Time to let go....
11-02-2024, 01:15 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 232
I list mine in the Facebook Buy Nothing group for our neighborhood. It’s worked well for me because the interested person then picks it up from my porch so I don’t have to take it somewhere and I know it’s going to someone who will use it.
I’ve been letting go of my scraps and some unloved fabric. Much as I love sewing with scraps I’ve decided it’s time to concentrate on the “good stuff” I’ve been saving.
I’ve been letting go of my scraps and some unloved fabric. Much as I love sewing with scraps I’ve decided it’s time to concentrate on the “good stuff” I’ve been saving.
11-02-2024, 02:47 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Metro West, Massachusetts
Posts: 256
I've said it before and will repeat it now...I'm addicted to buying fabric and saving every little piece. This week I'm letting go of many pieces that are a forth yard and smaller, some larger pieces that I now look at and think "what was I thinking?" Everything has been measured to the nearest useable piece, that measurement written on an index card and put in individual ziploc bags. I have three large boxes to take to the local thrift store early next week. I've also let go of a couple templates that I thought I just had to have years ago and never used. A couple (5) UFO quilt tops that I never did anything with, have gone into the box also. Maybe someone can complete one or two to give as presents for Christmas. Now thinking that I have time this weekend to put a binder together with downloaded patterns in plastic sleeves and give those away also. I did keep, numberous jelly rolls, layer cakes and charm packs and quilt backings. At least I know that the fabric colors in those coordinate wonderfully. I will still be making pillowcases and reader pillows each week to use up much of my larger pieces...keeping my toes in the water so to speak.
Do I feel "free"? Not until I hand those boxes to the thrift store in-take person and drive away will I feel that way. Sometimes you have to know when to say time to let go.
Do I feel "free"? Not until I hand those boxes to the thrift store in-take person and drive away will I feel that way. Sometimes you have to know when to say time to let go.
11-02-2024, 03:08 AM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2024
Posts: 215
The last time I had pulled out unwanted fabric to donate, I took it to our local donation place, as I have a few times before.. Without even getting it out of the car, they ask what you have. I was told they don't take fabric anymore, no matter what the size (I had yardage to different pre-cuts to scraps no smaller than 4 inches square). I asked why and was just given a silent shrug. So I took it home and eventually just discarded it as I couldn't find a local place that wanted it.
11-02-2024, 03:23 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,258
I'm going to need to look into that "buy nothing" idea. I've never done anything on facebook and don't know much about it. But now that I live in a way more populated area, I'm thinking that would be a good way to rehome fabric. I finally got back into the conex storage container and found several totes of non quilt fabric that I should rehome. I really doubt I'll ever get into sewing clothing again anyway. I had thought I'd got all the fabric into my sewing room, so was a bit unhappy to find several more totes that I've got to deal with now! I've got ten more boxes labeled "sewing accessories" left to open, and hopefully they are all vintage stuff that can stay in storage and not need to come into the house.
11-02-2024, 06:19 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,015
Nice to see you posting, Macybaby.
I rarely, if ever, see fabric in a thrift store. (I'm not a regular thrift store shopper.) I know our local Goodwill just bales fabric with the old unsellable clothes. The closest thrift store to me that is actually a non-profit has a huge dumpster by the drop-off door and more than half of the donated stuff goes into it. The guys at the back are usually guys, so they generally don't quilt. They don't see the value there.
On the other hand, not many people quilt anymore. So the market for left over fabric is small.
A very good friend passed, and her daughter gave me all of her unfinished quilts and left over fabric. Unfortunately, she and I did not have the same taste in colors (she tended to use olive greens, peaches, and rusts, I like primary colors). so I packed up 8 "bankers boxes" of fabric, UFO's and my abandoned plans. Project Linus didn't want them ("our scrap bins are full"), my quilt guild didn't respond to my offer and most of it is still in my garage. Although I've gone through it for specific requests, my little flat dolly has become an adjunct to the guild's storeroom.
I know there are people out there who love to quilt and would like to have some of this stuff. However, I don't know how to reach them.
bkay
I rarely, if ever, see fabric in a thrift store. (I'm not a regular thrift store shopper.) I know our local Goodwill just bales fabric with the old unsellable clothes. The closest thrift store to me that is actually a non-profit has a huge dumpster by the drop-off door and more than half of the donated stuff goes into it. The guys at the back are usually guys, so they generally don't quilt. They don't see the value there.
On the other hand, not many people quilt anymore. So the market for left over fabric is small.
A very good friend passed, and her daughter gave me all of her unfinished quilts and left over fabric. Unfortunately, she and I did not have the same taste in colors (she tended to use olive greens, peaches, and rusts, I like primary colors). so I packed up 8 "bankers boxes" of fabric, UFO's and my abandoned plans. Project Linus didn't want them ("our scrap bins are full"), my quilt guild didn't respond to my offer and most of it is still in my garage. Although I've gone through it for specific requests, my little flat dolly has become an adjunct to the guild's storeroom.
I know there are people out there who love to quilt and would like to have some of this stuff. However, I don't know how to reach them.
bkay
11-02-2024, 07:42 AM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,810
Goodwill here will dump fabric cuts. I was taking left over items from our guild Free Table there as it was close. One day the guy who usually unloads for me said you know our boss won't let us keep these rags, I put them in the dumpster, so do you want to take them back? I now take all donated items to the local Helping Hands or Habitat store and see the items I donated in the stores the next day. The bag of fabrics are sold fast.
11-02-2024, 03:49 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,640
I have a box in the basement where I immediately put anything in my hand that makes me think "why do I have this". When the box gets full I take it and donate the items. It's not a huge box so I'm never overwhelmed but do end up making donation trips with now much stuff. However, I like the ongoing method.
I do appreciate your description of how you sorted your pieces, Linda, and can see myself doing something similar but rather than taking it to a random thrift store I will offer free on Facebook or to other quilters I know. Thanks for the inspiration.
I do appreciate your description of how you sorted your pieces, Linda, and can see myself doing something similar but rather than taking it to a random thrift store I will offer free on Facebook or to other quilters I know. Thanks for the inspiration.
11-03-2024, 05:34 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 501
I am fortunate to have a teacher daughter, and she gets bags of scraps from me for art projects for her class. Schools don't have much of a budget for art supplies these days, so it feels good to know they will be used and appreciated.
11-03-2024, 05:35 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 501
