I hit up the thrift store again. Â I didn’t find a lot but some and was really happy with the find.
Can you believe that I debated about this… Â 3 yards for $1.50?? Â I did but ended up buying it.
Then I picked these individual pieces up too. Â Â 
Pricing at the thrift store is so crazy. Â I came home and measured the big orange-ish piece with the black triangles. Â There was over 3 yards worth so that was 50 cents. Â The pieces in the bag in the first picture was 3 yards but was $1.50.
Then the small pieces were all ranging from 1/8 yard to a half yard. Â Each of them were 50 cents. Â There really is no standard to how things are measured. Â Typically when I go the small pieces would have been packaged together and priced.
The thrift store is run by a lot people who volunteer so I think that’s the pricing explanation. Â Regardless it’s all a good deal…or was it?
I got home and opened the fabric that was in the bag that cost $1.50. Â It’s not cotton. Â UGH. Â I don’t use no cotton fabric so I’ll pass it on.
The thrift store donates the profits from the store back into the community so I’m not bothered by my mistake in not realizing the fabric was cotton. Â Normally I don’t have a problem recognizing cotton from other fabrics. Â This time being it was in a taped closed baggie, I couldn’t recognize it.
I get so many people asking “how do I know if it’s cotton”. Â I’ve done this long enough, that feel is a big clue. Â The selvage is also a bit clue. Â Is the fabric from a know quilting fabric company? Â I find that plaids are the hardest to differentiate. Â They often have polyester in them.
That’s the stash report for the day….I was so happy that the orange-ish piece was so big. Â I think that can back a charity baby quilt.
I love your bright florals! I had some fabric success yesterday with three floral vintage sheets. Two were white background but are in like-new condition.
As a fellow thrifter I love your thrift stories! Our thrift stores that have fabric are the same way about pricing. Sometimes it is a great deal and sometimes not even close. I’ve gotten to be like you where I can tell by feel if it is cotton. Sometimes I miss, but usually I’m accurate. Those really random fabric from the thrift stores really add to the scrappiness of a quilt.
If you really want to know if a fabric is cotton or poly, burn a corner ( safely, over the sink, with a lit candle). Cotton is a natural fiber and will burn. Poly is synthetic and will melt. It will leave a hard black ridge in the edge you put near the flame.
I can usually tell also by just pressing-poly/cotton blend smells like hot plastic. I am so jealous of the thrift store finds-I don’t get to go to them much as there isn’t one in my town and the ones closest to me are chain ones. I haven’t ever found fabric like you, but have done some damage in the shirt department. I am on a no buy until I get several quilts FROM shirts done.