Thrifted fabric scraps

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Swap Coordinator:	Yobittles (contact)
Swap categories:	Thrift Store Crafts Fabric
Number of people in swap:	15
Location:	Other
Type:	None
Last day to signup/drop:	March 24, 2008
Date items must be sent by:	April 14, 2008
Number of swap partners:	2
Description:
US and Canada only, please! I have a serious addiction to thrift stores. I live close to a store called "Goodwill Outlet" where they sell donated clothing by the pound. I also like sewing, and can see potential in so many things that have been discarded. I basically cruise thrift stores looking for clothing that has interesting fabric so I can dismantle it and make it into something else. So, for this swap, you will send a package of dismantled clothing pieces and other fabric scraps to your partners. The clothing can be from your own closet or from a thrift store. It is really hard to make this specific, but I would say scraps totalling up to 15 8x10" pieces. Pieces can be smaller (down to 4x6"), but then send more. For example, four 4x6" pieces = one 8x10" piece. This will be somewhat approximate, of course. You can send larger pieces, but to keep the variety I would like to see at least 15 different fabrics in the package. The fabric can be from anything--really. Felted sweaters, wool pants, silk or satin shirts, denim, linen, cotton, vintage anything, lace, corduroy, pretty pillowcases, curtains, whatever! The choices are up to the sender, guided in part by your partner's profile. Try to choose an interesting assortment, and please don't include stained, torn, worn, or otherwise unusable scraps. If you don't already have a large stash and don't have a Goodwill Outlet nearby, I would suggest finding out when your local thrift stores have their sale days. Most stores have a 99Â¢ or 50% off one color tag day every week. This is the best time to go! If you want, you can also include notions or other goodies that you have managed to recover from your thrifted clothing, for example buttons, zippers, appliques, lace or trim, labels, etc. Please do a "sniff test" of any clothes you thrift. "Goodwill funk" is normal and washes out, but heavy cigarette or perfume odors don't always wash out. It is best to just throw the clothing in the wash before you start cutting it up if you can. I am still kind of new here, so I am not sure if this has been done before. Swappers must have a 4.5 to join with no recent no-sends, newbies are allowed with a fully filled-out profile.

Discussion

shopandbid 03/ 8/2008 #

Interesting swap. I haven't been to a thrift stre in ages. Sounds like fun.

mammadoo 03/ 8/2008 #

I'll go for this. In fact I have picked up clothes at Goodwill recently with the intention of using in sewing projects so this swap is perfect.

alicepalace 03/ 8/2008 #

oh.. gah! please put the geographical restrictions at the top of the swap! :)

Yobittles 03/ 9/2008 #

Sorry about that... done now :)

alicepalace 03/12/2008 #

it's ok. it's a really good idea for a swap! :)

bluehairedmary 03/14/2008 #

15 pieces sound like a lot! I'm still mulling it over...

Yobittles 03/15/2008 #

It does sound like a lot, but I am hoping people can be resourceful--you can always include fabric from around from the house that you no longer use, like from clothing, curtains, or whatever.

When I wrote up the swap I was going on the assumption that most people had already had the idea to scavenge thrift stores for "fabric" and were hoarding these clothes to repurpose somehow. I also thought many sewers had a pile of clothing in their sewing area of things to alter, mend, or make into a quilt--and maybe for some items the motivation to complete the project has dwindled or kids had outgrown it. So, I was not imagining having to start from scratch for most people, but instead getting you clearing out some stuff that might be still nice but you no longer want.

Most thrift stores have a $.99 day so I was thinking that even if you had nothing yet it would not cost more than about $15 to participate, which seems about in line with a lot of swaps. And it is not nearly as labor-intensive as many of the craftier swaps...

I am wondering now if people are being spooked because it seems like too much. Anyone else? I am not going to change this one because it is already up, but if I run it again, I might reconsider the amounts.

lisalisa 03/17/2008 #

I personally don't think it's too much. I'm barely a "hoarder" and could probably come up with this much. However, you might get a better response w/ 10 pieces. JMHO

I'm off to sign up. Thanks.

Chanel 03/21/2008 #

I don't think its too much myself but then I have been salvaging clothing for fabric for years and have a ton.

crayolaskiies 03/24/2008 #

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh maybe you should run this swap again in the future sometime!

FarStarr 03/24/2008 #

Yeehaw!!! I've been collecting fabrics from the thrift store for over 10 years. Now I can share!

Send me the labels!!!! I'm planning a quilt made of just labels..:)

wildflowertea 03/24/2008 #

This is wonderful. I have fabric pieces that are looking for a home. This should be fun.

dulcimer 03/30/2008 #

when you say labels Farstarr do you mean the cloth manufactures labels found inside the clothing?

dulcimer 03/30/2008 #

oops never mind=0)

FarStarr 04/ 1/2008 #

Yup, the labels from the inside of clothing..;)

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