never thought of looking for wool

I have been saving the lint from the dryer to stuff small pillows and also using for pet beds. I also use the small fabric scraps to stuff pillows to.

:-) Good job on all your repurposing.

I love to hit the bag sales and stuff it full of things with cute buttons. Great way to get buttons. No bag sale? If I like the buttons on a particular item, I will buy it for just the buttons. Sometimes I can use the fabric for other things. I've bought full skirts just for the fabric; also jeans and denim items. It's fun - kind of like a treasure hunt.

I saw a wonderful quilt made out of stripes, but had a problem finding what I wanted at the quilt stores...so I have been buying striped mens shirts. There really is alot of usable fabric in the big shirts! And our GW is getting pricey also, but they say they "do" salvage what doesnt sell. It is my understanding they bundle into huge boxes and send to 3rd world countries. I have had several employees tell me that.

Someone gave me old cotton curtains and I will use them for backing. No lining.

All of our thrift stores haven't gotten expensive. I guess they think they are using new stuff I don't know. But you can't even buy a cheap paper back at ours anymore, they are half price of new. Can you believe that? I couldn't. The clothing is $4-5 each piece. Yes there is still some that aren't that expensive but not many, they are few and far between. I can get new fabric at Wal mart for less. I'll take the new.

read my earlier post about this.
when I buy the clothes, they have already been there 6 months where the prices are reduced each month. By the time I buy them, at $.23, it is pretty much a good guess that nobody wanted them.

This is OK..nobody wears WOOL anything so that is fair game.
Cotton shirts require more attention than anyone wants to give it, so it is fair game. Silk is also hard to care for, usually requires dry cleaning, the needy folks are NOT going to pay for dry cleaning.

The suits I buy are out of style, so those who would wear a suit are not buying an 80's hot pink with big shoulder pad suit!

Trust me, The money I pay goes to helping those in need. I also donate all of our used clothing and household, so that helps the needy, and I am using the clothes I buy to make something new so that I am helping it stay out of the landfill one more year anyway!

Thinking that those of us who re-purpose these articles is cheating someone out of a pair of gloria vanderbilt skinny jeans, is like saying buying fabric only when it is on sale is HELPING the LQS stay in business!

I haunt my thrift shops for two things--scrubs and sheets. I only buy 100% cotton and won't buy anything without a readable label. I find the scrubs (tops mostly) have really cute fabric and are high quality cotton. If I can find an XL, I can easily get a yard of cotton out of it. The going price here is $3 - $4 a scrub, so that is a bargain. I also look in the sheet/blanket area. I recently bought a "quillow" that had fabulous novelty fabric for $3 and after I took it apart I had over 2 yards of fabric!! I also use sheets for backing. I am fortunate that our Goodwills here have 50% off everything days about twice a month. And "seniors" get 25% off everything on Mondays. What a deal!

I don't do stripes, but wow...you should see the ones I could be buying at $.23...there are always tons of striped shirts left behind...

I have re purposed since I was a kid. My mom did a lot of it so I learned early. When I moved away from home at 19 (I'm now 63) I would buy cloths at thrift stores with a lot of fabric in them and remake into new styles in my size. In those days a lot of clothes sold for 25 cents or less. I once bought a formal for $2 in a XL size took it apart and used it for a new formal for myself (size 10)for a special occasion. I can re purpose a lot of things.

Wow, all of these are great ideas to get me started...thank you.

Even if there is poly in them it may be very good for doll clothes.

I love using old clothing, etc in quilting. I think it's really the heart of quilting - when women wanted to make something "new" and useful for the home from what they had. There was once a time when people didn't buy-toss-buy. The line was, I think, "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" sharet

Just want to add that I LOVE the designer 100% cotton clothes at the thrift stores. Especially the Ralph Lauren florals. They are so yummy. I even buy shorts, they may not have a lot of fabric but one of these great fabrics looks really great in a scrap quilt, even if you only have 3 or 4 blocks.

I also felt the 100% wool fabrics.

Some great ideas here. DW and I was a thrift shop the other day and found some polyester yardage makes great rugs and will never wear out. I was looking at some hand embroidered table clothes and ask DW how I could make a quilt block from them? Did not buy them at this time. Has anyone made any thing from mens ties? Half price day they are $1.00 or less and they have alot. I would not worry about cutting up clothes they get more than they can sell and the $$ you give for it is more than they will get for rags or pay to get it hulled off. If we in the USA don't think we live in a land of plenty just vist a thrift shop. We are blessed.

There is a tool for making the tubes, looks like a very large bias tape tool.
Hope this helps. I also make braided woven rugs.

:-)

I used a suede blazer this past Christmas and made a small purse and an even smaller tuck in bag for my granddaughter. I got it for $8 and I have enough left over to piece some other interesting items.

jaciqltznok -- Love your little doggie. What breed is it? We had once just like that that came from a small dog rescue, but didn't know the breed. We gave her another wonderful five years before she passed. Miss her terribly.

