posted on March 25, 2003 10:59:11 PM new
Ok, I know this is probably a really crazy idea but I REALLY need the money. I have a truck or two of fabric to make clothes, upholstery etc out of. A little background: My grandmother was a seamstress at the City of Paris in san francisco in her younger days. Yes, this belonged to her. I have material dating back to 1920's to about 1960's (I think) Do you think some of this stuff might sell well on ebay? some is silk, some cotton, some a blend of some kind. Brochaid (sorry, too tired to spell right) There is even some hand made crocheted things as well.
any thoughts on if this stuff is worth listing? if so, any ideas on HOW to list it. should I just try to scan it? describe it?
posted on March 25, 2003 11:05:50 PM new
Do a search under vintage fabric. There are over 6500 items listed in the closed auctions and many of them have very impressive bids.
posted on March 25, 2003 11:49:56 PM new
Hi paloma,
No, it's not a crazy idea. Buyers search out select fabrics for decorating and quilting as well as other crafts and you may do quite well with some of it.
Search the closed auctions for the highest prices and see how the sellers are listing it and how they display it and how they take pictures of it.
Make sure you put in the length and width of the pieces and check to see if there is a maker's mark along any of the edging. It wouldn't hurt to mention the history of it.
posted on March 26, 2003 01:58:54 AM new
I helped a friend with her moving sale 2 summers ago....she was from Holland and had 3 vintage fabric panels from there..we couldn't sell them for $5.00 each at the yard sale so I listed them on ebay....they sold for $99.00...$91.00..and $87.00...we were happily surprised. they listed the maker and date on the side edge of the fabric.
posted on March 26, 2003 05:06:27 AM new
Yes, your Fabrics are great items, and like a few have already said, quilters look for old vintage fabrics, my daughter is a quilter and she buys reproductions of Vintage Fabrics they add Charm to any quilt, and having the original Vintage Fabric Im sure you will please lots of people on Ebay.
Just check out how they list, and what quantities they list for an Individual auction lot just so you can have a little background information since this field is new to you right now.
Also you can search web sites for additional information on what is important to list into your auction so a bidder will know exactly what you will be offering them.
posted on March 26, 2003 05:53:48 AM new
I have some vintage fabric as well that was stored in a box. Should this be laundered first, or just hung outside to remove the musties?
I am experienced in selling fabrics on Ebay. And I buy fabrics nearly every week.
You may possibly have a veritable goldmine. Definitely mention the history about Paris, the relative who was a seamstress, what years she was sewing, and so on. Many of those (myself included) will consider these pieces quite a find, particularly if they are offered for a reasonable price.
Yes, quilters will likely be interested. Not only in cottons, but silks as well. Although the auctions may close for high dollar, I suggest starting the bidding as low as you reasonably can to cover all expenses. Once you get one bid on the fabric, others will look at it to see why that person bid. Once you get that first bid, (assuming they are very nice looking fabrics), a bidding war is very possible, even likley.
Be sure to list the length and full width of each piece, any manufacturer's markings, any spots, stains, odor.
Length is determined by measuring along the woven edge of the fabric. Width is measure across the cut edge of the fabric. If it is folded down the middle and rolled on a bolt, don't forget to measure the full width (not just half if folded in half).
The tough thing is to determine fabric content, like whether it is cotton, silk, rayon, etc. Here is a link to a website that can help determine that. Instructions are there that tell by burning a few strands of the fabric what the content is according to how it burns and the smell it gives off. I have succesfully used this method, and many collectors are familiar with it.
(This step would be particularly useful if you are selling to garment makers. If this is a lot of short scraps of fabric, not worth the trouble then sell it by the pound to quilters.)
When listing the fabric, you can say "it looks and feels like silk. Burn test seems to indicate that but no guarantees". Or whatever other statement seems to apply. The history will help, since polyester didn't appear until the 50's. I'm considering rayon - developed in the 40's if I'm not mistaken - a natural fabric, even though man-made, since it comes from cellulose. Nylon was introduced in the 40's in stockings.
