I love going to thrift stores to look for mens cotton shirts. Sometimes I cannot find cotton ginghams at the fabric stores ~ and sure thing... I go to a thrift store and they have quite a few every time! Button down shirts at my favorite thrift store are only $1. A mans shirt has a good bit of fabric in it for $1...

I was looking for some musical note fabric and couldn't find anything I liked ~ I checked the womens button down shirts and they had one! I was so happy :)

I was just curious if anyone else does the same thing. I'm always on the prowl for a unique cotton fabric.

I haven't but think it's a wonderful idea!!!
Next time my sis and I go thrift shopping I will probably look!
I kept some of my Dad's Pendleton wool shirts to make my brother a quilt, only thing is wool is itchy for him.
They are still in a box :(

I go often. A couple of the local shops have 'bag day' once a month. Fill a plastic shopping bag for $3 or a garbage bag (!) for $6. On those days I go in and stuff everything cotton into the bag!
I also look for bedskirts. Lot's of times the platform part is cheap polyester, but the 'drop' is 100% cotton, and they sure don't get any wear. There's an enormous amount of fabric in one. Sometimes pillowcases are good too. Top sheets are often good, too.
One of the shops I go to puts everything in big bins. I play a game now where I close my eyes, dig in and feel for cotton. I'm getting more 'wins' all the time, but there are some good cotton/poly blends that fool me.
Happy Hunting!!

No you are not alone. Three of our bee members do this and two of them almost exclusively use finds from garage sales, hand me downs and thrift stores. They buy yardage that way as wel as garments for the fabric. One lady bought a very large size mumu and used it as the main fabric in a quilt.

I hear of lots of people that do that. There have even been links to patterns to cut the shirts. I saw that just last night.

I do this for denim also. I have found quite a few jumpers on the 50 cent rack.

I like to look at the pajamas - you can find some really fun novelty prints in them! And, it is a lot of fabric if you find the larger sizes. :)

Don't forget to look at uniforms - they come in great novelty prits - cats, dogs, fish, nurse/doctor theme, flowers etc, and they're made of good sturdy cotton.

I use out-sized shirts that either my DH or myself will not be able to wear again, also have gone to thrift shop for denim pants to use for kids quilts to take to day care or kindergarden - useing a fleece back and no sandwich. My great-grands have been thrilled with these. Sometimes you can find a mumu or jumper with just lots of yardage. And its fun to go hunting...

I love the thrift shops. and the bed skirts are always a good find for 50cents - $1.00 I have found quilting material in bundles for $2 - 3.00. and doona covers are a great source of colourful fabric