Thrift Store Fabric Shopping

Over the years I have gotten some great fabric from thrift stores. There are lots of times I purchase fabric with no project in mind and the fabric often dictates the project I make. I may see a piece of fabric and a project instantly comes to mind. Then there are those occasions when I just have to purchase a piece because it is so beautiful and unique. However, when it comes to shopping for fabric at a thrift store the results can be hit and miss at best, but it is always a treasure hunt.

Identifying The Fabric
Thrift stores are a great source of materials for sewing, crafts and art projects. However, how do you know what you are purchasing. Sometimes you can feel the fabric and identify what it is and other times you have to take your chances and test the fibre when you get home. A fabric burn test is a great way to get an idea of what you are working with. With just a small swatch of the fabric, you should be able to identify if it is a natural or synthetic fibre. If you have enough of the fabric, you can also test a small piece for other factors like colour fastness and shrinkage. There are also lots of great fabric guides available to help you identify and work with different fabrics.

Cost Effectiveness
Fabric shopping can be an expensive venture, so a thrift store is great source if you are on a tight budget. You can sew beautiful projects for your home and make unique handmade gifts for your friends and family without a huge expenditure. It is also a great source for fabric if you are a beginner sewist and you do not want to spend a lot on materials to practice.

Unique Selection
Thrift store fabric shopping is a great way to find unique fabrics. You can sometimes find beautiful vintage fabrics or designer prints.You can use them on their own or combine them with other old or new fabrics. Pieces will vary in size, but even a small piece can be used as an appliqué, pocket or bag strap. Often times you can get fabric by the yard or you can purchase a bed sheet or tablecloth.

Eco-friendly
Purchasing your fabric from a thrift store extends its' usefulness. You can prevent more materials from entering the landfill by repurposing abandoned yardage or an article of clothing. I do not usually purchase clothing pieces, but you can often find a piece that you can use for a project. If you do not want to use a piece of clothing, you can reuse the buttons or other elements.

Here are ten tips for fabric shopping at a thrift store:

1. Head over to the linen section where you will find fabric by the yardage and ends. You can also find sheets, pillowcases, and table linen in this section.
2. If you are purchasing bed linen; a crisp, new content label is a good indicator that the linen may not have been used.
3. Examine the fabric for any imperfections, damages, weak spots and stains.
4. Tug gently on an end of the fabric to confirm there is no dry rot due to poor temperature and moisture control. You will generally see other signs of dry rot, but if it is not visible the fabric will tear with a gentle tug. 
5. Smell the fabric for any unpleasant odour. Some odours are difficult to remove.
6. Access how much of the fabric is usable.
7. Do not dismiss half completed projects that you can take apart and use in a new way.
8. Do not buy it just because it is cheap; access the uniqueness of the material, how much you like it and what projects you will like to make.
9. If you purchase a bundle of fabric in a bag; go through the bag after purchasing and donate any pieces I do not want, before you leave the store.
10. Identify the fabric content and clean accordingly prior to use.

Project Ideas

Shower Curtain - made from vintage sheet
Apron - vintage pillowcase and new fabric
Hand Embroidered Apron - vintage pillowcase and new fabric
Scrap Pincushion - remnant fabric
I-Spy Bag Toy - old kids shirt

Please share your tips for getting fabric and other sewing supplies at a thrift store. What is your best thrift store fabric find?

Fabric Haul: September 2016

There are many options for purchasing fabric online and at your local shops. However, if you are new to buying fabric the process can be intimidating. If you are purchasing fabric online, I suggest learning about the different types of fabric and to order a fabric swatch when possible.

The sewing pattern you are using will generally provide some fabric recommendations. Using the recommended fabrics will mean that your finished project will potentially fit and drape the way the pattern designer intended. However, I recommend trying other fabric options as a way of learning how different materials work. In some cases you may love the results and in other instances you may simple gain a better understand of why some fabrics work best for a given project.

We hope that our Fabric Haul video is the first of many such videos, where we will share with you the fabrics we are using at the studio. We also hope to provide you with great tips on how to purchase and use different types of fabrics.

Let us know what you think of our Fabric Haul: September 2016 video and perhaps share with us your favourite fabric designers and suppliers.

Resources:

Simcoe Sew and Quilt - Located in Barrie, Ontario, this quilt shop has a beautiful selection of fabrics, mostly quilting cottons. They also sell sewing machines and other sewing supplies.

Len's Mills Stores - Several locations with a huge selection of fabric; including, home decor, dress making materials, quilting cottons and tons more.

Fabricland - Many locations across Canada. There is a huge selection of fabrics at different price points. Good chance you will find something on sale. They also have sewing patterns and lots of notions.

Jo-Ann Stores - Stores are located in the United States. They also sell online, but at the time of this post, they announced that they would no longer be shipping to Canada as of September 30, 2016.

Affordable Fabrics - Was unable to find a website. They are located in Toronto in the Queen and Spadina area. There is so much to choose from in this tightly packed store, so give yourself some time to visit this shop.

Tonic Living - Located in Toronto and also available online. Beautiful selection of fabrics with a focus on home decor. Great quality fabrics!

Value Village - This thrift store has many locations, and generally has a selection of craft and sewing items. It can be hit or miss given it is a thrift store. I recommend carefully examining the fabric pieces. Can be a great opportunity to find vintage fabrics and patterns.

Fabric Haul: Green Brocade

We are now twenty-six days into the new year and I already have a start on my fabric buying for the year. I have made a couple purchases which have mostly been for our Crafted Spaces sewing classes, but I have also found a few personal gems along the way. This year, one of my resolutions is to exercise self-control and limit my fabric purchases to pieces I plan on using within the following weeks or months. However, I know that once in a while I will come across a piece of fabric that is just too beautiful to pass up. I hope to limit those purchases as well, but we will see how well I do or if my fabric addiction will get the better of me.

I started this new "Fabric Haul" blog feature to share with you highlights of what I have purchased and hopefully the projects I will make. I will also share some details about the fabrics and tips on using them in different projects. The first fabric I will like to share with you, is this really beautiful green brocade.



When I first saw this brocade fabric I was not sure if the colour was WAY to BRIGHT, but I really loved the look and feel of the fabric. After some lamenting, I decided to purchase a small piece because it was way too beautiful to walk away from. I purchased .5 meters of fabric; just enough to make a beautiful accent pillow. I also got some luscious yellow vintage velvet ribbon and an invisible zipper to match the fabric. The weight of the fabric makes it a great choice for different home decor projects or for making a handbag. The other great thing about this fabric is that it can be used on the reverse side.



I purchased the fabric and notions from King Textiles. I have been going to King Textiles for a really long time and I do not think I have ever left this store without purchasing something. I love the insane selection of fabrics and there is literally something for every type of project. They are located at 161 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, just south of Queen Street. There are two floors of wall to wall fabric and I suggest giving yourself lots of time to shop.

It is no secret that I love fabric. I love the beautiful surface designs, texture, colours, drape and the endless possibilities for what you can create. I have several stores and online retailers that I regularly purchase from and I also like trying new shops. When I travel, I am always sure to visit the local fabric shops; not to mention, I regularly visit thrift stores where I find great vintage fabric. If you have any suggestions for shops that I should try, please comment below.

This post is not a sponsored post and the fabric featured was a personal purchase.