KathyM

I'm 62 and I have TONS of fabric, patterns, books, floss and yarn. I told my kids I stocked up for retirement. So, I've been using what I have and only buy to fill in where I need it. I went through my address book and put 'Quilting Friend' by my friends that quilt. Hopefully the items would go to some of them. OR my son said he was putting a dump truck up to the window, nice guy.

WMUTeach

This is an easy one. I have one daughter who is a quilter. She will be in charge my quilting room. I suspect that she will sort through what I have that she wants and will hopefully disperse the rest to my quilt guild members. Our quilting style is very different so I suspect most of my fabric will find homes with other quilters. I am considering designating my feather weight to a granddaughter who has some interest in quilting but at 14 she has years to grow and develop her own interests.

I hope, as many of you do too, that my stash will be diminished and my wishes known well before I am gone. Yes, talk to your family so they know what you would want done and put it in writing in your will or trust plans.

Karamarie

We will be moving into a townhome in a couple of months and I am slowly downsizing fabric and patterns. I feel I don't have an abundance of either but will still downsize. I will have room in the townhome but not a whole floor with 4 rooms (a big farmhouse) like I have now, will just have to do things a little different. My daughter and 2 granddaughters will have to deal with my quilting things but I am going to get rid of things as I can. I don't feel I have to worry about it so much. If daughter and granddaughters don't want things, they are to give fabric and patterns to my quilt group.

coopah

I am using what I have and hope my church quilting group and guild will be able to use or sell (and keep the $$) my fabrics and notions. I have 2 FWs and 2 Pfaffs and hope to sell those with the rest of my stuff in an estate sale. Son lives near Seattle and his wife doesn’t sew. One of the FWs was my MILs, so I may be able to find someone on the husband’s side who wants that.
Edited to add: The more difficult thing is what to do with my quilts. All are family quilts and I will have both mine and my mother’s. Some made by my great-grandmother and grandmother so some go back to the Great Depression years and are hand quilted. A few have been well loved and some are in wonderful condition.

judykay

I have what I call is "mom's wish list" stating what I want done with my quilting supplies. What my friends don't want take to the senior center where I take a lot of my fabric I no longer want. They do a lot of charity work and are always glad when I make a donation of fabric and books.

Pagzz

I think it is good to plan ahead. When my sister passed away, her husband burned all her clothing and I don't know what else. It's fun when someone posts they found a quilt or top for cheap at a garage sale but it makes me sad in a way too.

When I say, I don't want to leave a mess for anyone, I mean I want to pare down and have things organized at least. If I still have ufos have them together and labelled etc. I only had one child and he has passed away, I am close to my DIL but she has remarried and lives in a different city. I hope for a long, happy, productive retirement and have tentatively planned that if I need to go into assisted living, I will move to her city.

One thing that makes me happy is that we are transitioning to more self-driving cars and there is Uber and Lyft so I will still be able to attend guild night meetings etc. when I am older.

I am independent by nature. My plan is for me and I am not trying to throw shade on anyone.

SusieQOH

I have 3 sons and only one has a wife who sews. I already told them to make sure my stuff goes where it will be needed and enjoyed. They'll do the right thing. They love my quilts so I know they will be with my kids.

shasta5718

I have several quilters in the family and they will be able to pick a machine and some fabric and what ever else is listed in the trust and the rest will be sold and put in monthly pay accounts for the kids.

sewbizgirl

I have no idea what will happen to my stuff! My daughter doesn't quilt and only sews home dec a little.

For those of you that have stash you no longer want, do you know there are selling groups on Facebook? They are a great place to post your unwanted fabric, patterns, books, etc. and sell them. You join the groups to post, but from there on you deal with buyers yourself. Just go to Facebook and search groups with words like "destashing" and "fabric sales", etc. I've sold a lot of my fabric that way. (Also bought fabric that way too, *ahem*.) It's a great resource for us "fabric collectors" to sell off some stash.

SusieQOH

sewbizgirl, is there a way to go to that group but be hidden from the general FB? I really don't like using it anymore but still have an account.