Just wondered if any of you kind people can come up with any ideas
being disabled funds are extremely tight and since i took up patchwork and it's become an obsession i went to all the local charity shops and looked for anything and i mean anything that was cotton, and couldn't believe the prices, some of the things were more expensive than what they were new,
So afraid i'm having to stop my new addiction as i just can't afford to buy material at the moment, i'm heartbroken, i've asked friends and relatives to sort out their cupboards and wardrobes and let me have anything they don't want but nothing has appeared as yet.
Just wondered if anyone can come up with any ideas how i can get really inexpensive fabric, i'd hate to give up now that i've found a new hobby that doesn't restrict me,
I would also like to thank you all for giving me something to look forward to everyday, i love getting my mails with the topics of the day,

goodwill is always a good place. I have found clothes there and cut them up before. A lot of times walmart will have fabric marked down to 1 and 2.00 a yard

you are in England, kind of expensive to send you some of my stash. I wonder how much a flat rate box would be to send. Hmmm. will need to check when I am next at the PO

Bless your heart, thank you for even thinking about sending me some, i really appreciate it, i just wish we had Goodwill or Thrift? stores here,
If you do have any to spare i'd willingly pay any postage before you send it, Have severe spinal problems which restrict me so much that i'm not able to go 'a hunting' which means i'm at home almost 24/7.
You are so kind, thankyou,

I know nothing about England, but do you have yard sales there? Lots of people find bargain fabric and/or cotton clothes that can be used at yard sales. Yard sales seem to be cheaper than thrift stores.

Plain muslin tends to be the least expensive fabric here in America. Perhaps your financial situation would allow you to buy some plain muslin and try hand dying it for use in your piecing? I've seen some exquisite quilts made with hand dyed fabrics.

Excellent thought! You could also try doing crayon quilts on it.

check for a guild in your area.

most guilds do charity quilting and they provide the materials and you would provide the labor.

you can also check with Quilts for Kids and see if they have a UK edition or maybe you can start one. again they provide the material and you provide the labor.

I could be wrong, but I think flat-rate is only for domestic packages.

If you can find a "store" where the items are donated after a family member dies there tends to be a lot of sheets and clothes. I have a friend that collects linens and dyes them to use in quilts. Maybe there's a shop in your area like that?

I sent a flat rate envelope to Germany and the cost was $14.95. Not sure if it would be cheaper to send to England or not.

In our newspaper there is a column once a week where people offer things they want to give to someone who will use it or people who are looking for something they need. Are you aware of anything like that in your area? Is there a message board at your local grocery, drug store (apothecary?), or place of worship you could post a notice offering a "good home" to cotton material no longer wanted? Is there a Catholic or other denomination Charities organization near you? A phone call to a charity based thrift or second hand store might yield you a connection that will call you when they get something in. Be up front with the small amount you can afford. They may feel a good possible sale is better than putting it on the shelves. Hope one of these helps, don't give up-there's a source somewhere.

I was looking through your posts to see what your taste in fabrics is , so may be I could send you some. Unfortunately I didn't see any pictures, but I read about 500 squares you got from Canada? wowww. What pattern did you make with those? Sounds like a lot of squares to me :-))

First i have to say a huge thank you from my heart for the responses i've had, you are all so kind, what with words of encouragement and offers, wow i spent most of this morning with tears that wouldn't go away, i just can't believe you all care so much about a fellow quilter, but then i suppose that's why we all love this site so much,
I have made a kingsize quilt with the 500 squares that i got from Canada but haven't actually quited it as yet, as it means sitting in one position for so long and it will have to be done by hand, so i have to do a little at a time, and that's what gave me the urge to carry on, and i was lucky enough to get them at such an inexpensive price i couldn't believe it, but was only lucky the once,i loved doing and made the days pass.
Again a huge hug to you all for being so caring,
Caz x

I'm cleaning out my fabric stash; I have lots of fabric, mostly cotton. I have quite a bit of fabric that I can send. Not sure how much it would be to send to you in Kent, England, but I can check the next time I go to the Post office. If you are interested, just PM me.

Do you have the equivalent of a freecycle or craig's list there?

http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.co...e-thrifty.html

This is a link to make a quilt from 7 men's shirts.

I am shopping 2nd hand stores, picking up plaids that I like. Trying to buy the ones that are discounted, so $1.25 a shirt, YAY! Watch for stains, armpits, wear on the collar & cuffs. Almost new, it's mine!!!

Checked with our PO Kevin this morn. He said I can send the flat rate boxes, but it won't be the flat rate price. He said he would have to weigh it and fill out forms take 40 min in our little PO. He said it could run 40 to 50 bucks for a large flat rate box. Don't see why. Just got some embroidery thread I ordered from England and it wasn't a real big shipping rate. Also got in less than 2 weeks. Was supposed to be sent in June til Jul6 and got it today. I guess the only way to find out for sure is to take a pkg and have him do all the necessary steps.