Craft supplies at the thrift store
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
May 25, 2012 6:26pm CST
I found the jack pot! For fabric that is! My local thrift store, run by the rescue mission, has this huge store. I have recently foudn that fridays they put out fabric. They STUFF FULL a gallon size zip lock bag with fabric and sell it for $2.99. Got alot last week, but this week....lord have mercy I am dancing in the streets! I spent $33 and got the most amazing fabric...all NEW, still has the price tags on it! Characters, novelty, "real" looking animals, whales, some great christmas prints, and the list goes on! And it isn't just scraps.... most of it is minimum 2 yards...sometimes more! I quilt so I can use everything as long as it is 100% cotton. And I have been searchign all over from some real-looking orca whale fabric...and last week in one of the bags..there was a yard of it! Now today...another yard and 2 pillows panels! My GD loves Orcas and has wanted a quilt out of that and I couldn't find it that was nice or affordable (closest I found was $10 a yard!) And now...twice...in a bunch of odds pieces, I find exactly what I have been looking for! Alot of the animal characters and some really cute stuff that I have seen online but can't afford, of paper dolls! THe little clothes with the white tabs and the "paper dolls" fabric... SOOOO cute and I could go on, but I have to go start washing it.. I always prewash all fabrics..and this stuff is new, never been used and I pre wash so colors don't bleed.
But I am so excited. I am making wonderful quilts for next to nothing and oh, yeah..got lots of speciality fabric... US Army, US Marines...fabric nad panels, outdoor scenes like Eagles flying over a lake, 6 panels of cougars...which my GD loves and will insist on being made into pillows for her...and some great baby theme...I am excited...I just post to say..check out your local thrift store for craft supplies!!!! I'll post the finished quilts and pillows as Iget them done!!!!
1 person likes this
14 responses
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
It's the second time I have hit it at this store, and I think they put it out every Friday morning...., so I will be checking it weekly!
I almost did start looking at clothes for the fabric...until this happened. Tuesdays is 50% off clothes day...so I could get some good stuff. I am looking for "dress up" clothes for my grand daughters to play with and then was looking at the wedding gowns they have from time to time to cut them up for a beautiful lacy kind of quilt..pillows maybe. I used to make jean purses...make them and then embellish them with lace and buttons and scarves etc. Thinking about doing that again...and know where I can find the jeans!
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
Yeah, that's true sometimes. This fabric is YEARS old... dated on the salvage 2000!
But still in perfect condition. Thing is...the 5-6 yards were of fabric..really nice, but designed with the logo "year 2000" and "2000" and "millenium" and a smaller length was "july 4th 2000" so it has been sitting somewhere for 12 years! I am putting it in my yard sale this weekend!
HOWEVER....don't let the good part escape me...my grand daughter was born in 2000. So the beige background with the blue and red "2000" on it... I am keeping that one for the back fabric of a quilt I am going to be making her! I showed it to her and she loved the idea and also asked to include the fabric saying "Millenium" with it..she says she's a "millenium kid"...great memory and once the other fabric sells, I get it for free..odds are I"ll make money on the deal!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
28 May 12
The closest Walmart is to far away for me to drive. They are building a new one..bigger one..nearer me so I will have that to check out. THey move the Joann's Craft store near me now and I watch their 50% off coupons and sale and get great deals that way (they also take Michaels coupons!) I don't see thread and yarn to often either. But this fabric might just be a one time thing too..usually they don't have near this much. I think when Joann's relocated..they gave a bunch of their stored stock or whatever to the thrift store..it was all new, off the bolt and many had tickets on them.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 May 12
Wow, you really did hit the jack pot! I wish they'd sell it like that here. When I need material, I look at the sheets and have got some decent prints there for a couple of dollars, but that's about all.
Even the yarn is priced almost as high as they sell it retail. I used to buy bags of yarn for a good price, but no more. I don't buy it there at all, since I can get new for a few pennies more.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 May 12
I just washed it all....4 loads full! I must have 100 yards! And the majority of it is in the $10 a yard range! I just can't believe it. I have so many ideas!!! This place often has yarn, but I don't crochet anymore. And yeah, sheets are great for the back of quilts... I get them at Walmart for $5
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 May 12
That is a LOT of fabric! Thrift stores can be really great for crafts.
