. Ugh! It really isn't a lot, because of when planning the move, I took to Goodwill a lot of scraps. But now, there is no end in site to when Goodwill will accept donations again, and even then, they limit what they will take or not.

But it is more than I really want to throw away in the trash. It's nice fabric. Whine, whine, whine.

If you take the time to read this, please forgive, as I have a bad headcold right now and well.... I feel whiney.

Is there any traffic at all on the road you live on? Where I am, if folks just want something gone, the put it near the curb by the road with a FREE sign. Most of the time somebody stops and takes it. A few things hang around like a badly used mattress or huge couch but I think about 80% of the time, it is gone by evening. I probably would stop if I saw some neatly piled fabric with a sign reading FREE quilting fabric!

Don't feel guilty about tossing scraps you will never use. You tried to give them a second life and that's all you can do. Believe me there are enough scraps in the the quilting world that your pile won't make any difference. That's what I was told when I fretted about tossing my scraps no one wanted or needed and I felt stuck with them.

quilt stores can help you with Quilt Guild names and other quilters too maybe. Churches may also help. Just call and ask. so many out there cannot stand waste and can use up anything. good luck.

We have a "free" local group (actually 2) on FB - or you could offer it for free on FB Marketplace. I bet someone would love it!

I'm looking at a lot of strips in my box right now. Time for a string quilt!

I honestly don't feel bad about tossing scraps. I keep what I think are useable and toss what I don't want. As Onebyone said there are plenty of scraps to go around. Tossing some won't deprive you or anyone else.

A saying by a friend who made community quilts for our Guild. "Put it where it needs to go." If it's the trash, so be it. If there is a Guild near you, there is probably a free or donation table. The fabric is your's to do what you want to with it. No one will ever know.

I am afraid I’m like you, I can’t ‘waste’ whether it fabrics, food, anything, I cannot stand waste. I wish I was closer so I could run pick it up. I hope you feel better soon and decide then to put it into good use.

We have Freecycle sites around here where you offer whatever you've got and people come pick it up off of your porch/driveway/wherever. If you have FB Marketplace, you could also offer it there.
Or, you could just toss it. You tried to find it a home.It's yours and you paid for it. Do whatever you want with it.

Watson

Check your county humane society, there should be pet stores that accept fabrics and batting. I got rid of 3 grocery bags of fabric 2 shopping bags of cuttings and 2 bags of scrap batting.

Is there a local paper in your community that you could advertise in? Free scraps would be a blessing to some people. Of course they would need to pick them up, no shipping.

I'm not a scrappy quilter by any means. I also only buy for projects as I just don't have room to store anything. Beyond that I know if I bought a piece of fabric just because I liked it, I'd never figure out what to do with it.

Fortunately for me, there is another member here on QB that I have become friends with and she is a very creative quilter and sewist. She does lots of charity quilting as well as other types of sewing. When I finish up with a project (or 2 or 3), I'll gather up all my leftovers and give them to her - including batting scraps.

I would not feel guilty in the least tossing this but I am happy someone else is able to use these things and get enjoyment from them.

Win-win for both of us.

My guild has a free table and there are always bags of scraps on it every meeting. Very few are taken.

I used to take my embroidery trial runs stitched out designs as well as fabrics I no longer needed to the Senior Centers as they made quilts. They're no longer around so luckily I take my discarded fabrics to our local thrift store as they also make quilts to put up at auction every couple years. I rarely ever see any of my fabrics make it to their shelves for sale. Guess I'm lucky in my area.

A couple years ago I took 8 large brown paper bags full of good fabrics and a couple gallon size bags of good sized scraps. Only saw a couple pieces of my fabric make it to the shelves and those were dress fabrics.

I don't like to waste anything either. I guess it come from parents who grew up in the Depression. I toss mine in a tubbie in the corner and when it is overflowing, I make a scrap quilt. My kids love them because they are the ones to take camping or on a picnic.

You can make sleep mats and use them for stuffing and donate them to an animal shelter. That is the only thing I can think of to add to what has already been suggested.

When I have fabric I don't want anymore, the first place I go is my husband. He uses the 100% cotton for his woodworking projects.

Scraps used to bother me but I finally have come to terms with it. I'll bet if you cut all the scraps into a consistent size, (like 2.5" or 4.5") and posted on FB or craigslist, you would have a lot of takers. Once a consistent size, they could put together a scrappy quilt very quickly.

