Iceblossom

Of course you should take it and go through it, keep what you want and disperse the rest to the world. But watch out, somehow word spreads that you accept fabric and people start handing it to you...

The ladies in my quilting group and I are often given handfuls to full stashes to help deal with them. We go through, clear out the trash, sort into quilting and non quilting and then donate the non-quilting fabrics and offer the quilting fabrics to others we know and then various forms of donations. A couple of interesting things I've posted here and sent far away

We have a textiles recycling group a hundred miles or so away, I volunteered to take the "non quilting" yardage up there, we had all sorts of things from canvas to bridal netting and then Covid struck. 6 months later they have still not reopened and half my couch is somewhere under 3 feet of yardage donations. I will most likely be placing a free offer on Craig's List -- must take all! I should ask my local thrift store if they will accept a prepacked container of poly blend yardage and large scraps. They used to, but I don't know about now.

Railroadersbrat

I just took a box that was loaded down with fabric not too long ago, I haven't had much of a chance of going through it, other than look to see what patterns there are and what kind of fabric. I got it from a son whose mother quilted for years but recently had a severe stroke and she asked him to take the box and either give it to someone or throw it in the trash. Some of it seems to be poly-cotton, but she is what I call an 'over-starcher quilter', meaning everything is so stiff that I'm actually afraid to fold any of it or it might snap. So I'm going to have to soak the entire box of fabric in hot water to get all the starch off and then assess if any of it is useable for quilting.

I never say no to free fabric. The way I see it, I'm potentially saving someone else from getting ahold of fabric that might not be quilt quality, and if they're new to quilting, it could spell disaster for them.

LAF2019

I don't understand the concept of turning down free fabric! I always say yes! even if I turn around and give it away for free later....

Claire123

Probably. Can you look at it first? Also, do you have an idea of the quality and fabric content?

copycat

Yes, You may wonder what could have been if you don't take the chance to see it.

luvstoquilt

Oh yes I would! Go through it and take what you want then as everyone said, donate the rest. I personally donate to my group of quilting buddies and to a church group that quilts for worthy causes.

pocoellie

Yes, I would. Our little group at our local Art Center was given some bags/boxes of fabric, which we went through and found lots of good stuff, one of the things that was found was a bed sized top, with a date of 2/1920. You never know what you might find.

beckyboo1

Definitely a yes if it were me! It's so much fun to go through it if nothing else. Just donate what you can't use. Another idea for donation places is to see if your local high school/vocational school has classes that do sewing and contact the teacher to see if any could be used. Good luck and hope you find some great stuff!

scrappingfaye58

In a heartbeat!! First, I'm a very scrappy quilter, second, I'm on an extremely tight budget! I take anything offered, sort, wash, add the selected fabric to my stash, and offer the rest on our swap table at guild or give to Goodwill.

Snooze2978

Our thrift shop takes in fabrics. They also have a group of ladies that make quilts from some of this fabric and put the finished quilts up on an auction to help keep the thrift shop open. Its ran by our local disability organization. In the past when I go thru my fabrics and pull what I don't like anymore I'll send it over to them. One time I sent 7 large brown paper bags full of yardage never to see it on their shelves so they must have given it to the ladies to make up quilts. I'm just glad someone made use of it.