Just wanted to mention that there were linen fabrics found in ancient Egyptian tombs that were still in good shape.

OK, I have to ask: Are you musty, moldy, faded in spots, or do you tear easily?

I have some linen from my grandmother and she died in 1960. It is in perfect condition and just waiting for the perfect project to come along.

If and when it becomes unusable for some reason. I've used well aged fabrics for backs and as linings garments and even the most dated pattern is unrecognizable in small pieces.

When it is no longer usable, or when I know it will never be used. I inherited three stashes--my mom and two of my aunts born in 1906 and 1909. My favorite piece is a chintzy off grain printed black fabric, 36" wide, labelled at 10 cents a yard.

Tartan you took the words right out of my mouth. I love old fabric and my choice of quilts are the 30's. I search for it at house sales and I have found some really wonderful fabrics. We see quilts that are more than a 100 years old and they are still beautiful if they were properly stored!

Some of my older fabric is showing 'wear' on the fold so this seems to cause discoloration because of wear along that fold.

For me I think it must be "old" if I can't remember buying it!!

Old is fabric I've totally lost interest in and don't even want to see it in a scrap quilt.