I’ve been picking things up all summer from the local thrifts and yard sales. It all gets laundered. All of it- suit jackets too – but I don’t put them in the dryer.
When I hit a thrift store hunting for fabric my first stop is always the xl men’s long-sleeve shirt section. Men’s wear in general is rich with possibilities.
Feel is important. This pin stripe shirt is worn to perfection but not falling apart. The cotton is excellent. There are a few stains and little holes but that’s easy to work around. My first project was an elephant rag doll. The sleeves were more than enough for one doll.
I used a bit of another striped shirt for her cap and a mr. socks’s doll.
I love this wool but I’m not seasonally prepared to work with wool just yet. I am planning on owls and owl ornaments and something for the tiny rag doll. And definitely some vessels. Stay tuned – I’ll be posting more finished projects through autumn.
Are you up for a thrifty challenge this fall? It’s super simple. Just take a photo of what you made, and let us know (or even take a photo of) what you made it from. And you don’t have to buy anything – you’ve probably got stuff lying around. Tag your post with #thriftysewingchallenge – you can also tag @annwood in your caption on instagram.
Where to post? Instagram, facebook and in the stitch club community.
fall approaches
I’ve got ambitious late summer/early fall reading plans. First up, Lonesome Dove. It’s giant.
try this
Edward Gorey House is hosting an all ages envelope decorating contest! They’ve just announced the theme – Evil Garden.
So good. Find all the details here.
I am very bummed that I just missed my favorite thrift stores 75% off sale. Last time they had it I picked up the nicest men’s shirts in cheerful ginghams. The quality of every one was exceptional. I made a practice piece of a very basic top with each piece made from a different shirt. I thought I’d never wear it out of the house. Every time I wear it out of the house, someone comments on how much they like it. I laugh every time and feel great. 🙂 Sewing with such fine fabrics was an exciting experience — very different from the quilting cottons I generally sew with.
Nice! You can really hit the jackpot on fabric quality.
Just finished The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods – magical. As was, in a very different way, Still Life by Sarah Winman. All of Sarah Winman’s books are exquisite and she reads them for Audio books and, as an actress, does a grand job. Unmissable ❤️
An absolutely magical book!
I loved this book! We need a little magic in our lives.
Just started reading it last night. Reserving opinion, too soon to know.
I loved that book too
Now I’m reading JAMES by Percival Everett. I can’t put it down.
I love doing this stuff, wondering where you all get patterns for the dolls, I would like some free ones if that is possible, love the elephant!!!! I have some Tommy bahamas shisrts from husband that I would love to make into some tops for me!!! Made one but not really happy with it!!!
I sew regularly with articles I pick up at thrift stores. Denim is a favorite and I make many denim bags, all sorts. I also love upcycling men’s shirts. So e I use for linings in the denim bags I make but I have made two tops for myself. Each wearing gets several compliments.
I like to make things without patterns, trial and error. I use a msn’s shirt when applicable so if it’s a loss, I only spent a little for it. I usually get men’s shirts for under $2.00.
Just tap the menu top left and then tap the free patterns button. Lots of wonderful free things to make.
Oh I forgot, am ready Woman, it is about the Vietnam war nurses!!!!
Excellent read.
Good read about women’s lives that were kept out of the news.
I check out my local MCM thrift store for fabric on a regular basis. I also check out their sewing notions, thread and patterns. It is my first stop when sewing before local fabric or quilt shops.
Notions. I do caution you, as I was cautioned, about using old thread. I hear folks wax nostalgic about the old wooden spools from grandma. You do not want to put a lot of work into something that may be made with weak old thread. This would be especially true of garments. Happy scouting and sewing!
i use old thread for hand basting that’s coming out after a vrry short time.
I am a lover and user of old, cotton thread. I sew quilts with it all the time and haven’t had a problem. I have plenty of well-used quilts that are decades old that are still in one piece. But, I test the thread before I use it. If a hardy tug pulls a length into two pieces, I don’t use it. If a medium tug pulls a length into two pieces, I give serious consideration whether to use it or not. The old, mercerized cotton threads are so smooth and stitch so well, they are my first choice.
I recently finished the book “The book club for troublesome women” by Marie Bostwick. It was wonderful! It made me think about what my mom went through as a young woman. Loved it!
Book rec: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, so so good.
I’m just finishing a lightweight cardigan/coatigan using a thrifted quilt made from barkcloth strips (pattern is the All Well Cardigan Coat). I find it so much more satisfying to “make it work” using thrifted materials!
Thanks for that suggestion! I just put my name on my library wait list.
Loved that book too
I do the exact same thing you do by going straight to men’s xl shirts. Then I make my way to the back wall with all of the suitcases. I’m always looking for the small hard sided travel train cases. I love them for portable project storage. Yesterday when I returned home, my husband asked if I bought any fabric. I said “No, I got an old peach crate on wheels to use for storing fabric, a basket for my sewing table and a skein of wool yarn.” He said “Yarn counts as fabric.” Ha! Busted.
