Seeing the post by Noah/Carolyn that she had been given two sewing machines as people near her know that she accepts such gifts. We also hear from time to time get fabric handed on to Toogie. I often get material passed on to me. Anyone else receive such goodies and if so what do they do with the 'gifts' Usually I pass fabric on to another friend who uses it to make quilts for the Linus project. If its a large piece they make excellent backing for her quilts. Right over to you Cuties

One time I received a huge black trash bag filled with fabric. It was someone who had decided she couldn't sew anymore and wanted someone to use them. It took me two hours to go through that bag and each piece was just wonderful. Some were scraps and others were about a yard long. There were some I would never sew, so I passed them along. What a wonderful gift.

1 comment

by asterixsew 30 Oct 2020

Bags of fabric like this are a bit like having a large Christmas present and only those who sew can appreciate such a gift. Which is why we got the gift..

You guys are gonna love this and appreciate the irony!! I received a box of about 75 zippers from a seamstress friend a few years ago........anyone who knows me knows how fearful I am of sewing with zippers, so guess who got them? I donated them to the young man who is designing garments, so I am glad I hung onto them til I found someone who would and has used them! I am usually the giver, so the gift of zippers🤐 was appreciated!

Great post Caroline. I once received two books of sample furnishing/ curtain material. I have used them so much, mainly making zip bags for charity.

Often I am given all types of fabrics and bias tape,lace, notions. Every one knows I work on dresses for the boxes we pack at Christmas going to the Haitian orphanage and school that my church helps. 50 for Boys and 50 for girls ages 4-12. We pack the boxes in 1 week now and the majority of the dresses were made by myself because few women are sewing any more, or work full time and have families. They do give fabric to me to help. Also if someone passes away that quilted or sewed in the community then usually there stash is brought to me. On a good note also, machines were purchased, and someone was there to help them to learn so after the boxes were packed we used fabric to pack around the boxes as a filler when the small boxes are packed in large crates. There is so much unrest there. The only electricity is at the school .they are a long way from a town, deep in country and nothing is stable.

You are right about three times I was given fabrics, from members of church, whose moms had passed away. My old aunt gave me her small stash. It seemed that in all of that, there were no children prints or novelty fabrics.
The other day our group of quilters started trying to meet again. I went mask on, not to stay and sew, but to turn in some QOV quilt tops I had made. There were only 4 members that attended. I told them about sewing to the cash register tape and if they didn’t use their itty bitty pieces, pass to me. (What WAS I thinking-lol) I also mentioned, because we make quilts for children CASA that I didn’t have any children prints. Carol told me her husband was bringing home that day some fabrics to her from a friend. She said there will be more than she has room to keep and will pull out some children fabric for my use.
Sure enough I went by Thursday’s meeting before I went to the eye doctor. Carol brought about 5 totes of fabric for all of us to pick from and she had me a separate zip lock gallon bag of children scraps! I haven’t touched them yet, because I was finishing up another pink scrap top.
Also, while I was there rushing in and out, one member put a pattern I asked for, before Covid, in my bag. Imagine my surprise the next day when I looked in my bag for the pattern and saw Marge had cut 400 two and a half inch squares for the top! That is the one I finished up last night. A CASA quilt that looks like a maze or they can play I Spy.
One of our nieces has just started quilting. She came the other day and picked up about 3 garbage bags I gave her. I offered her the denim and she refused. Afterwards I showed her the blue jean/register tape quilt I made with it. She was amazed! She said it really turned out good. She had also kinda made joke of me sewing all those tiny pieces together.....now whose laughing😂😂😂I think she might have regretted refusing my offer. She just didn’t see them vision’. She will learn though and I’m glad she has a desire.
So ladies, don’t refuse an offer of fabric. You may not need it yourself but you can always make something and give to others. There are so many charities and so much need. It helps keep us busy doing something we love to do. It also helps us to help others. Also, if you can’t use it I’m sure you know someone who will, so pass it on!

Since I belong to a quilting group in my church I receive a lot of donated material. I usually pay for the backing and batting of the quits that go to charity. I have passed on a lot of yarn to the people in the church that crochet or knit for charity and yet I still have an abundance of it. I have passed on a embroidery machine to my daughter. She was sewing a lot of masks when they were hard to come buy. She would put a box full of them by her lawn with a sign saying that they were free for anyone needing them.

A couple of years ago I received 3 banana boxes with machine knitting yarn, some meters of two fabrics and a roll of a third. The latter was a muslin like cotton that has a small flower print. I use that for gift bags for the sweaters I knit and the Corner2corner blankets and throws I crochet.
Those knitting yarns seem almost inexhaustible - but I saved the empty cones to remind myself I make some progress. Everything so far has either been picked up by someone who saw something fresh from the needles, or has been given to charity. Since the start of lockdown I have filled two suitcases with sewed dresses and knitted sweaters, ready to be donated as soon as this can be send away again.
And a fortnight ago my sister brought me a huge bag of cotton yarn ...

1 comment

by asterixsew 25 Oct 2020

Martine sounds like your going to be busy forever and others will be benefiting from your efforts

I seldom get gifts passed on to me, but I have had the pleasure of passing on several machines that I had out grown (meaning I bought another machine with more features) on to folks I knew or friends knew who needed a machine. There is no better feeling than to know someone is now able to stitch up projects with a machine that I didn't need.

3 comments

by mops 25 Oct 2020

My daughters usually need a new machine just when I decided never to buy a new one again. Which of course make me look up new models.

by asterixsew 25 Oct 2020

My Galaxie is off to my younger daughter. Karen that is very good of you to be helping others with your machines and your there for them too giving expert advice too

by hightechgrammy 29 Oct 2020

I'm putting my machines in my Will!