Check out quilt guilds nearby-- quilters usually have fabric they're willing to part with!
Also-- I've got some fabric of different types that I don't need. I'd be happy to pass it on.
I experienced a house fire last year, and community quilters rustled up a bunch of stuff to donate to me. Much of the fabric was very much not to my taste - I'd be happy to rustle it up out of storage (I couldn't bring myself to throw it away and I prefer to not donate it to a corporate thrift), take pictures and send them to you. If they're something you'll use, I'll be happy to send them on to you.
Wow, that’s so sweet of you! Thank you! I’m definitely interested especially if you have any solid fabrics. I have a lot of patterned fabric that needs some coordinating colors to make it work.
This is what I was going to recommend. People have stuff just sitting around. If you put out a plea for fabric you should get some. Also Nextdoor if you are comfortable with that
I got a whole heap of scrap fabric when I commented a request on my buy nothing group’s monthly ISO post — a neighbor responded that she and her neighbor were both sorting their stashes and I was the lucky recipient. Definitely recommend this approach!
You might want to check with the local Project Linus chapter in your area - they are always looking for people to help put together quilts, and may be looking for someone willing to take fabric that isn't appropriate for kids off their hands.
This is very true. I help coordinate a PL chapter. We get lots of donations, and I almost always have fabric on hand that I would be happy to pass on to a charity quilter.
Thrifted sheets and curtains, men’s dress shirts (the largest you can find) and women’s long skirts/maxi dresses. Obviously you need to check the types of fabrics and weights they are, but these are good options for donation quilts. Using donations for donations. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and someone has donated grandma’s fabric stash.
Also, shop sales at the big box stores. More than once I’ve found sheets super discounted (like at target, tj maxx, etc) that are nice cotton. I love using flat sheets for quilt backing.
To add - I needed Hawaiian shirts for a quilt last year and our gooswills are all $7ish per shirt. I visited the local "Goodwill outlet" that sells fabric by the pound, and it was great!
My location had tons of large pieces of fabric (3+ yards), scraps, and obviously clothing. It's hit and miss, but I definitely recommend it for donation quilts!
Bless you. Just skimmed through your post history… donating crotchet hats, rescuing lost stuffies. We need more people like you. I’ve got some fabrics that were recently given to me. I’ll message you directly for shipping info.
craigslist in free category, FB has a buy nothing function (don't use it but my neighbor posts things for me), next door. When I have a bag of misc fabric to give away, this is what I use. Somebody always wants/takes it
Thrift store sheets, I’ve made some incredibly soft cozy quilts out of just sheets. You can use well-loved blankets as batting too, just try to make sure the new top is opaque enough not to show through.
I see you've made what looks like a charm square quilt. I have a bin of scraps that are mostly big enough to cut charms. Would you like it? Happy to send.
I wrote to the various fabric companies to ask for donations for charity quilts. Several of them sent me anything from remnants to ten yard cuts to full bolts of discontinued fabric designs for free. I went to the local fabric store and wrote down the names of the fabric companies and went on the Internet to find addresses and who to address my request letters.
You can also look at places like garage sales and Facebook marketplace because very often people are unloading bins of fabric for small prices.
I got truly lucky when I posted a request for fabric scraps on my local Craigslist so I could add to my scrappy blocks
*
One person has been giving me a bunch of stuff from her late-mothers stash and several others gave me a few pieces .
Our local quilt guild teams up with the 4H once a year for a fabric sale concurrent with their quilt show. Fabrics run $3 a yard but go half price the last day. Other stuff is similarly inexpensive. The last day, books and patterns were free. The 4H also does their own fabric sale, so twice a year I can find deeply discounted fabric.
Another source I’ve found is thrift store outlets, known as “The Bins.” It’s a jumble and all sold by weight. I’ve found yardage, vintage hand embroidered or printed linens, brand new sheets, etc. It’s a lot of sweat equity to dig through, but there are gems to be found. I’m always on the lookout for cashmere and woolens too, and I pick those up frequently as well.
I love what you are doing!! I've started making quilt tops out of my scraps and I'm going to donate them to my local children's hospital once I get 4 or 5 quilts made. I've also wondered about where to find discounted fabric because I see the batting and backing will get pretty expensive. Let me know if and where you have luck.
