January always puts me in the mood to organize and purge. If you’re cleaning out your fabric stash as part of a sewing-room reorganization for the new year and looking for a good place to send excess fabric, I’ve got help for you. Or for anyone who wants to give unwanted fabric to a good cause, I’ve created an updated list of places to donate fabric. There are some great causes that can always use fabric, batting or thread donations.
Important: Before you send off fabric willy-nilly, I do recommend contacting the organization directly before you donate to understand their specific needs and only send fabric they can put to good use. Unusable fabric donations only cause bigger headaches for these shoe-string organizations.
Also (because I am frequently asked) I am not taking fabric donations. (I’m in the process of donating my own.) Please refer to the list below!
Look for an organization near you in need of donations
Many local Quilts of Valor chapters (making quilts for local veterans) will gladly take quality red, white, and blue fabric. You can find your local chapter here.
Check your local Days for Girls chapter. They typically need dark and patterned flannels and quilting cottons.
Project Linus is a wonderful organization that makes quilts for children in need. You can find your local Project Linus chapter here.
Check with a local Quilt Guild. Guilds frequently head up charity projects. You can find your local quilt guild using this list of world wide traditional quilt guilds here and local Modern Quilt Guilds here and ask them if they’re looking for any donations.
Check with your local school or 4-H program to see what donations they are actively looking for as well. I’m volunteering with a group at our local HS that provides humanitarian service projects for the students. Your local school may have something similar!
Local animal shelters will often take fabric scraps to be used for pet bedding.
One reader said she donates fabric to her local women’s prison where they teach quilting classes. You might want to check your local resources like prisons, homeless shelters, or refugee relief agencies that may teach sewing and quilting classes.
Specific Charity Organizations in Need of Donated Fabric, Batting or Thread:
If you can’t find any local needs, here is a list of some specific projects and non-profits that are actively looking for fabric, batting and thread donations. Also be sure to check the comments on this post as there are some great needs listed there as well.
One Common Thread quilts employs women in Honduras who handmake hexagon quilts to support their families and bring them out of poverty. You can read more about this inspiring organization here. Go here for more information on how to donate needed supplies. Sorting fabric by color and cutting yardage into useable 3″ x 3″ squares is particularly helpful. US administration (and shipping recipients) are in Utah and Texas.
Binky Patrol has chapters in most states throughout the country. This organization helps make blankets for babies and teens in need of comfort. You can read more about their needs list here.
Scrap B More in Baltimore, Maryland is a craft reuse shop that gives Teachers craft materials for classrooms and sponsors children’s craft/creativity workshops. Their Creative Reuse Center will also take paper, scrapbook supplies, paint, markers, glue, etc. Looks like an excellent system for distributing supplies to projects that will use them.
Warm Hearts, Warm Babies in Arvada, Colorado provides clothing, baby blankets, and essential items to premature newborns, newborn infants, and young children, in crisis, free of charge. They are in need of baby quilts, fabric, and yarn donations.
Pipers Project in Kansas makes quilts for children in Foster Care and always needs fabric, thread, or batting.
Stitching Hearts World Wide in Pleasant Grove, Utah provides materials and tools for local service projects creating quilts, blankets, hats, etc ready to ship to those suffering from large scale natural disasters and human tragedies. They take cotton fabric, yarn, fleece, batting, sewing scissors, and thread.
Wrap the World in Quilts ships quilts and blankets to families in distress all over the world.
19 Quilts for Natalie is an organization that provides quilts for cancer patients and grieving parents dealing with the loss of a child. They can use fabric yardage as well as pieced quilt tops.
Sew Blessed Kentuckiana makes clothing to donate to children in third world countries.
The Blessing Box in Katy, Texas prepares care packages for women who go through a mastectomy. They host regular Sew-ins. You can also find them on Facebook.
Sew4Service connects creators with over 35 charities where they donate handmade goods. Chapters in NE Ohio and Michigan accept donations of quilting cotton, flannel, fleece and more.
We accept donations of quilting cotton, flannel, fleece and more at any of our chapters
Dolls on Mission makes dolls for children in need locally and around the world. They are located in North Carolina.
