I dont usually find much either, at yard sales or thrift stores, but I always look anyways..yesterday, I saw a SINGER touch and sew for $7.50 - thought about it, but is was missing the plug in and no peddle, so it would take more $$ to get everything IF it even sews.....I passed it up......but a month ago, I came across an estate sale and got an IRON LADY for $20.00 in the vintage cabinet........its a 66 not sure of the age....and it was missing the plug in..has a knee control...and I just found the plug in on ebay, so soon we will see........I have found more at the thrift stores than anyplace else, and that is rare.......all my stash goes to my local PROJECT LINUS group upon my leaving life......none of the younger girls in my family are interested in sewing and quilting (I dont understand why they are not...)

Love yard sales but don't generally find too many sewing things, till last July when I found a box with a Crazy quilt sitting on top. It needs a lot of mending, but then I looked in the box underneath it and bingo. Lots of hand done tulip blocks, bonnet lady blocks, more crazy quilt squares, a kewpie doll quilt top, and many pink multi-colored squares to make into a quilt. I have to do more satin stitching around the tulips and bonnet ladies, but have already purchased fabric to make the sashing between the blocks. I am going to go back to that sale as it occurs every July.

tessagin, did you see the Estate sale from greatestate sales last weekend? I am in Corpus too, I bought the Tin Lizzie with king size frame.

I am so tickled, last week I got an email from an Estate Sale company showing some pictures of stuff for sale. There was an older model Tin Lizzie 18 with king sized frame for $2,000. I immediately called, text, and voice mailed the sales lady. The next day I was at the house buying it. The widow who lived there was selling off things she didn't want to take with her when she went to live with her son so it wasn't so sad to be buying it, in fact she was tickled right along with me when she seen how happy I was at getting this machine. My big problem now is finding a manual for it. I have emailed Tin Lizzie & soon will call them soon if I don't hear from them. I went back again on the last day of the sale towards the end when everything is 1/2 off and got a queen quilt top and a laundry basket full of material for $25. Now to clear out my computer room just to have a home for it. I am one happy "beginner" :D

Neither of my girls are into sewing as much as I am, but at least they know enough to understand the value of the fabric and the tools, not to mention the environment, enough not to let it all wind up in a landfill. But they have both said they don't look forward to dealing with my stash when I'm gone, so I guess I'd better get cracking!

We've drifted a bit here but estate planning is important. My mother passed 3 yrs ago and her estate wasn't a problem. My dad was still alive so he kept everything. My dad passed last fall with no will-my brother and sister both had brought it up with him and mom many times, they refused. That leaves me, my brother and my sister wondering what to do with his belongings. It also creates a mess when it comes to things like transferring titles on his house and cars.
Better to have something in writing and to give things away while you're still alive.
Rodney

What an interesting thread, I too like to go estate sales, auctions and garage sales. I have 4 machines, 2 my mother bought me 10 yrs. ago, she wanted me to start quilting, I wasn't to interested, but now I have the quilting bug. One I got at an estate sale brand new in box a Brother for $90 and one I got at a flea market new in box a Brother Emb. for $100. My daughter does sew some, but I won't use up all the material and neither will she. Husband knows to sell machines and donate material to quilt guild

I'm thinking if each person on this thread were to teach one person to sew this year.....

I got that covered. My daughter is learning. I was able to get her signed up for 4H for sewing too. This way she won't just be learning from my mistakes. Her interest is more in clothes though.
Rodney

Around here we have estate auctions. I love going. I have purchased many bargains, fabrics, sewing machines, tools etc. I will admit that many times I feel so bad for the person. I have seen king sized quilts go for less than 100 dollars. Handmade crochet work and embroidery go for pennies. It is very sad.

I get very sentimental over the sewing items I buy at Estate sales...I understand the love I have for them and can't help but feel the love she would have had, and glad I can carry on.
I bought an entire sewing room one time- including a featherweight. I couldn't see out of any of my car windows on the way home, but I sure was happy to unload my haul. I would hope my stuff goes to someone that feels the same way as I don't have family that sews either.

My mother passed away almost 3 years ago. Mom also went to garage and estate sales and always seemed to find sewing tools, machines, sewing room furniture, sewing books and tons of fabric and yarn. As the only one of her children that sewed she always said "just think, someday all this will be yours". When she would say it we would laugh and I would tell her that she better get busy because I had more than enough on my own and it would probably end up getting trashed. My mother had a small house (a 2 bedroom 1 bath) next to their house where she kept the majority of her sewing and craft things. Within a week after she passed her husband wanted it gone through and emptied out, and as all this belonged to me he wanted me to either move it or he would trash it. I knew it was a mess but there was more in there than I knew. I boxed it up and moved it to my house but i know this, I WILL NOT leave this kind of a mess for my children to go through. I have a lot of sewing and quilting things of my own. Now, even after all this time I am still going through her things, alot of it I am keeping but tons of things have been given away and unfortunately alot of things got thrown out as it had not been stored well.

My son-in-law says he will find the biggest dumpster he can find and throw all my stuff in when I die and never look back...My daughter does not sew. I fixed my will last month so he cannot touch anything I have until friends and distance family can pick through it first...