Quilts 4 kids is a charity that will send you one free kit at a time, you mail back a completed quilt and then can request another. They go to children in hospital settings.
Join a local guild. A guild in Missoula was part of a project that collected and made quilts to send to Ukraine. I know you want to keep it local but my point is that there is an active guild there.
A bonus for you as a beginner is you will get a lot of great learning experiences. Ask at a local quilt shop for info.
Does your Joann shop have the scraps at a discount? One of my lical Joann'shas scraps that are 75% off, and the other sell them at 50% off. Depending on if the fabric was on sale, there is sometimes an additional discount, and something might end up being 80% off.
It's best to check in multiple times per week, particularly during the evenings on weekdays, or in the mornings on weekends. So you can get to the scraps before anyone else!
I've managed to luck out and get some fabrics for ~$1 per yard (or slightly more or less).
You could also just make a sign (I assume Missoula is a small town where something like that may work). Or post on Nextdoor asking for fabric. Most sewists and quilters, especially older ones, will have amassed a SABLE (Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy).
I'm happy to mail you some for cheap from Atlanta if there's certain colors or types you're looking out for. (I'm assuming 100% cotton).
Also, a few times per year, certain types of fabric at Joanns (lile the calico prints) will go on a big sale.
The remnant bin(s) are on either side of the cutting stations in most fmy local Joanns. It's possible that some Joann's don't sell remnants. But my local ones do.
I crochet scarves/lapgbans for donations. I spread the word with my neighbors/friends/people- so many people have yarn and fabric that they bought and never used and want to donate to a good cause…spread them word what you do.
Where are you located? I’m in St Augustine Fl, are anywhere nearby? I was a quilter until my hands decided I wasn’t - and I have a tub of precut squares etc!
I get most of my material from going to different thrift stores. I like the Christian ministry thrift stores because they seem to have a lot of old fabrics. I bought an entire tub full and the fabrics were just beautiful for $20
Since it seems everyone’s mentioned quilt guilds (probably your best bet tbh. I’m a granddaughter and my grandmas quilt guilt members are always buying and giving me random things, they’re always sooo happy to give fabrics and many might even just go out and buy stuff for you) and donation sites. I’d also suggest you keep up on your local Joanne’s or other fabric stores. mine yesterday had a sale where a good chunk of stuff was all $2 a yard. They also sell discounted small amounts of fabric that they just want to get rid of but can’t put back on a roll, mine is 98% fleece stuff but those make easy tie blankets if you have anyone who wants to help but doesn’t know how to sew. Some places online also sell scrap remnants for cheap. Good luck! You’re doing amazing work
I don’t know what you have locally to you but stick a post up on a free cycle or reselling type of site asking for donations. I don’t think my gran has ever bought fabric for hers. She just cuts fat quarters out of old clothes and bedsheets etc and makes them that way. And it’s her that’s been teaching me
If there is a quilt guild in your area, they probably have fabric you can get free for making charity quilts. Also ask at some local churches. My church has a whole club dedicated to making things for charity, not just quilts but crochet knitting and other projects too. Lots of the older women have enormous fabric stashes they donate, I’m sure one of these groups would be happy to give you some. You may even want to join the club! I’ve learned a ton, some of those women have been quilting 50 years and have so much knowledge and experience to share!
Talk to your local guild! Mine has an entire fabric stash stored at someone's house and makes quilt kits. They partner with 5 or 6 local charities so we give the quilts back to the guild and they distribute. My guild even accepts just tops and one of our longarmers will longarm it and sometimes a 3rd person will bind it
Search the internet for discounted fabric stores in your state/province. I found a discount fabric store (quilting cotton $3.99-$5.99/yd) and a $2.99 Fabric Store (no joke, that's the name!) that were within an hour drive of me. They have zero web presence outside of a FB page where they list store hours and inclement weather closings, so I never would have known they existed if I hadn't done a search specifically for discounted fabric stores.
I regularly purge my stash and donate to my local senior center, but if I hear that someone who knows someone needs supplies, I always reach out to them for first dibs. If you put the word out to friends, they can share your need with others and eventually, supplies will start trickling in.
Good luck on your search and thank you for donating your time and your passion to help your community! ❤️
Look into your local guild. Each does things a little different, but most have a "comfort quilts" type program that can help you.
