so even if it is a mixed content, if it has synthetic in it it will melt?

I have over the last year and I have also started buying more Walmart fabric. It was between less quilting or using lesser quality. I rather quilt with lesser quality cottons or repurposed cotton then not quilt. Think green when you repurpose. It is the big in. :P

Some great ideas here. I must start to haunt the charity shops - though I find that a lot of the sheets etc that they sell are just too grotty to use. Does anyone know if there are any books on this sort of thrifty use/reuse of fabric? I'd like to do it more often, as I'm now on a retirement income, and also because I increasingly want to live in a way that respects the planet's limited resources and makes the best use of everything. But I'm often unsure as to what could be used and how, so somee help and inspiration wouldn't go amiss. If there isn't such a book, will one of you ladies please write it!

I am using fabric to cover a dresser I had brought for my son years ago. He has moved out and I need more storage so I am going to sand, prime, paint, Mod Podge and turn it into something nice for my sewing room.

****
I would like to do that, Will you send me directions?
Thanks
JOY

I do. One time I bought flannel pjs bottoms and tops for a year (a couple at a time--usually about 60 cents each) and then cut them all up and made them into flannel rag quilts. I ended up making 7 quilts out of the squares I had collected. I've used at least 2 for wedding gifts (put a note in the box what it was)...and they turned out great. I was very pleased.

But I regularly haunt the used clothing stores for 100% cotton sheets and 100% cotton curtains. I don't live in the US and this is my best source of fabric. I've made plenty of quilts with these items.

of course...why wouldn't one use recycled fabric????

that is my favorite place to shop. Have had good luck, and bought great material.

I use whatever I can find.

YES

Put a lit match to a corner of the fabric. Cotton will char burn but blends will melt.

I usually cut a piece off so I don't have major damage. Keep a cup of water around or a bit of water in the sink so put the fire out. If it has a bead it should stay on even if it is wet - if not do it again carefully. I so hate getting burned.

Go to Google, type in "how to test cotton fabric". Tons of information will pop up.

I just went to goodwill and sal army bought a bunch of the infant shorts dresses that have the snaps at the top I'm going to sew across the bottom and then take them to work for my residents to use on the side of their wheelchair and there walkers. with the snaps on the top of the outfit easy on easy off, really got some cute ones and when i sew them you'll still be able to see the design on them, also stocking up on kids jeans for a jean quilt

Have done that for special reasons, made a fun family quilt with pockets of shirts and jeans and decorations from shorts etc. Also a plaid using son's shirts, and throws using daughter's clothes, fun to do.

I repurpose 100% cotton curtains into quilts especially when looking for fabric with a faded look.

We have a open market sale here in the summer where we can only sell repurposed products. A GREEN market as it was explained to me. Did not partake of this summer but might next summer. Lot of scrubs that have not sold(used) and they are destined to become quilts. Used sheets for backing, used blankets for batting. Except for baby ones of course, those get new batting and backing on them.

I rather recyclr than buy new, I can live rich of what people throw away,

I DO shop thrift stores, goodwill etc. I have found some family member's discontinued dish pattern on more than one occasion. I have not yet found a sewing or craft "find", however I do re-purpose at home. If a garment is unfit for donation and must be tossed, I remove the buttons, zipper and if it has nice ribbed cuffs in good shape them too. Jeans beyond repair? Cut the legs off and make denim squares from the parts that are still in good shape. Shirt buttons are fairly generic. I remove the whole set and put them on a large safety pin or paper clip so the matching buttons stay together.

I went to a bed bath beyond store on their finally day a few years ago, Everything that was left was 25 cents I had so much fun got a lot of quality material to repurpose I am still using it. I made a quilt that was all new material the top cost 1.00

I use thrift store finds also-sheets,pillow cases,shams,crib sheets,drapes,clothing-don't buy unless label says 100% cotton. I get lots of beautiful fabric this way . I use the fat quarter rule for pricing. Must be larger than a FQ & cost less than $2.

Yes, since I was a child getting scraps from my mother. I also turned the collars on DH's shirts when we were newly wed, made baby sleepers from old cotton sweatshirts, denim toddler coveralls from worn thin jeans, patchwork cushions.

Over the years my stash has grown with bargain fabrics--sewing factory cuts, orphan blocks & patches, thrift & yard sale goods, rummage sales, immediate family worn clothing, feed sacks, wool blankets and clothing, and remnants. Now that I'm retired the stash is steadily becoming an organized fabric collection.

The funniest part is looking for cotton clothing to wear--but with an eye to its potential future use.

I am with you. I do it all the time. I can't imagine NOT doing it. Of course, some people (won't say who) think I'm crazy. Heck, maybe I am, but I love it. It's a challenge.

