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Fabric from the thrift store


My SO and I were driving through town yesterday and saw that the thrift
store annexed to the local Ecumenical Ministries was selling its clothing
inventory for $1 per article of clothing. My SO pointed it out to me, and a
couple of blocks later, I said, "Turn around."
I got a couple dozen linen and cotton dresses for $1 per dress -- up to two
yards each. I guess I'll be spending my evenings snipping out trim,
armholes, darts, etc., to get to the broad expanses of sturdy fabric, but
it's easy, mindless labor. I love the idea of recycling these old (mostly
ugly) clothes, and the reward in terms of fabric and variety of colors (some
of it is embroidered or otherwise textured!) is quite gratifying. I've am
enjoying organizing the colors and weights and planning designs. I have
already decided on two projects for starters, and am cutting into all this
cheap fabric with wild abandon.
I think I have officially gone over the edge. I've become a fabric
scavenger, and last night I dreamed about quilting.
Edna Pearl
Reply to
Edna Pearl
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Save the buttons and zippers too. You never know. Polly
"Edna Pearl" My SO and I were driving through town yesterday and saw that the thrift
Reply to
Polly Esther
nice job, Edna. soon your SO will be trained to just stop at every thrift shop and quilt store just in case there is some treasure with your name on it. ya wont even have to ask, they just go into auto-pilot mode. reminds me of a shop i read about called 'scream til he stops'. screaming can get so tedious tho, so training them from the get/go is the best way to do it.
buttons and zippers can be used in various quilted bags/totes etc. nothing need go in the trash when you're a recycling quilter. j.
"Polly Esther" wrote ... Save the buttons and zippers too. You never know. Polly
"Edna Pearl" My SO and I were driving through town yesterday and saw that the thrift
Reply to
J*
On Aug 29, 9:42=A0pm, "Edna Pearl" wrote:
Hey, I think that's great. Recycling at its greatest. Taking thrift shop clothing which may or may not even be in style, or ever be purchased...and creating a beautiful heirloom quilt. Funny thing, the quilts I seem to love best are the ones made from scraps. Quilting is a wonderful hobby that way; you can put as much $$$ into it as you *choose* to. I tend to be a dreadful fabric snob, and an even bigger thread snob. But I've turned out some pretty decent quilts on the cheap. (and the way things are looking around here, I might have to perfect that art -- budget is getting tight!) Most of my quilts are gifts anyway. They seem to be loved by the receipient, no matter whether it was $9 per yard fabric, or scraps given to me by friends. It's still great fun to look at the quilts my grandmother made, and tell the kids, "I had a dress made from this, a pair of shorts made from that, this fabric was from my favorite pair of culottes, etc.etc.) Sherry
Sherry
Reply to
Sherry
Edna Pearl, my great grandmother would heartily approve! :-) All of her quilts came from "leftover" fabric.
She made a comment once to someone in the family, "Anybody could make a a pretty quilt if she went out and 'bought' fabric!"
LOL!
Best regards, Michelle in Nevada
Reply to
Michelle C.
LOL - Bruce and I were watching TV while I was ripping seams on a dress, and I said, "I remind myself of my mother, saving all the buttons, when I don't even make dresses. I draw the line at saving zippers like she did, though."
Then I saw a show yesterday on sewing zippers into throw pillows, which I do make. I went back a retrieved the zippers I had left in the trash.
Edna Pearl
Reply to
Edna Pearl
I'd be a bit careful with reusing zippers. Make sure the zipper tape is still strong and the teeth don't pull apart when they're not supposed to. I wouldn't use a recycled zipper in anything that is going to get a lot of use and/or a lot of stress. It's too much work to replace a zipper to take the chance, IMO
Julia in MN
Reply to
Julia in MN
Hi My MIL always made her quilts from the best part of used clothes and they were beautiful in a way that can't easily be achieved with a "new fabric" pallet. Have fun! -***Debbie***
"Edna Pearl" wrote in news:h7cott$in9$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:
Reply to
***Debbie***
I have two bottles of buttons. One was from a good friend's grandmother who passed in 1980. She saved the bottons from all her old clothing, so there is quite an interesting mix. The second one is from my mother. I got her sewing box when she passed. The collection also had my father's US Navy dress uniform buttons in it [he survived Pearl Harbor aboard the US Enterprise].