Serving with Smiles is a Humanitarian organization in Utah that empowers kids to help serve. They can always use fabric and quilt batting donations for blankets, bags, and quilt.
The Forget Me Not Project is doing good at home and abroad. Renee teaches women in her local prison in Mississippi how to sew and these women make items to be sent to children in Uganda. You can contact Renee at forgetmenotprojectusa@gmail.com for more information.
The Navajo Project is in need of gently used and new sewing supplies – including clean fabric in useable condition, thread, rulers, batting and finished quilts to donate to the quilters that live on the Navajo Nation. (Donation locations in Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.
The Sandpiper Project – serving children while in the hospital, after diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Also raising money to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Oregon.
The Quilts That Care organization makes quilts for cancer patients in the state of Connecticut.
Know of any other causes in need?
If you know of other organizations (or you are one) looking for fabric donations, please leave a comment on this post or contact me directly at amy@diaryofaquilter.com and I’ll add them as soon as I get a chance.
**I am not taking fabric donations. Please reach out to one of the charities above.**
If you have questions about specific types of non-quilting-cotton fabric donations, feel free to leave them in the comments too. I don’t have suggestions for non-cottons, but someone else may have a suggestion!
Also, feel free to use the comments section to connect with others in your area who might be looking for scraps!
Help spread the word!
If you find a local organization in need of goods, share with your local quilting friends, guild, shops etc.
Causes and Projects in Need of Charity Sewing
A few years ago I hosted a Sew Goodness monthly challenge that taught me a lot about sewing for good causes. There are SO many out there. My goal was to up my charity sewing and contributions. Ideally, my hope was to sew a simple charity sewing project each month.
Looking back I learned a lot – especially about pacing myself and how much I could manage.
Lori Gray
I have multiple pieces of anti-pill fleece in 3.5-yard increments that I need to give to someone who can use them. My intention was to make size 3/4 winter bathrobes for the pre-K classes at one of our inner city schools here in KC…then my doctor said I wouldn’t be able to sew for a while. It has been really difficult for me to find someone to take such specific amounts/fabric. And, I don’t see an answer to my prayer in this list, either. Can anybody help?
Sue
Lori, Check with your local project Linus. If you google Project Linus in Kansas City, there should be a contact person. They make fleece blankets for kids.
Cheryl
Hi, I’m Cheryl DiCamillo, the Chapter Leader for Quilts for Kids in Sugar Land, TX. (Suburb of Houston ) We are always looking for kids prints, blenders and batiks to be used in our quilts. Yardage for backings are a current need. The majority of our quilts go to local Texas Children’s Hospitals, plus a few other agencies. Our 2023 donation count was 405. You can reach me at brightblooms@yahoo.com. Thanks!
beverly layman
I make hats from fleece for cancer patients n scarves. Losing hair from chemo can make them cold.
Contact me if you still have the fleece.
Beverly
Angela J Short
Hello. My name is Angie. If you have some extra fabric to share, I’d be interested in some. I’m not a charity place. I’m just a woman in North Carolina who loves to sew & I’d give some fabric a great home and love it and sew it up. I taught myself how to sew a couple years ago. I’m still learning how to quilt. I have made a few quilts so far. Anyway, my email is angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom. Have a good day.
Donna
Hello I am a self taught sewer and I am also making a scrappy log cabin quilt and it takes a lot of small pieces and if you have any to spare I would love it 😊. Thank You Donna
Elif
Hi Donna,
We are a fabric wholesaler and I have a lot beautiful fabrics. If you are interested, please let me know and I’ll send some to you. Which state do you live in btw?
Thanks,
Elif.
Valerie
I collect fabrics for area churches to use for making quilts for missions world wide. I would love to be able to. Help distribute if you want to donate. Thank you valerie
Deloris Reid
Hi Donna, I have loads of fabric and you are welcome to it just contact me.
Sandy Bruns
Where in NC Angela??
Deloris
ANGELA I have loads of beautiful fabric I would love for you to have. missdee14@aol.com
Deloris Reid
I have loads of beautiful fabric for you. Please contact me
Gloria
What size pieces do you need?