When shopping in auction listings, I prefer not to read "I don't know much about fabric but I think it's silk" since when I buy it tends to turn out to be polyester. But if the fabrics are from the 30's or earlier, they are likley to be wool, silk, cotton, and linen or possibly blends of the same.
Good pictures are a must. If the pieces start selling for sufficient prices to justify it, start putting in gallery images. Not for the gallery, but for the thumbnail that will show up next to your title when buyers are browsing a category. When I go to a category of fabrics, whether new or vintage, I want to scroll through the listing titles, looking at the thumbnails on the left of the titles to see the color/print types I like. If there is no thumbnail, I must rely on what the title tells me. I may or may not go look.
If the fabric is sheer (see-through) say so in the listing. Hold your hand under one layer of it when you take the picture so the buyer can see how much their skin will show though the fabric. With all fabrics tell them something about whether the fabric is stiff, lightweight, heavy (thick), etc. The picture can relay quite a bit of that (when it comes to soft supple fabrics) if draped, not laid flat in the picture. But you want a good picture of any print/texture as well.
My pet peeve: whatever you do, please do not ever call an ugly fabric "lovely" in the title or use "L@@K" unless it is really nice. Some sellers do that when they list something I wouldn't even use as a rag it's so hideous. I won't go look at that seller's "other auctions".
The highest prices will be fetched in most cases for continuous peices of fabric. In other words, if you have 5 yards of a brocade, sell it in one piece, not 5 one-yard peices if you intend to sell to people making garments. Quilters would prefer smaller cuts, as small as 1/4 yard to a yard.
Anyway, I've been sewing for 45 years. I'm no expert in all fabrics, but do have a lot of experience.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Patty
[ edited by meadowlark on Mar 26, 2003 08:46 AM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 08:39:00 AM newmeadowlark's advice is all top-notch. I used to do restorative beadwork for a few vintage shops in town, and I picked up a little bit of knowledge, so I just had a few more things to add.
If you have a really good fabric or vintage clothing shop in your area, call and ask if there's anyone there who will do consultations, or if they can suggest any resources. Paying them $20 an hour or so to look at your fabric might make a huge difference in the bids if you can write very specific descriptions. i.e. "This is heavy, double-faced peau de soie that a burn test indicates is silk" instead of "This seems like silk but it's not that shiny and it's the same on both sides." If there is a museum that has a significant collection of textiles, there might be a curator on staff who knows something about vintage fabric. You can even try antique stores.
If you luck out, they could also opine on any stains.
However, I would NOT attempt to launder anything (I don't believe eBay's rules apply to uncut yardage anyway.) Restoring vintage fabric is an art form in itself, one best left to someone who knows what they're doing. I would try to keep folding and unfolding to a minimum as well, though obviously you'll have to completely unfold it at some point to measure it. (Ideally, vintage fabric is folded and stored with tissue to keep "fold stress" off the fabric. If that's the case, try to save the tissue and mention that it's been stored in tissue.) I definitely wouldn't hang it out in the sun. Some silks can fade in as little as an hour, and white silks and wools alike tend to turn yellow. People understand that vintage fabric will not smell springtime fresh.
I know this sounds like a lot of trouble, but your fabric could be worth A LOT of money. Good luck, and let us know how it works out!
posted on March 26, 2003 08:43:38 AM new
Thanks for the advice! This was in my grandmother's basement along with little boxes of old buttons, needles, wooden thread spools and other things. I'd prefer that they found a good home with someone that would enjoy it rather than becoming landfill!
posted on March 26, 2003 09:01:09 AM new
Just out of curiousity - My mother has a dress with a "City of Paris" tag in it, that my father bought her when they were newlyweds. I Googled it to see if it was still there. Turns out it was the focus of a RAGING controversy over whether Neiman-Marcus should be allowed to demolish it. There was actually a lawsuit filed which is here, and here is a photo of the inside. Magnificent.