Someday I'm thinking to do a piece that will look like a flower basket or garden, using yo-yos that are anchored in the center with my mother's buttons. It will be called "In My Mother's Garden".
Ginger in CA
Reply to
gaw93031
If you are planning that, Ginger, I don't want to intrude onto your plan; but, if you do make a garden, and want to use yo-yos, they make lovely delphiniums (I have done some!). . In message , snipped-for-privacy@msn.com writes
Reply to
Patti
those zippers also come in handy on pockets or closing up the top of handbags or totes or smaller make-u size bags. i even cut out the whole back pocket off some sturdy mens shorts to possibly use on bags. the shorts had given out in other places and were no longer wanted by the wearer. they're still strong enough for pockets on bags tho. j.
"Edna Pearl" wrote .. LOL - Bruce and I were watching TV while I was ripping seams on a dress, and I said, "I remind myself of my mother, saving all the buttons, when I don't even make dresses. I draw the line at saving zippers like she did, though."
Then I saw a show yesterday on sewing zippers into throw pillows, which I do make. I went back a retrieved the zippers I had left in the trash.
Edna Pearl
"Polly Esther" wrote ..
Reply to
J*
i made delphiniums with folded hexagon flowers, all from various blue scraps. they looked quite pretty watching the colours and size change from the bottom up. j.
"Patti" wrote... If you are planning that, Ginger, I don't want to intrude onto your plan; but, if you do make a garden, and want to use yo-yos, they make lovely delphiniums (I have done some!).
Reply to
J*
I love "repurposing" old clothing. I only buy good quality fabric. And I've bought garments just for the lace, or buttons. My finest "find" was a skirt that was just two panels of fabric, almost a yard each, with an elastic band running through a casing at the top. The fabric is hand-painted silk, the most breath-taking stuff I've ever seen. I'm still trying to find something to do with that fabric, but every once in a while, I pull it out just to hold it and feel the incredible way it slinks across my hands and marvel at the beauty of the colors and handiwork in the fabric.
Sunny
Reply to
onetexsun
Good for you, Edna! I went to two thrift stores today. The fabric was not worth buying, but I did find a fantastic vintage table cloth for just $2.00. It is a 1950s style, with huge red vegetables and vines. It just came out of my washer and looks great. I also bought two pairs of quilt hangers for another $2.00. I'm pleased, especially about that table cloth! Pat in VA/USA
Reply to
Pat in Virginia
Oh Pat, You have found my big weakness. Vintage tablecloths. I have a bunch of vintage lace and print tablecloths. I have started passing them around to some of the girls in the family. There are some wonderful ones at great bargains to be found. $2.00 is terrific. The hunt is half the fun. Taria
Reply to
Taria
We didn't get to go play thrift store today. When we take Yogi to his hair stylist over in civilization we always go toss what our pastor calls the buzzard shop. If he ever needs to find the ladies quickly, he knows where to look. Anyhow. The groomer had two of their staff out with the flu and our fun was cancelled. Not really sure what you do with vintage table cloths. Just what do you do with them? Polly
"Taria" Oh Pat, You have found my big weakness. Vintage tablecloths. I have a
Reply to
Polly Esther
You'll never believe this Polly, but I put them on tables. They are just so pretty and fun. The house here probably doesn't show like a magazine lay out but I like it ok and DH doesn't much notice. The lace ones are good for curtains if that will work for you. I had a worn linen one that I cut up and serged all the edges making them into the softest cloths for dishes and dusting. Most of them are in the linen closet waiting for their turn to be liberated. Taria
Reply to
Taria
Now THAT would confuse DH for months. If I were to clear the table and unveil a tablecloth, he would be certain it was a holiday. Maybe I'd better not. Polly
"Patti" Cover tables?
Reply to
Polly Esther

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