sew_sew

I've never bought clothing to repurpose but do buy fabric from thrift shops and yard sales. I have bought a few aprons to repurpose too. Here is a link (one of many out there) to "fire test" fabric for fiber content. Since I do buy the fabric at thrift stores this has came in handy for me many times. http://www.diychatroom.com/content/f...-8e225c257434/

#1piecemaker

Some of my best scrappy quilts were done from recycled clothing.

justlooking

Great idea!

sew_sew

I hit send too quickly. It seems different fibers burn differently, this also works for yarn.

illinois

Sock rugs? I'd love to see how these are made. I have a bunch that have holes in just the heels that I keep thinking there has to be something to do with those besides dust rags.

pieces

No, I don't repurpose anything. I figure their are other people that need the clothing at the thrift shop. Why buy it to cut up when other need the clothing to wear.

Claddaughquilting

You are amazing! I have thought about visiting the thrift store many times for just this purpose..now I am going! I did repurpose once...I bought a woman's tunic(?) at a garage sale and turned it into a baby quilt. The woman had worked as a veteranarian technician and had those cute shirts with animals all over them. I bought an unused one with penguins, and it was adorable!

sew_sew

A lot of the items given the thrift shops never sell, especially the all cotton ones (mainly because no one likes to iron, lol). The money made goes to charity and if you buy the item, your money goes to it. I would shy away from usuable childrens clothing and nicer clothing that people would actually buy and wear. I make dolls, restore antique dolls and yet until now, I never thought of looking for the vintage fabrics needed to make the authenic period clothing in the clothing at thrift shops.

eiltcoq

Just to add to your information, I buy 100% wool items and wash in high temps. and use for felted wool designs. Eiltcoq.

Para722

I also repurpose. I buy wool blazers and make bags and Christmas stocking out of them. It is time consuming to take them apart but the result is worth it.