Jaime Bumbarger
In May 2020, our local Relay for Lofe 2qs postponed then ultimately cancelled due to the pandemic. To help raise funds, I have been making face masks to sell. Because I wanted 100 percent of the proceeds to go to the American Camcer Society, I have been purchasing all the fabric and materials myself, with some limited donations from others. Between the 2020 Relay year and the current one, we have raised more than $11,000. Email me at jsb221@comcast.net. I have. A Facebook fundraiser where you can see more at https://www.facebook.com/donate/1024401588005113/?fundraiser_source=external_url. Also, our Relay page on the ACS website is https://main.acsevents.org/goto/jaimebumbarger. Thank you!
Lisa Prizament
Hi Lori
I love to sew..for over 30 yrs. I enjoy doing charity work. I love to make childrens clothing. Maybe, I could pick up the fabric and do what you intended it for. Let me know my email is lprizament@gmail.com. Lisa
Lisa prizament
Lori
I’d love to help you out with your Intentions. I enjoy doing charity work and love making childrens clothes. I’ve been sewing for over 30 yrs. Maybe I can pick up the fabric?
Let me know. Email is lprizament@gmail.com.
Lisa
Elaine Lowe
What state. I have silky material I made yo-yo quilts out of. Found babies ove that feel even to make small quilts for the feel. Not wiling to ship. Girl scouts awesome projects
Andrea McGuire
Your local Project Linus will use it.
Kathryn DALHEIM
Sew4Service, a Cleveland, Ohio area nonprofit connects people who sew, knit and crochet with people and pets in need, from donated materials. Details on donating, creating and volunteering are on Facebook https://www.sew4service.org. Classes and sew-ins focused on charities in need are offered at their studio in Wickliffe, Ohio as well as at libraries in several surrounding counties.
Maryha
Donate fabric to Pipers Project! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1313035628718990/?ref=share
Making quilts/blankets (and bags) for
First Night Foster Care Bags. Filled w quilt, book, stuffed animal, and hygiene products. Started by a young girl named Piper.
(Fleece, cotton, and flannel).
Amy
Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing, Maryha!
Carolyn Terry
My daughter is Activities Director at one of our nursing homes. They have a need for the fleece tied blankets. Bed size and wheelchair size. She is going to have some of the residents help tie them. It would be a great activity from the hands and minds. I would be interested in the fleece. I told my daughter I would do all the cutting for them. Thanks
Ashia Primak
Try your local animal shelter; they use the fleece for blankets.
Amanda
I have a storage tote of costume satin and a few knit I don’t need but I can’t think of any charity that would take that
Debbie King
Hi. I am the Chairperson for Community Projects, in my 55 & older mobile home park, Lake Pointe Village in Mulberry, Florida. We are a very small group of fun ladies who currently make items for 2 Hospice Facilities, 5 Nursing homes, and an animal shelter. We mostly use cotton, fleece, yarn, batting, & fiberfill. We are operating strictly as volunteers, with donations or fund raising for our supplies. Since Covid, we are not able to have any fund raisers. We welcome any help with supplies.
Amy
That is fantastic Debbie – sounds like you are doing such great work!
Joan Martin
I have bolts of home dec fabric that I would love to pass along. It is all cotton, but too stiff , I think, for quilts. (I am not a quilter). Any suggestions are welcome. It would be good for tote bags. Thanks
carololsz
I belong to a group called Comfort Stitchers which makes quilts for foster kids and ones for elderly residents in senior homes and also newborns. We do make tote bags for which the heavier cotton would work. If you still have it, please let me know. Thanks. Carol
Elif
Hi Carol,
I have some really nice, plush fabrics in different colors and designs which would be great for tote bags. If you’re interested, I can ship some to you.
Thanks,
Elif.
Barbara Cook
i have some lovely quilting fabric from kaffe jassett and tula pink. both free spirit manufactured.
I live in florida and would be happy to mail you some.
Erin
I’m not sure if this was intended for anyone in particular … if not, I would love to connect and utilize any leftovers you may have.
Deloris
Hi Erin, I was reading you are in need for fabric. I have plenty. Please email me. Deloris
Erin
That so sweet of you, Deloris … What is your email address?