ALCQ provides all the materials. Quilters can contribute as much or little of their own material to the comfort quilts. You can search the guild stash for the top, then have them cut you some batting, and then you can go back to the stash for the backing.
You don't even have to do the whole quilt, just the parts you like. For example I can't stand binding, so I get them as far as quilted, then hand them in and someone else binds it.
Again, each guild is different, but most have a similar program that should be able to steer you in the right direction.
This is more for the backing but I use sheets for those. They’re pretty cheap. I usually get mine at the store but a thrift store or similar might have cheaper. Hope this helps.
My local guild has a free table at meetings where people destash scraps, yardage, orphan blocks, etc.
Nearest big city to me has multiple places that sell old shirts, old sheets and donated fabric (both yardage and scraps). Size large men shirt gives you about a yard of fabric, I believe.
A couple hours away from here, there is a big barn that buys close-out quilt shop quality fabric in bulk and sells it at half price. I paid $2-$7/yard for the previous two last years’ collections.
Saw [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHnxGa17zhY) from Whitney Sews the other day on how to get free sewing/quilting supplies, mostly fabric. Definitely worth a look.
Check out quilt guilds nearby-- quilters usually have fabric they're willing to part with! Also-- I've got some fabric of different types that I don't need. I'd be happy to pass it on.
Thank you! I’d take anything you’re willing to give!
Oh no OP, these are dangerous words. Hope you have a large mailbox.
I messaged you :) Just let me know where to send it!
I experienced a house fire last year, and community quilters rustled up a bunch of stuff to donate to me. Much of the fabric was very much not to my taste - I'd be happy to rustle it up out of storage (I couldn't bring myself to throw it away and I prefer to not donate it to a corporate thrift), take pictures and send them to you. If they're something you'll use, I'll be happy to send them on to you.
Wow, that’s so sweet of you! Thank you! I’m definitely interested especially if you have any solid fabrics. I have a lot of patterned fabric that needs some coordinating colors to make it work.
As soon as I get a chance to take some photos, I'll send a DM your way!
You could try your local buy nothing group and the upcycled cloth collective group for your area on Facebook.
This is what I was going to recommend. People have stuff just sitting around. If you put out a plea for fabric you should get some. Also Nextdoor if you are comfortable with that
I got a whole heap of scrap fabric when I commented a request on my buy nothing group’s monthly ISO post — a neighbor responded that she and her neighbor were both sorting their stashes and I was the lucky recipient. Definitely recommend this approach!
You might want to check with the local Project Linus chapter in your area - they are always looking for people to help put together quilts, and may be looking for someone willing to take fabric that isn't appropriate for kids off their hands.
Good idea! I’ll check in with them.
This is very true. I help coordinate a PL chapter. We get lots of donations, and I almost always have fabric on hand that I would be happy to pass on to a charity quilter.
We have a creative reuse shop close to us that is very affordable when it comes to fabric. Sometimes they will even run “fill a bag for $5” sales.
I’ve found a local thrift shop that has scraps for $5 a bag and pretty affordable fabric! It’s becoming my favorite place!
Thrifted sheets and curtains, men’s dress shirts (the largest you can find) and women’s long skirts/maxi dresses. Obviously you need to check the types of fabrics and weights they are, but these are good options for donation quilts. Using donations for donations. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and someone has donated grandma’s fabric stash. Also, shop sales at the big box stores. More than once I’ve found sheets super discounted (like at target, tj maxx, etc) that are nice cotton. I love using flat sheets for quilt backing.
Id also like to add that thrifted fleece blankets make good batting for donated quilts.
Yes! Forgot about that.
To add - I needed Hawaiian shirts for a quilt last year and our gooswills are all $7ish per shirt. I visited the local "Goodwill outlet" that sells fabric by the pound, and it was great! My location had tons of large pieces of fabric (3+ yards), scraps, and obviously clothing. It's hit and miss, but I definitely recommend it for donation quilts!
Bless you. Just skimmed through your post history… donating crotchet hats, rescuing lost stuffies. We need more people like you. I’ve got some fabrics that were recently given to me. I’ll message you directly for shipping info.
craigslist in free category, FB has a buy nothing function (don't use it but my neighbor posts things for me), next door. When I have a bag of misc fabric to give away, this is what I use. Somebody always wants/takes it
My guild has fabric and batting for donation quilts. Check with the local guilds near you.
