Where to shop secondhand craft stores & secondhand fabric stores online

There are lots of reasons to want to shop secondhand- like to save money, to reduce waste, to support other makers, to avoid big corporations, or to find unique materials. I frequently get emails from folks who live in an area where they aren’t finding craft supplies or sewing supplies except at big box stores and finally have compiled some easy ways to shop from home for them!

This is *not* a comprehensive list like my creative reuse center list, it is a curated one. My goal is not to list every single online shop that sells deadstock fabric or online creative reuse store, but to share my favorite options that I have used or would use! If you have suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment, but no promises that I’ll add it 🙂 I left off a few stores or consignment markets because I felt like the prices were ridiculous or the selection was small, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

You can use most of these sites to search for literal supplies like thread, wool roving, thimbles, etc. but also remember you can also search for things like vintage hand embroidered linen lots, quilt block lots, old postage stamps instead of hunting them down in antique malls or thrift stores!

If you like this post, check out these others while you’re here:

25+ creative vintage linens repurposed projects
Beginner sewing supplies list – what to buy on a budget!
10 tips for getting rid of craft supplies (and ideas for where to send them!)
How to save money while sewing

Pin this list of here to shop secondhand craft stores & secondhand fabric stores online with this link or photo:

Where to shop secondhand craft stores & secondhand fabric stores online

Presented in no specific order!

Ebay

I frequently suggest Ebay and am always met with surprise! One of my favorite features of Ebay is being able to ‘save a search’ so you’ll get emails if anyone ever lists anything with the keywords you set. So if you’re working on a longterm project of… orphan dresden quilt blocks or a specific fabric line, you can set it and forget it until something pops up.

Use the keyword ‘lot’ if you want to look for a bunch of something like a ’embroidery floss lot’ or ‘cotton + steel fabric scrap lot’. Don’t forget you’re buying directly from someone on here, so check their feedback score before bidding! There are sometimes small shops selling new wares here, it isn’t as common as Etsy, so if your goal is shopping secondhand specifically, you’ll need to look carefully.

Etsy

Etsy is most commonly associated with handmade art/objects to buy but they have a whole section for craft supplies! Paper ephemera lots, scrap bundles, and vintage notion lots are commonly found here. There are sometimes small shops selling new wares here, so if your goal is shopping secondhand specifically, you’ll need to look carefully.

Shopgoodwill

Everyone has heard of Goodwill stores, but did you know they have their own online auction site? Be sure to estimate the shipping costs before bidding, because they sometimes run high, but great deals can be found on here for both machines and supplies. You’re buying directly from the individual Goodwills and there is no feedback/no returns so it has a little higher risk than Etsy or Ebay but I’ve had great experiences.

Social media

Instagram: a few years ago, individuals would resell their stash on certain hashtags but that isn’t reliable or useful due to changes over the years, however the account @makers_resale is a seller’s marketplace where the account posts things for other folks reselling, I’ve definitely seen some great deals especially on apparel fabric.
Facebook marketplace: pictured above, Facebook marketplace isn’t just for local buys but you can toggle it to look for things that offer shipping (or message sellers directly to ask if they’d ship).
Facebook specific swap groups: Groups function like an online yard sale, with individuals selling things, and they can get super specific for an individual fabric designer, niche craft tool, etc. You will have to search for what you’re looking for – try different variations like the name + bst (stands for buy/sell/trade), + swap, or + buy/sell/trade. A few examples off the top of my head are , Organic Euro and American milled knit fabrics BST,

Creative Reuse Stores or non-profits with an online component

If you don’t know what a creative reuse center (CRC) is, read this post and visit one in person if you can! But these are online options you can shop from home.

Fabmo is a CRC that sells some things on ebay
SCRAP Creative Reuse Ann Arbor is a CRC that sells fabric & craft supplies on their website
Fabscrap is a nonprofit that sells deadstock & excess fabric (more focused on garment sewing) on their website
SCRAP Creative Reuse Portland is a CRC that sells fabric & craft supplies (including craft kits!) on their website

Secondhand craft/fabric stores online

There are a *lot* of different options when it comes to deadstock fabric in particular – fabric deemed unusable or leftover by big designers, but some of these are functioning more as swap sites selling individual folks’ fabrics as well.

Lucky Deluxe Fabrics sells secondhand fabric & some craft supplies on their website
A Thrifty Notion sells secondhand fabric & sewing notions on their website
Make and Mend sells secondhand craft supplies & fabric on their website
Swanson’s Fabrics sells secondhand fabric on their website