Photo by Merete Veian
I am constantly searching the internet for vintage, used fabric. My favorite haunts are Ebay and Ruby Lane, an online vintage store. One night, I found Second Chance Fabrics, which sells pre-owned fabrics, patterns, and notions.
I was curious who was behind Second Chance Fabrics, since I loved the idea of a second hand shop for fabric. Dashing off a quick email, I literally expected a short cursory response. To my delight, I receive a bubbly, comprehensive email as to the 5 Ws of Second Chance Fabrics. You know, the who, what, when, why, and where that you learned in school?
Shamara Kato and her mother are behind Second Hand Fabrics. Kato fashions herself as a “fabric collector” where her mother is the avid quilter. How did Second Chance Fabrics come to be?
“Second Chance Fabrics resells preowned fabric – fabrics that most likely have been sitting on a shelf in the back of a closet for a period of time.You know which fabric we’re talking about.The fabric that you drift across at least once a year and say, “Oh, I just love this fabric, but I don’t have any project to use it for.”Our fabric comes from various sources:retiring quilters who have no need for their fabric any longer, current quilters who are thinning their stash to make room for new acquisitions, and even quilters who have passed on and whose family has decided to give their fabric a second chance.”
Kato further explained that only 1/10th of their inventory is on the website. So, where can you see more? The Company attends quilting shows in California. They list on their home page which ones they will be attending.
In addition, to the fabrics, Kato’s mother creates new quilter patterns under the name of Short Toot’s Designs, which are sold on the online site.
What I love about this Company is that it is akin to a second hand bookstore. You can get a good “book” for a fraction of the price. However, in the case of this Company, the fabric is all new, just unused and costs about 1/2 the price of retail.
Have some fabric just sitting around? Consider trading it in. See the Company’s trade in policies. So got fabric or want to create that one of kind craft or quilt? Visit Second Hand Fabrics. Everyone deserves a second chance, including fabric.
