One of the most common questions for me at shows is where I find the items to make my aprons. Many are found at estate sales, antique stores, fabric stores and on Etsy. However, there are several other sources for my fabrics, doilies, thread and buttons.

My sister-in-law (an avid quilter) and I sometimes trade fabric. One sweet lady from church finds pieces here and there and gifts them to me. She recently told me she is downsizing and has several doilies for me to look at -- so exciting! Even though I usually buy these items from friends, occasionally I have traded or made an apron in exchange for some materials. Usually I am receiving the better end of the bargain, but some people are just ready to clean out their materials when downsizing.

Most people don't really know what to do with their grandmother's doilies when they inherit them, and I have heard of some who just throw them away -- how sad! Please, if you have items like these, at least donate them to a non-profit thrift store so the money collected from their sale can be put to good use. If you are unsure whether or not an item can be sold, just go ahead and donate it anyway. The volunteers in thrift stores are very good at making those decisions. As you can guess, thrift stores are a wonderful source for my materials. The dresser scarf for the apron pictured came from a thrift store.

The hunt for all of the things needed to make an apron takes time. If staying locally, it takes about an hour per store including travel and search time, and I will go to  three to four stores in a day. If traveling within the state, I can spend 6 to 12 hours traveling and searching, depending on the distance. 

Even though it takes a lot of time and effort, searching and purchasing all the materials definitely is a fun part of my job. My husband says he cannot understand how I agonize over each purchase, even whether or not to buy the smallest doily for the smallest apron. However, I want to make sure the materials included in an apron will last for a long while. A good product starts with good materials, and you deserve the best!