What is your charity-shop weakness?

Rosanna79

Old jeans can be unpicked to use for anything from making bags to patchwork - I did a 5 week course in 2010 on making bags from jeans. Last Christmas I took a design from Simply Homemade magazine and with heat resistant wadding and applique made my SIL an oven glove from old jeans of all things.

She was thrilled and it actually worked far better than some of her previously shop bought oven gloves.

I made my cousin (who loves bling) a patchwork cushion using old jeans and other toning fabrics from my craft stash. With silver thread embroidery on the denim patches and sequinwork my cousin was also thrilled and decided the cushion was going in her bedroom.

Whatever one makes, it's being able to look at old/ used things things and see endless creative possibilities in them that gives me such a buzz when I hit our local charity shops.

the_cake

I can't imagine life without charity shops! We have been horribly broke for the last 8 years or so (litigation .. long story!) and in all that time I have never bought any new clothes at all, except for underwear. I have always bought charity shop clothes, but this has been quite a challenge. I have had some terrific finds: a gorgeous soft-as-a-cloud cashmere jumper, and my favourite Loblan black cowboy boots - unworn, brand new and just waiting for me. A perfect fit, so comfortable, and they make me feel really good. I feel that this sort of shopping is the very best kind of recyclying, as everyone's a winner. Thank goodness for them!!

Hardup_Hester

I used to buy books from the CS, but I now have a Kindle & can't see to read much, but as I still can't resist the shops I have recently invested in a capsual wardrobe, I started with what I already owned, mainly black skirt & trousers & a random assortment of tops, I then made a list of what I needed to get to the 24 items (as advised by Gok) I shopped at 2 local CS's I checked the labels & bought mainly M&S, some is per una (well I am 60), & I bought a beautiful East jacket, a suit by Fink & some Edinborough Wools cardigans. I'm now up to 16 items & everything goes with everything else.
Hester

Ballymackeonan

I'm lucky - being self-employed I work for a number of clients, and can take a bit of time to look round the CSs during the week, usually at lunchtime, in lots of places. And a "day out" usually includes a quick look round the CSs as well.

My weaknesses - silk, cashmere, velvet, fur, vintage tweed (my skin has expensive tastes..and some of the places I work are pretty chilly!) This AM it's pretty cold, so I'm wearing a cashmere jumper, a pair of lined wool and silk tweed trousers, and a "fur" gilet - all CS! I can have a regularly-updated wardrobe by donating and restocking at the CS

Other things - books, jewellery, (it's still possible to find gold and silver here sometimes, at reasonable prices) old watches, (a friend is a watchmaker and can either get them going or use them for parts), original oil or water colour paintings, or limited-edition prints, and antiques or collectables.

shebangs

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shelley_crow

I always hit the books, followed by the childrens clothes, toys, dvds and homewares. I'm desperately trying to cut down on our possessions due to wanting to move house so I've been on a self imposed charity shop ban for a while (although I snuck in last weekend after having a haircut and picked up a curry cookbook for £1, resisted the book on cake decorating though).

One charity shop in my town has a wonderful material/sewing/knitting section, I'm no good with anything like that but I always look. I bought ten pairs of different sized knitting needles from another charity shop for £1 because the manager was sick of looking at them.

I've found the stock recently to be quite stagnant, I wonder if it's due in part to the rise of people selling on facebook. Can't wait for car boot season to start

Bextow

Anything crafty, last week it was my daughters 9th b'day and I made her a craft hamper out of charity shop finds. It was full of wool, buttons, fabric etc. She was delighted and said it was better than her 3DS she got for xmas! Cost me £5.50 including the large wicker basket!

BitterAndTwisted

I do wish I could knit and sew. There are so many lots of lovely wool, threads and fabrics that I come across on my travels. I sometimes see a garment in a beautiful fabric and wish I knew how to remodel it into something wearable. Perhaps this could be a new hobby in the future once I've got myself to a dressmaking course. Maybe being retired won't be totally boring once it comes.....

thriftwizard

Skintmum2012, I make these with old jeans - for some reason people seem to find them very amusing! I also make larger & more practical spinning & arty/crafty aprons from the legs - denim's a good tough fabric that'll take a good hammering or splattering & continue to protect your clothes. But I make lots of other things too - ATM I'm making notebooks out of reclaimed materials so am scouring the CSs and the local market stalls for interesting & tatty old maps & music to make the covers from; I won't destroy good stuff.
"Junk" jewellery is another thing I often hunt for - there's a lot of good beads in a cheap necklace, which'd cost a lot more if I bought them new in a tube! And broken metal alarm clocks yield lots of useful bits for steampunk-style items - but the last two I've picked up turned out to be working after all, so they'll be sold on intact, or used.

keys_2

I too love cs shops ....I often walk round them for a bargain and it doesnt matter if you only have a few pounds in your pocket i always find a bargain

I am lucky to live in Greater Manchester so I have plenty of towns nearby with lots of charity shops . Me and my friend once a week make a day of it while the kids are in school and decide where we are going , we preferably like the ones in the richer areas when when we have a few notes to spend as they sometimes have designer names and better quality hardly worn items in stock in Alderly edge , wilmslow and around that area .

One of my best purchases was different items for my daughters horse riding - I have managed to get all well known brands like joules etc the full set of jogpurhs , hat , boots , top and equipment all for under £20 altogether from different shops .

I also have a £1 cs shop in my town which I visit regularly and have purchased plenty of clothes for me and dd from there - even if I just wear them for dog walking.

My interest is mainly toys and clothes for me and dd . I try to purchased winter stuff in summer & summer stuff in winter as i find this an even cheaper way of doing it for bulky stuff like coats etc . then store away in the loft then its like a new wardrobe for us when the weather changes

I also pick up clothing items for nights out wash and put away - Then when I go out with friends I put outfits together for the occasion and feel like I have all new clothing on and gain compliments - Also helps as on nights out when people take photos and add them on facebook - I have different outfits on rather than having spent hundreds in the high street on one outfit I would have to wear everytime I go out

I recently purchased a pair of river island denim shorts for less than 3 quid which I usually wouldnt wear but now I am going to pop them on today with tights and see how I feel - However if I dont wear them again i havn't broken the bank if I feel uncomfortable in them .

I also like buying accesories in in them for adding colour to outfits and also always get commented on for them - usually costs £1 each in my local cs shop