DMF
Hi Debbie, how do I gift you some fabric?
Tracy Jernigan
I am part of a group blankets of prayers we provide blankets to skilled nursing homes. would accept fabric for the project. Contact me at blanketsofprayers@gmail.com
Elaine Lowe
Where r u located
. Pat McMullen
Where do you live in NC
Sa Jans
Do you have suggestions for where to donate small scraps of fabric and batting (generally <2")? Thank you!
Amy
I don’t have anything specific – but I’ve heard some animal shelters take small scraps for stuffing for bedding? You could reach out to your local shelter.
Jeannette O Rarden
I live in Colorado and I have an entire wicker trunk full of leftovers and strips of fabric. If you live close to Loveland, Colorado and have a need to sew for charity’s, pls send me a msg and I would be happy to bring all this fabric to you. Please send me a msg Rarden@aol.com.
Sunny
Traditional Rug Hooker in MD has 2 boxes full of wool looking for a home. Some is about 5×5-inches, good quality for hooking. The other box is pieces of much thinner wool (from someone who made clothes). I used a lot of the thinner wool as backing on pillows. It can be pieced, like a mini quilt for that. It can also be cut smaller and used to make wool dryer balls (to use instead of dryer sheets). I have more, and I plan on making pincushions and dryer balls.
Jane
Contact your local Goodwill store. Ours take the scraps, sell them for salvage and they are recycled into rags. Keeps all those bits of fabric out of landfills. Other charity stores may do the same.
Amy
Great suggestion!
Veronica Eguia
High schools and local theater groups need fabrics and animal shelters always need asic kennel blankets. Most charity thrift shops sell fabric and will take it as a donation. All but the theater group in my area is also tax deductible donations. I love the abroad charities but I choose to donate locally in my community.
Amy
Really helpful. Thank you, Veronica!
Susan Montgomery
Check with your local highschool I teach FCS and I’m always welcoming fabric for my student’s sewing projects.
Amy
Great suggestion!
Alice
The 4-H clubs in my area collect fabric and sewing supplies all year long and then have a giant sale to raise money for scholarships and activities. Your local Cooperative Extension office can tell you if they do it too. (The sales are also a great place to buy more fabric!)
Amy
Another great suggestion!
Gretchen Dietz
Maybe a school or local theater company that could use it for costumes?
Lisa Dillon
I live in Albuquerque NM and have both cotton (quilt worthy) and polyester knit fabrics to par down. As well as “fake” fur and some fleece pieces. Any takers?
Sondra wassmann
I live in Columbia, MO. I donate fabric here to P.E.T. they get sewing machines in need of love and fix the and send them with fabric, scissors, thread, reading glasses and small toys to counties in need. They also make hand controlled bicycles they send .
D D Raudenbush
My husband has lots of upholstery fabrics. Any ideas where we can donate?
Amy
I’ve heard of some charities that use heavier weight fabrics like upholstery fabrics to make school bags. I’d recommend searching for groups like that.
Claire
I have ulpostry fabric
Jeri Doucette
I am a 75 year old quilter in need of scraps of fabric as I am partly disabled and on a fixed income. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your consideration.
Monica Petersen
Jeri,
You can message me at
monica_petersen@hotmail.com
Susan Shaw
I have plenty of fabric to donate I would be glad to send you some. Just let me know where
Monica Petersen
Hi Jeri,
Can you tell me what kind of fabrics are you looking for and where are you located?
Thanks
Tracy
The Social Justice Sewing Academy was taking donations of fabric – https://www.sjsacademy.org – and they use a lot of smaller pieces in their embroidery workshops for kids. I have sent a few boxes of scraps to them.
Amy
Excellent suggestion – thank you!
