Tell us about your great crafting/sewing finds!

My local thrifts still stock fabrics, patterns, notions, etc., but some more than others. The SA has very little fabric, if any, but our two local chains (Unique & Value World) stock plenty. I score lots of good patterns at Unique, but Value World puts several in a plastic bag they staple closed, so it's hard to tell what you're getting. Unique stocks similar grab bags of notions and trims too.

I think my best thrifted craft item was a late 70's Lutterloh Golden Rule pattern drafting kit, which are pretty desirable on FeeBay (search "lutterloh" if you're curious). I held onto it for a few years, then saw what the go for and sold it for a pretty penny, considering it cost me less than $3!

I agree with VTS whole heartedly - garage/yard/estate sales have got the best booty! If the ad in the paper lists a sewing machine, I am there! The estate sales are my favorite. I recently went to one where the homeowner was an avid sewer - there were EASILY 100+ bankers' boxes overflowing with yardage! I got kinda dizzy when I walked in to the living room, then the woman told me that this was just the quilting solids, I should look in the bedrooms for the fashion fabrics. What fun!