Save Hundreds of £$€ on Historical Fabric | How to Save Money Online Shopping for Historical Fabric
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- Let's face it. Historical sewing can be an extremely expensive hobby. On top of that, online shopping for historical fabric can often prove overwhelming. While it is possible to keep an eye out for fabric sales, in this video I explain my method for how I save money on historical fabric. During the past 8 months, I have saved more than £1,000 on historical fabric, purely by creating a system of planning, preparation, and knowing which websites to look at and when.
I had to develop the skill of being thrifty as a teenager due to my life circumstances, and I truly do believe this is a skill that anyone can learn. It helps tremendously, however, to have resources and videos available to steer one in a positive direction. Whether you are looking for cotton, wool, silk, linen, or any other material, there are often more affordable options out there which can be discovered with a bit of digging.
In this video, I discuss a number of brands, and just out of sheer transparency I felt it was important to mention that I am in no way affiliated or sponsored by any of the companies mentioned. These are genuinely just the brands I shop from in order to make the most of their affordable prices, deals, and discounts.
Additionally, most of these brands don't exclusively sell materials for historical costuming and historical fashion, but I do often shop with them for my historical projects.
Whether you're just getting started with historical sewing, or if you're an advanced mantuamaker, who wouldn't want to save money whilst getting to make one's dream historical dresses?
Some of the companies mentioned in this video include:
Fancy Styles Fabric
Burnley & Trowbridge
AmoThreads
FabricMart
Nehelenia Patterns
Etsy
Facebook Destash Groups (mentioned in the video):
/ 1499130173689696
/ 148844175887490
Mostly UK: / 617888375076348
There are many others, these are just the ones I can think of.
Social Media:
Patreon: / vbirchwood
Instagram: / vasibirchwood
Facebook: / vbirchwoodhistorical
Business Inquiries: vbirchwood@helmtalentgroup.com
Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
0:31 Why I Learned to Be Thrifty & My Secret
2:41 My Planning Process for Buying Fabrics
3:25 Luxury Options - FancyStylesFabric
6:53 Sourcing Deadstock Fabric & Amo Threads
7:25 FabricMart
8:13 Facebook Marketplace & Destash Groups
9:22 Burnley & Trowbridge
9:52 Nehelenia Patterns
10:12 Etsy
10:48 Outro & The Tea Drinking Adventure
All music is from Epidemic Sound.
-All images used are with permission from the respective owner.
-Source of the 1920s shopping clip (CC0): archive.org/details/2206_1411... - Jak na to + styl
I PROMISE THIS ISN'T AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE!
One more tip I forgot to mention is be sure to check eBay! Type in the words "fabric" and "lot" and filtre your results to your area only and used. You never know what you might find in a big lot of fabric for cheap. Thank you so much for watching! What are some of your tips for saving money on historical sewing supplies?
For lightweight silk or cotton, vintage sari is a good search. These are second hand saris, some worn more than others but usually along part of the hem. Those that mention having a hem, it's a plain cotton strip in a toning colour for weight and protection from wear. Very useful for facings &c. The fall takes up a metre or so at the end thrown over the shoulder and become easy square scarves. Being wide enough to fit waist to floor, four to five metres is a lot of cheap fabric. Those at the £8-10 end have more wear and tear, at £18+ they are in good shape. Embroidered, sequinned dazzling ones for special occasions can go for £30-50. As a loose guide. Liberty sells its 45" printed silk at £55-60 per metre which will be great if I ever win the lotto.
Silk is just polyester these days
a secondhand fabric store opened near me a few years ago and its my favorite place. the owners are so nice, and everything there is $4 a yard. their goal is to eliminate fabric waste by giving fabric a second life, instead of just being thrown away. they even take donations. i hope there are more places like that around the world, and i hope everyone looking for a place like that can find one
Wow that sounds so amazing! Every town needs one of these.
Sounds like a dream!
