Where do you all go to buy the fabrics you need for crafts?

[bodiddly]

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!

[stealthsquiggle]

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?

[bodiddly]

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!

[stealthsquiggle]

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.

[bodiddly]

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!

[bodiddly]

anyone else?

[bodiddly]

.

[dizzyday07]

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"!!

[FlyingMonkey]

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

[TwoIfBySea]

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!)

[bodiddly]

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.

[GentleOtter]

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

[stealthsquiggle]

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?

[bodiddly]

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

[stealthsquiggle]

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...

[bodiddly]

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!

[stealthsquiggle]

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....

[GentleOtter]

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

[bodiddly]

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?

[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.

[bodiddly]

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

[Blottedcopybook]

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!

[bodiddly]

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

[GentleOtter]

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

[Blottedcopybook]

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

[snickersnack]

I'd definitely be interested in a big bag of reasonable sized scraps - I make soft toys and plain (or patterned) cotton fabric is very useful. Anything fat quarter sized or upwards would be great - would happily pay reasonable money!