Today I sent out a box of vintage fabrics I got from that $25 tub of fabrics. I sent them along with a long letter to one of my friends (who is crazy about vintage fabrics) who lived near me at the old house. Part of me feels sort of bad, I was helping her with her stash and she has far too many boxes and bags of little bits of vintage fabric. But in my letter I said my hopes were that she would have some fun going through this fabric while knowing I was thinking about her as I played with it and assembled the box. And that maybe she would find a couple of pieces worth keeping (there were some!) but treat the rest of the box as if I had sent flowers and after a week or so of enjoyment, to consider just tossing what was left -- they had gotten their use.

The vintage fabrics (plus some cookies) filled up a large flat rate priority box. With the surcharge right now, that was $31.40 in postage...

Melrose I certainly understand

Here to report that, without spending a penny, I have broken moratorium big time by accepting fabric (both yardage and scraps) from a friend.

I have about 30 pillowcases made up for gifts and charity, all made from stash fabrics. So roughly 31 or so yds gone. A few kits finished that were gifted to me. Now starting on a few bindings to get the UFO count down.

AUQuilter, that is a marvelous idea! Pillow cases are a such a good way to use up stash! Congratulations on sending 30+ yards out the door.

Great idea AUquilter. Those pillow cases use up a huge chunk of your stash! I’ve been quilting donation quilts throughout the year and only managed about 43 yards out the door this year. I’m sure the 31 yards you depleted took you less time. I’m sitting here asking myself, “Now why didn’t I think of making pillow cases?” Thanks for the idea. I can see a lot more fabric leaving and becoming something useful.

I am wondering if Project Linus accepts pillow cases? Humm. I know that one of my volunteer groups does donate pillow cases to the Women's shelter associated with the YWCA because they house both women and children who come with minimal items of their own. The pillow cases are given to the sheltered folks for them to keep.

Often foster kid organizations want pillow cases. Is nicer for quick placements to use them instead of dumping what possessions the kid has in trashbags.

You might check for some of those. I am getting low on pieces suitable for that, but in this past year have started saving left over quilt fabric for complimentary pillow cases. Haven't made the pillow cases yet but am keeping the fabric with the tops.

As both my child were adopted through the Foster Care system, I can only say thank you for mentioning that pillow case donations can be made to foster children. Both my sons, ages 6 and 3, not biologically related and now grown, came with trash bags of clothing. Most of the clothing didn’t even fit them and there were no toys or personal items included. Hopefully things have changed in 40 (how can it possibly be that long) years.

I always love giving things to someone I really know Will enjoy that specific thing. I’ve given away a yard or so of fabric and five or six quilting books to a woman I know who wants to learn to quilt, and i much prefer that to sending them somewhere like goodwill.