RETHINKING OUR HABITS
Introducing the Fabric Offset
In a world where fabric accumulation is often held up as a mark of a dedicated quilter, I think it’s worth pausing to consider a different approach. The constant barrage of marketing messages and social media trends can make it all too easy to fall into the trap of endless fabric purchases. But what if we could shift the narrative and find a way to reconcile our love for fabric with a commitment to meaningful work?
Recently, while chatting with a friend about our shared frustrations with how social media can sometimes undermine sustainable quilting practices, an idea emerged—one that could help us balance our fabric obsession with a greater purpose. We started talking about a “fabric offset,” a concept like a carbon tax. Instead of simply accumulating fabric with no end in sight, what if we introduced a practice that allows us to contribute positively for every purchase we make?
Here’s how it might work: For every new piece of fabric we buy, we take a step towards reducing our overall impact and supporting a good cause. It’s about making intentional choices and finding ways to give back, creating a balance between our fabric desires and our responsibility to the community and the environment.
sWHY CONSIDER A FABRIC OFFSET?
In our current fabric culture, there’s a prevailing trope that “you can never have too much fabric” or that a “healthy stash is a sign of a dedicated quilter.” These notions can lead us to accumulate more than we ever realistically use. The pressure from marketing messages like “buy now, you’ll regret it later if you don’t,” and the allure of “limited edition” fabrics only fuel this cycle. I think it’s time to rethink these norms and consider the broader impact of our purchasing habits.
Introducing the Fabric Offset Challenge
1 The Fabric Offset Challenge: Make it a habit to regularly de-stash. For every new fabric purchase, commit to donating something from your existing stash to a local charity, quilting group, or non-profit organization, or even a new, younger quilter who is just starting into the craft. This practice helps balance new acquisitions with letting go of what you no longer need, all while supporting others.
2 The Donation Rule: Set a personal guideline where for every dollar spent on fabric, you donate to a meaningful cause. For instance, if you spend $50 on fabric, contribute $25 to an organization that supports textile waste reduction or other charitable initiatives. If a donation isn’t feasible, maybe reconsider the necessity of that purchase.
3 UFO Completion Challenge: For every new fabric purchase, commit to finishing an existing project in your stash. Whether it’s a quilt that needs binding or a project awaiting completion, make it a goal to complete and find a purpose for it.
4 Community Contribution: Volunteer your skills or time to local quilting groups or charity projects for every new fabric purchase. This could involve helping with charity quilts, teaching sewing classes, or participating in community initiatives. Consider gifting that UFO you just finished to someone in your community, donating it to a cause, or raffling/selling it to raise funds for a charitable organization.
5 Carbon Offset for Textiles: Contribute to organizations focused on reducing textile waste or promoting sustainable practices in the industry. Consider donations to programs that support sewing skills training and employment opportunities to new immigrants and marginalized women, plant trees, support clean water initiatives, or work on textile pollution reduction.
6 Mindful Moment: Before buying new fabric, take a moment to reflect on whether it’s truly necessary for your current projects or if it’s an impulse driven by external pressures. If it’s an impulse buy, commit to one of the offset practices to balance the purchase with positive action.
THE LEGACY OF EXCESS: CONSIDERING FUTURE GENERATIONS
When we accumulate more than we can use in a lifetime, we’re not just creating clutter for ourselves—we’re leaving a legacy of excess for future generations to deal with. Our children, grandchildren, or loved ones may be left with the burden of sorting through mountains of fabric, much of which may end up in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of textile waste.
We have a responsibility to think about the impact of our choices, not just on our lives but on the world we leave behind. Do we want to be remembered for our creativity and beautiful quilts, or for the overwhelming piles of unused fabric we left behind?
