QuiltingVagabond

Crafttown Fabrics is another great online source for fabric and notions and they are quick to ship. They always have a clearance section with fabric $5/yd or less.

bearisgray

Generally speaking - In the last three or four years, I have not seen much "quilting" type fabric at the yard sales I've been at.

Occasionally, there is a bonanza - but not very often. The fabric I have seen - which has not been often - has usually been "non-quilting" types of fabrics.

As far as garments, I have not seen that many 100% woven cotton shirts, either.

When looking at garments at yard sales or thrift shops, read the tags carefully. I bought some that I thought were cotton - but are a blend. Still nice shirts - but they were a cotton-poly blend.

Sewing machines (good, bad, and indifferent) have been few and far between, also.

pocoellie

Although aashley333 said that the quilts she used sheets as backings are disintergrating, I've used a lot of sheets as backings and they're doing just fine.

selm

I've only quickly skimmed the answers you'e received here but am sure they are all helpful.
What I want to add is that Google and You Tube are your friends. You can find anything by asking an internet search engine any question.
Some online shopping you might want to look into are: thousandofbolts.com; fabric.com(I believe they are owned by Amazon and if you have prime you might find things from fabric.com through Amazon and save shipping). A few more to check out: marshalldrygoods.com; connectingthreads.com. Quilting fabric has increased in price in recent years but by searching around you can find bargains. Quilting guilds have sales sometimes where you can find fabric also. I also check out the remnants for cotton fabric at Joann fabrics whenever I'm in the store.

Pennyhal

Fabric costs a lot more nowadays than when I first started, however, it is best if you can afford the highest quality of fabric that you can afford. You can shop Goodwill/Salvation Army/estate sales for good fabric that is cheap. I'd suggest that you just buy enough to make your first quilt...fabric, thread, batting/cutting mat, rotary cutter. You will learn a lot from doing that and learn what you really need...like you may not like the batting you used for your first quilt, or if you like machine quilting or hand quilting best, etc. Choose a simple pattern at first. I'd suggest Log Cabin. It's all straight cutting/quilting and not difficult piecing it.

If you get discouraged, check back here and lots of people will heip you. It was 20 years between when I first tried to make a quilt to when I actually made a quilt. My first effort was way too difficult and I got discouraged. I had no one to help me out, and that is why checking in here will encourage you to finish your project.

CaleyH

I will probably stick with the cotton and poly batting.

My first choice is to just use precut squares and strips to create a lap quilt. I want to start small for the first few tries.

Problem right now is the machine I got today was totally unusable due to missing parts, possibly dropped package, and missing power cord. And based on my looking around the internet, there aren't any decent machines available. Everything I thought I would like are sold out. So this quilting thing is on hold until machines and materials start becoming available.

bearisgray

I am sorry that the machine you bought is unusable.

Jinny Beyer is a current quilter that does a lot of hand piecing.

Fabric, scissors, pattern/template, pencil, needle ,and thread are all that is needed to start out.

juliasb

What a great thrill it is to be so excited. I see so many wonderful suggestions already for you that to find something new to add would be a challenge. I don't think I could find one! Fabric.com is where I like to go for fabrics and superior threads is where I go for my thread. I am a basic white thread person unless it is requested otherwise, or I am working on a dark fabric or black. Superior threads are much easier to thread your sewing machine with than many other brands.
As a beginner I would eye some of the sale fabrics or clearance fabrics to learn with. You can make some beautiful quilts with some of the clearance fabrics at fabric.com and save a few pennies too.
Batting is the middle layer of your quilt and a good batting is essential. I use Warm and Natural when ever possible. I usually buy, for myself, an entire bolt but that is because of the amount of quilts I am making. you can buy by the yard or it comes pre-cut and packaged in different sizes.
I am so happy for you. New machine on the way and I am sure you will get a few pieces of fabrics quickly to work with. Be careful with your rotary cutter and sew to your heart's content. I want to see your progress! Have fun.

RuthiesRetreat3

Don't buy bobbins or needles until you have read the booklet that comes with your machine. Bobbins come in several sizes and you don't want the wrong ones. Needles also come in different sizes and for different types of fabric/sewing. Read your book first. And best of luck.

Iceblossom

Sorry to hear things aren't going so well. Don't know how close any of these places are to you, but was trying to check your local Craig's List and this is what it gave me when I asked for 29 palms.

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/s...lting&sort=rel
There's some free fabric scraps and a couple machine options in the "not too bad" price range

I love the old vintage machines, and turquoise is always so nice...
https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/c...131522831.html

Seattle area is largely out of new machines but a couple of guys have been refurbishing their old collections and selling them for good values around $100-200 for a machine that's been cleaned, oiled and checked. You might also try contacting sewing machine dealers/repair shops and asking about their trade ins, again basing it on my area but those start around 150-300 and go up rapidly from there. Around here, the going rate pre-Covid for a working condition used machine was $20-40 whether it was at a thrift shop or garage sale, that has gone up to $100 for anything.