As my children told me they hire a container and dump all my stuff in it when I die, I am trying to sew and knit and crochet in order to use up some fabrics, yarns, etc. Yesterday I came across a half sewn skirt with an interesting history. My daughter had gone to sewing lessons in order to draw her own patterns. And the first thing she made was a skirt. Alas, she had cut it out without seam allowances. It had been basted and discarded. So today I finished it and put it in the charity drawer.

This is very interesting reading. I am so blessed that my children do not say anything about my various hobbies and how they are taking over my house. I guess they are just happy that I am busy and leave them alone. I am also fortunate to have a daughter and DIL that like crafting, but do not have the time for it at this point in their life. Ha, ha I think I have said this before. I told my children that having to take care of my "stuff" after I am gone is my revenge for their teenage years. As for me I am egoistically enjoying surrounding myself with bundles of fabric, yarns, books and so on.

Some years ago, one of my client's sons rang me to inform me that she has passed. I asked him how he was coping and he said fine. Then told me that he didn't know what to do with all the craft things that she loved. He didn't want to take them to the tip. Asked him if he knew any of her crafting friends. He did. So I advised him to talk to them and ask their help in finding new homes for the stuff she loved. He was a happier son after that.


Six months later he rang me again and we spoke of his Mum. He told me that her friends rallied round and cleaned all her craft things out for him. All he had to do was deal with her papers, pots and pans etc before he went back home (a thousand miles away). They also told him stories of his Mum while they were doing it. So he had a double benefit.


We all need to make sure that our children or whoever knows what to do with what is precious to us, but maybe not to them, when the time comes for them to have to deal with it.

What an uncaring thing to say to someone they love. It's like saying "I don't value you," or" how you spend your time is good for nothing."

I know I have tons of great fabrics others would value. I have told my husband if I go before him, he has to let my friends come to split it up among them.

I love that. I have a couple shirts from another's UFO bin that just need button. The hand sewing is holding me up a bit.

I got the same message from my daughter You don't need this stuff. good luck in using it up

Well tell all you live life and enjoy sewin. You are creative and just can not be any way but...Creative. If will not keep your treasures ..loss is on your family. Some of mine say same words to me. Just enjoy your self!!
create some fun!

My family is on strict instructions that after they have had their pick, the two Guilds that I belong to will be asked if they wish for any of my stuff.
Have given all my card making stuff to D-I-L as she is into scrap booking.That only leaves sewing, knitting, crocheting, hand embroider hand machine embroidery. I have a 5m square room filled to overflowing - some in bedroom and some in lounge room.
Everyone that I teach to knit or crochet receives a pressie of yarn and if I have them my extra hooks and needles. Friends who no longer knit etc - give me theirs as they know I teach newbies!!
I do know of a family that sent all their mother's beautiful equipment and fabric to the dump. The guild she was heavily involved in offered to take it all, but the family refused and put what they didn't take themselves to the dump, out for council collection. When one of the board found out she went around to collect it but unfortunately it was all smashed. So nothing was saved.
I think that was when a lot of us started to make proviso for our stashes.

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by queenofhearts 14 Sep 2016

How sad, I can't imagine what could have made them do such a thing. I would think they would have wanted someone else to enjoy the things that made their mother happy.

I've once again re packed and sorted my sewing room and back spare room. Hope one day when I'm no longer here, my grand daughter will make good use of my things.

I am sure my daughter will dump mine. I have not been able to pass the love of sewing on to anyone. Kids just stay on the computers now.

Kids****can be cruel lol Mine told me to not buy anymore junk****I told them it's not junk ***Anyways i have started to give them whatever junk i have they would like****that changed the story in some areas lol Now i am giving away for say b/days etc. some of my so called junk***but haven't made a dent yet lol
So i know just how you are feeling***hugs Carolyn

2 comments

by bevintex 03 Sep 2016

my 2 boys always say "Now what you buying" I tell them stuff since I dont ever buy junk.

by noah 03 Sep 2016

I hope i can remember Stuff lol

Good luck in decreasing your pile of treasures! Lol we have moved several times, even to a different state and my things have only increased. My aunt, a fellow quilter, bestowed on me all hers on her death. My cousin was happy to pass the responsibility of their custody onto me. Ha. Ha. Keep at it and encourage us to at least try. Lol

I couldn't imagine anyone's "stuff" going into a dumpster. There are so many charities that can use fabric and other craft items, clothing, books, etc. Some charities will send a crew with a truck to make the collection. Your unwanted items could be included in an estate sale earning some extra funds for your beneficiaries. Your disposition wishes should be directed to your children or executor.

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by mops 31 Aug 2016

Hardly anyone or any charity here would be interested in hobby equipment. No charity or 'kringloopwinkel' (shop selling earlier loved stuff) would even accept it.

by asterixsew 31 Aug 2016

That is an amazing name. In the UK I'm sure that there would be many charity shops and organisations who would be delighted to sell our stash on to others.