WHERE TO DONATE: CONTRIBUTING WITH PURPOSE
In the last issue, I requested contributions to a national directory for fabric donation locations. I was overwhelmed by the response and am still working on creating a publicly accessible directory. In the meantime, if you’re ready to start your fabric offset journey, here are some organizations and initiatives where your donations can make a real difference:
Canadian Quilters Association Quilt Guild Directory: CQA/ACC hosts a comprehensive directory of quilt guilds across Canada. Many of these guilds are involved in charity projects, from making quilts for hospitals and shelters to supporting various community initiatives. Donating fabric to your local guild ensures that it stays within your community and supports causes that are close to home. Be sure to check the CQA directory to find quilt guilds in your region and reach out to them about donation opportunities.
Quilts for Survivors: This grassroots organization creates and donates quilts to residential school survivors and their families. They welcome donations of fabric, quilt tops, and completed quilts to support their mission of providing comfort and healing through handmade quilts.
Days for Girls Canada is part of a global organization that provides sustainable menstrual health solutions and education. In Canada, local chapters often need fabric donations to create reusable menstrual pads and hygiene kits. They typically require cotton or flannel fabric in dark colours, which are used to make the kits that are distributed to women and girls in need. (See the Autumn issue of Canadian Quilter.)
Soaring Circle’s Sewcase program supports Indigenous communities in Canada by providing handmade items, including quilts and clothing, to those in need. They accept donations of fabric and other sewing materials, which volunteers use to create items for various Indigenous-led initiatives. (See the Autumn issue of Canadian Quilter for an update on this program.)
Our Social Fabric (Vancouver, BC): This Vancouver-based, non-profit organization diverts textiles from landfills by reselling fabric and sewing supplies at affordable prices. They accept donations of fabric and sewing notions, and proceeds from sales support community programs and environmental initiatives.
EcoEquitable (Ottawa, ON) provides sewing skills training and employment opportunities to immigrant and marginalized women. They accept fabric donations, which are used in their sewing programs or sold to support their initiatives.
EcoEquitable is a great option if you’re in the Ottawa area and looking to contribute to a cause that empowers women through sewing.
Victoria Quilts Canada provides handmade quilts to individuals living with cancer across Canada. They welcome donations of 100% cotton fabric and batting, which are used to create quilts that offer warmth and comfort to those battling the disease. With chapters in various provinces, they offer multiple locations for fabric donations.
Quilts of Valour Canada supports injured Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans by providing them with comforting quilts. They accept donations of fabric and finished quilts. Their mission is to honour the service and sacrifice of veterans, making it a meaningful cause to support.
Project Linus Canada is dedicated to providing handmade blankets and quilts to children in need across the country. They accept donations of fabric and finished quilts, which are distributed through hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies to provide comfort to children experiencing illness, trauma, or other hardships. There are local chapters throughout Canada.
Grandmothers to Grandmothers (Edmonton, AB): The Edmonton chapter of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign under the Stephen Lewis Foundation supports grandmothers in Sub-Saharan Africa who are caring for grandchildren impacted by HIV/AIDS. They accept donations of fabric, notions, craft supplies, yarn, and related accessories. Each April, they hold a large sale where these donations are resold, raising funds that have contributed over $1.4-million to the Stephen Lewis Foundation since their inception. Similar chapters exist across Canada, each holding variations of this event to support this critical cause.
By contributing your fabric to these impactful organizations, you’re not just clearing space in your sewing room—you’re making a meaningful difference. Whether it’s through a local quilt guild or a national charity, each donation helps reduce textile waste and supports a cause close to your heart.
Adopting the fabric offset concept allows us to align our quilting passions with our responsibility to the broader community. It’s not about curbing our love for fabric but rather about balancing our acquisitions with actions that create a positive ripple effect. This practice enhances our craft and enriches our lives, ensuring that our creativity contributes to something greater than ourselves.
Let’s embrace this shift with intention and grace. Together, we can turn our fabric obsession into a force for good, shaping a world that values sustainability, generosity, and meaningful contributions.
Bridget O’Flaherty is a Canadian free-motion embroiderer, quilter and textile artist, teacher, speaker and podcaster with a decade of experience in the sustainable building industry. Known as The Sustainable Quilter, she shares her passion for the natural environment in her art and online community.
bridgetoflaherty.com
bridgetoflaherty.com/threads-of-sustainability-podcast/
@bridgetoflahertytextiles