I think your tip on planning projects 6-12 months in advance is such a great tip because then you're not scrambling last minute and willing to take whatever is presented to you. It allows you to shop around and wait for the deals. Let the deal come to you haha! Great video. :)
Thanks Renee! Absolutely, you should let the deals come to you. There are endless deals out there on the internet, and I think just keeping one's eye on the type of fabric actually desired, will not only allow one to create a dream project, it'll also make it feel that much more fulfilling once the ideal fabric gets located 😊
I love using curtains. They can be used for so many periods.
Curtains are definitely a great option 😊
Money matters when it comes to hobbies - and most other things. I can't really use your suggestions because of geography, but I like that you are honest and realistic about money. (Like you were in your video about antique and vintage jewellery.) An elaborate historical outfit just doesn't happen for $50...
I don't do historical garments, but I definitely try to save as much as I can on fabrics. Here in Denmark I find that rummage bins in fabric stores - where they sell their off-cuts and remnants - are great if you can get to a physical store. Of course I have the advantage of mainly sewing for my home, not for myself, so I don't have as firm criteria as you would for garments; I recently found two 2.4 by 3 meter sections of semi-sheer linen that I would never wear myself - but my bedroom window will look really nice with floor-length curtains in a high-quality fabric. (And... Curtains are easy to sew!)
Thank you! I grew up with little money, so I know that money definitely does matter to people, and so transparency with money, in turn, becomes important. An elaborate historical garment, definitely probably not for $50, but a simple working-class garment for instance that is hand sewn and made from thrifted or donated fabric, could potentially happen.
That's great with regards to ways to save fabric in Denmark. When I used to live in Iceland, it was so incredibly expensive to get any fabric, it was part of what made me start sewing my own garments so late. It just wasn't viable with the price and import fees. So I'm happy you have some alternative solutions in Denmark for how to save money.
I was just about to comment something similar. Buying from US stores (or UK ones) is not an option when you are in Denmark and shipping costs more than the product! I wonder where you are based; here, in Aarhus, rummage bins rarely have large enough scraps for making a garment... (not that I mind - I am still very much learning how to sew, so I use scraps like that for practice).
@@mahel2002 I'm based in Copenhagen - but actually do most of my fabric shopping in or around Aarhus, since I often have to go to Djursland for family reasons. Stof og Stil in Tilst often have quite large remnants for a reasonable price (I believe it tends to be 100 kroner for one piece of fabric, and some of the fabrics come in very generous sizes, like in my original comment where each piece was 2.4 by 3 metres...)
And this summer I discovered Rønde Stof, a small local store where remnants are sold by weight. MUCH nicer than shopping at a large chain store, but obviously also with a somewhat smaller selection. Still, I found some fabric for a nice linen summer shirt. (And I have now firmly established that I HATE making shirt collars! Especially in linen.)
@@CopenhagenDreaming Oh, that is unexpected! I went to some fabric stores in Copenhagen (pre-pandemic), and I had been quite impressed by the selection of fabrics and the size of their remnants, so it's surprising that you would buy from around here. I don't drive, and, because this pandemic freaked me out a lot and made me stop taking public transport, I have been stuck at Aarhus, and doing my fabric shopping here or online. City Stoffer og garn sells remnant fabrics by the roll but, of course, one needs to like the fabric to buy it :) Rønde seems a bit far to go just for a fabric store, but Tilst looks closer. Thank you for the recommendation!! Oh, you are so much more advanced than me! I wonder if practice makes easier? And, with autumn approaching, making shirts in heavier fabrics will make collar making easier as well? Again, thanks!
@@mahel2002 My mother lives near Rønde, which is why I go there - but it's definitely not worth travelling for. ;-)
And I'm not really advanced; just adventurous! This summer I just thought "why not try it?" - and the shirt's still not done, because I'm learning by doing... But I paid 10 kroner for the fabric (yes, really!), so if it never becomes a wearable shirt I won't have wasted much money but I'll have learned a lot.
I really appreciated this tips! I don't dress historically, but I do exclusively wear dresses I make myself, and to my own pattern. What I have found is that I might make three new dresses every other year, and since they are natural fibers they are highly sustainable. I am tempted by the idea of historical dress; I need to do more research and prep before going there, if I do.