I have always gone to the thrift stores for fabric. I never thought of looking for just fabric! I would buy formal gowns (they usually have tons of fabric and lace!). I would use the material in the gowns for dresses for my porcelain dolls. I have recently started doing life-like vinyl dolls. I made a christening gown for one of my babies. She was sold recently. I have asked the lady that bought it for a picture as mine was accidentally deleted from my camera. But now I look for fabric when I go. Old Curtains are a great source too. Escecially lined ones. Front and back of your lap quilt!

yes, I made a quilt and 3 table runners from some of grandmas clothes when she passed. 1 for each daughter

Is it the challenge for you too? I love the challenge. See what I can make out of ____!

I think the blue/green thing may be a window valance, and if so, it's probably cotton/poly. GREAT finds!!!

My old blankets and towels go to the local Animal Shelter. They really need these things and I would rather they get used that way then to incorporate them into a quilt. My kitchen towels (if they are not too grungy or faded) can be used to make quilts. Have made one. Just haven't gotten it quilted yet. Still working on that one. If you use new towels, be sure to wash first and check for bleeding! I bought a set of dish towels from LAKESIDE catalog. When I washed them, the solid green ones bled all over the white/green ones! Now I have two-tone green ones. It will still make a pretty quilt top.

I am cutting up a shirt to make an apron. And have used old sheets for backing, and old blankets for batting.

i love going to the thrift shops, garage sales, etc to find old stuff i can use...i have many things to use different things on, i can always find a bargain....looks like you did good!!!!

Thrift store lady told me they were not allowed to buy there.
A disadvantage if you are hoping to get "stuff".

At a church sponsored thrift I frequent, volunteers may purchase items at half-price.

History repeats itself. When times are hard we use what is available and make the most of it. That is what our gr-grandmothers did.

I am all about looking outside the box. I Love thrift stores for finding fabrics, I have found some real neat designs that were pieces of clothing and if the material is in good shapes I come home and get out the seam ripper. Good Luck with the Job interview--let 8us know what happens. As soon as I found out if we got a discount as employees, I would be in soooo much trouble if I worked in a fabric store. LOL

I buy clothing all the time at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. for quilting. Use sheets as backings quite often, have used blankets and the mattress pads that don't have the plastic lining for batting. I cut the left over pieces of batting into squares and use for rag quilts when I get enough.

I buy at thrift stores and rummage sales often. Got a new king size set of white flannel sheets for my daughter, use sheets lots. Just made a comfortor, bed skirt and pillow shams for my guest bed out of new sheets, cost $2.00. I buy used flannel ones to make LWR baby blankets and diapers. The diapers you buy these days you can see through! How much will they hold? lol.

Does anyone make lefse? I was just to the Norke HostFest in Minot, N.D. Watched a man making lefse (which I have done for years) Learned lots from watching and visiting with him. He says not to use cotton dish towels or paper towels when steaming them as they absorb moisture. Use material with polyester in it. It does not let the steam escape. He was using round cloths serged around the edge, after putting 4-6 in between the cloths he turned the pile, cloth and all over, that way the hot ones are underneath and they steam the whole stack. One set of cloths was $16.
I maybe should have bought one set so I would have had a pattern but I kept my money and will try on my own. I thought $16 was too much.

Use and reuse is my motto.

My daughter, when she was about 10, had a new pair of knit pants, had to wear them to school, came home crying, holes in both knees, a neighbor made "people" patches. She loved them and wore them forever.

I love recyling too. What's old can be new again. I have an attic full of blue jeans. DH was buying them up everywhere. I finally asked him to stop, how many jeans can I use in my life time. I love jeans for shaggy quilts. I use the legs for bags. I've even made Bible Covers out of jeans.

The fabric on the roll that you found may have been for window treatments as it was so thin. Any fabric that we order for upholstery always comes on the roll, never on flat cardboards.
I've used sheets for making pillowcases, and occasionally for backings on Community quilts that I would be longarming. Years (and years) ago I often used sheet backings since (a) I didn't know better and (b) I could find them a lot cheaper than cotton from the LQS. And way back then I tied the quilts as I didn't know how to hand or machine quilt.

I buy in the package flat sheets at the Goodwill and "aunt sally's". Use them for backings. I like not having to piece my backings.

Ummm- you "houses" panel. Want to trade for some fabric???? I do closings for houses and am looking for some houses to make a wall hanging for the office. I don't want to applique or piece (ok, call me a wus).

PM me- we can bargain. I have tons of stash.

Testing for cotton is easy. Place a piece of fabric in an ashtray. Light it with a match. If it burns and leave an ash in the bottom, it is cotton. If it melts and bubbles it is polyester.