Tips for Shopping and Selling Destash Fabric
Ok, so I’m going out on a limb here to say that it is more environmentally friendly to buy second hand than brand new. I mean, that is just obvious because buying new propagates the cycle of the production cycle. While buying second hand at least minimizes the impact a bit. What’s not to love about finding fabric someone else doesn’t have a use for and giving it a go in your own projects?
I finally did another round of destash. Last year I bought a “mystery box” of fabric on Etsy, and that practice is one I do not recommend. Mystery boxes are more like bits of walmart fabric that the other person buys from the store and then cuts into smaller pieces. My mystery box experience was absolutely horrific! I have yet to find a good use for any of the fabric I got in that stash!
Destash, on the other hand is different! About six years back I scored a huge back of odds and ends lace, bits of crochet and trims and have turned to that bag over and over for all kinds of projects. And one time I scored a bunch of yardage of knit fabric for like $20 plus shipping! Sure, not all the fabric was exactly what I was after, but I have used up the majority of that fabric by now.
I recently got a big lot of cotton fabrics, mostly pieces of around fat quarter to half yard sizes. The bundle was only $20, and that fabric is going to work so well mixed with my other scraps! And I got another bundle from the same seller for $18 of tons of yardage of knits. She must have really needed to make room in her sewing room, because the fabric is all spectacular!
Here are a few tips to score a destash for your own sewing.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you are looking for yardage, and the bundle has lots of smaller pieces mixed in, message the seller and see if you can just get the bigger pieces. I did that, because I needed pieces over 2 yards big. It turned out she actually had additional yardage that had not previously been listed. And was willing to create a custom bundle just for me!
Before you shop destash, get really specific about how you will use the fabric. There is no sense in buying bulk thrifted fabric if you don’t plan on using it. I swear, the amount of times I have purchased sewing materials only for those materials to sit on shelves and in bins for years is mind boggling. Have a use in mind, and then get right on putting that fabric to use before you continue shopping for more.
Be sure you avoid a “mystery box” and only buy destash where you are very clear what you are getting. I recently found a bundle of vintage laces and trims, and it was such an incredible deal! The seller had great photos, and the bundle was beyond even what I expected. It was only around $20 too, so I saved a ton of money! Buyer beware if you don’t get to see the fabric before you buy it. I mean, you are just throwing your money away if you do that!
If you have fabric of your own to destash, Etsy is a great place to do it! If you have a ton of fabric and want to get rid of it quickly, an EBay auction might be a better option. Sell what you don’t plan on using, and thrift fabrics that get you excited to sew! Price points that stood out to me were about $15-$20 per bundle, with about $14-$20 shipping cost per bundle. If it is lighter, obviously ship for less money. If the fabric is junk fabric or has an odor, it might be best to donate that fabric to a thrift store, or just be super clear in the listing what your customer will be receiving. Most thrift shops like Goodwill to name one, will recycle the fabrics that are junk!
If you are trying to thrift some vintage sheets, just be conscious of what you are planning to do with the fabric. A lot of sellers are cutting up old sheets, lace and fabric and selling small bundles. If you want more yardage, go for the sheets intact, and be sure to browse a while until you find something that is suitable for your project.
Thrifting fabrics and trims is a lot of fun! It is a great way to score big on fabric, and find unique vintage fabrics and sheets to work with as well.