Wow, this came up in my recommendations, and I don't regret clicking. Living in Denmark means I can't use any shops outside the EU (shipping has become far too expensive!) but in general, your advice is sound and useful! Also, all your outfits are amazing and you look fantastic in them!
Thank you Olympia! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊 I wish I could've included more information/resources for Europe, but when I lived in Europe (I was in Iceland for about 5 years) I wasn't sewing yet, so aside from Nehelenia patterns, I'm not sure I'd know where to begin! I'm happy to hear though that some of the information is applicable regardless.
All your outfits are just 👌 ❤️
Thank you Steffi! I love all your outfits as well, so gorgeous ♥️
After watching this video and, having nearly all my questions that I asked after I watched one of your other video's. I will watch all of them before asking anything. You seem to have a great sense about what your audience will want to know. That says a lot about how well you do this "CZcamsing"! You are fantastic.
Have a bright and happy day
Thank you, Audri! Do let me know though after watching them if you have any more questions. You're always welcome to email me as well (my email is provided in the description of every video). Have a wonderful day!
I just randomly stumbled upon your channel. First, I watched a video called "One Hour Of Medieval Eminem" and saw your comment there. It was super creative and funny! Then watched a few of your videos and instantly subscribed. You are amazing.
Thank you so much and welcome to the channel!! I really appreciate your compliments and the sub😊
I found your channel while looking for tailoring courses on CZcams. It gives me a new perspective on historical fashion. After over 12 years of self study on Scottish Highland Dress, weaving, and an introduction to sewing, I think I'm ready to embark on a tailoring adventure. I only have a small sewing kit ( I call it sewing tackle) at the moment. I would love to sew my own pair of trews, or ultimately, a modern kilt.
For those of us who usually buy fabrics in person and want to save money, I just have one tip: All hail the curtan! 90% of my entire fabric stash consists of old curtains, sheets, pillowcases and tablecloths and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Most of those fabrics are great for historical sewing because they're often cotton or linen, but I also have some made of heavy satin, and tons of old lace netting, which is, of course, extremely handy. Still on the fence about what I'll do with my 7m of purple jersey that I bought on a whim because it was practically for free, as I don't like sewing with it and it's not as breathable as natural fabrics... I pretty much only shop in thrift shops and they have so many gems for such an affordable price! There are a few downsides to thrifting fabrics to keep in mind though:
First is that more elaborate fabrics like embroidered ones or large yardages of silk or wool are hard to come by, and it's always a bit of a lottery to see what you'll get. But I happen to have three great shops in the area where I live and another great one where I work at, so making the rounds between them every once in a while almost always nets me wonderful treasures. Because I'm poor, I barely ever buy fabric at normal stores, and online is hard because I'm outside of the EU and shipping costs are much more expensive than within it. But when I take into account the money saved by thrifting, I could technically treat myself to some specific pattern or embroidery once in a while. So far, I've never really felt I needed to though, as I never make exact reconstructions, more let myself be inspired by a particular piece of fabric in my stash, then look at some reference images or patterns and see what jumps out at me. Or the other way around.
The second downside is that to a relative beginner like myself and many others here, it's not always easy to distinguish fabric types with the naked eye, especially as so many of today's fabrics are blends. When I'm lucky, the people who put their item into the thrift shops didn't take off the tags, but even those can be misleading. I can imagine that the extra information you get in actual fabric shops is invaluable here. In most cases, it's not THAT important, but when I want to make something historical and multi-layered, I want to be sure it's pure cotton or linen and not some semi-plastic, heat-trapping abomination.
In this case, I'm simply missing some years of experience, but I'm not gonna rush it. This is an absolutely invaluable videos and definitely going in my favorites! The other reason I don't like online shopping for fabrics is just because I never really knew where to do so that is affordable. But you've collected some absolutely incredible resources here that I'll definitely be using going forward. You rock, Vasi!