Ann Olson
Our guild has lots of books and magazines – usually just take to GOODWILL – if anyone has another suggestion? Some of the local public libraries are not accepting for shelves or to sell in a library bookstore because of COVID. I think that might be the same problem to donate to a nursing home. Any ideas? THANKS Ann
Joyce Carter
I am an elderly woman aged 73 living on a fixed income. I love to sew and make quilts. I live in N.E. Georgia. If anyone has any scraps they can share with me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Julie Cox
I can send you a box of fabric if you still want some. Contact me at jukiejeans@aol.com
TheGranChris
I can’t stress enough your local Guild. I am in charge of donations for my Guild and we are in such need. Last year we made and donated 285 pillowcases to children’s hospital. Most of the fabric was donated to us. This year I have only one manufacturer that has given me any yardage. The Guild’s count on donations so give them all your fabric and your UFO’s. We turned those UFO’s into 75 quilts for Foster care, Oncology patients and Hospice.
Donna Campbell
Joyce Carter – send your email address to donna.campbell@global-advt.com and I will send you fabric.
raylagrange52@gmail.com
Hi everyone. I am a long armer that finishes qiilt tops that are sent to me to finish and donate to local charities here in the Fort Myers, FL area. In 2021 I finished over 125 quilts. If you have tops that are larger than you want to do on your domestic, I will accept them, finish them and donate them. I can also use yardage for backing of the tops. If you have any questions, contact me at beachbumquilting@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your consideration and generosity.
Judy G
We donate pet pillows that are stuffed with small scraps of fabric to local animal shelter. I use fabric remnants to make the pillows.
Debra
I can send you some fabric, contact me at
dwdame@att.net
Debra
Laurie Sieminski
Coffee creek Quilters in Oregon teaches quilting classes to women in prison. They offer several ways to donate.
coffeecreekquilters.com
Amy
Thank you!
Becky Villines
Hi Joyce, have you received enough fabric to keep you busy? If not, I may be able to help. You can e-mail me at becnrose@gmail. Have a great day, Becky Villines
Angie West
Joyce. I would love to send you a box or two of scraps. I am moving out of state and cannot take with me. I am a quilter of 25 years
Jane Beck
SewGreen Rochester is a non-profit shop that sells donated fabric, sewing machines, and yarn at deeply discounted prices and provides all types of lessons to make use of them. We will accept all types of fabric, notions, books, patterns, yarns and machines. You can be certain that they will be lovingly cared for and given into good hands.
Jane Beck
Info@sewgreenrochester.org
Jean A Smith
I am downsizing and have Several books on Smocking and 10 or more on Heirloom Sewing I also have a Sally Stanley Pleater. I would love to donate these if you think you could use them. Let me know and I will check on shipping from S. Fl. Hopefully it won’t be too bad. Jean
Karen VanderArk
Amy, please add The Navajo Quilt Project to your list. Info available at French General Fabrics.
Amy
Excellent! I will!
gail
What info can you supply about the Navajo Quilt Project? Where is it located? What supplies are needed? Etc. Thanks.
Amy
Hi Gail: Here is a link with that information: https://www.frenchgeneral.com/products/navajoquiltproject
Debbie
Unto in Mount Joy, PA. Needs fabric for quilt tops and small bags for Luno pads as well as Luno pads. See web site for more info. They also have work days where you can go and sew for a weekend to help them out. https://unto.com/get-involved/volunteer-for-humanitarian-projects/volunteer-resources/
Linda Larned
I have fabric to donate, some high end swaches. I am almost 80 and can’t life box fabric is in. Live in Ft Worth Tx. Can anyone pick up?
Karla Berg Walker
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) sends handmade quilts around the country and world where needed. Contact a local Lutheran Church to find out if they have a mission quilting program. I have been making quilts with LWR for 25 years and we depend on donations of fabrics to support this project. Highly recommend LWR Mission Quilting Program.
Erin
If anyone makes or knows of a place that makes pet beds (or the like) and uses small scraps, I have a bag I can pass along …
June
Hi I do charity type projects- we have a Foster/ unwed mom center in our area calling for blankets, pillow cases etc. I also do smaller projects and any scraps or yardage and threads are a blessing. I am finally getting my momentum back after several illness, that have run through our family. We just relocated and finally I think I’m back in my sewing groove. I do stockings for different needs( Seniors and children) IFAQH and other projects which are all donated to causes. Any donated fabrics and supplies and scraps are always welcomed. Thank you and Blessings
June
Forgot to include my email- jgasreltibbetts@aol.com–
I live in Tx. Also notions, buttons, ribbon trims. Thank you again