I buy sheets at Goodwill here for two dollars each. The last good buy was a pure cotton red and white checkered set. I made a table cloth and matching curtains for the kitchen eating area and had enough to make a double set of cloth napkins and still have some pieces left over. That was fun and all for $4.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
28 May 12
Good for you! That's great. Just makes you feel so good when you can do so much for so little and have it look so nice!
@nonersays (3335)
• United States
26 May 12
Sounds like an AWESOME find and for a great deal.
I love thrift stores, but never find any of the crafts I do there. I like to cross stitch, and though I can occasionally find a half done cross stitch piece, its nothing I want to continue working on.
In my hometown there was a thrift store that had AWESOME bag sales about once a week. Once it was a small plastic trash bag that you could stuff FULL with as many tops as you wanted for a set price. Another week it would be a paper bag and you could put as many books in it as you wanted.
I miss that store. Last time I visited home it was gone.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
That is sad when the good places leave, isn't it? THis store has 25% off every Wednesday...going there soon as I finish here! THe whole store...25% off. Tuesdays is 50% off clothing and accessories! They often have other craft stuff, but my MAJOR craft days are over now. I have done everything there is to do with a needle...well..let me explain that..everything CRAFTY that uses aneedle...except knitting. ALthough I did try it in my high school years, I didn't like it and then later years my grand mother taught me to crochet and I picked that up right away and afghaned my entire family!!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Jun 12
I second that advise! Hardware stores are great for little things for crafts. I used to shop the "nuts and bolts" isle for things for my scrapbook supplies! I was big on "bulky" embellishments and those thin washers and thin chains and things like that were perfect! Plus...a hardward store is the only place I could find the fasteners for the binding of the 12x12 albums to make them hold more pages. The little 1 incher's that came with the album held a few pages and then it was full! I got 3" ones and they are perfect!
@beenice2 (2967)
• Sackville, New Brunswick
2 Jul 12
We have a nice big craft store in town. What i find is the sale they have do not match often my needs at the moment. But I did found few things for drawing. I know that I should go back to the drawing board because I can draw and I should practice. I did sew a pair of pants for my younger one which was well done, I was satisfied with the result, and i fixed the problem with my daughter's pants so that was a good day yesterday for sewing.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
8 Jul 12
I took my 6 you GD there just to get her a shirt to wear for the day to the lake and she saw this jean vest and said "I just have to have that! I have been searching for one like that forever!" $2.49 made that kid so happy! IT was cute tho... had some sequins and glitter on it... had Hanna Montana on it on one side, that I didn't even notice until we got home cause the other side had a pocket and was all blinged up! She looked so cute in it!
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
21 Jun 12
Wow you made out like a bandit. I'm happy for you. I have been checking my thrift store out too and so far haven't seen anything that good. There are little bags of stuff like buttons, embroidery thread and even material but nothing looks that spectacular to me yet. I will keep looking.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Jun 12
Well in retrospect...the Joann's fabric/craft store in the next town, closed and opened a new one down here in my town...and I think this fabric came from their stock room...probably odds and ends that they had stuck in the "back" somewhere and didn't want to move it to sell it in the new store as it was all so old. Since this time, I have gotten no fabric!!! And when I was in the store week ago... I saw some of the panels on bolts! One was a panel of the USA in full color. I got 4 panels at the thrift store find and it was on the bolt for $14.99 a panel! (panel about 40" long)
But sadly nothing since. Actually this store doesn't have much in the way of craft stuff...and what they do get in is not much use. I think people in my town are just crafty people and use what they have so there is nothing to donate!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
I will. I just finished two.. I am having a yard sale this weekend and putting them for sale there...maybe good luck will find me!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
Soon as I finish here.. I am on my way for the 25% off day!
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
30 May 12
You are lucky!! I wish I can find that kind of bargain in my place. I love to sew and I am sewing different kinds of things but then I have to look for cheap material because I can't afford to buy in the fabric store they are way too expensive. I've heard that yard sale and thrift stores are good source of left over fabric for great price. How I wish I can find like what you did.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
I know. I don't understand why fabric is so expensive. back in the day it was 77 cents a yard!!! I can't afford it these days unless I get it on sale or with a 50% off coupon! And dress patterns.. are you kidding me?!?!??!$10-$15 of one pattern! I remember stressing at $1.95!!! I just don't see why it has gotten so high priced.
I don't know if the thrift store will have this all the time or if it is just cause the Joann's fabric/craft store relocated and gave them a ton of stock not wanted to be moved of whatever.
