Need fabric, clothes and blankets to fashion into playa-wear?

[Ratty]

Need fabric, clothes, blankets to fashion into playa-wear? You know that small thrift store in your town? (Not the national big names). Well, that small store tosses out several garbage bags of clothes PER DAY. If you just want raw materials, beg at the back door. Or pull the MGR aside and ask nicely. Or make up a story about giving a sewing class to teens and you need.....Or tell the truth.

OR go to the swap meet around noon and pick up all the free stuff people abandon. By 3pm it looks like a laundromat exploded. I try to never spend money on costume clothes. Never more than $2 anyway. Finding free stuff always makes it 'special'.

[theCryptofishist]

You're East Bay, aren't you? I've been cleaning up and I found an old bedsheet and an odd pair of trousers, I'd be happy to pass on. There's more, but I haven't necessarily uncovered it. I have oodles of trousers that need to be cut down and hemmed, so there might be nice pieces there. I did a huge de-stash in the summer, alas, but I know that I need to go through my fabric--just am uncertain when that will happen.
Also, does Out of the Closet still have the first saturday of the month a huge number of unsold clothes for $2 each? Or did that train sail?

[Ratty]

How did this become a thread of it's own. I thought I was replying to someones request for ideas on where to get stuff. OK. I'm losin it again.

[theCryptofishist]

OK. I'm losin it again.

Welcome to eplaya.

[Ratty]

Hey! Do we know each other.( Not surprising.) YES. The Hall Closet still has it's 1st of the month sale. $5 a bag for adult clothing. It's a great source and the days before that sale all adult clothes are $1 each. I get fabulous stuff on those days.

[trilobyte]

It wound up in a completely different thread, and glancing through the topic list nothing seemed to be a perfect fit. Besides, it's certainly worthy of its own thread, saving a few bucks as well as re-purposing existing materials is a double-bonus.

[theCryptofishist]

I don't think so, although I did some serious $ shopping in 2006. However, if I get together a few more things, I'm happy to send you my phone number so I can pass these on to you.

[Ratty]

Crypto, Now I'm confused. It was just a coincidence that you mentioned the closet? I managed there for a few years. (It's a shared, volunteer position.) I'm the funny dressed person that had 5 rooms of costumes upstairs. Yes. I had the time of my life. I dressed a whole mess of burners. That was a great store.

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe we met each other. I dunno. Which one? Berkeley? Because I spent more time at the Dubose store.

[Ratty]

Ha ha, OK. We don't know each other. I was talking about the MTZ Juvenile Hall. (store). carry on...my mistake.

[Ratty]

This week I scored enough free fabrics to sew for a month. Sunday afternoon is the best time to cruise 'craig's list' for the leftovers at garage sales. There were several listings in my area under FREE and under the yard sale catagories that were giving away the remains of their sales. People are funny. No. They won't take any less for that item but they will toss it out at the end of the day. I got a fake fur coat that will be a great vest and a mountain of fancy fabric clothes. If only I didn't have to go to work.

[Ratty]

Hello from Thailand!! Wow. The selection of new and used clothing is amazing. Military clothes, (camo), are 80 Bot. That's under $3.00 USD. The used $1 clothes seem to be from Europe this year instead of Korea. I found nice hats for 66 cents. When I get out of the mountains and to a larger city I'm bound to pick up some logo men's shirts. Big bold advertising across the back. I only wish there were some burners on this trip to connect with.

[trilobyte]

Sounds like a great opportunity to load up on stuff. I can only imagine what kind of awesome finds you'd get, but the prospect of some of the fabrics you'd be able to source has my mind racing. Have a great trip

[Ratty]

Look what I found at the flea mkt yesterday. At 1pm the ground was littered with piles of clothes that didn't sell. (Habitual moopers). I got shiny gold cloth placemats, a black velvet and gold costume top, BRIGHT orange work vest, a long badmitten net, holey belt for making a tutu, orange wig, 2 flashlights, t-shirt that I'll use the front design on a jacket and a kids samuri costume. I also got 5 pairs of snow pants and a king size black bed sheet. All there just for the pickins.

[trilobyte]

And a wig? You sure a clown hasn't gone missing and you've stumbled on some kind of crime scene?

All kidding aside, great finds!

[Ratty]

Bump it up for Squirellhead. He needs to find some sheets.

[SquirrelHead]

Thanks Ratty!! I am going to comb the city this weekend.

[BoyScoutGirl]

Hope you have better luck than these guys did, SquirrelHead.

[Ratty]

BSG, What the!! I love it.

[Savannah]

Ratty, that's a still frame from Spaceballs.

[BoyScoutGirl]

I guess my literal streaked kicked in when I saw the potential pun. I, too, have been combing the city for some cheap linens to use as murals/dividing walls/tie-dye fodder, so I'll be taking advice above to heart in my quest!

[SquirrelHead]

WOOHOO! I found a white flat and fitted king size sheet today at a yard sale for $3! I even grabbed the white fabric shower curtain for a $1. So much better than paying $15 for a flat sheet! Thanks again Ratty and everyone for the advice.

[tamarakay]

I have a red/black/white band jacket, short waisted, but it a little too large for Ken and he is a 42 long. The zipper is broken, but you really don't need it, there are clips. Free to whoever sends me postage.