Vintage Sewing Notions to Buy & Sell
*Please be patient as I revise and update this article!
One of my favorite things to look for when I’m out vintage shopping is sewing notions–not because they’re always so valuable, but because they are delightfully homey and come in so many shapes and sizes. That said, many of them are [happily] valuable!
Table of Contents
INDIVIDUAL SEWING NOTIONS:
Baskets
Books & Pamphlets
Buttons
Cross Stitch
Darners
Fabric
Fasteners
Measuring Tapes
Needle Cases
Patterns
Pin Cushions
Ribbon
Quilt Scraps
Scissors
Sewing Kits
Straight Pins
Thimbles
Thread
Where to Find Sewing Notions
Where/How to Sell Sewing Notions
Other Articles You’ll Enjoy
Baskets (for Sewing Supplies)
Books & Pamphlets
Buttons
I always pick up vintage buttons, when I find them at reasonable prices, and either sell them in sets [if valuable] or use them for projects.
One of the easiest ways to sell buttons is to fill an antique jar with them and price accordingly. They pretty jar above sold for $18.
Related Articles:
- A Guide to Vintage & Antique Buttons: Part I
- A Guide to Vintage & Antique Buttons: Part II
- Button DIY & Craft Projects
Darners
As interesting as I personally find darners, they do not command much at retail, particularly relatively plain, worn ones like this little blue guy (value: $6-8.00). Those with Sterling handles can cost upwards of $50-100.
Fabric
Fasteners
Measuring Tape
Needle Cases
Patterns
Certain vintage patterns sell for pretty good money, Vogue patterns and some costumes (around Halloween).
I love them for making sewing pattern bookmarks that sell very well for me at a Christmas craft show I take part in every year.
Pin Cushions
Related Articles:
Ribbon
Quilt Scraps
Scissors
Sewing Kits
Straight Pins
The new-to-me item, this cube of pins, is probably the most valuable item as well. It contains 100 German straight pins with glass heads (value: $10-15.00).
I’m not familiar with “toilet pins” are you? Could they have something to do with a woman’s cycle? Do tell.
Thimbles
Thread
I’m almost irresistibly drawn to thread–both the beautiful colors and the typography on the labels.
An easy way to sell the spools is to fill a cool vintage jar with them and price at $10-20 depending on the value of the jar. The small jar above sold for $10.
Keep in mind that silk thread sells well on eBay, often to fly fishermen who use it when making their own “flies.”
Related Articles:
- A Guide to Vintage & Antique Thread
- Bottle Brush Tree & Thread Decorations
- Herb Rack with Vintage Thread Spools
Trim
Where to Buy Sewing Notions
How to Sell Vintage Sewing Notions
I’ve found that one of the best ways to sell vintage sewing notions is to bundle them together and offer them for sale on Etsy or eBay. I’ve sold numerous collections this way in the $12-22 range.
I tend to group a variety of items together, rather than all the same sort, and let color and texture be my guide.
Other Articles You’ll Enjoy
Final Thoughts
For me, they are an enjoyable area of collecting that I can find at reasonable prices and sell at a decent markup. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Thanks for stopping by–
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe today
and get a FREE copy of my eBook:
Bye for now,
I’d love it if you’d pin me!
I’m with you Diana. I picked up a bag of sewing notions at an estate sale for $2, & couldn’t wait to get home & take out each piece. While nothing was valuable, I made several sales from it. And then there are the times I pick up other “goodie” bags & wish I had looked at it more closely.
I’ve never heard of “toilet pins” either. Agree with your opinions on the other items. Pinned.
Gosh Diana, I remember my grandmother having the cube of pins…I don’t know what she used them for, other than she was a seamstress and sewed for people. I know real glass head pins are special, because today’s fall off so easy. Great stash—I would be tempted to display them in an old sewing basket/tin and keep the lot! lol. Sandi
I think “toilet pins” were kept on a lady’s vanity as a part of her “toiletries”, the things she needed to get ready for the day. I have also heard of perfume being called “toilet water”. None of these things have anything to do with an actual toilet as we know it today. The pins would have been used for her clothing and hats.