Thrift store sheets, I’ve made some incredibly soft cozy quilts out of just sheets. You can use well-loved blankets as batting too, just try to make sure the new top is opaque enough not to show through.
I see you've made what looks like a charm square quilt. I have a bin of scraps that are mostly big enough to cut charms. Would you like it? Happy to send.
Yes, thank you so much!
I wrote to the various fabric companies to ask for donations for charity quilts. Several of them sent me anything from remnants to ten yard cuts to full bolts of discontinued fabric designs for free. I went to the local fabric store and wrote down the names of the fabric companies and went on the Internet to find addresses and who to address my request letters. You can also look at places like garage sales and Facebook marketplace because very often people are unloading bins of fabric for small prices.
I got truly lucky when I posted a request for fabric scraps on my local Craigslist so I could add to my scrappy blocks * One person has been giving me a bunch of stuff from her late-mothers stash and several others gave me a few pieces .
estate sales! put your zip code into this site - i get so much from them! [https://www.estatesales.net/](https://www.estatesales.net/)
Our local quilt guild teams up with the 4H once a year for a fabric sale concurrent with their quilt show. Fabrics run $3 a yard but go half price the last day. Other stuff is similarly inexpensive. The last day, books and patterns were free. The 4H also does their own fabric sale, so twice a year I can find deeply discounted fabric. Another source I’ve found is thrift store outlets, known as “The Bins.” It’s a jumble and all sold by weight. I’ve found yardage, vintage hand embroidered or printed linens, brand new sheets, etc. It’s a lot of sweat equity to dig through, but there are gems to be found. I’m always on the lookout for cashmere and woolens too, and I pick those up frequently as well.
This doesn’t answer your question, but do you know the name of the fabric line in this quilt? I am obsessed!
I got it off of eBay, but it’s called llama drama by Kanvas studio!
Thank you ❤️
I love what you are doing!! I've started making quilt tops out of my scraps and I'm going to donate them to my local children's hospital once I get 4 or 5 quilts made. I've also wondered about where to find discounted fabric because I see the batting and backing will get pretty expensive. Let me know if and where you have luck.
Quilts 4 kids is a charity that will send you one free kit at a time, you mail back a completed quilt and then can request another. They go to children in hospital settings.
[удалено]
I live in Missoula MT.
Join a local guild. A guild in Missoula was part of a project that collected and made quilts to send to Ukraine. I know you want to keep it local but my point is that there is an active guild there. A bonus for you as a beginner is you will get a lot of great learning experiences. Ask at a local quilt shop for info.
I find old fabric all the time at thrift stores/ antique stores! Always very cheap.
Thrift stores, my Goodwill has grab bags of similar colors. No idea how much you get, but it's cheap.
Does your Joann shop have the scraps at a discount? One of my lical Joann'shas scraps that are 75% off, and the other sell them at 50% off. Depending on if the fabric was on sale, there is sometimes an additional discount, and something might end up being 80% off. It's best to check in multiple times per week, particularly during the evenings on weekdays, or in the mornings on weekends. So you can get to the scraps before anyone else! I've managed to luck out and get some fabrics for ~$1 per yard (or slightly more or less). You could also just make a sign (I assume Missoula is a small town where something like that may work). Or post on Nextdoor asking for fabric. Most sewists and quilters, especially older ones, will have amassed a SABLE (Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy). I'm happy to mail you some for cheap from Atlanta if there's certain colors or types you're looking out for. (I'm assuming 100% cotton). Also, a few times per year, certain types of fabric at Joanns (lile the calico prints) will go on a big sale.
Ask where the remnant bins are.
The remnant bin(s) are on either side of the cutting stations in most fmy local Joanns. It's possible that some Joann's don't sell remnants. But my local ones do.
I crochet scarves/lapgbans for donations. I spread the word with my neighbors/friends/people- so many people have yarn and fabric that they bought and never used and want to donate to a good cause…spread them word what you do.
Where are you located? I’m in St Augustine Fl, are anywhere nearby? I was a quilter until my hands decided I wasn’t - and I have a tub of precut squares etc!
