If you enjoy embroidery or working with textiles then you may find that some of the materials can be costly. This article suggests how to buy fabric, beads and threads at very reasonable prices.
Buying Fabric
One way to buy cheap fabric is to search the clothes in charity shops for suitable materials. I recently purchased a child's fairy costume at a very low price. This costume was made up of many beautifully coloured layers of net and organza. I have also cut up old cushions to make teddy bears. The stuffing from a cushion can be used to create several small toys.
Another way to obtain base fabrics for your work is to buy white handkerchiefs. I have used these for my sewing and for leaf printing which I then use as a basis for embroidery. You could also try cutting up an old sheet as this provides many pieces of useful fabric. These could be painted with silk paints or fabric paints to make them more interesting and attractive.
Buying Beads and Sequins
A great way to buy beads is to search sales and charity shops for old necklaces and then cut them apart to use the beads. I search for necklaces that have a range of different coloured beads in them. At the same time you can look for garments covered in sequins. I recently saw a skirt that had over two hundred different sequins sewn over it. If you purchased this item then you could cut off the sequins to use in your work and perhaps you could use some of the fabric as well.
Buying Embroidery Threads
Jumble sales and charity shops are often given discarded or half done tapestry and cross stitch sets. I buy these sets and then take out the threads and use them for my own work. I once purchased a set containing over twenty different threads for the price that I would normally pay for just one colour.
If you like using metallic embroidery threads, then why not try visiting a knitting shop? Some of the thinnest crochet wools can easily be used for sewing. Since these products are designed to create whole garments you can buy a huge roll at a very reasonable price and it will last a long time if it is used for embroidery work.
Creative Textiles Work
If you try out all of these methods then you should be able to buy all your fabrics, beads and threads at very cheap prices. Once you have your supplies you can simply relax and enjoy them by getting creative.
Susannah White - Susannah White lives in Gloucestershire, England where she works in education. She has an M.A degree in Writing For ...
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