So, you followed our destashing tips and found a bunch of sewing supplies you don’t need anymore, but now you’re not sure what to do with them? If you don’t have the time and/or motivation to sell your excess supplies, you could donate your fabric to a good cause. I have compiled a list of charities, community projects and crafty thrift stores that would all welcome donations of your destashed sewing items. Please check the items required and get in touch with the appropriate project about making your donation.
Cone Exchange
The Cone Exchange in Harrogate is a remarkable community project that transforms unwanted craft and sewing supplies into creative opportunities while supporting local charities. Operated as a part of Bettys & Taylors Group’s sustainability initiatives, this project collects a wide variety of materials such as fabric, yarn, buttons, zips, threads, and other sewing notions from individuals and businesses. These donations are then either sold at affordable prices to crafters and hobbyists or repurposed for local schools, community groups, and charities.
Not only does the Cone Exchange promote environmental sustainability by reducing waste, but it also fosters creativity and resourcefulness in the community. Proceeds from sales go toward supporting local causes, making it a meaningful way to donate your unwanted sewing supplies. Whether you’re decluttering your craft room or looking for a new home for unused materials, the Cone Exchange is a fantastic place to ensure they’re put to good use while giving back to the Harrogate community.
Contact: email hello@coneexchange.org or telephone 01423 814000.
Location: The Cone Exchange, Hookstone Park, Harrogate, HG2 7DB
Supplies Required: All craft materials, Fabric including scraps, Storage tubs / boxes, Wool including scraps, Art supplies, Beads & buttons, Paper/card & related craft materials, Fabric & wallpaper sample books
Wymondham Furniture & Craft Emporium
This Norfolk treasure trove is a charity shop, selling furniture and craft supplies to raise money for the Big C, which works to support people affected by cancer. You can donate fabric and sewing supplies via post or in person and they also host a variety of crafting sessions throughout the month.
Contact: Call 01953 603320 or email furniture@big-c.co.uk
Location: Units 2-5, Allenbrooks Way, Wymondham, NR28 0NW – donations accepted in person or via post
Supplies Required: Dressmaking fabric, sewing machine thread, notions (including zips, buttons and elastic), sewing patterns and books, yarn
The Sewing Basket, Australia
The Sewing Basket, sell donated fabrics, patterns, patchwork, embroidery materials, knitting and crochet yarn, haberdashery, and more while providing employment for people with disability.
Locations: The Sewing Basket has 4 retail stores across Sydney in Kincumber, Newington, Balmain and Caringbah
Supplies Required:
- Fabric: All types of dress and sewing fabrics and interfacing of usable lengths over 1 metre.
- Sewing: Dress patterns, thread cones, machine needles and feet, tools and accessories, machine thread, machine embroidery thread, scissors, new cushion inserts. Please no cut patterns with pins.
- Haberdashery: Buttons, buckles, bias binding, ric rac, grosgrain ribbon, lace, braid, cord, fringing, ribbons, blanket binding, tassels, elastic, cotton tape, boning, velcro, motifs, piping, hemming web, tracing paper, zippers, pins, safety pins, needles.
- Fibres: Hessian, macrame cord, rug wool, tapestry wool, fleece, leather, felt.
- Patchwork and quilting: Fabrics, patterns, wadding, kits, accessories and tools, completed quilts and quilt tops, finished and unfinished projects.
- Knitting and crochet: Wool and yarn, cotton, patterns, knitting accessories, crochet hooks, knitting needles.
- Canvas: Waste canvas, tapestry canvas, rug canvas.
- Embroidery: Threads of all types, silk ribbon, linen, aida cloth, wool fabric, perle cotton, embroidery wool, finished and unfinished projects, needles, hoops and frames, storage, accessories and tools, kits, charts and booklets.
- Linens: Embroidered linens of all types, stencilled linens, doilies, tablecloths, linen hankies.
- Special items: Vintage pieces, sewing machines and overlockers, sewing and craft kits.
Sewing Stillness at The Lighthouse, Woking
Mel, Eleanor and Cathy host Sewing Stillness, weekly sewing sessions which help provide a calm and nourishing space for women experiencing hardship. These sessions attract a range of different sewists, from beginners to those with more experience, meaning that a good range of different fabric types are required.
Contact: Mel via Instagram @melaniekeane
Location: Woking, UK (postal donations accepted)
Supplies Required: Patchwork and dressmaking fabric
RBKares Kingston Refugee Sewing
RBKares supports refugees by running weeky sewing sessions which help break down language barries and bring joy to people’s lives. The sewing sessions are popular and well attended and rely on donations of materials to keep running.
