The fabric mother lode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mccoysnina]

Today is $.50 day at my favorite thirft. Everything that has  one color price tag is marked  $.50.  I was debating whether to go or not as I didn't havea chace to go til late and of course all the rally good stuff sells early.
But it wasa gloomy dreary day so finally I figured I needed to get out of the house for a while.  I browsed  a while, found a couple of small things, nothing big til I went to the linen section.  Usually just old curtains etc, but occassionaly there is some intersting fabric.  And today I hit the fabric mother lode. I first spied a  sheer silk looking fabric, gradated colors from green to purple, printed overall with gold flowers.  $.90 for yards of fabric.
Next to it, an sheer coral and white fabric embrodiered all over iwth flowers.  Also, $.90, also yards and yards.  Realized I was looking at saris.  One still had the label on it. 
Next to the saris, some blue and green plaid flannel, nearly 5 yards, for $.90.  And the good stuff too, all nice and cozy, not the cheap stiff stuff.
And next to the flannel was a pretty floral cotton, about 4 yards of that.  In addition to the fabric, I found 2 vintage aprons.  Altogether 20 or so yardsof great fabric, 2 aprons and some odds and ends for a grand total of $8 plus tax.  Dd had already started picked out patterns. I'm glad now I didnt stay home.
Jeannie

[ThirsteeThrifter]

That's great! I wish I knew how to sew. I have a sewing machine but have never used it.

[valleythriftshopper]

Congrats, I love awesome fabric finds, haven't had any motherlodes myself for a while.  A few weeks ago there was a tag sale listed with vintage clothing fabric , etc.  I got the addresses mixed up and went to the wrong one so I got to this one late, all the stuff with stains or defects was a buck a piece so I did find some vintage aprons and an aqua chenille bedspread cutter  that cleaned up well.  I wonder what I missed at the beginning of the sale, the woman having it said there were a swarm of ladies going through the stuff. 

[mccoysnina]

That's great! I wish I knew how to sew. I have a sewing machine but have never used it.

You need to get it out of the box and read the manual and start to sew!   You are missing a lot.   TS are a great place to find fabrics.  Even if you don't find yardage,  you can always find sheets or other linens.  And DD is always finding clothes she can quickly alter.  And replaceing missing or ugly buttons is a breeze.  And if you can sew up a loose seam, or replace a fallen hem you can often bargain for a better price if the garment has easliy repairable damage.  Even in stores, if you point out damage in a garment, they will often lower the price.  I used to work in a fabric store and a woman came in with a down ski jacket she had bought for very little in a ski store because the pocket had a tear in it.  I found her some adhesive patches made specially for ripstop nylon, and showed her how to repair the jacket w/o sewing.  An inexpensive package of repair materials and she had an expensive ski jacket cheap.
Jeannie
Jeannie

[mccoysnina]

A few weeks ago DD and I went to a yard sale for a charity group.  They had advertised they had vintage clothing for sale.  Turned out to be a rainy day but DD and I went anyway.  Hardly anyone there and they didn't want to pack stuff back up.  So the lady in charge told DD to pack up a garbage bag for $5.  DD found lots of stuff but the lady kept telling her oh this will fit in too.  We were loaded down by the time we got back to the car but DD has been altering them ever since and having a blast wearing them.
Heannie

[HIPam]

I buy large bags of fabric remnants from my local thrift from $2 to $3 a bag. I use it to make fabric yoyos while I'm watching tv at night. It's an easy, mindless hand sewing craft and totally addictive. TS are definitely some of the best places to score on fabrics.

[mccoysnina]

Monday is $.50 day at my lcoal thrift store.  All items with a certain color price tag is $.50.  Monday I almost didn't go since I was feeling lazy and it was hot and by the time I got myself together it was late and most of the good stuff goes early.  Still I gat antsy being in the house all day so I went.
Found nothing of course for $.50.  Didn't actually find much at all till I got to the odds and ends rack.  Saw a familiar yellow and green package marked Clover.  I know that notions brand well.  I picked it up and it was replacement blades for a felting tool.  And right next to it was another set.  Figuring if the replacemetn needles were heer, the tool might be as well, I kept looking.  Found the felting mat.  Kept looking.  Took a little while but finally found th tool itself nearly buried under bags of carp.  Best part.  Altogether, tool, mat and needls were $2.15 plus tax.  At a neighborhood fabric store, nearly $45 for all.  DD has happily been felting all kinds of stuff, using scraps of yarn, fabric etc.  That was a great find.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

I buy large bags of fabric remnants from my local thrift from $2 to $3 a bag. I use it to make fabric yoyos while I'm watching tv at night. It's an easy, mindless hand sewing craft and totally addictive. TS are definitely some of the best places to score on fabrics.

I love fabric yoyo's, I bought a small bag of old feedsack that was cut into circles, probably for yoyo's and have been meaning to make some ever since (over a year ago)- I really need to get started on that!

[valleythriftshopper]

Monday is $.50 day at my lcoal thrift store.  All items with a certain color price tag is $.50.  Monday I almost didn't go since I was feeling lazy and it was hot and by the time I got myself together it was late and most of the good stuff goes early.  Still I gat antsy being in the house all day so I went.
Found nothing of course for $.50.  Didn't actually find much at all till I got to the odds and ends rack.  Saw a familiar yellow and green package marked Clover.  I know that notions brand well.  I picked it up and it was replacement blades for a felting tool.  And right next to it was another set.  Figuring if the replacemetn needles were heer, the tool might be as well, I kept looking.  Found the felting mat.  Kept looking.  Took a little while but finally found th tool itself nearly buried under bags of carp.  Best part.  Altogether, tool, mat and needls were $2.15 plus tax.  At a neighborhood fabric store, nearly $45 for all.  DD has happily been felting all kinds of stuff, using scraps of yarn, fabric etc.  That was a great find.
Jeannie

It is a great feeling to find craft stuff that is so expensive at the craft stores at thrifts or yard sales.  I got some stamp pads, stamps and glitter for 25 cents a piece at a yard sale last weekend, one of the best buys of the day. 

[rntraveler]

I'm curious as to what you do with all the yo-yo's? We used to make them many yrs ago and it seems like they are making a come back in the craft world... Do you quilt? Thanks

[mccoysnina]

I don't quilt, but I've used yo-yos as decorative accents on doll clothes, purses/totes, clothes, all kinds of craft things.  What ever I would embroider or applique  flowers on, I've used yo-yos instead.
Jeannie

[Terri]

Oh all of this talk of sewing makes me want to get out my sewing machine and get busy....