My ex husband was a hoarder so when he moved out my kids rented a dumpster and did some major tossing and I have to admit a lot of it was mine. Then in 2007 there was a major flood here and I lost pretty much everything so once again everything went in the dumpster. But in the past nine years I have managed to accumulate lots more stuff that will undoubtedly go in another dumpster at some point but then I will be dead and I wont care.

We've been in our house 40+ years and are moving. I have way to many hobbies to fit in the next house.

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by katydid 03 Sep 2016

It is hard to downsize and decide what to keep. I kept too many boxes of garment fabric that I did not need as I rarely sew for my self anymore.

Thanks all. I appreciate your words of wisdom and advice. I had not done much sewing the last few months, but I had not bought anything other than 2 new feet for my sewing machine either.
So back to sewing today. Hope you all have time to enjoy our favourit hobby this week.

...and I just quote Gone With the Wind...."Tomorrow is another day, Scarlett"....

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by mops 30 Aug 2016

Thanks, I know, or at least I hope.

That's quite a day's work. Good for you. When my mom passed away, we did trash all the old "hard" polyester (the early stuff, with texture), but I treasure her scissors and many little sewing tools and used her rickrack. Saved some remnants of some of my favorite clothes. There were so many dresses for her from when I was in junior high, pinned to pattern pieces and maybe cut out, and in the "sewing basket", about a waist high basket the size of an outdoor trash can! I think she quit sewing after she taught me my two basic sewing lessons. (Really, two.)

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by mops 30 Aug 2016

My mother never made a buttonhole after I'd learned to make them at school, by hand. Was I glad when I bought my first sewing machine that could do those.

by toogie 31 Aug 2016

I can only imagine how happy you were!

by crafter2243 15 Sep 2016

Same happened to me after having been taught how to mend socks. It became my job for the whole family. Now I rather knit a new pair.

Well, someone may dumpster dive and retrieve some of your stuff, so think about that. Maybe you can feel a little better. My husband told someone when I die he's gonna BURN it all., and I told him if he did, I would haunt him the few days he has left!-lol-...Now you know why I got my daughter Marsha into this craft business. I told hubby's brother, he doesn't realize the small fortune he will burn!-lol
A good productive sewing day, you've had. I went shopping with Marsha today. I didn't think I would buy anything but I can home with 4 yds of fabric, some WSS, 3 fat quarters, pack of bobbins and 2 units of the stackable drawers to put more in!-lol

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by toogie 30 Aug 2016

ps-more for him to burn!

by mops 30 Aug 2016

I know one of my daughters will make sure some things go to the right person/quilt group etc. I just want to downsize now and donate what I don't use. And sort it craft by craft.
The millenary materials including all thirty something head and brim blocks, the books; the book binding equipment and books; the bobbin lace things, some 400 or more bobbins, the pillows and, guess, the books. Every hobby I have or had comes with its own equipment and stash.

Hubby won't burn anything as I'd deal with his stamp collection....

by toogie 31 Aug 2016

lol-but I would be dead before he did anything, knows better to get into my room BEFORE I die-lol

by sbott54 31 Aug 2016

My hubby is unusual, I guess--he adds to my stash!

by toogie 31 Aug 2016

Lucky you............just imagine what my house would look like if hubby 'helped' me, I do a good enough job on my own-lol

As a possibility when we all inevitably pass, we could donate our stash to a local sewing guild. The one closest to me does a great deal of charity work for local hospitals and rest homes and that would make me feel good to know it went to a good cause.

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by mops 30 Aug 2016

I know and I would. But that's only the quilt making stuff.

At least they will wait until you die - my DH threatens to do it NOW!!

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by mops 31 Aug 2016

That's a problem! Fortunately after the children left home we each have a room to call our own, althouugh mine is not big enough contain all my stuff.

I think I need to work on my pile every single time we move. Yet, it never seems to go down...the colors and patterns change -- does THAT count? LOL

3 comments

by graceandham 30 Aug 2016

Quit moving!

by rescuer 30 Aug 2016

LOL...I have tried -- really I have! We don't talk about the four letter "m" word around the boys. Not their favorite word at all.

by mops 30 Aug 2016

Problem builds up when you don't move, at least in my experience. When we did every 3 years or so we could do with one moving van, now that we have lived in the same house for over 30 years we need one for my stuff, one for hubby's and one for furniture and kitchen equipment...

Congratulations on your achievements today

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by mops 31 Aug 2016

Thank you.

Color me envious! I hope to find my inspiration somewhere beneath this pile staring me down next to my machine.

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by mops 30 Aug 2016

My imagination runs riot - I can see that green face :) Promise yourself a lot of chocolate when it's done, that might shift that pile in record time. Seriously, I hope it all runs smoothly and fast.

by jrob 30 Aug 2016

Ha ha! Chocolate might be an incentive. Thanks for your wishes, I hope it does, too.

by PeggyJ 30 Aug 2016

Someone say chocolate!!!!

by sbott54 31 Aug 2016

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups work for me!!

by toogie 31 Aug 2016

I'll take anything chocolate!

by laurasomi 01 Sep 2016

i do too.....