GrannieAnnie

Last spring I bought a rose print flat sheet that appeared to be brand new----------$2 for several yards of fabric. I've also bought quite a few sheets that are next to new. One of my best finds was a dark green duvet (sp??) cover that was next to new at a $5 bag sale. It took some time but I rolled it up real tight and still got 4 more sheets in the bag. Beautiful dark green brocade type of pattern on one side and then green with gold print on the other. Only trouble is I like it so much I'm reluctant to use it for anything. (don't ask---I've got more than one thing in my DON'T CUT stash)

Caroline S

I visit two local Goodwill stores at least twice a month. I think I have purchased almost 200 yards of fabric since July for an average price of $.90 a yard. How do I know, I keep a record on an Excel spread sheet with the date of purchase, yardage and price. Makes me feel better about my fabric purchases especially when the cost of fabric is so high now. I also look for portugese made flannel sheets that are not overly worn for cozy quilt backing, they are usually of very good quality.

clsurz

YES

rekrug

Yes!!!!

cacarte

I have a friend who recently became a godmother. She wanted me to take her 30 year old and much loved baby quilt and make it over for her goddaughter. The quilt was made for her by her godmother.
This was a wonderful quilt project. One of my favorites.

JabezRose

Bed skirts are nice too, DO NOT get the gauzy ones, make sure you are getting cotton or cotton blend. Miles of material there and it has been, as a rule, not washed very much. Plus I use the part that goes between mattresses to make Angel Pillows for our Toy Store up here where we give away toys at christmas. Then can use up a lot of material scraps to make pillow cases for them.

catmcclure

If you check out the men's shirts - dress shirts and/or Hawaiian shirts, there's usually about 2 yards of really good cotton fabric in each of them. Make sure they say 100% cotton.

Also, carry a cigarette lighter with you to check out fabric content. If you're unsure of what the fabric is, if you can pull a couple of threads from the seam and set it on fire, cotton, wool and silk will burn to ash, while any synthetic in the fabric will end up as a tiny ball of melted goop.

Pat75

If you want to know if a fabric is cotton light a match to a small piece of it . burn just a small amount After it is cool feel the edge if it has a beading like firm feel at the edge it has polyester in it .If it is smooth it is cotton. I realize you can not do this in the store but this has had me use some fabrics for a different purpose than what I planned.

KastleKitty

Miriam was accurate (see page 2 of this thread) "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."

I also remember that acetate dissolves (dry-cleanable taffeta, moire, some linings) when acetone-based fingernail polish is applied to it. Of course most of these would not be used unless you are working on Vintage Victorian Crazy Quilting.

Here is a link for burn testing:

http://quilting.about.com/od/fabrice.../burn_test.htm

I do re-purpose many things if I can and have done so for many years. A few years ago I bought some new sheets which were sold individually, not in a set. I looked at the price of the king size pillowcases and they were $17 per pair on sale. I needed two pair. I bought another sheet instead to cut apart and make pillowcases. Was cheaper than 2 pair of king cases!

quiltymom

I did until I read the one the lady said to be careful of fabric because she got some that had bed bugs in the folds and she didn't see them and they ran rampet in her house cost her a bunch of money JUST BEWARE!!!!!!