What I found in my fabric stash, and . . . what shall I do with it?

[Tansy_Gold]

The stash has accumulated over a very long period of time, more than 30 years, and as I am now setting up my "new" sewing room, I thought I'd go through some of the old stuff and find out what's in there that I might have forgotten about.

I threw away a lot of small bits and pieces, but there was a lot I can use in my various crafts. The most ghastly of the polyester knits went into the trash --- I told you the stash was OLD! -- but others will make colorful little drawstring bags.

However, I also discovered several 1+ yard lengths of solid-color polyester twill, ca. 1980. I hate to throw it away, but I can't for the life of me think of a practical use for it.

Anyone have any ideas?


Tansy Gold

[China_cat]

1. Slip covers for an old chair

Dog bed; pillows; stash bag; I'd check the craft section of some of the pattern books for ideas.

[lies and propaganda]

2. throw nothing more away!

what you think is ghastly, others think of as the most radical vintage out there...

Etsy.com is such a good site to destash and sell some of your supply overload.

I can help you if youre interested...

[Morgana LaFey]

4. Or donate it to Goodwill or some other charity. nt

[eridani]

3. Linings for knitted, crocheted or macrame purses? n/t

[My Good Babushka]

5. you can make dolls

and donate them to the children's ward of your hospital, or even take them to nursing homes for the elderly.

[1monster]

6. Use the pieces to make a quilt!

http://www.projectlinus.org/links.shtml

http://www.quiltedfrog.com/

http://www.equilters.com/library/quilt_bytopic.html

http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/

[Katherine Brengle]

7. That's what I was going to suggest :D.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. I have lots of ancient fabric too.

I've been cleaning out my parents' house and threw out the rotten fabric. i still have boxes full that are still good but I don't need. Also old patterns, three old but sturdy all-steel Singers, boxes of zipper feet, rufflers, pleaters, buttonholer attachments, blah blah blah.......

Guess I need to sell them.

[Tansy_Gold]

9. Those Singers may be worth a pretty penny

As I found out last year when I moved and unloaded a few things, if something's old but it still works, check eBay and craigslist to get some idea of the value before you pitch it or donate it to a charity. Quilters just love those old sewing machines!

Of course, they also love old fabric. My neighbor was cleaning out a closet a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted some stuff she had been given several years ago, thinking she'd take up quilting but never did. I said sure, no sense throwing it out if it can be used. She handed me a bag containing six fabrics, five yards each. "Here," she said. "It's yours. Do whatever you want with it. I'm tired of it taking up space." I didn't particularly care for the patterns, but figured I could come up with a use for them. Next day, another quilter friend spotted it in my work room and exclaimed, "OHMIGAWD, I haven't seen that stuff in years!" She grabbed one of the six and said, "Where did you find this? Can I buy it? How many yards do you have?" I'd have given it to her except that I know she sells oodles of stuff on eBay and doesn't get excited unle$$ $he'$ $eeing green. We did some friendly haggling for a while, and she ended up giving me $40 for it!

Still haven't found a use for that polyester, however, but I haven't thrown it away yet either. In these times, waste not, want not.

Tansy Gold