Question:
As some of you may know, I've REALLY gotten into making lap quilts (throws) lately. I made a few and sold them on eBay faster than I could make them (woo hoo!), and I've made several for Christmas gifts. My sewing machine is practically panting from all the sewing! ROFL!
I'm always on the lookout for nice cotton fabrics at bargain prices, but I'm running short on ideas. The local fabric store has some **WOW** gorgeous cloth, but at $6-8 a yard, youchie! It really adds up. I do buy marked-down remnants when possible, as well as shop eBay and Walmart for bargains. So far, eBay has been my best source, as I have gotten some really gorgeous and unusual stuff! I usually try to get at least 1 to 1-1/2 yards at a time, but even pieces that measure as small as 5-6" square are useful.
Any other suggestions as to where I might look?
Hey .... we should have a swap or something, where we exchange fabrics and/or quilt squares. (Actually that might be a fun idea ... hmmm ... )
Answer:
"Thrifty"...you're callin' my name!...
Don't over look cheap clothing at yard sales and thrifts...I have one customer who sews lots of things using discarded/unwanted shirts/pants/dresses...Especially items that might have a stain or a rip, where most of the fabric can be salvaged....
Answer:
Mary stole my idea You can get some great clothing that has a minor flaw easily cut out and have some good pieces for really cheap.
I'd love to learn to quilt, but right now too much else to do.
Originally Posted by Phoenix24 "Thrifty"...you're callin' my name!...
Don't over look cheap clothing at yard sales and thrifts...I have one customer who sews lots of things using discarded/unwanted shirts/pants/dresses...Especially items that might have a stain or a rip, where most of the fabric can be salvaged....
Answer:
You also have to be careful with using clothing. Sometimes faded spots (even with new pieces) are hard to spot and don't show up until it's in your project.
Do you have a Hobby Lobby in your area? One year when I went to visit
my parents in OK we went to a Hobby Lobby. Wow the discount table
they had! Some of the same fabrics I paid $5.-$10 dollars I picked up for
.80 cents a yard!
I always take an empty suitcase when I go to visit and it comes home full!
Look in your yellow pages phone book and see if you have any discount
fabric stores.
Maybe put an ad in the paper?
Ebay is a good source but the shipping can sometimes kill you.
I love the new flat rate box. I can really pack it with lots of yardage.
Answer:
Clothing from resale shops can be great, especially for throws and things you don't plan to save for a couple of centuries.
I sometimes have picked a great focus fabric from the expensive stuff and then gone to the thrift shops (and the bargain tables at Walmart/Hancocks/etc or even the independent quilt shops) in search of coordinates. Coordinates tend to be sort of boring and dull looking on their own just sitting on the bolt on the fabric rack, so they often get marked down. But they are just what you need to showcase a fabulous main fabric....
I've cut up cotton blouses and shirts and cotton skirts for crafts and for utility quilts. I urge you to go for it!
warning -
You really do not want to do this for your next heirloom type quilt though. I made a navy/white scrappy log cabin quilt about 10 years ago and picked some 100% cotton navy fabrics from JoAnn Fabrics and Hancocks that weren't found in the 'quilting' sections. I picked them because the prints and colors were a lot more interesting than the ones I could find in quilt shops or JoAnn's quilt area. However, those are the fabrics that have faded badly from sunlight from the windows in the bedroom. Most of the no-quilting white/light fabrics have worn well, but the dark colored ones have lightened noticably.
Elaine
Answer:
That means it's been well-loved and now has "character"
Originally Posted by goodworks1 the dark colored ones have lightened noticably.
Elaine
Answer:
Originally Posted by mommygonecrazy That means it's been well-loved and now has "character" Yeah, maybe, but...it might not make it into that art museum display in the year 2095...
Answer:
Oh, I don't know-I've seen alot of well-loved quilts hanging in museums
Originally Posted by goodworks1 Yeah, maybe, but...it might not make it into that art museum display in the year 2095...
Answer:
Wow, thanks for all the responses!
Cutting damaged or stained clothes up is a fantastic idea. I'll go through our closet this weekend and see what I can find. If I can even get the door open ... there's so much cra ... er ... treasures in there that there might be an avalanche.
We have two Hobby Lobbies, but I haven't had much luck there, for some reason. Even their remnants seem overpriced. I'll keep checking, though, and watching their ads. They do have some gorgeous stuff!
The employees at Walmart cringe when they see me coming in the door, because they know one of them is going to have to cut cloth shortly, and they never can seem to get the price label machine to work. I keep their bargain tables pretty well raided. A lot of their bargain cloth is poorly made or is a lovely color like "puce" (ROFL), but sometimes I find a treasure mixed in.
Thankfully DH is patient with me when I shop. I know he gets bored while I'm "oooh-ing" and "aaah-ing" over the fabric, but he often watches me sew, and lately he's even been helping me. I've been trying to sell enough finished quilts and stuff to cover what I spend on cloth ... and sewing keeps me busy while he's at work.
Thanks for the tip on darker fabrics. I'll definitely keep that in mind.
Y'all are awesome!
Answer:
When I was doing a lot of scrap quilts I would look for bag sales at the local thrift store. They would have all you could stuff in a paper bag for $2.00. I would look for full skirts and dresses. You can sometimes get a full yard or two of fabric just by cutting the waistband and bottom hem. Shirts are OK, but a lot of work (and blisters) for not as much fabric.
I wasn't quite sure what to do with all the extra pockets so I made a small quilt for a friend's baby shower.