Thread: Your best sewing/quilting yard sale find???

As I posted in another area I just had knee surgery on Friday and now I am resting alot. This board with all the wonderful people & ideas really keeps me from being too bored. So I would love to hear some of your stories when it comes to great yard sale or thrift shop finds. Or any story you want to tell! Thanks!!

When it comes to quilting-I recently posted my best find-a 1949 Singer 15-91 in cabinet for $10. It looks like it was hardly ever used. It was only missing a cord. I ordered the cord-cost $8.69 plus shipping. Machine runs like a charm!

I once got a bunch of handmade lace at a flea market, for about $5. Divided it into lots and sold it on ebay for over $100.

I also like my mini Singer 185J for $20, plus it came with a complete HC set of Charles Dickens' works.

I went to a yard sale last week, where the ad said "fabric."
I got there before most shoppers, and they were late setting up because of some rain, so I was first to get to the fabric (still in a leaf bag, tied closed).
The ladies were selling things for a friend who had to move and get rid of many of her belongings.
None of the three women were sewers, let alone quilters.
They basically told me to help myself and name a price (say no more!).
My DH was nice enough to allow me to pile my selections on him.
About half way through the bag, the women asked me what they should be charging (after I left, of course, lol). They said I seemed to be an honest person (which I am, by the way).
I was still looking, but I told them if they really wanted to sell it, ask $0.50/yard.
Then they asked, "does that mean we'd have to measure it?" They didn't even have a clue how that was done. Now, if my DH hadn't been there, I might have stayed, and offered to measure and mark it for them, but.....
So when I was through, I had a decent pile, I thought maybe 10 yards, and I offered them $5.00. No arguments from them. When I got it home I did measure it, and found I had 18.5 yards! And I wished I had bought more!

I went to a yard sale when I was in Upstate NY last week. There was boxes of fabric and I only had abot $30.00. I picked out yds and yds and asked for a price assuming I would have to put some back. The woman said $12.00! I was there an hour or more, she made me a cup of coffee and we had a nice chat! I still want to send her a thank-you note! I did, however, PIF because I sent some to a quilter in England who is having a hard time. Postage was pricey but hey-I saved so much on fabric I just had to help.

I found a Singer Rocketeer (500A) in a cabinet with the bench for $10 last summer. Beautiful machine in excellent condition. I haven't been that lucky since but have found some great buys this summer. I got roll of botton batting, queen size for $1.00, a bag of calico fabrics for $3.00 and the cutest pin cushions for $2.00.

I went to a quilters estate sale. I spent $105.00. I got 52 fat quarters, 2 bolts of moda fabric, 1 bolt of backing fabric, 10 yards of fabric, a cutting table like the one from Joanne's and 10 brand new quilt books. I got there
an hour before closing and they took 1/2 off of their prices.

I've done really well collecting sewing machines through CL and at auctions. I picked up a Singer 15-91 for $20, a pink Atlas for $15, a Singer 72w19 hemstitch for $15 and a Singer 503 rocketeer for $10. Not too bad for my $60 dollars. I haven't had as good luck with fabric. I have picked up 10 yards for $8 at the Goodwill store.

Althought I didn't get anything quilty I did get some great buys this afternoon at a local fire and first aid department's annual garage sale. We got there around 2pm and everything was 50% off the listed price.

One rocking horse in great condition, a great marble and brass desk lamp with a green glass shade, a folding serving cart, 2 wicker bread baskets and 3 white china saucers all for $7.
We couldn't pass up the adorable little rocking horse, it will be DH's gift at next week's baby shower for our soon to be born first great grandchild. Due to arthritis in my knee I use a cane to get around and when we have guests for dinner it's difficult for me to bring dishes, food, etc. back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room, now I have a serving cart to help me and I can fold it away when I don't need. I'm sure I'll find more uses for the cart.

My best garage sale find was a plexiglass extention table for $10 that fit my Janome. I can't sew without it.