Quilt guilds! I once listed scraps on a list called 'ReUseIt' (it's been renamed I think), and someone from a guild called, and I've given her several bunches since. If you don't have such a list, you could google the guilds in your area and call them directly.

When I get a large bag stuffed with scraps, I call SOs daughter. She is a art teacher and says the scraps are great for art projects
Win, win for all:)

Do you have the Neighborhood app? I’ll bet there are plenty of quilters/sewers/crafters who live right around you who would love your scraps and would be glad to pick them up! I’ve used it before for puzzles, and once someone says they want them I just leave them in a bag on my front porch. They drop by and pick them up.

First of all I hope you're feeling better. Summer colds are the pits!
I hear you on feeling guilty. My parents grew up during the Depression and I inherited some of their ways. I dislike wasting food and things like that.
Fabric can get overwhelming though. I get nervous when I have too much in my sewing room so I donate scraps to Good Will or a similar place. So far they take them. I really don't like scraps because when I finish a project I'm sick of the fabrics I used.
I just thought of something- a lot of people on this board like them. Maybe offer some and have them pay postage? It would work out well for both people. Just a thought.

I decided to go through my scraps again. Since I like to use a lot of 2.5" strips/jelly rolls, I decided to cut my scraps into 2.5" strips. Anything that is smaller than 2.5" I'll just be tossing.

The fabric that I really can't stand, is screen printed and feels like plastic, I just can't bring myself to use it. So, I'm going to put it the trade room at our local transfer (dump) station for anyone who wants it. They won't let me put in a bag of scraps (too much like trash to them), but they okayed a closed zip lock of yardage. When I bought it, I didn't realize that it was screen printed -- not labeled as such-- and purchased 8 yards of it for using it in some blocks of a pattern plus for the backing and binding. I started to use it, but quickly replaced it with a different fabric. It actually feels like a waterproof outer shower curtain fabric.

I feel better, knowing at least the majority of it will be used.

Thanks for all the input and suggestions and well wishes. Had a turn with my cold and ended up in the ER for most of the afternoon today. Had some breathing issues with bronchial spasms with all the coughing from my sore throat, but got meds and feeling and breathing much easier now! Looking forward to enjoying the rest of the holiday weekend!

I recently bought a floor loom. Fabric that will never be a quilt will become a rag rug.

it come from parents who grew up in the Depression

I was raised by my grandparents for most of my childhood. During the depression they were young with three little boys. I don't remember them keeping everything or thinking better keep it we may need it one day. My grandmother hated clutter. The only thing my grandmother said about the depression era was that many people ate sardine sandwiches which were very cheap and easy to find in the store.

I do use most of my scraps now, but in the past I have just tossed narrow strips small triangles and little snippets of this and that. I needed the mental freedom from what I did not like, what absorbed my time and what cluttered my working space. It has been a while since those days, but I now toss any thing that is less than a 2.5 " piece as I go. My choice that fits me. I know lots of you grand quilters use smaller pieces. I don't. So I don't keep them. On the other hand, I have 2.5" squares and strips by the thousands.....but I use them by the hundreds. That explains the growth in my collection. :) Make more quilts, make more quilts!
Quiltsfor, find you comfort level with scraps and donate or let them go according to what makes you comfortable.

Can they be used to stuff a pet bed for a animal shelter? There are people who make beds that may be able to use them.

Hi Ru,

I am making quilts for survivors of trafficking. I've been given donations of all types of scrap fabrics. Not sure where you're located but if you're anywhere near Idaho I would LOVE to take any fabric off your hands! I'm not sure how to post pictures of the quilts I've made but I have several.

They are all labeled Wrapped in Love with a pocket where the label is. I'm putting in a hand written note to each recipient. There is a safe house being built in Montana that I'm donating my first set of quilts to. I've also been making small bags for the women too, different size zippered bags for makeup etc.

Again, let me know. I'm newly retired and on a limited budget. I'll take ANY fabric pattern, yardage or scraps. And also batting, even scraps (I'm using the scraps for the zippered bags). I do prefer cotton, but if it's donated I'll take any type.

Becky G

A couple of years ago a new-ish, young quilter thanked the guild for our "freebie" table as without access to it she could not afford to quilt.

I would bundle up whatever doesn't work for you and donate it to the local guild freebie table! Guilds often use donated fabric to fuel whatever charity groups they run as well ie. baby quilts, Project Linus quilts, shelter quilts.