You’re exactly right. These would have been kept on the lady’s vanity to fasten bits of fabric, veils, collars, and such, long before buttons were so widely available. Nuns who wore black habits used them frequently even in my lifetime to fasten complicated layers of clothing “Mourning Pins” are very similar. They have black glass heads but no shine.
Still great finds! Especially if you paid $1-2 for this baggie – should be a nice profit!
I love all of your finds…and the pretty graphics…especially the pin block!
I was just thinking the other day where you could find a darner. And there you have one in a beautiful blue. I only ever remember seeing them in plain wood. I would have grabbed it in a minute!
I remember the needle threader , the exact packaging. Will have to go look thru my mothers sewing tins again and see if its there. Seems like I have even used it before. Love sewing notions and buttons, etc and I don’t even sew!
I love old sewing notions and always keep a look out for them while thrifting!
Karee
Love all your sewing notions Diana. Right now, I don’t have any little scissors I want to frame, but love the idea, and the vintage letter is a perfect background. Thanks for sharing that. I do have quite a collection of sock darners and you have given me something to consider for a way to display them. You posts are always so interesting.
Hugs,
Audrey Z.
I. LOVE. VINTAGE. SEWING. SUPPLIES. I find them frequently in my thrifting.
I know how to use the needle threader, and I hope I can explain it. The needle is placed in the tube with, I believe, the hole at the top. Then, place the middle of an 18-inch length of thread (or the length that one would use to do some hand sewing) in the groove along side the tube. Then, press the lever. It will push the thread through, and you will see a loop. (You may have to push the lever a couple of times to get this to happen.) Pull on the loop so an inch or so is visible. Then, pull one side of the loop. You may have to hold the other end of the thread so that one end will freely move and the other won’t. Pull that one side all the way through so the end comes out. I don’t remember how to remove the needle, but turning it upside-down will do the trick. There! Your needle is threaded and ready to sew. It’s no wonder you were confused. That picture certainly doesn’t help, because it doesn’t show any of the steps! It’s a good graphic, though. LOL These items are still sold to this day.
I don’t sew but am obsessed with sewing notions. Love the ones you found!
I love old sewing items, too, Diana. Probably because my grandmother taught me to sew and she sewed most of the clothing that my brother and sister and I wore when we were children. For instance, I can’t get enough of the old wooden thread spools. I haven’t figured out what exactly to do with them yet. I bought a whole shoe box full of all different sizes, all empty and of various colors. A bunch of red ones and green ones that I wanted to use for some sort of holiday decor, but just couldn’t come up with an idea. Maybe next year.
You garnered some interesting items from your bag, though. The “toilet” pins are a puzzle to me, too. Except didn’t the word “toilet” used to be used to describe a lady’s bathing and beauty routine? I wonder if the toilet pins are being used in that capacity on the item. Still not sure how the straight pins would be used with that meaning. If they were safety pins I might imagine they would help hold some undergarment together or something like that. But not with straight pins—ouch! Let us know if you do any research on “toilet pins” and discover their use!
You have some great finds there. Found this info: Traditional Toilet Pins are Spanish-made, strong and quite beautiful! Originally used before buttons were commonplace as all-purpose fastener, now these extra-long pins are wonderful for pinning together very thick fabrics, like heavy curtains.
I have bags of stuff like that I have yet to go through! I do love a good bag of treasures though. You found some interesting things. Toilet pins? No idea!
Diana, I love the color on the darner. Toilet pins – Before the button became commonplace, many clothes were pinned together and a lady would have pins on her dressing table. The toilet pins come from and era when one would need pins for hats, corsage,etc. Thanks for sharing.
OMG! I had all of those items at one time (had been my grandmothers) but a couple years ago was thinning out stuff and donated them (plus much more). Never thought of them having any value.
I am a sucker for vintage sewing notions! I have never heard of those pins either. Vintage sewing items have some of the most fun graphics! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann