May 09, 2020

Where can I donate quilt fabric?

Where can I donate quilt fabric?

The day has come. You know the one where you're thumbing through your fabric and you ask yourself, "Why did I buy this?" and "Where did this come from?" Or maybe you look around your sewing space and you just see stacks and piles and overflowing bins of fabric you're no longer inspired by.

But it's perfectly good fabric, you tell yourself. Surely someone can use it. But who? And where can I donate quilt fabric?

Luckily, there are lots of places that accept donations of quilt fabric. We've compiled a brief list of some charitable organizations in the USA below. And at the bottom of this post, you'll find a few other ideas of places that might accept fabric donations.

Coffee Creek Quilters
Coffee Creek Quilters teaches quilting classes to women incarcerated at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. They accept donations of 100% quilting weight cotton fabric (must be at least 1 yard), minky and flannel fabric (40" x 60" minimum), cotton batting (minimum 60" x 80"), sewing tools (rotary cutters, scissors, cutting mats, threads, etc.), and portable sewing machines.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Creative Reuse Centers
These creative reuse centers seem to be cropping up all across America and aim to divert usable waste (like fabric) from landfills for use in creative projects. The ones listed below all accept donations of fabric and other materials. Look up the donation requirements on each site to see what kinds of fabric and sizes are acceptable. It's worth noting that many of these require donations be made in-person.

All listed above are registered 501(c)(3) organizations.

Quilts from Caring Hands
Quilts from Caring Hands makes and distributes quilts to at-risk children in Oregon's Willamette Valley area. They accept 100% cotton fabric in large pieces or pre-printed panels. They also accept textured fabric (like fleece), pieced blocks, unfinished quilt tops, and completed quilts.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Quilts of Valor
The mission of Quilts of Valor is to "cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing" quilts. They accept donations of new 100% quilting weight cotton fabric. The fabric must be stain- and odor-free, and donations of red/white/blue fabrics are preferred (though not required).

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Snuggled in Hope
Snuggled in Hope is a 100% volunteer- and donation-based organization that makes quilts and pillowcases for the campers at Flying Horse Farms in Ohio. (Flying Horse Farms provides camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, and is a member of Paul Newman's SeriousFun Children's Network.) They accept donations of 100% cotton fabric (cheerful, kid-friendly prints; no glittery fabric; no flannel, fleece, denim, or knits) and quilting supplies like rotary cutters, replacement blades, cutting mats, and quilting rulers.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

The Sewing Labs
This non-profit community sewing center located in Kansas City, MO, teaches sewing to at-risk individuals with the hope of breaking the generational cycle of poverty and addiction. They accept donations of clean fabric (quilting, garment, and upholstery), notions, tools, interfacings, quilt batting, and working sewing machines.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Victoria's Quilts
Victoria's Quilts makes quilts for cancer patients of all ages, stages, and types of cancer within the USA. They accept donations of new, clean, 100% cotton fabric or cotton flannel in pieces that are at least 1-yard in length. Fabric must not be previously used or laundered.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Wrap Them in Love Foundation
The mission of Wrap Them in Love is to distribute quilts to children around the world through local food banks, orphanages, shelters, hospitals, and those in natural disasters. They accept donations of fabric, batting, sewing supplies, quilt tops, and finished quilts.

This is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

A few other places that might accept your quilt fabric donations:

If you know of other registered charitable organizations that accept fabric donations, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Bloomerie Fabrics is an independent, woman-owned fabric shop offering modern fabric and precuts. Curating online since 2010. 

 

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12 comments

  • Angela Cronch on September 30, 2019

    Please send all scrap fabric to Angela Cronch P.O.Box 66 Cave Spring GA 30124 goes to quilts for children in need. Thanks in advance.

  • Sandy on September 04, 2018

    Long time quilter. I have a great deal of fabric to donate, most of which is already cut into various sizes and lengths of strips. One could just open a box and start sewing and have a quilt n no time. Is there any place close to Wyoming that might be interested, or that I can contact? Thanks in advance.

  • Kathleen on May 27, 2018

    The Tutwiler Quilters, a creative and resourceful group of African American women who sell their hand-quilted quilts and many other quilted items at the Tutwiler Community Center, in Tutwiler, Mississippi, would greatly appreciate any donations of fabric and sewing supplies. Please visit their website, www.tutwilerquilters.org or www.tutwilercenter.org to learn more about this amazing group and the non-profit Community Center in the tiny Delta town, Tutwiler. My friends and I have been to the Community Center several times over many years when volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in the nearby town of Tutwiler, MS.

  • Cordelia Scahill on May 21, 2018

    I’m putting together several bags of scrap fabric, batting and thread and have made arrangements with the local Girl Scouts to donate my stash to them. They will share it with other girl scout troops in NH.

  • Julie @ The Crafty Quilter on May 19, 2018

    Thank you for compiling that list! It’s very helpful for my upcoming spring cleaning of the sewing room.

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