Drapery weight could make good quilt backing or totes?

Our church uses that type of fabric for making quilts that are sent to third world countries. Check with churches as they would love it have it.

I think it is a wonderful idea.

I have pretty much same issue with a lot of my fabric. But I have several boxes of home dec fabric given to me. If I ever find the time I am going to make tote bags, walker and wheelchair bags, etc. My DDIL gives and gets a lot of stuff through freecycle.com. I have patterns, fabric that I will no longer use that I am going to have her post on freecycle. You can also check out senior centers and churches that make things for the less fortunate in your area.

If you want to donate it and have a tax write-off the local school deeply appreciate it for their sewing and/or drama departments and mine came and picked it up!

Some great ideas here. I especially like the idea of donating to a group that makes items to donate. My quiltng and crafting group is always receiving fabric that is used to make quilts for Family Promise (homeless families), robes for a women's shelter, shorts for Franklin Graham's shoe box ministry, etc. etc. I'm sure whoever receives it will be thankful.

Call area churchs, as they have ladies sewing lap blankets for hospital patients (adult and children).

I found material at a thrift store and they were trying to get rid of it as they didn't want it and didn't think anyone else would either. So, you have all kinds of options such as sell on here or offer it to someone who does make tote bags, etc.

Easier just to drop it off somewhere where it can be used. Out of sight, out of mind!

Our local Quilt Outreach program uses the mid-weight cotton knits as backing for crib quilts. They use the upholstery to make walker bags and grocery bags for the Free store and the light weight drapery in quilts. Heavier, more stable knits are used in quilts for the homeless. You may try asking at local quilt shops or even look in the phone book to see if you have a Quilt Outreach in your area.

Look for a local "Quilting for Charity" at churches or community centers. We are always looking for fabric!!!

Our quilt would make tote bags for our local women's shelter and if you have any pink, red, blue or white, beige fabric we make lap quilts for our local veterans. Check with you local guild if they do things like that.

I recently finished re-doing my sewing room. I actually kept some of the home dec fabrics that I thought might make nice purses, totes, or placemats. The rest of the assorted fabrics (home dec, knits, novety prints that I didn't care for etc) I donated to a friend who is learning to sew. She was happy, I was happy.

out of the drapery fabric...make quilts, sleeping bags, or quillows for the homeless

Drop them off at your local senior citizen's center.

You must be kidding, crafts, totes, crazy quilts, there are a zillion used for that fabric.
:-) :-)

Donate it or list it someplace and sell it. You will feel much better when these boxes are gone. We just don't have time to sew everything we would like to so sometimes we have to make a choice. Womens shelters love donations like this.

(laughing) and now you do not have to get rid of it!!! Naomi
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Would bet a church that quilts for the homeless would jump at a chance to have it

In addition to the places already mentioned, don't forget your local college drama department or local little theatre; they are always looking for exotic fabrics for costumes.

I would cut as much of it up into 6 x 6" squares and send it to the Patchwork Quilt shop in Australia who is raising money for the flood victims in Australia. That is what I am doing with mine. PM me and I can give you the address.

Offer a drape making class? A "sew knits" class? You would have the advantage of the materials being available, and the knowledge. I'm a bit leery of just taking it to the thrift store because they might not know what to do with it, or its value.

On the other hand, it is very calming to get rid of clutter, and this stash is "clutter" to you. So you could donate it just to be done with it.

I would be interested in the silks for crazy quilts. How much do you want for these.

That is what I did and it really worked--no left-overs at all!

little ones quilts - you know how they like the different textures to feel. I saw a column quilt last weekend from Nancy Zieman that would be adorable using these different materials. The local womens shelter or nursing home may enjoy having it too. PM me and I would take the silks for quilts for the police and fire departments to keep on hand for children.

Goodwill would take it or some other thrift store.

Habitat for Humanity may be able to use the fabric.

Lets not forget the schools or local theatres. I donated trims, yarn, thread and the odd bit of fabric when kids and later grandkids attended elementary school. And also the scouting groups.

Depending on the drapery fabric, I might use it for quilting, art quilts etc, mug rugs or even fabric postcards. Same with any of the other fabrics.

If you don't want them, donate to your local quilt guild and let them sort it out. Or freecycle it locally or as mentioned offer it on Craigslist for $ or for free.

Hi, Kay,
I did the same thing about a month ago. I donated my fabrics to one of our churches. The Lutheran Ladies make quilts for the needy. They are always happy to get fabric.

LoriAnn

I usually take mine to the thrift store.

You could donate it to goodwill and take a tax write off for it. This would give quilters and seamtress like me a chance to purchace material that we normally couldn't afford.

Someone already mentioned that local girl scout troops are always looking for fabric. They are constantly doing projects with different textures, etc. One of the local schools could put you in touch with the scout leaders..

I agree with the suggestion to put it on Craigslist - also check out www.freecycle.org - this organization allows people to give and get items for free. Everything from bicycles to fabric. I use it to get fabrics and used denim for my quilts! I recently got an email from a woman who had 3 boxes of clothing and fabric. In it were 20 pairs of mens jeans - I've already used a bunch to make five quilts. The box also had a bunch of cotton clothing that I was able to cut up and use. I'm attaching a picture of a couple of the quilts I made from the denim. The lap quilt (pink and blue) is ALL upcycled fabric (the pink is from cotton shorts, the denim from the jeans, and the pink backing was free as well).

Another "score" was for a post a woman had that said she had a "bag of fabric scraps". I figured I'd get bits and pieces, but since she lived close by I gambled and went to get it. Well I got nearly 5 yards of lovely yellow cotton (perfect for my baby quilts), 3 yards of lovely black and gold patterned fabric (perfect for evening shawls and crazy quilts) and lots of other goodies.

So...I'd say check out Craigslist and your local Freecycle. Good luck!

Donating the boxes of fabrics to the half-way house's thrift store is a great idea. I have brought fabrics to a "garage sale" run by people who support a charitable diner. I've also donated yarn and fabrics to a church group that sew for nursing homes.

my toughts exzekly,you are a smart lady, good thinking good for you

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Crazy quits, PIF, or goodwill

Wish I lived closer. I could use the drapery fabric. I make pet beds out of heavy fabric and stuff them with all the scraps I was throwing away. First I gave them to my vet, but they told me they had enough. Now I am taking them to church hoping they will earn a little money for our Preschool Ministry. I (well, actually someone else on our team) is going to ask for donations for which ever size, color, whatever they want.