Five Unexpected Places to Find Fabric and Sewing Supplies!

My mom used to buy formal gowns from the thrift stores, wash them, take them apart and make my dresses and petticoats when I was a little girl. I tell ya, I was the best dressed little girl at school and church. That was back into the day when a girl wasn’t allowed to wear pants to school. My mother was an amazing seamstress as well, so if I showed her a picture of a dress, she could easily make it and could fancy it up using those pre-owned gowns.

Love everyone sharing their thrifty ideas as well! ❤

Never thought about using dollar tree dog collars for the hardware! Word!!!

My suggestion is if you need pattern paper because you need to make paper patterns go to a medical supply store and buy a roll of the paper they use in doctors offices to cover the beds. It's about $5 a roll, makes great pattern paper, and I can use it to cushion gift bag gifts or my fragile seasonal ornaments as well.

I like to use the zippered bags that sheets and comforters come in. They are sturdy and are great for keeping projects in.

I bought a beautiful satin outer shower curtain It had shoes 👠 and handbags 👜 printed on it. I cut it up and made it into shoe bags for travelling!

Thrift store fabrics are great for historic-themed costumes. I once bought a new king comforter ( beautiful silver - blue color with baroque style pattern) in Goodwill Outlet and have made it into a splendid Tudor-era gown, adding some dark blue, golden, dark red silky fabrics, sourced also from thrift store curtains and place mats. There were so much seamless fabric in that comforter, that the other side with stripes and most of batting is still left for yet another costume. Also, I once bought two real silk taffeta large window drapery panels $ 4.99 each in another Goodwill, which later turned out to be of regular price $ 800 each (as per I-net research), since manufactured by one well-known company. I am going to make those into a Marie-Antoinette style ballgown for dancing in one of the Versailles historic reenactments.

I would not have thought to disassemble a collar for the hardware. That's brilliant. Thank you!

Thrift store handbags often have interesting hardware as well as zippers. Thanks for these tips!

I purchase inexpensive bed pillows for the fiberfill they are stuffed with. Cheaper than a bag of fiberfill!

I'm just learning how to sew. Thank-you for sharing all these ideas!! I'm struggling financially with having to drive my grandson 400 miles, round trip, for his many doctors appointments! He has a very rare heart condition. I thought if i could sew our clothes, his ideas (he's got an imagination!) I could save some money! All of you have been a Godsend 🥹💜❤️ Thank-you, bless you, and have a blessed day

I made a wedding veil from a Martha Stewart valance from Walmart. It was a beautiful lacey satin and we were in the boondocks of Kentucky attending a family reunion which turned into an impromptu layed-back wedding. Yeah!😉... The bride looked beautiful! Who would have thought it possible!?! Thanks for your tips... really good ideas!

I love the thrift store for sheets to be used in many ways!

I always have my eyes open for the unconventional sewing and craft item. My sewing table is a Husky work bench from homedepo. It adjust the height very easy, it has a great wooden top. The big plus is, it was a lot cheaper than the adjustable sewing table. ❤❤

Whenever I get sewing supplies at Harbor Freight or my local co-op hardware I always say to the checkout guy, "Bet when you came to work this morning you didn't know you working at a craft store." The reactions are precious! I've also noticed the selection of crafty things increasing in the co-op so maybe letting the folks know what customers are looking for is handy for all.

I am from the Tulsa Oklahoma area. I went into a Salvation Army Family Store and found 5 yards of a Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin material. The cost: a total of $3.00! I made a skirt with it.🙂

My mom and grandma also used sheets for quilt backings. In those days wide backing fabric was not available at any price. It was an amazing day when it did become available, but sheets are still the way to go if money is tight.

Timothy, you out did yourself with these tips. I especially liked the 5 gallon bucket idea. We purchased a travel trailer recently and didn't want to spend a lot of $$$ changing out the curtains, so I used painters' drop cloths. I bleached them and I swear they look and feel like raw silk. Made all 3 windows for about $13. Thanks again for sharing!

Here in Cincinnati there is a recycle/reuse place that is open twice a week where you can go and everything is free. They have tons of fabric, yarn, thread, tiles, and just about everything else. They do it to keep it from the landfill. I went a few weeks ago and scored a huge box of tapestry fabric that I donated to my local historical reenacting group. I'm sure there are places like it in other cities. I even found some vintage Stretch N Sew patterns!

During the pandemic, I wanted elastic shoelaces but couldn't find them anywhere. I went to Dollartree and bought hairbands. They worked perfectly and I haven't had to replace them in four years.