I can say i used boxer shorts .. here is the story and its a funny one. my FIL was given 3 packs of boxers for xmas one year. they were size 5x. way to big for dad. so one day we took them with out him knowing and the next xmas he got a quilt with the boxers in it.. he loved that quilt and would not let anyone use it and when he passed last year the boxershort quilt came back to me.. so that is my story of reusing lol

When I started in Crazy Quilting in 1997, in Sacramento, I had a dozen-literally-thrift stores in my working territory...I was in advertising sales at the time...and I would hit a thift store almost everyday. Since there were so many, I guess, their prices were very competitive. I could buy a full satin or velvet gown for $4 or $5. I would also buy silk blouses. And gowns with rinestones, lace or beautiful buttons were keepers. I once bought a dress, kept the mink that bordered the hem, and donated it back to the thrift store! Most crazies have depended on thrift stores for the fancy fabrics, because they are extremely expensive in the fabric stores, and almost never can be found in fat quarters! Brocades, moires, and Japnese fabrics were also great finds. I think I have enough fabric now that I don't buy as much...and now in Idaho, the two thrift stores are a lot more expensive than I used to shop in Sacto.
On my site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52086995@N00/
I have a work in progress that is made mostly of cottons, from Judith Baker Montano's collection which are very rich in color. The Robert Kaufman fabrics she promotes are a silk/cotton combination and have a wonder sheen to them.

I forgot about the suede clothing! I buy a lot of skirts are brand new, never worn with tags...and they make the BEST soles of booties, bottom of tote bags, tote bag handles, coaster bottoms, and so much more!

I sell ultrasuede, yet still find buying the suede skirts at $.23 is much more fun to use up!

My little dog hiding in the pix is our 11 year old cocker/beagle mix! what a spoil pest he is...

More ideas! Thank you so much.

You know I have been using ultrasuede/suede for so long that I forget all that I use it for...it is so durable and lasts forever..no fraying, so no need to make large seams... I also brand it, bead on it, paint on it, it is really versatile and fun to use!

Our DAV (Disabled Veterans Store) has items 5 for $1.00 on Sundays (if the tag is a certain color)

I was sorting fabric today --have large pieces that anyone can have no charge but would appreciate postage.
Not cottons but bathing suit fabric and some drapery/
upholstery. One uph piece is light tourquiose -2 & half yd.

I thought I would offer it here but can understand if no
takers --then will give to thrift store. PM me

if no takers here, then be sure to post it here!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/s-18-1.htm

I just made my granddaughter a skiet out of one of my old denim skirts. I always try to repurpose when I can.

Great ideas!

I wish I could by for 23¢.
Our thrift stores
(GoodWill, Salvation Army,& Miracle Hill)
have really gone wild with their prices
as much at $3. - $4 for shirts & blouses.

When every one is having to cut back because
of joblessness they have made it almost
impossible to buy from them - and they
receive donations - its not like they are
buying the stuff to sell

I do not see how families with 3-4 children
clothe them now.

J J

Every GW should do that!! It keeps things moving...clearing out "stuff"! I think ours gets more and more full! Isles are so tight you can't get a cart between rows of clothes. Nothing is dated, so somethings stay forever! I love going to look, but when I see the same things week after week it gets pretty old. I told DH last night we should open a thrift store. I'd love it...I could sew while not busy and we could have bag sales one day a week! My sister works at one and it's $5 bags every Friday and because she works there as a volunteer, she gets half price!! Can't beat that! Wouldn't that be fun! Think of the people you'd meet!

I have a huge tub of ties to repurpose! I bought the shirts, but then sold them at a garage sale. Guess I'll have to buy more. I'll be on the outlook for some really good deals - not Goodwill! They are too expensive, at least here in Ocala, FL. I have bought silks for use in a special quilt that hasn't gotten done yet. My mother used repurposed clothes all the time. Same with my grandmothers. Guess I got to be a snob, but I'll change, I promise.

Good going! Sounds like you are getting it together.

I think the thrift shopes are getting very expensive for used clothing. Can almmost find better bargains on new fabrics. However, I love recycling and repurposing!

Thanks for all the info.

I visit Salvation Army to find all the differnt colored 100% cotton denim and some blue that I can find at the right price. Our SA prices pants and shirts from $1.99 to $5.99. Each week a different colored tag is 50% and 75% off. I also started looking for nice flannel shirts. I cut them up and make rag blankets with them. I think the denim from jeans has a lot more character than the new stuff. More and more they jeans have spandex in them so finding the colored stuff that is 100% cotton is a little harder than it used to be. I made my SIL a quilt of all colors of purple denim and have done several red, white and blue with applique stars. Does take awhile to cut them apart.

I guess it depends on the thrift shop. Garage sales are probably best as you can beat the person down! Just kidding. I really don't like negotiating, but will often offer a price when I'm buying more than one item. Not ready to collect repurpose fabrics yet - have to use up what I've collected over the years. Good luck to everyone else.

I figure that if your on a budget and you buy clothes from thrift shops/etc...to repurpose into quilts or other items...it is the same as buying second hand for yourself...your still wearing them , but in a different way....

Unfortuately, mine are mostly knits and not repurposingable.
Is that a word???

what great ideas, thanks!

I have lost over 75 pounds and cleaning out my closest, to make room for the shopping spree in the next 50 pounds, I made two piles. One, jeans and 100 cotton shirts and the second pile for donation. I plan on making a rag quilt out of the jeans or pot holders and using the shirts for a scrappy quilt.

It is nice to know that I'm not the only one that repurposes clothes.