I have found a lot of things at estate and yard sales. Now I avoid them because I have so much that I decided to use it first so my estate won't be so full. I do have a son and sister that like to quilt so a lot of things as sewing machines will go to them. It is hard as I just love to buy fabric, the colors are getting better all the time. Oh well I guess thats the joy of quilting.

Reply to mjhaess: Funny but a very good idea. My kids used to say 'Garage Sale", now they are talking "Flea Market'.

I better get busy - at least clean-up for them.
I like your idea.

Neither of my kids sew and my daughter thinks that my sewing machine and fabric collecting is, "kinda creepy Mom," BUT they do love the quilts and other things that I make for them. For me, that's all that counts. Scraps of fabrics, threads, SMs and tools are nothing until they are used to be made into something. That's where the love is.

When I pass away, I'm sure that my family will be overwhelmed, as I was when my own mother passed. Let's face it, sometimes all that stuff is just too much to handle. If they can sell it to someone else that will use it, then I'm all for that. If it ends up in a landfill because they just couldn't get rid of it, then so be it. Hopefully, I've taught them to be charitable, so all those things will be donated.

~ Cindy

When someone passes away the survivor is always overwhelmed - no matter what - just make plans for giving it away.

I am 82, so I really wonder as I set out to buy more fabric, but then, I only have 7 machines.

I go to yard and estate sales and I'm thrilled to find sewing stuff since it is so expensive in the store. I especially love finding tools, even if I'm not sure what some of them are, lol! I love knitting tools too. Sometimes there are great deals on fabric but it has an odor, or hasn't been well taken care of. Sometimes it is over-priced, but sometimes Jackpot~!

Maybe some of you with so many machines would like to sell some here on the QB? You know they would get used and appreciated!

For example, I've been looking for a feather-weight or big heavy machine I can add to a quilt frame to try long or mid-arm quilting. Ever since someone posted a picture of their pretty set-up. They painted an old featherweight lilac and mounted it to a frame, it was so pretty and not that expensive.

I've seen some deals in Craigslist, but at this point it's just an idea, not a definite plan. ;) That reminds me, I should look here!

I got my Singer in a cabinet for $10 at a yard sale. I don't usually find too much fabric at Estate sales but I'm nosey and I go in to see the inside of the house. I did buy a barrel of wool for $20.

Do like I have been doing. When I hear of someone who truly wants to sew or quilt and cannot afford a sewing machine, I give them one of mine along with fabric and supplies to get started with. I know I will never be able to use everything I have and it is nice to know someone gets it that will appreciate it. None of my kids sew and my friends that do sew have more than me. At least I know that some of my things won't go in the burning pile!

CAROLSTICKELMAIER, that's what I do too! Not machines but fabric, patterns, supplies, quilt kits. I love helping out anyone who's trying to get started in quiltmaking. Or sewing.

I'm 72 and would love a Feather weight machine do you have one you would part with? If so email me [email protected] Keep up the good work hopefully being active is what is keeping us here.

You all have inspired me to think about setting up my will with where things should go. This boards never ceases to amaze me with what you come up with.

Being a spring chicken you have plenty of time. My 81year old friend loves to cycle 25miles, surely driving a few sewing machines not to hard.

I know what will happen to all my quilting stuff , as my brother says, when I die. The skip.

My family knows that there are 3 orgs. that my fabric is to go to, when I pass on.
Sharon

How nice for both of you! :-)

Oh my Miss Missouri Blackberry..and I thought I was bad! I only have 6! You make me smile! 42! Any favorite?

QUOTE=Blackberry;6673179]I am 74 years old and quilt nearly every day. Then I look at my fabric stash and wonder if I will live long enough to completely use it. I have greatly cut back on my fabric and sewing machine purchases. I have about 42 sewing machines and I find it very difficult to part with any of them but I must rethink this because I am sure they need to be used and I simply can't use them all. About 5 of them are really antique ones so they are not to be used. And, yes, we do go to estate sales and I always look for sewing things myself. I just truly enjoy visiting with the people and finding out a little about the person who left it all.[/QUOTE]

I never find quilting things at estate/garage sales. Our children don't have any interest in sewing other than mending up a hole. I taught both girls how to use the machine. Older dd saw a hello kitty sewing machine on a shop hop that she went on with me and wanted it for her birthday gift. Not sure if it's ever been out of the box though. Ds has no interest in sewing/quilting. However, absolutely LOVES going on shop hops with me! He's 14 yrs old. He told me the other day that he'll go on more and when he has children, he'll take them on shop hops. Guess he has some good memories with me!

I rarely found quilting items I wanted at yard sales or estate sales but to be truthful I don't go often anymore I found myself bring home too much stuff I really didn't need or have a place for.

But this thread did start an interesting conversation with my oldest daughter. While neither she or her sister sew much and currently has little interest in it they get it. They get why I love it, why it brings me joy, the effort and love I put into each item I make. While they will probably keep each and every finished project I leave behind and a few tools the rest will most likely go to other homes. They will probably sell big ticket items then donate my fabrics to the quilt charities I value most.

Im ok with that I refuse to live my life not having the things that I love, value and want because "what will my kids/family do with it when I die." I also do not live my life choosing to or not to do things because of my kids "inheritance"

Because of the behavior I witnessed at the last Estate sale, I no longer go..............people acted like a shark feeding frenzy.........pawing and scattering items. I was saddened at the people....... calla