From: pile of fabric of discarded garments To: a lovely plush elephant (the pattern is from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Giftsby Joelle Hoverson.)

Recently I have been thrifting to obtain most of my crafting fabric supplies. I never went to a thrift store as a kid and I hardly ever when to yard sales. But I do remember spending a lot of time in that boring fabric store with my mom as she picked out the latest print to transform into window valences, bed sheets, laundry sacks, and other household necessities.

I still feel like I am a bit in over my head as I enter my local warehouse size thrift store to look at donated linen curtains, cotton dress shirts, and cashmere sweaters. I feel as if I simply lack the creativity and learned expertise to mix colors and patterns appropriately, or I feel I am wasting money collecting yards of fabric having yet to find the perfect pattern to whip up. But I know the perfect project will come and to collect with exercised restraint will help me be ready to create that perfect project.

Here are some great tips I picked up here and there that might help you thrift fabrics to save money, keep our planet green by keeping textiles out of our land-fills, and create new treasures from re-purposed fabrics.

:: Waste-not-want-not:start at home and your parent’s home, and your neighbor’s home, and your sister-in-law-to-be’s home and start collecting their toss-outs.

:: Let the fabrics speak to you: with a plethora of choices it is hard to choose. My advice, get it if you love it…stick to what is your style. It might be pastel or neutrals, or if it is bright colors, stick to fabrics colored vibrantly and don’t be tempted by just any olive-brown cashmere that comes your way.

:: Stick to natural fibers: I find it calming to my conscience to start keeping only natural fibers close to me (polar fleece may be the exception.) Synthetics can be difficult to cut and sew, and don’t generally antique beautifully over time. But, hey if there is that poly-blend patterned skirt you just love and see re-purposed as the perfect mouse pad in your home, then by all-means, go for it.

:: Set a budget limit: It is easy to get carried away with $1 and $2 items (I usually can’t resist a seventh $1 cashmere sweater for felting) but ask yourself, is that print shirt really worth washing, deconstructing, and organizing in your stash? Do you already have a ton of grey wool sweaters? Do you love the yellow vintage table cloth more to you than the green flower vintage runner? Be choosy…there will always be a new treasure you HAVE TO HAVE the next time you come back.

:: Wash when you get home: Felt your fabrics immediately (like I do in this tutorial) so you keep any moth larvae from invading your home, and wash wovens right away to get rid of any germs, dirt, or fabric treatments you don’t want in your craft project. After you felt, wash, and dry your new found treasures, fold them and organize them neatly per your system, so when you do come upon that great pattern, you can find your fabric inspiration straight away!

:: Have fun:  Don’t be afraid to use your stash. I always feel like I am hording…not wanting to cut into that beautiful fabric, but how are you going to justify collecting more if you don’t use up what you have? I love collecting as much as I do sewing, so I need to get a sewing-move-on!

Do you thrift? What are your strategies for uncovering the best treasures?