Mumsnet Talk

I am looking to pick your brains really - I have loads of fabrics originally designed for curtains/upholstery that I want to sell. There is a real mix of patterned and plain - most are remnants left over from jobs but some are fairly decent meterage. I have had a quick look on ebay ... I just wondered where else arts and crafty people go to buy such things? Anything that doesn't sell will go to the local school or children's play centre but I obviously want to sell where possible. I have considered a stall at a car boot sale but I think it needs to be somewhere more art specific. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated!

TBH I generally buy from remnant bins at fabric shops - especially ones which specialise in furnishing fabrics as their remnants tend to be larger. I have bought from eBay shops, but not from individuals.

Sorry - that doesn't help, does it?

Thanks ... we haven't really got the space to have a remnant bin here at work and far too much fabric! Hence I am taking it home to sell privately .... Most of the remnants are pretty sizeable!

I have to admit to having a trunk full of hoarded kept for future usefulness fabric at home, so DH would kill me for buying more (if he knew, which he would if I bought it on ebay as he would see the parcel arrive )

I suspect eBay is your best bet, though - if you put them all up in one go then people will realise that you are serious.

That is true I guess ... I noticed that there were an awful lot up there with buy it now prices ... some obviously (such as Romo) selling better than others. I was surprised how expensive they are! I am not looking to put them up anywhere near cost .. I sold some to a lady yesterday for £5/m when it cost £45.00/m!

anyone else?

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I buy a lot of my fabrics off ebay - but I have picked up remnants when I'm in Dunelm Mill.

In fact I so can't resist a bargain I have crates of material I've bought thinking "I could make something with that"!!

I've bought fabric (still sitting in its wrapper unused!) from sellers on Etsy. There are some good fabric 'shops' on there.

In Linlithgow there are three craft shops, one specifically for cross-stitch which is my main addiction! But there are also a couple of really good fabric shops, selling lots of fat quarters and scraps as well.

I always look at car boot sales for craft stuff but never find any so it might be worth your while as I know I am not alone. It depends on what kind of market you live near though. (I once bought a whole stack of old cross-stitch magazines off of someone and wish I'd bought the whole lot now!)

thank you ... still not too sure which way to go - I have just been in our basement and I have tonnes of remants and rolls to get rid of as well as fabric books. I noticed some ex display fabric books were on ebay which was quite a surprise so perhaps I can give it a go. There are so many though.

this place has 15% off today if you type in SAVE15
Some lovely fat quarters.

OP - it sounds like it might be worth setting up an ebay shop? or maybe finding someone who is prepared to run one for you in return for a share of the income?

stealthsquiggle ... do you know anything about ebay shops? do you have to be a registered business/pay tax on earnings etc?

Not personally, no, but if you go to the 'sell' pages there is lots of info. I would assume that you would link it to your RL business for VAT, etc...

thanks ... am not trying to sell it as a business though - more a perk of the job as the owner of the business just wants rid of them! He said I could just have them ... and it is criminal to see them go to waste!

Ah, sorry - I had misunderstood and thought it was your business. Have a read of the selling pages - it looks as though you could start off selling as an individual and then move to the smallest sort of shop if/when appropriate.

If you decide to use ebay, link to your lots and I will go and be tempted have a look.

I don't suppose you have a large 'remnant' (6m+) of something stripy, do you ? I have just remembered a project I was planning....

I am sorry - I completely misunderstood you.
Could you post up pictures of the fabric and is it cotton etc?

Sorry my fault for not explaining myself properly - I run the place but its not mine! I will have a look when I am back in on Monday to see if I have anything stripey at 6m+ though I think the fabrics I have of decent quantity are largely plain. Any idea of the sort of thing you are after GentleOtter?

I am a horder collector of small scraps of material and one day when I get time will Make Something Out Of Them.
Do you sell any linen? I have had a job finding any online.

I think I have got some linen actually ... will take a look on Monday.

Have you thought about opening a shop on folksy/coriandr/misi or any of these kind of shops? A bit of promotion via twitter and you'll probably have people biting your hand off for your fabric. I'm always looking for cheaper sources!

GentleOtter I am going to look to see about the linen today ... what size pieces are you looking for?

I need quite a lot for making some curtains for 5 windows and was looking for a plain (oatmeal) linen.

Ooh - I'd bite your hand off for some linen too if it was cheap :D