25 Genius Thrift Store Sewing Hacks to Find Cheap Fabric and Supplies
Hunting for high-quality materials doesn’t have to break the bank if you know exactly where to look. Embracing sustainable sewing starts with seeing past the original purpose of a thrift store find and imagining what it can become on your cutting table. From vintage notions to unexpected sources of yardage, these thrift store sewing hacks will turn your local secondhand shop into your favorite discount fabric store.
If you are committed to sewing on a budget, learning to spot “hidden” supplies is a total game-changer. Not only will these repurposed fabric ideas save you money, but they also add a unique, soulful character to your projects that you simply can’t find at a big-box craft store. Let’s dive into the surprising items you should be adding to your cart on your next thrifting adventure!
Pro tips:
- It’s okay to leave empty handed.
- Be sure to inspect sewing kits and sets for missing or unusable items.
- Metal notions last indefinitely, but old thread and fabric can degrade, and plastic notions become brittle.
- Check the store’s return policy for electrical items like sewing machines and irons in case they don’t work when you get home.
High-Quality Bed Linens
Some quilters only use vintage sheets for their quilt backings. Focus on 100% cotton sheets for massive amounts of quilt backing or muslin material. Used sheets are a wealth of fabric, and often have really lovely prints. The possibilities are endless when you find a way to incorporate all kinds of finds in your project.
Vintage Silk Scarves and Clothing Items
People usually take good care of their silk scarves, so I find practically new, beautiful pieces of silk at thrift stores often. These can be used in quilts, as linings for bags and pouches, and inside pockets of garments.
When I went to Japan I bought some secondhand kimonos to make a quilt from silk. There was plenty of beautiful fabric in those kimonos; and I didn’t mind sitting in front of the TV with my seam ripper to deconstruct them.
Notions
If you have never taken time to dig around in bins and shelves at a thrift store you would be amazed at the sewing supplies available! Notions are a treasure, and it’s worth it to grab them right up. They are a fraction of the price of new notions. Just remember that plastic and thread don’t really stand the test of time.
Fabric!
When looking for fabric I have a few go-to shops which get a steady stream of donated treasures. Don’t forget that clothes and home goods can also be perfectly usable; just rip a few seams, launder, and cut for your next amazing quilt!
Antique Sewing Boxes
Vintage sewing boxes are a true, rare treasure; a special find. Besides being a collectible, they are sew pretty for organizing your sewing supplies supplies.
Scissors, Snips, and Shears
Sewing scissors come in all shapes and sizes, and the purposes are specific. Just like presser feet, when you use the right scissors for the job things work out better. You may need to get them sharpened, but consider grabbing those interesting sharps for a deal!
Caroline reveal: I’m a scissor girl!
Sewing Machines
I once went to a secondhand store and found four sewing machines. One was an industrial mother bear! Make sure you know what to look for in a used sewing machine, though; not every machine is a good deal.
Pro Tip: If you find a vintage Singer Featherweight like the one pictured above, you’ve hit the jackpot! These can be worth a small fortune!
A Lamp for Your Sewing Table
Second-hand stores are the perfect place to buy desk lamps for all my work areas. They can be pricey when new but are usually very inexpensive at a recycle store. Plus, this is just another way to add a unique touch to your space.
Patterns
Even though I offer lots of free patterns, it’s worth it to dig (or even ask the owners) for other patterns. Take your time; some may be vintage or out of print. Check out my 25 Favorite Vintage Sewing Patterns from the 80s and see if you have any of these treasures.
Buttons – Plastic and Vintage
You might have too many buttons already, but you can really get creative if you know where to look for button craft ideas. It’s more practical to grab a handful of mystery buttons for a fraction of the cost of new ones; especially if you can be selective.
And don’t forget to look at old clothing for buttons! Sometimes an outdated, $2 blazer has a set of high-end brass or vintage pearl buttons that would cost $15 at a craft store.
Irons
Naturally, irons would be on my thrift store find shopping list. My vintage General Electric travel iron is amazing at pressing seams flat. Once you start looking for them you’ll be amazed at how many you see.
Ironing Boards
A great ironing board can be pricey, but they tend to last longer, too. Getting more than what you pay for is a treat if you can find a sturdy (or even specific) ironing board.
Curtains and Tablecloths you can Dye
Remember that you can dye a fabric if it isn’t exactly what you are looking for. Curtains and tablecloths are versatile finds. Your quilts, and other projects, can really come alive as you piece in custom fabric.
