Hello from Ca.

[Krisathome]

Welcome to our little thrifty corner of the web!

[aromangel]

I just wanted to say Hello...  Where are you in Ca?  I am also in California and just go into Thrift-Saling...  I absolutely LOVE IT....

[nancydr2]

That's an incredible story about the patterns!  I have to say, I don't pay much attention to them.  I have a huge collection of vintage patterns that I bought for myself mostly because I like the artwork on the front.  Maybe I'll have to do some research with them. 

I, too, pick up needlepoint canvases where I can find them.  I just sold a vintage Tina Emmons canvas of a cheetah that was so butt ugly I would have never, ever wanted it myself.  Got nearly $40 for it, and the buyer sent me a long thank you email going on and on about how she's been looking for this canvas for years, etc.  Everyone is happy in the end:  the buyer got her canvas, I got a few extra bucks, GW made money to support itself, and the donater cleared out some space.  It really is a good system!

[Pedeka]

When I first started selling on ebay if I saw something at a thrift that I thought might sell I would hide it & look it up before I bought it.  Yard sales are good because you can get a box of stuff for a few dollars & take your chances without risking your $.  I recently got a box of vintage sewing patterns for 2 dollars at a yard sale, not being an expert in patterns I was willing to take a box for that amount.  Turned out to be a good investment.  This pattern sold for 200 dollars, several others for 70-80 dollars, probably made about 500+ dollars from the whole box.  Wish I could find stuff like that all the time!

I was given a few boxes of very nifty vintage patterns at a nursing home's yard sale. Noone was buying any so they told me to take them if I wanted to. They run from the 1930's to the 70's. Some are uncut. But I know nothing at all about their value. I had no idea they could go for so much. Did you ebay yours? I think I have something to look into now........

p.s. sorry to threadjack april

[valleythriftshopper]

Tina Emmons is a name I haven't seen before, I'll look out for that one.  Many of the kits I have sold are just lovely, I wish I could do them, but I can't so I live vicariously through those buying them!  

I just got a ton of patterns again.  I answered a freecycle ad for some old bail type canning jars, which I use for storing/displaying things.  I went to pick them up & the woman offering them was an older woman in the process of cleaning out her house.  She asked if there was anything else I needed so I asked about vintage sewing stuff.  She gave me three big boxes of old patterns as she used to make clothes.  Also she asked me to email her a list of things I would be interested in so when she continued cleaning out her stuff she could put them aside for me.  I actually thought twice about answering that ad because I didn't know if I needed so many canning jars, but now I am so glad I did!

A note on patterns, I think a good strategy for regular patterns especially 50's -70's patterns is to put them up in a big lot if you have that many.  Patterns like the Vogue Paris Originals are more professional patterns so they can be sold on their own.  Vintage apron patterns with iron-on transfers are very popular & sell well on their own too.  

[valleythriftshopper]

I was given a few boxes of very nifty vintage patterns at a nursing home's yard sale. Noone was buying any so they told me to take them if I wanted to. They run from the 1930's to the 70's. Some are uncut. But I know nothing at all about their value. I had no idea they could go for so much. Did you ebay yours? I think I have something to look into now........

p.s. sorry to threadjack ana
[/quote]

Patterns from the 30's or 40's especially uncut are harder to find & tend to do well.  You should take the time to count the pieces on any cut patterns & make sure directions & pieces are complete, it is important to note in your listing.  Again I think doing lots are good for regualr dress patterns, couture or other unusual patterns do well on their own.  Many of the  patterns I sold that did well were couture 60's dress patterns.  These styles are popular again now, in fact I bought a dress for my daughter that looked very similar to one of the patterns.  The pattern that sold for $200 & several others were purchased form a design company in S. Korea, they will probably knock them off.  One of the other Vogue patterns went to a company in New York. 

Etsy is another place you can sell patterns, but you have to come up with a fixed price.  You can research completed listing on Ebay & get a sense of the value, or take your chances in an auction format, which is one of the only reasons I stick with Ebay.