He got you on a technicality!
Yes, I too thrift men’s XXL shirts for the fabric! Chambray blues & woven cottons are my go tos and of course the buttons are put to good use also 🙂
Oh please read Theo of Golden, a book about kindness, with so many threads to follow through the book that are surged together by the beautiful ending. A coffee shop and small town life give the characters the immediacy of the here and now.
I read and loved Theo of Golden earlier this year. I might be my favorite book ever, at the very least it’s one that has stayed with me.
Thanks for mentioning this book, as I’ve never heard of it. Reading it next!
Thank you so much for this suggestion – I’ve just started reading it and it’s brilliant
I love Thrift shopping. I have been “rescuing” cotton shirts, wool jackets, lightweight leathers and denims for years. I am a teddy bear maker and costume many of my pieces with thrifted fabrics and make many different critters. It makes my heart pitter pat to find a wonderful piece of fabric (it’s what I consider my finds to be – fabric)
btw – I read or listen to books by Jennifer Chiaverini – all are wonderful
I am a regular thrifter although in Australia it is more commonly called Op Shopping. I have a huge collection of “rescued” vintage linen, I wear a lot of my clothing finds which are often designer brands picked up for under $10AuD and I use shirts, denim, cottons and wool in my hand stitched art works. I love repurposing fabrics.
Thanks for the wonderful idea of using thrifted men’s shirts for sewing projects!
Love the thrift shops! I’ve gotten prom and bridesmaid gowns that are like brand new to use in making doll clothes at thrift shops. Lovely fabrics at an unbelievable price!
I just finished Daily Rituals by Mason Currey. He writes short chapters on the creative habits of dozens of successful creative people (composers, writers, artists, etc). I found it a great read!
Have you posted about those octopi lurking on the chair in the background of your photo? I’m intrigued!
All of my fabric comes from the thrift or yard sales. Sometimes it’s unused yardage but often it’s clothing. Even when we had a fabric store, there weren’t fine fabrics like wool and silk that I’m needing for natural dye projects. I’ve recently picked up some fun striped denim and a very old pair of men’s wool trousers, for when it’s seasonally appropriate to sew with wool. Soon now I hope.
Years ago when I started wool embroidery I only used repurposed wool clothing from thrift shops. I never thought of men’s shirts for projects…I think I’ll start with my husband’s closet!
Love this thread! I asked my father-in-law and my husband for older cotton shirts and made a toddler quilt for our first grandson with his grandpa and great-grandpa’s shirts. There was enough left over for a pillow with a shirt pocket, which I imagined him putting a small toy car into. I used a vintage cowboy print and some bandanas to add to the quilt, as many of the shirts from them had checks and gingham. Turned out great! 🙂
That’s such a sweet idea!
When I made covid masks I quickly realized how much fabric is in a man’s long- sleeved shirt! I made mine double-sided, so had fun finding color-coordinated fabrics, especially in manly fabrics, for the guys, and glam stuff for the girls.
My small town has no fabric store. Even Walmart has closed its fabric section. But we have a Goodwill! Last year I made an all-plaid quilt from men’s cotton plaid shirts. I also search out the cotton prints for other quilts. Sadly, polyester has regained its popularity, and the cottons have become more scarce.
Thrifting is not cheap when you live n NYC… envious when I hear people talk of 2.00 men’s shirts … last time I went to local Goodwill men’s shirts were $20.00… and jeans were also 20. And most newer ones which is all you see are with spandex … who wants it … Salvation Army was only a few dollars less … so not a cheap find… best luck is when I have occasionally found a bag of discarded clothes…
It is definitely becoming more expensive as it increases in popularity!
I can’t imagine the cost of living in NYC! Maybe ask your friends for their donations. I asked my friends if they wouldn’t mind cleaning out their significant other’s closet for cotton shirts and I received about 6 decent ones! Also, check some ladies’ auxiliary groups – they are always doing sales to raise funds. Maybe even check to see if some of the churches are having a sale?
Good read about women’s lives that were kept out of the news.
Love the elephant doll! So cute with the striped fabric! And I love the cat doll, too. The only time I thrifted for fabric was to make myself a denim vest from men’s jeans I got at a thrift store. I even used the pockets. I also made a tiny shoulder purse from one of the pockets for my granddaughter. I make bags to sell online, so I don’t want to make them from thrifted clothing, as I don’t sell them cheap. 🙂 But I do have a great fabric warehouse a mile from me that’s open for 3 days/month. Great low prices for home decor fabrics and more. It’s not a thrift store. This is in SC. But I do occasionally shop thrift stores for other things. 🙂
New to sewing. Well new to a sewing machine. I usually sew by hand. I’m concentrating on tote bags. Having fun making them. Set a goal of 15 and met that goal. Tried many different patterns. Thank you for all for the book suggestions. Looking forward to checking out your suggestions.
Breaking down a thrifted shirt is one of my favourite things…. maybe our quilt guild should have a contest to see who can do it the fastest!
