Are you looking for a more budget friendly option when looking for textiles for your next sewing project?
Fabric off the bolt can be expensive but there's some other places one can look for amazing textiles. Here are the top places I look for low cost fabrics:
- Thrift stores
- Vinted
- Friends and Acquaintances
- Facebook Marketplace
I know that you know all these sources, and it's nothing revolutionary, but let me dive a bit further into each category to give my best tips and tricks!
Thrift Stores
Here in The Netherlands, we call them Kringloops! These are the best prices you'll ever get (besides free). I'm talking about full curtain panels for only €4!! 😲 Now, here's the thing....they're not all like this. Every kringloop makes their own prices, so it all depends on WHERE you go. When I first moved I went to every krinngloop I could find, and I discovered one in particular that is not only the biggest, but also the cheapest.
You can also ask what days they restock the textile section. That way you can always get first choice.
Don't forget to check out places in a city nearby, OR if you're travelling, go check out their thrift stores. Humana is a large chain of thrift stores I've come across in other European countries, and they have great prices for amazing finds. I found some amazing pieces abroad and they come with a fun story.
Vinted (online resale)
I am low key addicted to Vinted. It has everything you don't need and more! With a little bit of patience and the right keywords (scroll down to find a helpful list), you find gems.
First off, I go directly to the 'home' section. Depending on how patient I am feeling that day I will just scroll in the broad category of 'home' that includes textiles of all kinds. Other days I will hone it in and use all the filters. Use keywords and filters to describe types of fabrics you're looking, category, condition, and the price range. Don't be afraid to ask the seller more questions to get a better understanding. Sometimes they even have discounts if you make a bundle, so check out what other fabrics they have listed.
The trick is to narrow the search down but not to be too specific, otherwise you won't find much.
Fun little story for you. I messaged a seller about a tablecloth and she ended up recognizing my name because she is subscribed to my YouTube channel. Five months later she reached out to me, saying she's moving sewing studios and wanted to offer me a whole bunch of fabric she didn't need anymore! Turns out she was also a sewist with a hoard (there's always a hoard). This brings me to the next category.
Friends and Acquaintances
Tell everyone you sew. They will remember this about you and one day, if they have fabric to get rid of, they'll reach out. I've personally had this experience several times. People knew me as someone who loves to create from existing textiles, so I was one of the first people they contacted to pass off these fabrics.
I've received bags of fabric and notions (a majority of the buttons you see above^) from the lady I went to for laser hair removal, from a local baker who no longer sewed as a hobby, from a friend's mom who had fabric she didn't like anymore, and the list goes on.
Tell the world! You will be surprised by what you receive, and most of the time, it's free. 😉
Facebook Marketplace
Truthfully I don't find much here but I see the potential. People sell all sorts of things here! Again, I would use the keywords to narrow down a search, and don't forget to negotiate prices. You may find a steal of a deal.
I usually post a bag of my fabric scraps on Facebook Marketplace and I am sure I am not the only one doing this. Scraps are the best for quilting and patchwork!
Keywords
What you need to search for that are perfect for sewing projects:
- Curtains
- Tablecloths
- Duvet covers
- Bedsheets
- Scrap fabrics
- Vintage Textiles
- Upholstery
- Fabric
- Fabric Content: wool, cotton, velvet, stretch, etc.
- Fabric Prints: floral, stripes, dots, etc
- Blankets
- Quilts
- IKEA - they sell pieces of cotton canvas and it's amazing fabric
HAPPY FABRIC SHOPPING! I hope you find amazing textiles for your next projects.
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