Buying fabric cheaply

xxvickixx

I always find that I can't buy fabric cheap enough to make it cost effective to make my own clothes etc. I only end up doing so if I can't buy what I need. Our town has a market but fabric is very expensive there, everything seems to be £4 metre at minimum, and they won't do 1/2 meter.

Ebay does have a lot but again expensive especially as you pay P&P.

My Mum always had a whole trunk full of fabric she had got cheap at markets and shops as end of rolls but I never find any bargains.

Does anyone know where I can get any deals?

The current project is to make a playmat for my Son's Happyland toy village so I'm looking for a large fleecy/fluffy grass coloured fabric to start off with, but just in general really, I could do with some ideas.

Thanks

Vicki xx

joanie

I often get material cheaply by buying curtains or quilt covers at major supermarkets (£4 for double duvet and pillowcases) or end of range curtains (£10 for pair 90x90 ) obviously the patterns are not always suitable for clothes but are ok for homeware type makes (patchwork/dolls clothes/ aprons / table clothes - seat pads etc.)
sometimes you can get reasonable priced sheets in the sales too... then tie dye or fabric paint them

x

Always_Harassed

Go to car boots and you can get fabric there but you sometimes have to buy a full roll. Some charity shops sell fabric but not always cheap. Best places are towns with asian fabric shops but much of it is sold in suits which is 3 lengths of co-ordinating material but often works out around £2 metre. Look on clearance rails in charity shops and reuse old fabric or ask them if they are throwing out anything that you could reuse.

Suzy_M

Look out for end-of-season clothing factory sales (IF there are still any factories making clothes in this country).

Haven't been to one for a while (as now so well-stocked!) but factories used to sell off end of rolls, special order fabrics etc.

Also are Leicester City market or the Birmingham 'Rag' market accessible to you.

pigpen

Ask on your local freecycle!! People often have bags of fabric scraps or old clothing which would be fabulous for the job!

DougFlo

Depends where you are in the country I guess. There are still a wide choice of mill shops in Yorkshire and Lancashire for you to visit for cheap fabric and some of the more traditional markets in the old cities

White_Boots

If you are anywhere near London try taking a trip to Shepherds Bush market. The fabrics there are usually pretty reasonably priced and there is a good selection.

bertha

Ikea used to sell grass coloured fleece blankets - don't know if they still do.

xxvickixx

Thanks for all your replies. I'm in Chelmsford and there are no Asian fabric shops anywhere near but I do remember going to them in Bristol with my Mum.
I have got fabric from Ikea before but the petrol going to Lakeside makes it not worth the trek unless I'm over that way anyway. Having said that the green blanket sounds worth a look.
And Freecycle is defo worth a shot.
Thanks again xx

Happyroly

Dunelm has good priced material, especially the "roll ends".
Nearest to you seems to be Romford, 17 miles.
http://www.dunelm-mill.com/Default.asp?&cookie%5Ftest=1

mggirl

Just wondering if Scrapstores are all over the UK or just local to me.

This is our local one (http://www.oxorinoco.org/) and is brilliant for odds and ends of fabric and sometimes great roll ends at silly prices.
It's a bit of an Alladin's cave and never know what they have till you get there but have picked up fleece, teddy bear fur, nursery patterned cotton, ribbons, wool etc.
It's all sorts of donated waste from local businesses which can still be used. A brilliant resource for pre-schools and childrens groups but great for someone who likes making stuff from other peoples waste :-)

Might be worth investigating in your area.