I was chatting away to a friend about bargain hunting and happened to mention I'd picked up quite a pile of bed linen and a table cloth for next to nothing from a charity shop, she shuddered and said she couldn't ever buy sheets or fabric second hand as 'you don't know where they've been'. Good point I suppose but who buys sheets, new or old, and uses them without bunging them in the washer first? Well - excepting the other half who got a reputation (unfair) for painting himself blue to get out of lectures when really he'd just slept on new sheets without washing them while suffering from Fresher's Flu and had some dye transfer issues!
I like having a good rummage through the fabric rail as there are often some pretty pillow cases or even odd curtains, this tablecloth was £1.50, a little small for our kitchen table but I loved the light blue colour and the white detailing.
I picked up a single flat sheet for £1 in light blue which I'm planning to butcher for some bunting and cushion covers when I've dusted off the sewing machine and a double fitted sheet in the same shade for £1.50. The biggest bargain, quite literally, was the king sized floral duvet cover and pillowcase for £1 - I like florals but I'm not the world's biggest fan so I was surprised when it jumped out and screamed 'pick me!' - any ideas how I should use it?
Is it wrong that I love the softness of old sheets? It seems to take forever to get the same texture with new bedding!
Take care,
Jem xXx
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I've never looked at fabrics ina charity shop before, maybe unconciously because of the reason your friend said, but your right you would wash it first! Love the blue floral sheets, may have to start having a look myself
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Well, heck of course you wash them first! I'm weird in that I don't buy clothes at the thrift store (had to wear hand me downs most of my childhood), but anything else is fair game. Cute blue sheet story!
ReplyDeleteoh wow that deep blue background and the creamy floral is ab fab!! one pound for the kingsize duvet AND the pillowcase is amazing!! im thinking it'd make several really pretty shoppers and a blind or something!x
ReplyDeleteROFL @ your OH and his blue sheets !!
ReplyDeleteLove old fabrics, they just don't make things like they used to-enjoy:@)
ReplyDeleteGosh, don't people ever stay in hotels? Presumably they realise that (gasp) other people might have slept on the sheets before? I have no problem with second hand bedding once washed, although I'd stay away from anything with stains I must admit! I'm probably making miles of bunting with my finds too x
ReplyDeleteI could never buy/use a second-hand mattress but anything else is fair game! I love the softly worn feel of vintage linen and it's usually much better quality than even expensive linen available today.
ReplyDeleteI love the navy blue/creamy rose combo Jem x
Smiling at your story of your OH and his blue sheets. I've lived with hand me downs most of my life so have no qualms about second hand linens.I am in love with that blue tablecloth!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of vintage linens of any variety. I agree that they don't make 'em like they used to and the old cotton is hands-down better than anything you can buy today. My first stop is the linen section of the thrift store! I don't dare share how much I have in my stash ...
ReplyDelete~Lynn
If you wash your items, then who cares if someone has already used it...I buy used linens and clothes all the time...just run them tru the washer first.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
Some peopel just dont get it and are missing out Too bad for them and lots more for us wiser women lol
ReplyDeleteim like you, love to rummage through the fabrics rail in charity shop! and yours are much more cheaper ranging from £1-£1.50, here i got it at least £2-£2.50 upwards! but i do like to make them as cushion covers or for the plain white ones, for experiment, heart shape hangers or frame them if i found the patterned ones such as floral! i wish i had a sewing machine, would make my life easier! i say, even the new bedding, i like it washed first to get it soften a lil bit, so what's the difference with the second hand one? i love charity shop!
ReplyDeleteAlways rummage through the fabric and the sheets - although i tend not to use them as sheets, i use the fabric in other projects, but hey they are all washed so alls good! Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteoh im also a fan of the fabric section in the charity shops its all a quid in my local im sure you seen my post last week ;) nowt wrong with 2nd hand fabric etc it al goes in the wash and aslong as no ahemmm stains or anything dont see the problem!!
ReplyDeleteonly thing i would never buy is cushions/pillows/matteresses as they cant really be cleaned.
Im actually slowely converting my mum she would never have brought anything 2nd hand before but now does my weekly trip to the hospice shop with me ;)
I love soft sheets! love your buys, the blue and white flower kingsize set is gorgeous :) you could use it for garden cusions and bunting!
ReplyDeleteBee happy x
Have a delicious day!
Thanks for your lovely comment on my table, I waited 24 hours between painting each coat then left the table for about a week to harden before sanding down. Done this before on other projects but learnt the hard way by sanding too early which means the paint just rubs up going rubbery! I use my little drawer for table cloths.
ReplyDeleteBee happy x
Have a delicious day!
You can't beat the appeal of old fabric prints! Good finds!
ReplyDeleteIt's the first thing I head for in any charity shop. Sally Army shops are particularly good as their prices are rock bottom. Last week I also got a kingsize duvet cover in a really pretty floral and yellow gingham curtains for the kitchen, less than £3 for both. My kind of shopping xx
ReplyDeleteOh total score! You're totally right, it's not like you're sleeping in them unwashed...Who knows where they'll end up...maybe some pillow covers...maybe some wallcovering...who says sheets and linens have to go on a bed anyhow right :D Can't wait to see what you do with them!
ReplyDeletexo-Julie
Haute Khuuture Blog
In hotels you use sheets and towels including washcloths that others have used :shrug:
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