I asked this someplace else but I think it got lost in the crash.
Are there any places where you get large quantities of staples of your sewing room.
Examples: Snaps, hook and eyes, velcro, grommets, Elastic, thread, muslin, interfacing.
I dont' like having to pay 2.50 for 10 snaps/hooks&eyes at the local Joanns when I need 10-20 per special garb. Or when I'm making mock ups, cotton bum rolls, or pettycoats and need large quantities of 45 inch muslin.
Where are some places you use?
Me, I have to go through Lousiville KY every-so-once-in-awhile for work and stop by this great fabric store called Baer Fabric (also on line) and they sell hooks and eyes seperately from each other by the gross. This has worked out very well for me because I like to use the #7 eye for lacing "rings" and this way I can get what and do not have extra eyes hanging around.
I also use end-bolts remnants from our local (St Louis) decorator fabric outlet associated with a curtain making company. I can get 3-5 yards of 60 inch wide fabric in a mid to heavy weight cotton of some wild print for $1 to 3 per bolt-end. Use the back side and I have had good luck with using this stuff for mock ups.
For boning I use hemp cord from Wally World and extra large and extra long zip ties from Home Depot or the local Farm Store. I also haunt Farm Stores for 1/16 inch wide nylon cord to use for lacing and electric fence wire for wired hat brims.
A lot of my other staples I get from Hancocks and Joann's when on sale or a 40% off coupon works. I am lucky in that there are 4 seamstresses on the St Louis Costuming Team and we go in together to order stuff off-line and that has made the $65 minimum from Cheeptrims.com palatable.
I buy boning by the roll from several places (depending on what I need), and bulk packs of needles. I also buy Strap Traps from the source, in bulk...
I buy Bondaweb by the roll! Expensive per roll, but LOADS cheaper than buying the quantities I use in meter-long pre-packed chunks!
What else...
1" cotton tape to make hoop channels in underskirts
Interfacing! I have miles in lots of different types!
Curtain lining... Great for toiles and cheaper than calico/muslin
Zips! I bought a job lot a while back... Must be 15 years ago! I'm still using up these lovely jacket length heavy duty open-ended zips! ;D ;D
Elastic... Especially wider elastic.
I have no one fave-rave place for this stuff: I just keep my eyes peeled and make the best buy I can on the day I need it.
I check out eBay for quanity, I found 5 dozen buttons for my Eleanor of Toledo Gown.
Also www.CheapTrims.com (http://www.cheaptrims.com) has in the past some awesome fabulous buttons.
I am part of the SCA, so I have to tell you many of my resources I find at War. June Crown is this weekend!
Here are some I adore!
www.tlbarnes.com (http://www.tlbarnes.com), this lady has some wonderful buttons and clasps.
http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?section=U (http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?section=U)
http://www.faireware.com/button1.html (http://www.faireware.com/button1.html)
www.barjaveldesign.com/buttons.htm (http://www.barjaveldesign.com/buttons.htm)
www.granndgarb.com (http://www.granndgarb.com)
www.lacis.com (http://www.lacis.com)
www.farthingales.on.ca (http://www.farthingales.on.ca)
www.alteryears.com (http://www.alteryears.com)
http://www.cloakmaker.com/clasps/alphabetclasplist.html (http://www.cloakmaker.com/clasps/alphabetclasplist.html)
Cilean
The one thing I can no longer live without is my tailor's awl. I don't like grommets, since they pull out on me, so I switched, nervously, to hand sewing my laces. The first ones look like crap, I admit it, but the new ones are heavenly. I am really getting good at it. Too bad I can't re-do the Blue dress.
TrimTex Mill Store, Williamsport PA
Surplus City, Williamsport & Altoona PA
PA Fabric Outlet, Harrisburg Area 2 stores
All of these stores are part of Yearly excursions with family members who also sew,Unfortunatly none of them have an online store so you do have to visit in person. >:( PA Fabric's web site says you can order but it doesnt work. I asked a lady at the store about it & she just laughed and said it hasnt been updated for years.
Sew many toys! ;D
http://www.clotilde.com
http://www.nancysnotions.com
EBay - but when you search, be sure you put the word "lot" in your description. like "metal button lot", or "bias tape lot", etc. You'll get the auctions with larger amounts, or all different styles and colors, but it weeds out the smaller amounts of buttons, etc.
Also, try garage sales and be sure ask. I've found plenty of big bags of things I can use at garage sales. Some of it you can't use, but when they sell you 100 packages of sewing tape, bias, ribbon,etc for $5, you can't beat it!
A bolt of muslin for making mockups and lining, lots of white and black thread for the basics, grosgrain ribbon, buttons, safety pins.
Keep an eye out at Joanns' for their good coupon sales, usually the day after thanksgiving they have a huge sale.
I don't want to say how I "abused" my coupons but I do get bolts of muslin using my Joann's coupons. I did discover a site called create for less. they have buttons at a discount but you have to buy them in by packs of 6 cards. When you need alot this seems like a good place. You can also get twill tape, piping cord and such from them as well. I'm tempted to invest in a few things from them.