Sadly, they lost. But I'd definitely mention your grandmother's connection in the auction text. You never know ...
clivebarkerfan, ALL THAT STUFF is collectible - though notions, buttons and old tools don't fetch as much as fabric, just because fabric tends to wear out and so there's less of it left.
[ edited by msincognito on Mar 26, 2003 09:09 AM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 09:03:24 AM new
I fully agree with everything Mcincognito said, and would not wash any of the vintage fabrics before selling. Many of the fabrics will likely NOT be washable and would
be badly damaged by doing so.
If you do want to wash musty or stinky washable fabrics like cotton before using for your own personal use though, Oxyclean will usually completely remove any odor. Or at least it has for me. It works with hand-washing as well in the machine.
I discovered this when I bought a five-yard length of brand new batik fabric off Ebay and it absolutely reeked of chemicals used in the dying process and faintly of cigarette smoke. That one actually took five washings with Oxyclean to get rid of the odor. For most items, one wash will do it.
Oh, and I suggest to not bring the vintage fabrics into a smoking household. If they could all be washed by the end user, it would not be such a problem. A smoker will not smell the odor left in them, but to the rest of us, they reek like yesterday's ashtray.
posted on March 26, 2003 09:16:52 AM new
One final thing (can you tell that meadowlark and I are salivating at the thought of all that fabric?) even with cotton, be careful. Glazed fabrics (like chintz) and special weaves like pique' want careful handling. I'd spot-test any cleaning product on a corner of the fabric and never use anything but cold water.
However, Oxyclean is wunnerful stuff. I haven't had anything ruined by Oxyclean, ever.
[ edited by msincognito on Mar 26, 2003 09:17 AM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 04:10:27 PM new
OH you all are SOOO wonderful. Here I was last night, very tired. (I finally went back to work after 3 months of disablility leave. So you know darn well I am worst than broke I also work a night job a few nights a week and go to school 2 nights a week.)
What wonderful information you all have provided. The City of Paris was really great when I was growing up in San Francisco. Yes, all of the wonderful old stuff buildings are gone. You know, she even designed clothes. She started me sewing and designing when I was about 6 years old. By the time I was in high school, I was designing my own clothes. I still do, when I have time.
Hey, how about all of those button? I also have her old button box. It's a tin thing that they used to use for bread or cakes or something. Any time she was going to toss out a piece of clothing, she would cut off the buttons etc and put them in the box. It is a treasure trove of stuff. Would I be better off just sticking to the fabric right now and worry about the buttons etc later?
she and I were really close. We were about the same size too. She saved everything in tissue paper. I remember when I was a teenager, she gave me her aligator heels and bag. (These were the original platform shoes. I think from the 20's.) She lived to be well over 90 years old. At 90 plus years, 65 year old men were asking her out! What a kick to see. I remember once a man asked her out and bragged to her that he had just retired. She appologized to him saying that she was looking for a man who had a job. What a character!!!! she had a son older than him!!!!
posted on March 26, 2003 05:09:59 PM new
Ditto on the don't wash it, and get a consultant to see what you really have. Also, you might find your best prices by contacting some of the costumers for the movie industry who are great acquirers of vintage patterns and materials for vintage reproducions. Good luck!
posted on March 26, 2003 05:11:55 PM new
Two things: Meadowlark, are you the person who helped me so much, educating me about Elegant Glass? If so, I have another question! Found a dish with a diamond-shaped mark and an H in it. Is it Heisey? Could I send you the picture? If you're not the same person who helped me a few weeks ago, forgive my getting off subject here.
Second: I sold some fabric I finally felt I needed to part with, just cotton with a print, and a woman in Tucson bought it for a tablecloth at her church supper. You never know who's looking for what!
posted on March 26, 2003 06:08:15 PM new
Roadsmith,
Soorrrryyy don't know nuthin' 'bout dat glass.