Thanks so much for watching Magi! And for sharing your own money-saving tips as well. Much appreciated! 🥰
I too have found thrift stores are great. I just found a camel hair sport coat for cheap cheap. I ripped it apart and made a scarf. I also found a 1 wool and 1 silk suit. I'm using them in my homemade coat. I will keep my eyes on curtains now that you mentioned it.
This just proves that not having much money in childhood, although it obviously has a long term effect on 'life chances', stops anyone from being an intelligent, polite and charming young person; in fact it tends to make an individual more resourceful and adaptable.
Thank you! I think the key is having positive influences. I am fortunate that I grew up around many loving and kind individuals who nurtured my creativity tremendously and helped me whenever they could. Not everyone, sadly, has that. Also moving abroad helped me move out of the cycle and get a new start to life in an environment where I actually had opportunities to do so, which made a massive difference. Many also don’t get that privilege.
Oh, I am completely obsessed with the shirt and waist coat you're wearing in this video 👀
Thanks for posting such eminently useful information!
My pleasure, Erica! So glad it's beneficial.
I'm in New Zealand and finding our equivalent of eBay which is Trademe a great place to get fabric second hand! Got some fantastic fabrics lately for historical clothing.
Thanks for that tip for any New Zealanders!
Wow this was so helpful! I hadn’t heard of most of these companies! I’ve been trying to use more secondhand fabrics so the ideas for where to find thrifted or otherwise wasted fabrics were helpful
That's wonderful to hear! I'm glad the tips have been so helpful 😊 Thanks for your comment!
As someone who is (mostly) frugal I can stand by the claim that money does matters. While I don't commonly sew anything great (I just do repairs on most things around the house. Maybe the dog chewed someones favorite blouse or there is a rip on my siblings teddy bear or some furniture just happen to tear. I have to say though even if I have no technical training whatsoever my simple repairs are quite seamless for which I'm proud.). I am heavily considering drawing my clothes, buying fabric and taking them to my seamstress. If I'm honest I need quite some pieces. I am thin, slim and small like a child, but I'm obviously no one. I dont fit quite well in normal garments. I do trift (I can't stand the low quality high priced clothes of regular stores), but I need to start altering my clothes (by hand that is, I'm very bad with sewing machines). I am hard to shop for not only because of my odd sizes, but also because I take nothing home unless I loved it. And mam does it take time to discover what I want. On a footnote my mom or dad were sew. My mom did own a small box with tread and neddle, but it was but a footnote.
Burnley and Trowbridge also has some sales sometimes. Also a good source in the US is Renaissance Fabrics in L.A.
This was helpful. I was raised being very poor and yesterday checking the price of fabric I pretty much said that it was too expensive. As I was watching this I checked Facebook marketplace and sure enough there was several interesting looking deals. Okay, food for thought.
OH and how wonderful to know that you are environmentally responsible.
Thanks for the great resources.
I really like your focus on sustainability, thank you for the tips in this video! I'm working on getting the skills to sew my own clothes and now I can hopefully pair that with sustainable fabrics, which will be much better all around :)
Thanks so much! Sustainability is actually one of the catalysts for why I started wearing historical fashion and sewing in the first place, and I think it can be so interlinked! To be fair also, deadstock fabric and thrifted fabric tends to be way cheaper than “new” fabric so it’s a win, win 🥰
I really want to buy locally, but all fabric stores in my area only sell polyblends (a shame since it's sale season atm and everything is -40%). They're forcing me online... And since the UK left the EU, finding good wools & tweeds just became so much more expensive because of duties/taxes. Thanks for the video, I will keep those tips in mind!
\EDIT: Just found some accessories on Nehelania that I have been looking for for months. Waw
I’m in the U.K. as well, and generally find deals at AmoThreads (for silk, cotton, and occasionally pure wool tweed or something similar will pop up) but there’s also a wool supplier in Shropshire I’ve heard of that sells online. It’s called The Historical Dyer and their prices are quite good for high quality wool. I haven’t shopped with them personally yet but I’ve heard good things.
Darcy Clothing also has a very small supply, but great fabrics for linings and shirtings. Also they sell all sorts of wonderful accessories and they’re U.K.-based.
