How to Declutter Your Fabric Stash (and Let Go Without Guilt)

Article from BLOCK Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 5

Just like how a reader can never have enough books or a plant-mom can never have enough plants, quilters can never have enough fabric. Or can we? There comes a time in a quilter’s life when they have to face an ugly truth about their fabric stash, and that’s when it gets too full. It sounds impossible, right? How could there be such a thing as too much fabric, too much of anything that brings us joy? Fabric is valuable to us in so many ways, which is why the idea of letting it go can feel daunting, even sad! The good news is it doesn’t have to feel that way, and the better news is we have some enlightening insight on this subject from Natalie herself. If you’d like to learn how to confidently decide what stays and what goes in your stash, and how to feel good about “letting go,” keep reading!

Key Takeaways

• ➤Too much fabric can stifle creativity — an overflowing stash can feel like a to-do list and keep you from the projects you're genuinely excited about.
• ➤Use good ol' fashioned honesty — how long has it been in the stash, was it a "just because" purchase, and does it still excite you?
• ➤Natalie's three questions — a specific project in mind, works with fabrics you're keeping, and you love it? Keep it. If not, donate it.
• ➤Give fabric a proper send-off — donate it, gift it to brand-new quilters who need practice fabric, or host a fabric swap with friends.
• ➤Letting go makes room for the fabrics and projects you love.

Why Declutter Your Fabric Stash? When Too Much Fabric Blocks Creativity

When it comes to making the decision to condense the stash, the reason is different for every quilter. Sometimes it’s simply due to a lack of sewing room space, not enough project ideas, or even a creative dry spell caused by guilt. What do we mean by that? Sometimes accumulating too much fabric can actually stifle creativity. The image of that overflowing box of unused fabric can guilt-trip you into passing up on exciting new projects or even overwhelm you to the point of not wanting to sew at all. Natalie knows a thing or two about being guilt-tripped by the stash, “Sometimes hanging on to extra fabric can actually hinder our creativity because we tend to think about what we have as things we need to get done, and it can block us from doing the projects that we are genuinely excited about. A good cleanout can ease you of those burdens and make room for the things you love.” Well said, Natalie! No matter the reason for wanting to give your stash a good cleanout, whether it’s to make room for new projects or simply make room, it ultimately comes down to deciding what stays and what goes.

How to Decide Which Fabric to Keep and Which to Let Go

So, how does a quilter decide which fabrics need to go and which ones can stay? Good ol’ fashioned honesty is a simple but effective method. As you sit down with your stash, hold your fabric in your hands, and ask yourself a few questions. How long has it been sitting in the stash? Was it a “just because” purchase (we know a thing or two about those)? Do you feel as excited about it as you did when you first saw it? If the connection is no longer there with some of your fabrics, no longer sparking inspiration, then it’s time to let them go. Natalie applies a similar method when she decides her stash is ready for a good cleanout, too. We asked her about how she determines what goes and what stays, and she said she asks herself those big questions as well, “ ‘Do I have a specific project in mind? Will it work beautifully with other fabrics I’ve already decided to keep? Do I love it?’ If the answer to these questions is yes, I keep the fabric. If not, then it goes in the donation pile.” Donating fabric is a beautiful and meaningful way to spread creativity and give back to your community, and one of Natalie’s favorite places to donate to is The Sewing Labs, a non-profit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri that teaches sewing and provides supplies free of charge.

Why Is It So Hard to Let Go of Fabric?

The other tricky thing about fabric is that it’s hard to let go of, even when it’s not sparking joy or we know it would be best to donate or gift it so someone could turn it into something special. Fabric represents possibilities, and Natalie believes this is why it’s such a struggle for quilters to let go of fabric, and why it’s easy to feel guilty about even considering condensing the stash. “As creatives, we see potential in every craft supply. From a cardboard roll to a plastic spoon. There aren't many objects that we can’t see an idea for repurposing or crafting. So as quilters, it can be hard to get rid of beautiful fabrics that we once loved or had a great idea for. We know that striped fabric would make the cutest binding or that tonal print would look amazing as a background, so we have a desire to hang on to it because we are filled with hope and possibility for the perfect project to come along.”

What to Do with Extra Fabric: Donate, Gift, or Swap

Decluttering can also sound the same as discarding, which is probably another reason why we put off sorting the stash. Whether it’s fabric, books, or clothes, like Natalie said, nobody wants to say goodbye to anything we once loved. Organization guru Marie Kondo says, “Letting go of things can make you feel guilty or sentimental. So when something doesn’t spark joy, give it a proper send-off. Express your gratitude and say goodbye.” Interesting idea, right? But what does a “proper send-off” for fabric look like? Natalie has a few ideas for that, too! Traditional forms of donating aren’t the only way to repurpose unused fabric. One of Natalie’s favorite ways to give her excess fabrics a loving send-off is by gifting them to beginners, people who are brand new to quilting and could use some fabric to practice their skills with. Another great tip from Natalie is to meet up with your friends for a fabric swap. “Some of my very favorite quilts have pieces of fabrics that were exchanged with friends. They will bring fabrics into your life that you would never have bought, but they will always remind you of them and your friendship.” A beautiful way to repurpose fabric while also strengthening the threads of your friendships. Plus, we’re firm believers that good friends support each other’s love of fabric.

Make Room for the Fabric You Love

As Natalie said, we have to make room for the things we love, and that’s hard to do when we’re overburdened, whether it’s with fabric, books, or even coffee mugs. But now that you’ve got some stash-busting tips and Natalie-isms under your belt, we hope you’re feeling more confident about having an honest conversation with your fabric stash, and less afraid of the idea of letting go.

Frequently Asked Questions About Decluttering Your Fabric Stash

How do I declutter my fabric stash?

Sit down with your stash, hold each fabric in your hands, and ask a few honest questions: How long has it been sitting there? Was it a "just because" purchase? Do you still feel as excited about it as when you first saw it? If the connection is gone, it's time to let it go.

How do you decide which fabric to keep?

Natalie asks herself three questions: Do I have a specific project in mind? Will it work beautifully with other fabrics I've already decided to keep? Do I love it? If the answer is yes, the fabric stays. If not, it goes in the donation pile.

Can having too much fabric affect your creativity?

Yes. An overflowing stash can start to feel like a list of things you need to get done, which can block you from the projects you're genuinely excited about — or overwhelm you to the point of not wanting to sew at all.

Where can I donate fabric?

Local nonprofits that teach sewing are a great fit. One of Natalie's favorites is The Sewing Labs, a Kansas City, Missouri non-profit that teaches sewing and provides supplies free of charge.

What else can I do with fabric I no longer want?

Gift it to beginners who are brand new to quilting and could use fabric to practice with, or meet up with friends for a fabric swap — you'll bring home fabrics you'd never have bought yourself.

Why is it so hard to get rid of fabric?

Fabric represents possibilities. Quilters see potential in every piece — that striped print would make the cutest binding, that tonal would be a perfect background — so it's easy to hang on in hope that the perfect project comes along.

Related Articles

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• ➤Scrap Quilt Ideas — 10+ Ways to Use Every Last Piece of Fabric
• ➤Crazy Quilt Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Ultimate Stash-Buster Quilt Block
• ➤Our Favorite Quick & Easy Scrap Buster Projects
• ➤The Joy of Quilting Magazines: Your Guide to Endless Inspiration

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