As I was reading Ann’s post I was wondering if she, or other folks, do that – do y’all unpick all the stitching to get the most fabric out of the repurposed shirt? I have to admit although it’s time consuming there’s something really satisfying about completely taking something apart.
Depends on my mood, and how much I love the fabric. If it’s really nice, I’ll unpick the almost the whole thing (except cuffs, I make things with them, and plackets with fusible interfacing and/or buttonholes–too much work for too little fabric) . If not, or if there’s too much serging, or I get bored, I cut along the seams, then keep the seams to use to tie things up (like bundles of fabric).
I enjoy seeing your projects. Thank you for sharing all your creativity.
I love finding just the right fabric in thrift clothing. Men’s shirts are of great quality. I love picking out the recycled fabric in my quilt projects over the years.
I’ve read the whole of the lonesome dove series. you are in for a treat! great reads.
I am an avid thrifter in Australia and I am always on the lookout for vintage fabric, doileys, tablecloths and wool blanket, in fact I have a very large stash of them. I’m also a voracious reader and my current faves are Lisa jewell and Lisa Gardener, both crime novelists. I read Lonesome dove many years ago, great epic. Really enjoy your makes and receiving your newsletters.
I am always buying clothes, sweaters, men’s suits to recycle or cut up! On my bedside table, I am reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I read Lonesome Dove when it first was published. You are in for a treat!
OOF. Parable of the Sower was our sci-fi book club’s choice last year. We read it in July 2024, which just happened to coincide with the dates in the book. It was freaking disturbing thinking she had written this book back in the 1980s and now it was apparently seeming to come true! I would say “enjoy,” but the book feels a little too close to reality these days for that to be the appropriate word of encouragement. “Good luck”?
Read Lonesome Dove years ago and enough time has probably elapsed that I can read it again, though after watching the series (and all the related series) I can quote a lot of it. Still, it’s worth every page of the massive book. Right now, I’m reading Godspeed, Cedar Key, a different kind of post apocalyptic story about my favorite little Florida island town. I’m thrilled that it’s only the first of a trilogy, so I have 2 more to look forward to. As for sewing. I spend a lot of my sewing time altering clothes I already have as my weight changes. Or altering thrift finds to fit better.
The thrifts stores are my favorite place to shop for fabric, you can find nice linen that is already soft. My favorite is the household bin, where I find tablecloths and shower curtains, with a shower curtain you get a large piece of linen or cotton fabric for just a few dollars, with fabric stores going out of business it’s great that we can repurchase things and find great fabric, Happy Hunting
I was at the Edward Gorey House yesterday! I got so many great ideas poking around his collections and art. I also looked through albums of past envelope decorating contests-so many amazing artists of all ages!
Hi Ann
I love getting your newsletter and have ambition to one day make your crow/raven pattern. You bring attention to many of the simple pleasures in life. This calms me and helps me look at what is important. Lonesome Dove is one of my all time favorite books. Though sometimes brutal, the resilience of the human spirit along with friendship and loyalty shone throughout. As I read the book I was transported out of the present and into the lives and times of the wonderful characters. Sometimes laughing; sometimes crying.
Beautiful finds!
And for the record, Lonesome Dove is one in a million. Every bit as good as the series. It will fly by!
I find the best linen fabric on the clothing racks at thrift stores. I, too, buy men’s shirts to embellish and wear or take apart to make other things. I also buy household linens to use in projects. Such great sources of fabric for very little money. I love cozy mysteries and at the present I’m reading the Charity Shop Detective Agency. I’m going to check out some of the books suggested here. I can never be without a book to read!
where is everyone finding notions now that joanns is no more?? i cannot shop at hobby lobby. we’ll just leave it at that. Michael’s is trying but they have delusions of adequacy.
Ah-hah! I see we share similar taste in laundry baskets. 🙂
i have collected wool sweaters over the years.. have many. What to do with them? Cut up in squares and make a blanket.. ok..
I purchased a small ladder for $4 at yard sale. Im gonna cover the ladder with leftover wool scraps from above and give it to my cat.
I used go go thrifting all the time, years ago. But now whenever I set foot inside a Goodwill, I am overpowered by the synthetic fragrances they spray on everything. It permeates all of the clothing, and it’s nearly inpossible to neutralize with regular washing, soaking & airing out. Does anyone else have similar experiences? Maybe it’s just the Goodwills out here where I live, but it’s ruined the joy of thrifting for me. I’ll have to try shopping the independently owned little thrift shops instead– maybe they dont stink as bad. LOL.
We have the same problem here, Inez, and it’s frustrating. I assumed the fragrance (awful smell) was from the collection of clothes all together in one place from people who used all sorts of fragranced laundry products. I often smell it when I walk past people in stores (and then I walk faster to get away–haha). I’ve found that if I put the clothes in the fresh air for a week or two (sometimes it takes longer and it always takes such patience), often the smell will dissipate. When I wash those clothes I wash them in a bunch separate from my regular laundry: I don’t want the smell to leach into the clothes I wear.