| I have some and I am sure you do too: fabric you no | | | | have. Perhaps it will give you ideas for a washed-out |
| longer want, need or will use. What do you do with it? | | | | or softened look for a nature background scene. |
| Let it sit on the shelf or in the drawer for months while | | | | Consider incorporating small pieces into your current |
| it is aging? Give it away? Perhaps keep it until you | | | | projects. Use small pieces for applique designs, sashing |
| reach the day that you might just possibly use it? | | | | between blocks on a quilt or piping to complete a |
| I have fabric that I purchased several years ago that I | | | | pillow. The fabric may not be your favorite in a large |
| know I will never use. The pattern or print is not what I | | | | piece, but using small bits may be a way to use up |
| am interested in right now. Some of it, I simply have | | | | excess yardage. |
| lost interest in. The creativity I saw in it when I bought it | | | | Keep a small stash of fabric that is not your favorite |
| is no longer there. I have pieces of fabric leftover from | | | | for practice blocks, trying new techniques and new |
| past projects and will probably not be using it in the | | | | ideas where you do not want to waste expensive |
| future. | | | | fabric for a project. If you are trying a new block or |
| What can you do with it? Good question; I tend to | | | | technique, try it using a piece from your unwanted |
| save and store all my fabric until I have a huge pile. | | | | fabric before using your project fabric. |
| Always in the back of my mind, I hear this little voice | | | | Try crocheting your own rag rug using fabric strips. |
| saying, "Just keep it; you may need it sometime." But | | | | Tear your fabric into strips that are 1/4" -- 1" wide and |
| as the months fly by, I pick it up to use and end up | | | | weave it into a circular or oval rug pattern. You can |
| putting it back on the shelf. It is just not the right color | | | | find more information on crocheting rag rugs here. |
| shade to blend with so many of my other fabrics. Or | | | | Braid fabric strips to create a rug, placemats, table |
| the print is a pattern that is hard to work with like strips | | | | runner or many other projects! For young sewers, give |
| or plaids. | | | | them fabric strips to make a dog or cat leash. This is a |
| I have a blue/navy floral print cotton sitting on my | | | | simple way to use up unwanted fabric and gain some |
| shelves of fabric right now. At the time I bought it, it | | | | useful projects. The fabric is braided with many |
| was one of those, "It's on sale for a fantastic price and | | | | different prints and solids, so you can't find your ugly |
| can be used in a hundred different ways, whatever is | | | | fabric hidden within. |
| left on the bolt." (See Fabric Buying: How many yards | | | | Have a local fabric exchange with several quilters in |
| should I buy?) Needless to say I DID buy what was left | | | | your area or your local quilt guild. You aren't the only |
| on the bolt -- all 13 yards! I have had it for several | | | | one with excess fabric that needs a new home. You |
| years and have tried many times to incorporate it into | | | | may be able to get rid of some of your stash and find |
| some of my projects. I have used bits and pieces of it | | | | some treasures for yourself. |
| here and there, but there are still many yards | | | | Donate your fabric to nursing homes, schools or other |
| remaining. I had planned to incorporate this print into an | | | | organizations who will use the fabric to make projects. |
| embroidered quilt I was planning at the time, but the | | | | There are many charity quilt projects that are always |
| fabric ended up being just a little too lightweight for | | | | looking for donated fabric. |
| stitching embroidery. It may only sit on my shelf for a | | | | How will I get rid of my over 10 yard stash of navy |
| couple more months before I decide that it has to go. | | | | floral? A couple of months ago, I was playing with |
| Do I need to just toss this fabric in the trash? Of | | | | chenille, layering different fabrics, trying different widths |
| course not! I may not have any interest in it, but it is still | | | | of stitched rows and I was able to use 1/2 yard with |
| a very good piece of fabric and another person may | | | | which to practice. I had a travel pillow that just needed |
| find it to be just what they are needing! So what do | | | | a cover that could be removed and washed -- yes, |
| you do with your unwanted fabric? Here are some | | | | the blue floral fabric was used! Sooner or later I will |
| suggestions for cleaning out your shelves! | | | | use it piece by piece. And if I find I am running out of |
| Look at the wrong side of your fabric. The backside | | | | room and find someone who will use it, I may just give |
| may yield some creative ideas that the front doesn't | | | | it away. |