25 Thrifty Ways to Score Sewing Supplies at the Thrift Store!
Sewing and quiltmaking can get expensive, especially if you are a beginner and need to collect all the tools you need. I’m here to help you save time and money on your sewing supplies! Bookmark my tips for navigating thrift stores like a pro! You’ll learn how to uncover hidden gems in fabric, notions, tools, and patterns. I want you to find special, unique items that will truly make your handcrafted projects shine.
Get ready to enjoy a fun and budget-friendly way to stock up on everything you need to sew. You might just be inspired too!
Pro tips:
- It’s okay to leave empty handed.
- Be sure to inspect sewing kits and sets for missing or unusable items.
- Metal and most plastic notions last indefinitely, but old thread and fabric notions can degrade and 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.
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!
When I went to Japan I bought some secondhand kimonos to make a quilt from silk. There are plenty of beautiful fabrics in the clothing section; and I don’t mind sitting in front of the TV with my seam ripper. LOL
Antique Sewing Boxes
Vintage sewing boxes are a true, rare treasure; a special thrift store 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!
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Sewing Machines
I once went to a thrift 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 thrift 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
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.
Irons
Naturally, irons would be on my thrift store find shopping list. My vintage General Electric travel iron is amazing at pressing seams flat. I often see them at thrift stores.
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.
Vintage Sheets
Some quilters only use vintage sheets for their quilt backings. 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. What’s your creative style?
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 thrift store 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
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.
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 fun to play with different accessories to see how you can improve or simplify your sewing.
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.
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:
Back to School Sewing: 50 Free Sewing Patterns
45 DIY Upcycle and Repurpose Ideas To Sew
Buy the Best Serger for Your Money in 2025
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. 🙂