Yeah, you never know who will want one fabric or another. I found a fabric I wanted 25 years ago recently on Ebay. It was in pristine condition, and I was the only bidder!
I had a favorite casual top made of it way back then, and wore it out after repeated washings.
Patty
[ edited by meadowlark on Mar 26, 2003 08:07 PM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 11:14:20 PM new
Paloma: One more thing you might want to consider: If you're selling upholstery fabric, there may be a site for upholstering within a furniture category - or something in crafts. (Not sure about this.)
If you're selling fabric that would be great for theatre costumes, think about a theatre category that might be appropriate.
posted on March 27, 2003 07:15:52 AM new
A good way to add a detail picture for these fabrics is to lay it directly on your flat-bed scanner....
i'm drooling too!
Throw the button box into auction also- make sure to mention if it has lots of REAL Mother-of-pearl buttons in it.
"And All Shall be Well, and All Shall be Well, and All Manner of Things Shall be Well"
posted on March 27, 2003 08:33:15 AM newpaloma91, that's such a great thing that you had such a great person in your life for so long! And now, even though she's gone, she's helping you I'm sure she'd be happy.
Unless the buttons are really, really unusual, they might not be worth a whole lot. Buttons are VERY hot collectors' items but individually, they aren't worth much unless they're unique. There was a button convention in town a few years ago, and I bought a ton of Victorian-era black glass buttons at 12 for $1, and two complete "shirt sets" of real mother-of-pearl buttons for $1 apiece. That's amazing considering that they were more than 100 years old, and the modern plastic replicas cost about twice as much at Wal-Mart! Because you have such strong feelings for your grandmother, you might be happier if you used them to decorate your own home or kept them tucked away.
I just had one final bit of advice. If you save a little bit of that fabric - maybe a 2-inch strip cut off the edge of the pieces that make you think of your grandmother the most - you can also use it later to make keepsakes. I've seen beautiful collages made of old fabric (and buttons) in pretty frames that really caught the eye. You could also use narrow strips to trim your own creations, or cover picture frames. That way, even though the bulk of the fabric goes to a new home, you get to keep the essence of your grandmother's treasure trove.
[ edited by msincognito on Mar 27, 2003 08:35 AM ]
posted on March 27, 2003 10:43:02 PM new
sorry, I just got home from school and put my little one to bed. Poor little guy.
OH, you wouldnt BELIEVE some of these buttons. You are right, alot are real shell or I guess you would say "real mother of pearl" Is it possible that some of these are a kind of "bakelite" There is some that she had on a coat that are kind of green see through stuff with a rhinestone in the middle. Some a jet black She said they were made of "jet" what ever that is. I even have a bracelet and earrings that goes with it. I will try to scan atleast the buttons on Saturday. (No time before then to do it)
HUMMMM now you all have me wondering. What would a brand new conditioned 3/4 length fox coat go for with Big pockets. It's alteast 100 years old and it was my great grandmothers' Do you think I could sell that? I tell ya' being on disablility so long I am really worried that I might be homeless soon. I just went back to work a few days ago. So, I need to sell some stuff quick.
Thanks so much everyone for your help. a BIG HUGE hug to everyone!
[ edited by paloma91 on Mar 27, 2003 10:51 PM ]
posted on March 28, 2003 02:45:01 AM new
Here is a site that tells all about Jet. It is a fossilized wood that is very black, After all, you've heard the expression "jet black"? That's where it comes from:
posted on March 28, 2003 01:06:24 PM new
Real jet would be worth quite a bit! Here's another site that discusses it: Whitby jet
However, most "jet" buttons are actually glass (Often called "french jet." The page above describes how you can test for jet.
Here's one more suggestion: Do a Google search for your state and the words "button society." If there's an active society in your state, they might be able to tell you if there are any people in your area who would be willing to look at your collection and help you ID it.
Fur is another issue that really requires expert evaluation! Here is a cool site that offers a lot of advice about old furs:
The page above describes how you can test for jet.