How many folks here repurpose fabrics? (for example... cut up sheets into charms or fat quarters, or just whatever size one needs for whatever they are working on)

I decided to give that a try as there is some things (not quilts but sewing none the less) that I want to try to make, but don't want to put out the cost for new fabric just in case I mess it up... so... I went to the thrift store with MIL (her treat) and wow, I snagged some cool stuff... will post some pictures shortly.

Still needs to be washed and dried...
Saw some fabric, bit thinner stuff that what I want... but it was on a bolt, but not the flat cardboard bolts, but this was like a dowel type thing, and it was at least... oh 1.5 to 2 inches of fabric thickness (if that makes sense) on these... there were three, but I passed them up as I don't know what I would use them for.
(there was no label for me to see what they were, felt like cotton but a much looser weave than what I am used to, plus when holding my hand behind the fabric I could see my hand... so sorta thin. (each bolt would have been $10, there were 3) sooo tempted but could not justify it.

Anywho... who else shops at goodwill/thrift stores for fabric (be it sheets, scraps etc)

oh I went to the job interview at the fabric store, they will be making a decision sometime next week, and will let me know either way, if I get the job, or not. (the position is for sales, for the machines, cabinets etc, and if I get the job, I will be trained on how to use all the machines they carry I am sooooo hoping I get the job)

Gonna go take those pics now.

Yep, I'm working on a series of throws made from recycled shirts. They are coming out well.

I've done it. I do buy sheet sets on clearance from Target or places I see them too. I've been known to buy cotton table-cloths after holidays and use them too.

cool... ok I am supposed to be taking pics LOL

*scampers off to take the pics*

I buy sheets for backing mostly but if they are in good shape I cut them up also. Just got a king set of new sheets and was going to cut them up but altered to fit my bed instead!

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose......why not?????

Great deal - and good luck on getting the job!

thanks for reply all (and ty for the good luck wishes)

ok got some pics, it is a few I will post them as quickly as I can :)

(total spent... $8) (all pictures added)

i do for pet quilts but not for quilts that i sell.

I bought a woven table runner from S.Army store for 1.99. Sewed it into a tote bag, added some webbing for handles and it is great.
Have bought many pieces of fabric from Goodwill, Savers etc. mostly to make bags/purses, but flannel sheets make good backs for comfort quilts.
I've also started buying little girls jeans with the fancy emb. on the back pockets to turn into purses.

I am all for repurposing fabrics etc, from jeans, skirts, and t-shirts to men's shirts.

If I find ugly or thin fabric that I wouldn't use for a quilt top or back, I WILL use it as a foundation (instead of paper) for string blocks.

I also have a few mattress pad covers that are in great condition but the material that is supposed to stretch down under the mattress tore and I am not into repairing it. I plan on using the mattress cover part as batt.

I use sheets all the time they work well. I use them for linning, bindings and in the patterns if they have what I need at the time. thrift and goodwill stores I can find new
ones very cheap. used one if near new ;always put them in the laundry before they enter the inside of the house. washer/drier are in my garage..

I use the thin stuff for string quilts, too, and always check out the thrift store for men's 100% cotton shirts (plaids)and fabric. The other day, I got 6 unused homemade pillowcases and a panel for $1.00! The pillowcases are made from quilt store quality fabric! Also bought 3 men's shirts (very large, so lots of fabric) and a Singer 3314 (needs a few parts - new foot, spool holder, button for reverse knob), but sews really well. Total cost: $12.36!

Nice to know I am not alone :)

(at this point I am not making quilts to sell, and even if I was, I don't see a problem with using material from a thrift store, as long as the material is not obviously worn out)

These pieces are like new... some are new.. (as in never used, such as the panels and non sheet fabric pieces)

Wish I knew how to test fabric, so I could determine if the ones that did not have labels are 100% cotton

oh and I saw sewing machines with cabinets, but sadly the cabinets were not in good condition :(

If you want to get cotton and no poly, crease the fabric with your fingernail. If it stays creased, it is probably cotton. A few cottons won't stay creased. You can also do a 'burn' test. Burn a scrap of the fabric. If it melts it is synthetic. If it burns it is natural. Wool leaves an ash you can crush - synthetic leaves a solid bead. be careful. If you read the tags enough you will learn to tell the differences in the fabrics by feel most of the time.

I gotta tell you all... I used to do a lot of burn testing. So someone gave my DS (9YsO) a cannon fuse. You guessed it, one day I smelled something so I asked him if he smelled something. No, he didn't. Well, I DID. I started checking around. He had tried to burn test the cannon fuse... He couldn't get it to go out so he finally threw it in the toilet... but not before he left a trail of burn places in the carpet. So even if they aren't small, don't let the kidos see it.