I go to this yard sale of a neighbor and they always have the best blankets that I use for the batting. I have gotten a few good quality sheets to use as the backing too. Great to not only make something wonderful, usable and enjoyable to do, but to save money too...that's the best way to go!
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
26 May 12
I loooove a good bargain and this sounds fantastic! Crafting is only fun for me if it is not expensive. If I have to spend a lot on supplies, I don't enjoy it as much. Sounds like you are definitely going to be busy for quite awhile! Congrats!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 May 12
I am so that same way too! I have been using the Joann' craft store 50% off coupons and if it isn't on sale or with the coupon I don't buy it. I just wait for the next sale.
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
26 May 12
Coffeebreak!!! Could you possibly help me?? I am looking for a fabric with musical notes on it... If you have time to revisit that thrift shop and please let me know if it available?? I would like to buy one for my crafts here in the Philippines. It would be terribly expensive if i request for a new print on in here. Can you please help me????
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 May 12
I went through it all and there was nothing musical. I"ll keep an eye out. Have you checked online? I can give you a few places that carry taht kind of speciality fabric if you want.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Graceekwenx..I was at Joann's craft store last week and they have fabric with notes..the staff and all. It was white with the black notes and staff or black with white. The staff and notes went all the way across the fabric..not the "floating" style of a short staff with a few notes. It was 40% off regular price of $8.99. If you don't have a store near you, check the store out online...they almost always have the same sales and free shipping option.
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
24 Jun 12
oh my goodness gracious!! i gotta have that!!! Yahoooooooooooey!!! thanks for the info!!! I am soooooooo excited!!!
1 person likes this
@much2say (55584)
• Los Angeles, California
26 May 12
That's a serious bargain for loads of cute fabric! I don't know of any thrift stores out here that have fabric like that . . . hmmmmmm - must look for that! We have a rescue mission one too - but I'm not aware of any fabric days. Must investigate!! We get some craft items from time to time - but nothing like huge amounts of fabric!! Have fun with your findings!!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 May 12
How they do it is they literally stuff a gallon size zip loc bag FULL.. they fold it nicely, and just stuff till they can just barely zip it closed and then tape it. I have gotten some with 6-7 yards in there! Seldom do I get less than a yard. So maybe look for itlike this instead of bolts or just folded laying somewhere. TZhere are other craft items, but they don't seem to sell very fast. Some stuff has been there for months. I just don't do the number of crafts I used to do!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
26 May 12
Yes you did hit the jackpot with all that fabric. I know once I get money I am going to start looking for fabric. I am going to start by seeing if Amazon has anything since I get free gift cards from them. I am also going to look online and see if there is any places where I can buy fabric. My niece wants a Hello Kitty quilt and I have to see if I can get my nephews to drop any hints. I will have to look at thrift stores as well and see if they have anything. I am going to sell some old DVD's that Randy and I have duplicates of and see if I can get any extra money.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
Amazon does have some fabric, only it isn't FROM Amazon...it is from a seller ON amazon. But same diff, I guess. I have found that the novelty fabrics get rather pricey. I would suggest if that is the case for you...get a center square of the Hello Kitty design you like and then make matching sashing for the colors. And then little bit of HK around... like this Strawberry Shortcake one I did... I wanted more SS on it, but couldn't find it! THis that I did find was at a yard sale! But only 1/2 yard. And I couldn't find anything else, so I made that the center squares, the colored sashing outward and then fussy cut the corner squares, and then I did find a little length of another SS pattern..wasn't what I would have chosen given the choice but it is all I could find. GOod luck, hope to see a picture soon!
@justcrafttalk (108)
• United States
26 May 12
I've been buying LOADS of craft supplies at thrift stores for years!
it's great!
you might have to look a little harder
and do a little more work before you get to use the stuff but I think the prices make it all worthwhile
I have made the most wonderful throw pillows for my couch from old sweaters, purses from denim jeans and tons of other stuff
Dollar stores are great for me too
I don't quilt but I do just about everything else but
isn't it wonderful when you find a bargain store like that!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 May 12
THe last 2 fridays it has been like christmas! Especially on each of those days finding the whale fabric for my GD. I think this store puts fabric out on Fridays, so I will be a regular if that is the case! It is fun to search for things (I'd love to be with "American Pickers" TV show!) and get the bargain too!