Contact: Kate via email katyk@rbkares.org
Location: Kingston, UK
Supplies Required: Dressmaking fabric, sewing machine thread, notions (including zips, buttons and elastic)
School Sewing Club
Do you remember when you first fell in love with sewing? Matthew (of Sewing Bee fame!) is bringing sewing to a new generation with extracurricular school sewing lessons. The children will be making simple projects such as small pillow and bags. If you’re destashing, you could donate fabric with bright colours and fun character designs to make the sessions even more exciting for the kids.
Contact: Matthew via Instagram @hessewmatthew
Location: Peterborough, UK
Supplies Required: Cotton fabric with kid-friendly designs
Project Linus UK
“A quilt is a hug you can keep” – volunteer knitters and quilters create blankets and quilts to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children, who are sick, disabled, disadvantaged or distressed. The quilts donted through Project Linus support children and their families through difficult times. You can donate fabric and supplies for making quilts, or get involved in making quilts yourself!
Contact: Check here for the details of your local area coordinator
Location: Across the UK, area coordinators cover different locations
Supplies Required: Finished quilts, quilt tops, orphan blocks, cotton quilting fabric, wadding, fleece – check with your area coordinator to see what is required
Wee Jinty’s Haberdashery
Wee Jinty’s Haberdashery is part of R:evolve Recycle thrift store, which helps reduce textile waste and promote the circular economy. Visit the store in Cambuslang, near Glasgow, to donate fabrics and haberdashery and maybe even pick up some new goodies for your own stash!
Contact: @revolverecycle on Instagram
Location: R:evolve Recycle in Cambuslang, 56 Hamilton Road, G72 7LD
Supplies Required: Fabric, yarn, vintage patterns, notions
Workaid
Workaid is a charity based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire empowering young people in Africa (and the UK) to help themselves by developing the skills and knowledge needed to find gainful employment or start their own business. They refurbish donated tools and send them out to training centres and self help organisations. Any donated items unsuitable for the projects they support are sold in their shop to help fund their ongoing work.
Contact: email admin@workaid.org or call 01494 775220
Location: The Old Boot Factory, 71 Townsend Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2AA, United Kingdom
Supplies Required: Everything needed for sewing including: sewing machines, dressmaking fabric, scissors, elastic, zips, buttons. Knitting supplies including knitting machines, knitting needles, yarn and patterns.
The Butterfly Legacy Project
The Butterfly Legacy Project is a community voluntary group that make items for Hinchingbrooke, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire hospitals and many further afield, along with making many items for other charitable organisations. Use your sewing skills to create items to donate or sell, or help by supplying materials.
Contact: Join the Facebook Group to see how you can get involved
Supplies required: The Butterfly Legacy Project supports many organisations, so check the Facebook Group to see what they currently need. Examples of items made by their volunteers include scrubs, drawstring bags, hats and childrens’ clothing.
Scrapstores and Creative Reuse Stores
Scrapstores are community organisations that accept donations of spare craft supplies and waste materials to be used in creative projects. Most are volunteer led. Some scrapstores only accept donations via businesses, whereas others will also take donations from individuals. Check out this list to find your nearest scrap store in the UK.
These centres also exist in the USA, often referred to as Creative Reuse Stores. Here’s a list of Creative Reuse Stores in the USA.
Resourceful Community Scrapstore
The Resourceful Community Scrapstore takes reusable, safe, clean waste materials and unwanted resources that would have gone to landfill and redistribute them to the wider community. Donations are supplied by individuals and businesses and members can collect whatever the need for their next crafting project for a flat fee.
Contact: hello@resourceful-scraps.org.uk or telephone 07475 651198
Location: Bognor Makerspace, 58-60 Longford Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1AG.
Supplies Required: Fabric of all types – including samples and swatches, Buttons, Leather and other specialist materials, Haberdashery items – zips, Velcro etc, Ribbon, Sewing threads – reels of cotton, embroidery threads etc.
Work and Play Scrapstore
The Work and Play Scrapstore has been around for over 30 years, promoting sustainability by offering waste and surplus materials as arts and craft supplies. The store is a treasure trove, filled with all kinds of items such as textiles, trimmings, buttons, paper, paint, wood and props. For an annual fee, members can collect items as many times as they like. Supplies from the Scrapstore have been used for all kinds of creative projects.
Contact: Email info@workandplayscrapstore.org.uk
Location: Hazelhurst Estate, 13 Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0DA
Supplies required: The Work and Play Scrapstore only accepts pre-approved donations, so please contact them first.
Please let me know if you are aware of any other sewing projects that accept donations of fabric or other supplies so that I can add them to the list. I’m especially keen to hear about similar projects in other countries so we can spread the sewing love internationally! Email me yvette@stashhubapp.com with the details of the project, including a link to their website if they have one. If you make a donation, I’d love to see! Tag us @stash_hub if you share on Instagram, or join the wonderful community in our Facebook Group, Stash Hub Club.
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