Glass Jars
You can sometimes find unique glass pieces, or full sets of jars that you can use to make your sewing space organized and beautiful. Store sewing supplies where you can not only easily see them, but decorate with them too.
Sewing Baskets and Tool Boxes
Don’t overlook the sewing baskets if you need storage for your sewing supplies. These can be costly brand new. Plus, sometimes they come full of notions! Just throw out the notions that can’t be used (here’s a warning on vintage sewing notions) and enjoy the vintage addition to your craft space.
You might find your new favorite sewing box in the hardware section. Metal or plastic toolboxes are sturdy, have lots of compartments for your bobbins and feet, and usually come with a handle that makes it easy to take your projects to a sewing class or a friend’s house.
Sewing Books and Magazines
I get some inspiration from thumbing through magazines, and you can almost always find some that spark your creativity at a thrift store. They are not sewing supplies per se, but look for color combinations, design ideas, or maybe even an old shortcut technique for an upcoming project and you’ll be amazed at the genius you discover.
Sewing Machine Feet
Feet are essential sewing supplies. Once I bought a sandwich bag full of presser feet, and I found a replacement for my teflon foot, and an old ruffle foot that was fun to play with.
Sometimes it’s worth your while to play with different accessories to see how you can improve or simplify your sewing. And if you’re like me and love inviting your friends to sew with you, it’s practical to have two of everything!
Denim
Denim is such a wonderful material for projects of all kinds. I’ve seen so many creative uses for old jeans, including quilts, bags, crafty items, and re-purposed clothing. Don’t miss this list of upcycling projects, many of which use denim.
Purse Handles and Hardware
Metal rings (and other hardware) are often like new on a second hand bag. I always get purses with hardware I can use. The purse above was made with thrifted handles (see my post and shopping video about it), and many of my other purses since!
Pro Tip: You can learn a lot about purse and handbag construction by cutting them apart. What have you got to loose with a thrift store find?
Jewelry
Necklaces and other jewelry can also be used as personalized sewing supplies to embellish your project to add a one-of-a-kind flair. Add letters as zipper pulls, and chains to your bag or purse.
Sewing Tools from the Kitchen and Office
Check the utensil bins for clean metal or bamboo chopsticks. I don’t mean the kabob sticks (those are too sharp). Chopsticks are the absolute best tools for turning out corners, or righting bag straps without poking a hole through the fabric.
You can also find that binder clips can be as useful as wonder clips at holding multiple layers of fabric together. Head over to the office supplies to see what kinds of clips you can find.
Embroidery Hoops and Supplies
Floss, hoops, needles, and kits abound at a secondhand store. Fussy cut an embroidered section for a custom appeal. You can upcycle the embroidery hoop for storage, or even make it into a one-of-a-kind wall art!
Wool Sweaters for Felting
Did you know that if an item is at least 60-70% wool, you can felt them! Wash them in hot water and then toss them in the dryer. That’s exactly how you’re not supposed to wash a sweater because it gets felted.
Felted wool is great for mittens, patchwork blankets, and other wool projects.
Storage Baskets
I found this basket at the ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) last year. It can hold a special color of scraps, or keep your sewing supplies organized. You could cover the lid with batting and fabric to make it like the cute vintage sewing baskets.
Pretty Quilts Too!
Sad but true – sometimes beautiful handmade quilts end up at the thrift store.
My jaw dropped once when I came across an Amy Butler charm square baby quilt for $2. You can bet I snatched that up, I felt like I was saving a poor unloved animal from the shelter! It was just the right size for my kids to use as a lap quilt in the car.
Pro Tip: You can use discarded quilts to sew a bag or a coat.
“Treasure” Bags
Have you ever seen a wall, or sometimes shelves, of random things stuffed in a bag all together? If you have the time, sort through and check out what’s inside. I found some amazing trim from a stash like this once; you just never know.
Glasses Case or Zipper Pouches
Old cases can be transformed or repurposed into sewing kits for handy organization, gifts, or travel.
UFOs (Un-Finished Objects)
Sometimes you can find project kids that other people started on (or not) but didn’t finish. Those are great for keeping your hands busy or giving as gifts. You might even find a beautiful accessory or notion inside that makes some other project perfectly unique.
More from SewCanShe:
15 Ways to Score Sewing Fabric at the Thrift Store!
40 Absolutely FREE Vintage-Style Sewing Patterns: Timeless Projects Grandma Would Love!
45 DIY Upcycle and Repurpose Ideas To Sew
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