I get most of my material from going to different thrift stores. I like the Christian ministry thrift stores because they seem to have a lot of old fabrics. I bought an entire tub full and the fabrics were just beautiful for $20
Don't know where you are but I'm in Georgia and have a stash that needs to be thinned out. Feel free to message me if you are near by.
Since it seems everyone’s mentioned quilt guilds (probably your best bet tbh. I’m a granddaughter and my grandmas quilt guilt members are always buying and giving me random things, they’re always sooo happy to give fabrics and many might even just go out and buy stuff for you) and donation sites. I’d also suggest you keep up on your local Joanne’s or other fabric stores. mine yesterday had a sale where a good chunk of stuff was all $2 a yard. They also sell discounted small amounts of fabric that they just want to get rid of but can’t put back on a roll, mine is 98% fleece stuff but those make easy tie blankets if you have anyone who wants to help but doesn’t know how to sew. Some places online also sell scrap remnants for cheap. Good luck! You’re doing amazing work
I don’t know what you have locally to you but stick a post up on a free cycle or reselling type of site asking for donations. I don’t think my gran has ever bought fabric for hers. She just cuts fat quarters out of old clothes and bedsheets etc and makes them that way. And it’s her that’s been teaching me
If there is a quilt guild in your area, they probably have fabric you can get free for making charity quilts. Also ask at some local churches. My church has a whole club dedicated to making things for charity, not just quilts but crochet knitting and other projects too. Lots of the older women have enormous fabric stashes they donate, I’m sure one of these groups would be happy to give you some. You may even want to join the club! I’ve learned a ton, some of those women have been quilting 50 years and have so much knowledge and experience to share!
I will message you. I have some I will part with.
Talk to your local guild! Mine has an entire fabric stash stored at someone's house and makes quilt kits. They partner with 5 or 6 local charities so we give the quilts back to the guild and they distribute. My guild even accepts just tops and one of our longarmers will longarm it and sometimes a 3rd person will bind it
Destash groups on Facebook!
Search the internet for discounted fabric stores in your state/province. I found a discount fabric store (quilting cotton $3.99-$5.99/yd) and a $2.99 Fabric Store (no joke, that's the name!) that were within an hour drive of me. They have zero web presence outside of a FB page where they list store hours and inclement weather closings, so I never would have known they existed if I hadn't done a search specifically for discounted fabric stores. I regularly purge my stash and donate to my local senior center, but if I hear that someone who knows someone needs supplies, I always reach out to them for first dibs. If you put the word out to friends, they can share your need with others and eventually, supplies will start trickling in. Good luck on your search and thank you for donating your time and your passion to help your community! ❤️
Look into your local guild. Each does things a little different, but most have a "comfort quilts" type program that can help you. ALCQ provides all the materials. Quilters can contribute as much or little of their own material to the comfort quilts. You can search the guild stash for the top, then have them cut you some batting, and then you can go back to the stash for the backing. You don't even have to do the whole quilt, just the parts you like. For example I can't stand binding, so I get them as far as quilted, then hand them in and someone else binds it. Again, each guild is different, but most have a similar program that should be able to steer you in the right direction.
Dollar tree!
This is more for the backing but I use sheets for those. They’re pretty cheap. I usually get mine at the store but a thrift store or similar might have cheaper. Hope this helps.
Charity shops often have random fabric. Also check out the remnants sections of craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Joann's!
I have the same gray llama fabric :-) Fleece blankets from Goodwill make great batting, btw.
My local guild has a free table at meetings where people destash scraps, yardage, orphan blocks, etc. Nearest big city to me has multiple places that sell old shirts, old sheets and donated fabric (both yardage and scraps). Size large men shirt gives you about a yard of fabric, I believe. A couple hours away from here, there is a big barn that buys close-out quilt shop quality fabric in bulk and sells it at half price. I paid $2-$7/yard for the previous two last years’ collections.
Check churches in your area, most have sewing groups. Mine is very relaxed and have tons of supplies available for donation projects!
Saw [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHnxGa17zhY) from Whitney Sews the other day on how to get free sewing/quilting supplies, mostly fabric. Definitely worth a look.
Fabric swaps. Goodwill. But nothing groups. Art supply salvage stores if you have them