You bet I re-purpose. Been at it for years. I love to re purpose blue jeans into bags, skirts, quilts, what ever. When my daughter was little we didn't have much money so I got a pair of holey pants for a dime and sewed kittens - looked like they were climbing all over the legs and covered the holes. Then I got sweat shirt for a quarter and sewed more kittens on it. She was a hit. I have done the same for the grand daughters with hearts on theirs. Good way to reinforce the knees.

We do historical camping, I used to make a lot of stuff out of old linen table cloths before they got popular and hard to find or too expensive. I used a cotton shower curtain to make a shirt once too. When you can find a pair of linen curtains for a couple bucks - it's a lot of material - why not. Linen is comfy to wear.

Sheets have a LOT of material for the money but some of them have funny texture don't they?

I L-O-V-E shopping the GoodyStores .............

I go to the thrift store for old, well broken in flannel shirts. I make quilts/throws out of them. The folks they go to really appreciate them.

how exciting, good luck with the job. :-)

I recycle everything that is fabric. Shirts, jeans, sheets, blankets, everything I can because I cannot afford to buy pretty fabrics. You have heard the saying "beggars cannot be choosers" well, that is me. :)

Thats me, too - and don't we have fun doing it?

It is fun :)

Always check garage sales for usable clothing to cut up and sew into quilt tops....I found a wonderful sale for a lady who was a crafter/quilter..scored approx. $100 worth of material for less than $12.00! This was almost a year ago and I am still using this material.

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Cool! :)

I have re-purposed jeans, flannel and sheets, men's cotton shirts, wool coats/sweaters, etc. etc. :)

I do use jeans to make into purses/bags... and the legs I am using the material for the rag quilts I am making the boys.

For some reason I just never thought of using sheets and such heh. It dawned on me at the store today.

(I think the major score was the 12 foot of fabric (almost a full bolt) for less than $2

Not sure what I will use it for yet :)

PS with the addition of these pieces, it actually looks like the start of a stash hehe

remember to check the blankets too..they work for quilt batting and usually they are about 2-3 dollars at Goodwill.

I took some pillow cases and make quickie sewing machine covers. They work really well.

Good luck on the job.

I have a wonderful local Thrift store. Men's shirts $1, jeans $3, etc. I've gotten great buys on new/virtually new sheets and pillowcases, tablecloths, fabric. I stay away from garage sales- sewing machines tend to follow me home. Check out Quiltville.com and Maryquilts.com for great inspirations. There's also a great Yahoo group called Heartstrings run by the lovely lady from Maryquilts which has directions for many string and strip pieced quilts. I was always afraid of plaids because they were never straight enough when I cut them. Now I seek them out. In a magazine I saw a Kaffe Fasset quilt made from mens striped shirts- loved it! With fabrics now pushing $14 I just can't afford them. I'm really liking the looks of scrappy, shabby chic, and eclectic quilts. Several years ago I was given many of my brother's jeans when his new wife decided to purge his clothes, and plan to make them into a quilt for Christmas, and maybe some stockings. My shelves and bins are full, but tonight I went to a $3 a bag sale at a local church and several new floral sheets came home with me. They'll be made into adult sized "pillowcase" dresses for donation to Little Dresses for Africa. The pattern is on their site and on Nancy's notions. I've decided I can rationalize using bookcases of fabric as insulation- right? I'm not a hoarder- just overly Thrifty.

doh can not edit my post... I did not mean to say it is almost a bolt (at 12 feet LOL) not sure what I was thinking when I said that. Probably still had those bolts on the brain.

I do it all the time, after all that is how the quilts were made in the good old days.


Billy

One of the reasons I love quilting is that re-purposed fabric makes some of the most amazing and one-off quilts. I collect vintage fabric, anything that can be cut up and incorporated into a quilt or an embellishment for a quilt. No thrift store is safe from my "rummaging":).

Love the stuff you got...specially the pillow panels with the buildings, could be a brilliant quilt, as a centrepiece if you only have the one or incorporating more, surrounded by geometric blocks using plain fabrics that co-ordinate with the colours in the panel....see...salvaged bits and pieces just get the creative juices running:)....have fun and happy quilting.

I have seen a description of how to test a fabric scrap by burning it. Something about different smells, etc. Post a query in a new thread and someone will answer it!

I hope you get the job, too. But...will you ever bring home a check? lol
Michelle

Here's a post about using decorator fabric sample books: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-158818-1.htm

I think it's pretty neat to do quilting like our ancestors did. They used what they had. Of course, I like the color coordinated ones, too, but like the history of how women used what they had.

My real passion I guess is finding great fabrics in weird places. And I love my seam ripper, too, so I enjoy buying curtains or skirts or bed ruffles or tablecloths, or whatever and ripping them down to make something else out of . I'd guess probably half my fabric is reclaimed.

Recently bought a valance that when I had finished ripping apart was 45" wide and 4 yards long--------------pastel seersucker plaid, just perfect for a baby quilt back I'll be making in the next couple months.

this much I can tell you-----------cotton burns, synthetic melts.

lol good question