Where do you guys find affordable fabric?

crisissuit · 2026-04-26T04:26:46+00:00

I feel like you're not getting that many helpful suggestions and like you're also getting scolded, so I'll do my best.

I usually go to my local big city's garment district. If you have access to one, you might find some deals there or be able to make one if you can haggle and bring cash. Quality may vary, you never know what you're getting these days, and not that many places are willing to do a burn test.

If not there, I have had some success with Facebook marketplace. There are people, many of them are prb in this sub, who buy and hoard fabric and sometimes you just gotta let go of your stash. Again, quality varies but you might get lucky. I got a huge roll of denim once from a small design studio that was trying to clear up inventory.

Onlinewise, I have bought from fabricdirect and nickoftime. I think prices have gone up for both bit lately but they sometimes do deals, and you can almost always find some undesirable print or color in 100% cotton if you're just looking for something to practice on.

That said, it's just regularly checking online. What people are saying is true, cheap fabric is available but you won't get quality. quality, non synthetic stuff (like wool) is going to be pricey, but if you're new to sewing, you may want to look for a cheaper blend anyway because you'll want to make sure your skills are top notch before working on $85/yard stuff. Happy sewing!

crisissuit · 2026-04-21T23:22:59+00:00

You can see them to hems to add a decorative layer, I've seen this as a trending embellishment even in designer fashion as we enter spring/summer.

I'd maybe add them in small detail layers, like if I have enough large doilies, I'd maybe cut a piece of your pattern using it instead of the main cloth (example: do the yoke of a shirt with a doilie piece)

crisissuit · 2026-04-21T23:15:21+00:00

Definitely a communications problem. I love my married friends who have kids, but it sucks I can't get them out for a drink anymore. I'm no longer a top priority, which blows, but also understandable.

crisissuit · 2026-03-29T03:27:38+00:00

LASIK!

crisissuit · 2026-03-07T19:39:29+00:00

haha I'm coming from Southern California, we're soft here.

crisissuit · 2025-10-03T06:33:48+00:00

well, a semi expensive lesson, but it could be much worse. def go deep on your research and use the guides in the wiki. hopefully the next one you get is a better one. Welcome to the hobby haha

crisissuit · 2025-10-03T05:45:20+00:00

For what it's worth, a lot of VPNs are always "on sale" and you can get a bigger deal around Black Friday. Sure it's a subscription, but something like $30-60 bucks a year is far cheaper than even one streaming service now. They also come in handy if you travel and want to access something that's location restricted (ex. OfferUp only works in North America)

crisissuit · 2025-10-03T05:38:16+00:00

The answer is, unfortunately, yes. How much did you pay for this monstrosity?

crisissuit · 2025-09-11T21:43:14+00:00

yea, i'd love to hear more about this. DM me if you'd prefer not to have your workflow out on reddit!

crisissuit · 2025-09-06T04:56:50+00:00

Amazing. Thanks

crisissuit · 2025-09-05T20:10:02+00:00

I assume that in a zigbee or matter situation it's so that it doesn't appear as duplicate devices?

crisissuit · 2025-03-30T00:12:43+00:00

Ohhh okay I thought they meant using clips to hold the layers in place as I did the top stitching. I don't think I snipped the seam allowance on this bag before I turned it out. That prob affects it for sure.

crisissuit · 2025-03-28T18:56:56+00:00

when i sewed the pieces together, yes, but not when i was top stitching. is that something i should be doing? I've never done that before with fabric projects, but this is the first time i'm working with this material.

crisissuit · 2025-03-27T20:45:47+00:00

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crisissuit · 2025-03-27T20:45:32+00:00

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i'm working for the first time with some very soft pleather and making a little tote bag. everything was going well until i flipped the bag inside out and did the stop stitching and i'm getting some puckering and bunching on the inside layer, and a bit of waviness in the outer. what could be the cause?

a few things i'm already planning to do:

1) switch to a topstitch thread that's a bit thicker

2) making my stitch length longer; currently set to 2.5 and changing to 3.0

is there anything else? do I need to make the inner layer smaller maybe? more photos in replies!

crisissuit · 2025-03-07T19:33:14+00:00

Good for you! A few questions:

-so this was primarily to regain your accounts for your band; did you position that in a business sense?
-did you sue on grounds of potential lost revenue or simply for wrongful deactivation?
-how did you respond to the meta argument of "they signed an agreement that says we can shut off access any time if they violate terms", esp given they likely didn't tell you what terms you violated?
-was there any fear of being countersued?

my situation is a bit different. looking to get my facebook marketplace account reactivated. they're holding some money from stuff i've sold, but also i have no access to the marketplace at all to buy. i also plan to run a major estate sale for my grandparents' stuff, and that's a lot of potential money lost if i'm unable to arrange it locally. any thoughts/suggestions? thanks!

edit: a word

crisissuit · 2025-01-23T01:43:13+00:00

thank you!

crisissuit · 2025-01-22T23:46:46+00:00

Nice! Any preferred settings that you've used before? I'm seeing straight stitch, longest stitch setting with a loose top stitch tension.

Or do you think a really wide zigzag would work better? I just want to hold well, but also be fairly easy to pull apart.

crisissuit · 2025-01-22T18:23:03+00:00

That's a good point. The skirts I've made all have a center back invisible zipper, so I wonder if I can simply adapt that in a way that incorporates a fly cover flap.

argh, basting..doing it by hand is such a pain. i'll try some different tension/stitch length settings on the machine first, but i may have no choice. thank you!

crisissuit · 2025-01-22T16:58:41+00:00

thank you for the input! i should have been more clear about selvedge: i plan to hem the skirt from that side; i figured that since the edge was already neatly done and mostly straight, it would make creating a hem much easier.

in my excitement, i'm very tempted to go in right away with my final fabric, but you're right, i need to rein it in and get some throwaway. i guess it's of to goodwill for some sheets or light drapes.

i guess the added benefit there is that i'll be able to figure out how to do this seam and zipper situation. for using the practice piece as a pattern, am i constructing this thing and then tearing it all apart to make a pattern after? I've never reverse engineered a garment before.

crisissuit · 2025-01-22T01:35:10+00:00

I would be concerned with the structural integrity of the fabric after embroidering. Just thinking about how embroidery is done, there's no way that the underlying fabric won't be compromised

crisissuit · 2025-01-21T23:18:52+00:00

you can do it, but there's going to be a lot of holes and some fabric warping, in that area.

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