Scrap source???
 

Does anybody know a good source for relatively inexpensive remnants/scraps of brocades, velvet, drapery and similar fabric. I am looking into making some crazy patchwork, and jewelry pouches but my pile of non cotton fabrics needs some refreshing. Thanks in advance! Happy (crazy) quilting!

Check and see if there is a custom drapery shop in your area. My husbands niece worked for one and had tons of this kind of stuff.

I've seen drapery and upholstery samples that are used for special orders at Joanns for $2 each. My Joanns must have pulled a bunch from the rack lately because they had a nice selection.:

Thank you! Excellent ideas. Drapery makers and JoAnn's here I come!

Tashana, I have to ask who is the little guy in your avatar? I smile every time I see it. :-)

I have some furniture stores smiples. I would be glad to share, but I think the only way to cover the cost of postage would be flat rate box and that can get costly. You may check will your local furniture stores and see if they have some smiples that they would sell.

The little guy in my avatar is my son when he was a baby. He loved his food so much that he would bite down on the plastic spoon and refused to let go. I just had to snap a picture and it turned out to be a really good one.

Also check with furniture stores, especially the mom and pop kind. When a line of fabric is discontinued, they have to get rid of their sample books.

Thanks! Cute baby, great picture!

Thank you for your generous offer, but this is not an emergency. I will definitely check the furniture stores. Thank you for the idea. I used to have a really good source for this kind of stuff but he is never here anymore since most of the business he has is overseas. I will try locally, and if that does not work I will try to catch him between the flights LOL!

Your local thrift store. There are millions of ugly skirts, bridesmaid and prom dresses out there just begging to be repurposed into a lovely quilt.

I am an avid Crazy Quilter. There are lots of places on line, just google Crazy Quilting. My favorite web site is Evening Star Designs. I have also bought quarter yard and half yard pieces of the fancy fabrics at JoAnns. I also use those big books of fabric swatches from furniture stores, when they are done with them. Have gotten some beautiful pieces from them. Good Luck!!

I think they are going on sail for $1 on June 23

Check the big box stores for their remnant bins. I find they have more non-cotton fabric than cotton. Just got a flyer in the morning paper. Hancock Fabrics are having a sale and I'm sure they have a huge fabric bin with what you're looking for. I have gathered a lot of crazy scraps and put them in their own little/big clear container. I just marked the bin "CRAZY".

Put a Craigslist "wanted" post asking for decorator samples. Or stop by a interior design shop and ask if they have outdated sample books. Sometimes they just give them away. Good luck.

Tashana, On Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore across from Entemann's Bakery Outlet is a fabric factory called Dura Lee. There is a factory store where you can buy tons of home dec fabrics, but they also have boxes of scraps under all the tables that are for sale. You can spend hours looking through the fabrics and the scraps. One warning, there is no air conditioning, so if you go during the summer dress in light clothing because it is hot.

Do you think you could find a seamstress? My DM was an excellent seamstress......Formals, western shirts, suits, drapes and almost all of my clothing(and DD). I have a wide selection of fabrics to choose from for my crazy quilts(future projects)! I would share with you as I do with my neighbors, if you were nearer!

What about bridal shops or alteration shops? They probably just through them away. Maybe they would save them for you.

Someone that does alterations would be good. I would think they'd have a variety of scraps.

I started asking at the bridal studios and they said they couldn't be bothered to save scraps for me. Sob.
So I asked the lady in town who does alterations and garment sewing if she'd mind saving her scraps for a few weeks for me.
I came home with NIINE big garbage bags full. Of course by the time I'd sorted them down I had eight bags of garbage :) But what remained was more than enough to make a big quilt out of.

If you know anyone who makes prom/bridesmaids dresses as a sideline business they will likely be glad to share scraps with you.

Also someone who reupholsters furniture or does custom upholstery would be a good source.

I was able to get yardage at a great price when a furniture mfg in my area moved their business elsewhere.

Good luck with your search!

I acquired mine from Thrift stores, remnants from Jo Anns, Wal Mart , also drapery samples, plus word of mouth, friends who are seamstress, especially the ones who work on wedding stuff, they have a lot of left over stuff. As for the decorations, same sources. You will be surprise how much you can pick up at the Thrift, like formals, etc.

Joanns sells scrap upholstery fabric in their clearance or red ticket section.

Check with a drapery shop or someone who upolsters :).

Scrap Source
 

Ask if any furniture stores throw out their fabric samples and if they would give them to you.

Mght try church sales. I gave several bags of fabric like that & at one sale lady had passes & family donated lots of upholestey & velvet fabric. .....25-50 cents yd.