Where to donate fabric and sewing supplies

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.

UK Sewing Donations

UK community and charity projects in need of sewing donations

Leeds Autism Services, Leeds, UK

Leeds Autism Services is a charity dedicated to helping to create a more autism friendly society; they have been helping autistic people reach their true potential for over 30 years. A new crafting and textiles workshop has recently been established (April 2026) to provide a sensory experience, creative outlet and help develop social skills. As a charity, funding is tight, so these workshops rely on donated materials.

Contact: Jane via email Jane.Skillings@specialistautismservices.org

Location: Leeds, UK (postal donations accepted)

Supplies Required: Crafting cottons, dressmaking materials, thread, patterns, yarn, needles, thimbles, notions

RBKares Kingston Refugee Sewing

RBKares supports refugees by running weeky sewing sessions which help break down language barriers 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)

Workaid, Chesham, UK

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.

Sew Positive, Cambridge, UK

Sew Positive is a Cambridge-based charity using sewing as a way to support mental health, confidence and community connection. They run free sewing workshops and courses for people who may be experiencing social exclusion, including those affected by mental health issues, poverty, unemployment, health challenges, abuse or housing insecurity. Their work also helps reduce textile waste by teaching people to mend, repair, upcycle and repurpose clothes and textiles. Sew Positive can accept some donations of fabric and sewing supplies, but storage space is limited, so contact them first before dropping anything off.

Contact: Use this contact form to get in touch

Location: Cambridge, UK

Supplies required:

• Good quality natural fabrics like 100% cotton – for example, dressmaking cotton or cotton duvet covers (not polyester), providing they are freshly laundered and moth free.
• Smaller fabric scraps or furnishing weight fabrics NOT required
• Nearly-new Janome/John Lewis machines in good working order, with accessories

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

UK Charity Shops that accept fabric donations (and places that re-sell pre-loved supplies)

Cone Exchange, Harrogate, UK

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, UK

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

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

Rowans Hospice Cowplain Craft Shop, Waterlooville, UK

Rowans Hospice’s Cowplain Craft Shop is a dedicated craft charity shop in Waterlooville, Hampshire, selling donated fabric, yarn, patterns, tools and other craft supplies. Every purchase and donation helps raise vital funds for Rowans Hospice, which provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses across Portsmouth and South East Hampshire.

Contact: Phone 02392 257166

Location: 63 London Road, Cowplain, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO8 8UJ

Supplies Accepted: The shop accepts donations of all types of craft supplies, including fabrics, wool, knitting and crochet accessories, art materials, and upcycling essentials.

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.

Places to donate fabrics Internationally

Change Clothes, Dublin, Ireland

Change Clothes is a Dublin-based charity making clothing and textile reuse more creative, social and accessible. They run a range of projects around clothes swapping, repair, sewing, upcycling and textile redistribution, helping people see unwanted textiles as useful resources rather than waste. Their Scrap Store is open Thursday – Sunday, 12pm–4pm and sells affordable donated and rescued materials. They also run sewing lessons, repair workshops and fabric fill-a-bag events, making it a brilliant place to find low-cost materials and learn new skills. If you’re not nearby, they also offer bespoke scrap packs that can be posted across Ireland — a fun way to get a bundle of reclaimed materials to inspire your next sewing or craft project.

Contact: Email hello@changeclothes.org

Location: Change Clothes CLG, The Digital Depot, Roe Lane, The Liberties, D08 TCV4

Supplies Required:

• Fabric scraps
• Fabric lengths
• Buttons
• Trimmings
• Ribbon
• Zips
• Beads
• Yarn
• Threads

City Sewing Room, St. Louis, MO, USA

City Sewing Room is a nonprofit community sewing centre located in South St. Louis. With a mission to Stitch – Teach – Share, their community space is used both by drop-in sewists and students participating in our sewing and quilting classes. Donated fabric, notions, and sewing machines are either used for workshops or resold via the Maker’s Mart. The Maker’s Mart keeps supplies out of landfill, makes supplies accessible with discount pricing and supports the running of the centre.

Contact: email info@citysewingroom.org

Location: 6700 Arsenal St., St. Louis, MO 63139, USA

Supplies Required: Fabric, sewing machines, accessories, craft supplies, books, quilts. Check out the fill list of items required here.

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.

The Fabric ReStore by Creative Community Space, Australia

The Fabric ReStore is a fabric and sewing resource recovery centre in Ivanhoe East, Australia, run by A Fitting Connection and Creative Community Space. Its mission is to keep textiles and sewing supplies out of landfill by giving donated materials a second life. Donated fabric, notions and sewing resources are sorted and made available to the community, helping people access affordable supplies, learn sustainable sewing skills, and take part in mending and creative reuse. It’s a good option for fabric donations because the focus is not just on rehoming materials, but on building a more sustainable and connected sewing community.

Location: 60-62 Silverdale Road, Eaglemont, Victoria, Australia

Supplies Required:

• Fabrics: Usable textiles and fabrics over 1m
• Equipment and supplies
• The Fabric ReStore is currently NOT accepting donations of patterns

Other places to donate fabric and sewing supplies

Reach out to places in your local area to see if they could benefit from any sewing donations:

• Primary schools and nurseries – for craft projects
• High schools, colleges and universities running textiles and fashion courses
• Churches or missionary groups – for ‘messy church’ activity days locally or they may run projects abroad
• Local animal shelters (especially if you have fleece fabrics to donate)
• Prisons may run sewing projects for inmates
• Quilt Guilds, WIs or local sewing groups – a member may be able to use the supplies or they may have contacts at organisations that need them

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 Forum.