Crafting On A Budget

 

When it comes to bargains and living on very little then I like to think I'm pretty good at it.  I love sewing, it's a great stress reliever but a lot of the fabrics I love are well out of my price range and can make a simple project very expensive.  This is where there is a need to think outside the box as to where to source fabric, ribbons, cottons, embroidery threads, etc.  

Fabric Stores

My first stop for fabric is always Spotlight although it is more often online now since I live a fair distance away.  I only ever buy fabric that is on sale and my upper limit is $10 a metre but it would have to be pretty good fabric for me to spend that.  I always check out the clearance section, I think about what could be made from fabrics I'm drawn to and I take my time.  I recommend NOT taking a child with you, especially not a teen who complains of sore legs as soon as you enter 😑

Emporiums

Next stop are emporiums.  Emporiums are usually filled to the brim with fabric, buttons, ribbons, trims, zips, threads - absolutely everything you need for every type of craft (or so it seems) and it is all much cheaper than other outlets.

Secondhand Stores

Secondhand stores are a great source of fabric - look for things like sheets, blankets, curtains, tablecloths, and sarees as they all make cheap sources of large amounts of fabric.  I have even used secondhand teatowels to make handbags!  If you're lucky you might find projects that others have passed on - I have found a large pack of roughly cut fabric pieces obviously ready for a quilt.  While it wasn't any type of fabric I would seek out, it actually ended up making quite a nice quilt.

Online

If you live in a small town sourcing items cheaply may be a bit more difficult but it can be done.  Try Trade Me for bulk fabric purchases and online fabric stores in their clearance section.   Facebook destash groups are also great although as with TradeMe it is buyer beware.  I've had some great experiences and others not so great.

Friends, Family & Neighbours

It may sound strange to source fabric from neighbours but if they know you are interested in sewing then they may just offer you something.  Let family and friends know you're interested in any old linen they may be thinking of throwing out - you will always find a use for it.   I have even had a local lady gift me her grandmother's old sewing machines and a huge bag full of fabric.  Another lady on my street gave me about 8 sacks of fabric before they moved house.  Obviously I could never use all that so I washed it all and took a few sack loads down to the local school for wearable arts and passed on a fair bit too.

Wholesalers

This option is a little trickier but if you have a registered business then you can set up an account with a wholesaler.  This will give you highly discounted fabric of better quality however it is not cheap cheap.  It is nice quality at lower cost.

Variety Shops ($2 Shop type stores)

Although this would be my last option, they often have a craft range with ribbons, buttons, needles etc that would tide you over until you get into Spotlight.  

Have I missed anything?  

A Life Less Complicated

Disclaimer - this blog post has been edited from a post I originally published on my old blog but most information remains the same (https://hummingbirdnz.blogspot.com/)