Warning: thrift store fabric might not be worth the savings

I bought 4 yards of a cool vintage floral print at Goodwill for $6 a few weeks ago. Got it home and washed it on cold and the whole thing shrunk down to about 2.5 yards. Then I tried cutting it for a dress and found a bunch of weak spots where the fabric was basically rotting. Ended up only getting a pillow cover out of it. Anyone else run into thrifted fabric that just falls apart after one wash?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma5221mo ago

So true about holding it up to the light... @ninasanchez is right, that's the real trick to spotting dry rot before you buy. I've had the same thing happen where the fabric looked fine on the rack but had all these weak spots once I got it home and stretched it out. Another thing I'd add is to give it a gentle tug in different directions while it's still folded, if the threads start pulling apart easy that's a dead giveaway it's on its last legs. Really frustrating when you think you scored a deal and end up with a pile of scraps instead.

ninasanchez1mo ago

Best bet with thrifted fabric is to pretreat it before you even bring it home. Get a small piece wet in the bathroom sink and see how it reacts. Also check for weak spots by holding it up to light - if you see any thin patches or holes, leave it on the shelf. I've learned the hard way that vintage fabrics from the 70s and earlier often have dry rot that's not obvious until you stress it with a washer or sewing machine.