Thanks for the reply! I'm actually from Belgium and meant that most fabrics/stores I find are from the UK, which have become much more expensive to ship since Brexit. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm familiar with Darcy, absolutely love their items!
A nice one for EU people might be the Historical Fabric Store which is based in Sweden, they too have a nice outlet section for all kinds of wools!
Again thanks for reaching out! Really like the content!
Ah my apologies! For Europe there’s a store called Woolsome I really like. They often have good deals on linens as well and are a little more affordable than the Historical Fabric store generally. Thanks for your comments and for watching!
Thank you for another helpful video! Lighting is lovely .😊
My pleasure! Thanks for your compliments 😊
You are so sweet and engaging, like some of the other CZcams historical sewers used to be before they became jaded. Always stay warm and sweet! (I understand a tight income. I have been an emancipated minor since 10th grade. It was scary at times.)
Thank you! I do always hope to stay a warm person, though I must be honest about not being able to keep up with comments etc. like I used to and feeling quite burnt out/overwhelmed at times because of the nature of what it’s like to be on the internet haha. But I still try to keep coming from a place of love and compassion as that’s how I work to try and live my life (very imperfectly of course). Thanks for sharing your experience with emancipation!
Thank you for your wonderful content and introducing me to Fancy Styles Fabric. Their copper silk is amazing. I also wanted to express admiration for your notebook (is it a midori?), and express anticipation at you picking up one of my favorite hobbies - fountain pens (they make fast drying ink). Thank you for all you do, I love your videos and enjoy taking this journey with you!
Thank you so much for your kind and appreciative words 😊 fountain pens are so much fun. I’m not sure if the notebook is midori, it was made by a British craftsperson from a crafts fair of sorts. I was gifted it by a loved one 😊
@@VBirchwood Oh that's the best, a treasured item from a loved one! My husband is making me a leather padfolio for the notebooks I write in, and I'm so excited to have something like that. Thank you again for all you do!
Awww that’s a lovely gift for him to make you 😊 thanks for your support and viewership!
Just great, thank you for your input.
The ending was funny :)
It’s been so long since I’ve made/seen this video that I can’t remember what the ending of it is, but I’m glad it was funny 😂
@V. Birchwood - Historical Fashion you "sipping" tea lol
@@jessicabey275 oh gosh, that yes 😂
Thank you for your information and historical videos ❤ You remind us that with thought, we can make better & more affordable choices. I have a hard time finding natural fiber clothes that I can only wear due to health. If you have any suggestions on places to look; please share with me. I love the Vintage looks as well (I think these are people with an old soul) & love your outfits.
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! I'm finding it a pain, just to find 100% natural fiber fabric. If anyone has suggestions for wools I am all open ears! I am moving up to the northern US permanently and desperately need warmer clothing. I am disabled and also on a very limited budget. 😞
I’m very happy the video is useful Penelope! I’m not 100% positive how it is in the US for finding 100% wools, as I’m in the U.K., but from what I know some places to start might be FabricMart, Burnley & Trowbridge (they sometimes have good sales and remnant prices), EBay (check for people selling off their old used fabric), and then finally Facebook Marketplace can sometimes have good deals, though that one is perhaps less convenient. Additionally, sometimes at thrift shops it’s possible to find old wool blankets, and those are amazing for making something like an 18th century petticoat, as you only need two typically and they can be cheap. Just be sure to check them for clothes moths as thrift shops are the ultimate place for clothes moths to multiply and they love wool. You can throw them in the freezer for 2-3 weeks in a ziplock and that kills any moth eggs as well. I hope this is helpful. Also, I hope that your move goes well!
@@VBirchwood I scored a BUNCH of 100% linen fabric at Joanns for $5.99 a yard! I got as much as I could in the colors I liked.
Such a great score! Congrats!
I have some luck finding natural fiber fabric at thrift stores. I have found wool suiting, cotton twill, and quilting cotton in large quantities. I have gotten relatively good at recognizing natural fiber fabrics, but often the fabric is inexpensive enough that I can take a gamble and do a burn test when I get home. Not all thrift shops have fabric, but if you can find one that does, it’s one of the most inexpensive sources I have found. Thrift stores are also a good source for accidentally-felted wool sweaters which make good mittens, leg warmers, etc. Though the fabric may not always be historically accurate, I do think it fits within the historical tradition of treating fabric as a precious resource.
Just wanted to say how much I appreciated the post-outro "blooper" on this one, the captions were hilarious!! (Hope anyone who is sight-impaired audience has a way to read them as captions, because they are NOT to be missed! 😂)
Hahaha I’m so glad you enjoyed them! 😂
I don't do historic per say, but my bodytype dictates that I would have to redo almost all of the items from regular shop, so I've gone to sewing them myself more often than not. I prefer victorian type of skirts, lengthy and fits best, so I tend to need material in bulk also. We have few places that sell ends of fashion company's fabrics, usually they are 2 to 5 meters length with insane prices like 2 euros per meter no matter what type it is as long as you buy them by roll. The other thing i use a lot, is season ending sales. I tend to plan half a year ahead at least as well, so when the season ends and they go on sale, you can get them 50-75 percent off easily. I have some ball length full size skirts out of silks with heavily embroidered florals which are usually used as accent fabric for evening gowns (from 115 € down to 6€ per meter because the very edge had discoloring). These skirts make some little girls very happy when they encounter you. Also, fabrics meant for furnitures. They are thicker, but varie a lot, yet same in other ways, so I have made few medieval costumes out of them and plenty of skirts for work that last few years daily wear. If you look at them closer, their woven patterns tend to imitate medieval weaving more. I always start off with a full length and shorten them at one point when I can't fix them. I like annoying all the old ladies, who just MUST express their distaste for full length skirts, they are always so worried about my ability to keep it from ripping. If only they knew...
I know it's a year later, but I do hope you keep posting the videos on your journey.
Thanks so much for sharing your tips and tricks Liisa!
I definitely have been super active here on CZcams and on Instagram as well too 😊 it’s wild how much this channel has grown from the time I released this video to now, but I’m very grateful 💕
@@VBirchwood I'm glad it's running smoothly. Can't wait to see your next projects
I really love your shirt! Can you tell us where you got it (or how you made them)? Thank you for your awesome videos!
great tips! and I LOVE your waistcoat/shirt combo. Did you use a pattern?
Thank you! 😊 I didn’t sew either myself, so sadly I couldn’t say. I have made a similar riding habit shirt though using a JP Ryan pattern which worked really well 😊
@@VBirchwood where did you get them both?
@@kimberlyly785 I got them from a small designer called Aiker Aiker (on Etsy). They mainly design modern, but they did a few individual historical items which they sold as one-offs on their Etsy shop.
@@VBirchwood Thanks so much!
@@kimberlyly785 my pleasure!
I like the waist coat you are wearing in the video, is there a pattern you can share? Thanks for the great advice! I live in France and will do some research for sites selling historic fabrics.
Thank you! I didn't make it myself, so unfortunately I don't know what pattern was used (if any), but Black Snail Patterns has some great pattern options for waistcoats for very affordable prices (also related to your comment on the other video, as Black Snail has many 18th century pattern options). With regards to other European fabric companies sometimes selling deals, there's a shop called Woolsome I quite like, and sometimes they have good discounts on linen, and Nehelenia is of course great too for accessories and sometimes deals on fabric.
BOOOM
One question, when in a second hand store, who would you know if the fabric is linen and not cotton? Of cause I mean in the case the information tab is missing from the clothes... :)
Calculate shipping and taxes before ordering. For me, it is not worth it for a saving of just 10 euro.
Definitely a great tip!
you play piano?
Thanks for the reminder that not all 'deadstock' is really all that ....err...dead?
Hahaha exactly. It’s sad that companies will capitalise on something that is technically supposed to be leftover and therefore not go into the landfill, by purposefully making more of it so it can be sold as deadstock and so that they can make more money. Bizarre.