How to SAVE Money When Buying Fabric!

There was a time when sewing was a way of saving your family money; you could purchase a pattern, fabric, and your notions cheaper than what you could buy the product. Unfortunately, that is seldom true today. With current fabric prices it can be difficult to save money by making your own items. If you are sewing to save your family money you may find the following tips useful.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Coupons
   
   If you have not already signed up for them, you should sign up for all the online and mail circulars your local fabric and craft shops put out. Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Joann’s Fabric, and Hancock’s all have online coupons and circular coupons that you may not even know about. For instance, at the time this was written Hobby Lobby had a coupon you can print out for 40% off any non-sale item in their store.
   
   A quick word of advice; you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with flyers and emails from these places and if you are anything like me you will never have one when you decide to stop by the store. The best thing to do is to print and cut-out the coupons immediately, then place them in an envelope in your purse or glove box so you will always have them.
   
   Here are links to the sign up locations:
   
   Hancock Fabrics
   http://www.hancockfabrics.com/subscribemain.jsp?action=1
   
   Michaels
   https://www.michaels.com/art/online/logonForm?url=http://www.michaels.com/art/online/mymichaels
   
   Joann’s Fabric
   The following link is to their home page. The link to receive coupons via email is in the top left hand corner. http://www.joann.com/index.jhtml
   
   Hobby Lobby
   Link to receive their coupons via email is on the top of their home page. http://www.hobbylobby.com/

2. Recycled Fabric
   
   When trying out new patterns or sewing for my own family I often use items I pick up at second hand stores. I find the best deals at smaller less known thrift stores. Try doing a search on the internet in your area or check out your yellow pages. Then call them up and see if they have any weekly specials. Some thrift store chains have $1 days once a week where anything of a certain color tag is only $1. Other thrift stores have a different color tag that is 50% off each week.
   
   Stop by on their sale day and browse their linens for items made from a good quality fabric in large-enough pieces that you can reuse it. Sheets, blankets, throws, even curtains can be cut up and reused. Need some waterproof fabric to line a car seat cover? Check out their used draperies!

3. Sheets
   
   If recycled fabric isn’t your thing you can always look at single flat sheets at your local discount store. Wal-Mart sells their solid color twin flat sheets for around $4 each. Kmart has a wonderful selection of colors and patterns for around $6 each. Considering that a twin flat sheet is 66x96 inches that is 1.8 yards by 2.6 yards (almost 5 yards of fabric).

4. Upholstery Swatches
   
   If your project can be pieced together or you are looking for good quality quilting fabric try asking your local furniture store(s) if they have any old upholstery swatches. Most swatches are updated 1-2 times a year.

Tips & Warnings

• For more thrifty tips and money-saving patterns check out my website at http://www.makethemyourself.com.

[Susanh]

on 8/4/2008 Great ideas! I always use stuff from the thrift store. Those crazy quilts turn out so nice using all the different fabrics. :)

[vikki9]

on 7/27/2008 Good suggestions. Also Ikea carries polarfleece blankets frequently for less than $5 (different colors at different times) - great fabric with winter just around the corner. Thank you for this article.

[taffy341]

on 1/11/2008 There are also GREAT MATERIAL BUYS for $1 in the Fabric Departments of 'some' Walmart stores. Walmart has a 'special' contract with a warehouse broker for surplus materials from different companys. If you recognise 'quality materials', then you will quickly pick out the better materials from the lot of $1 a yard materials arriving about twice a month. Once in a while there may be a bolt with some damage which causes you to buy two (2) separate cuts of the material but that doesn't occur very often... At $1 @ yard I have found & bought very expensive quality materials of all types. Luckily only clothing styles change drastically, so it is a good idea to buy the better quality material for the future. This material sells for $6 to $19 at Hancocks or JoAnns. NOTE: Ask clerks for deliver date of $1 materials & be there before the better materials are sold to other "early birds" (like me).

[favefive]

on 10/29/2007 Very good information. I really want to get into sewing. Your info helps :)

[kellyhelene]

on 9/9/2007 Do NOT make ebay your first and only stop for fabric, particularly if you're looking for novelty prints. I've found popular novelty prints by Alexander Henry and Michael Miller to be more money on ebay than elsewhere, sometimes by as much as $2 or $3 a yard!