Thank you, Kaytie! That means a lot from you since you are an "op shop trawler" (and that phrase made me laugh, btw!) If I got everything I saw/liked/could use, my house would be overrun with thrift store shirts!!
LOL! 😂 I'm not sure about superior moral fiber!! Sometimes mid-shopping spree I remember how many shirts I still have to break down and I think, "hmm. Maybe I shouldn't get that one (or 3 or 7!!)" Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
I really enjoyed your shopping adventure. In fact, today I went to a thrift store and bought my first 100% cotton man's shirt that is plaid and suitable for Christmas quilt!!! Let the collecting begin!!
What i luv about your 'thrift with me vidos' is that they are very calm.. i think having someone with you to video and of course Pauls editing makes it enjoyable to watch.. i have seen some thrift with me where i felt like a nervous wreck watching it LOL
Lol! I can't imagine trying to film them by myself---and of course for me it's like just shopping with Paul. 😉 But I'm so glad you enjoy them, and I'm glad that I'm calm (at least on camera! Ha!)😂😘
The Goodwill in my town is so small, the men’s shirts fir on two racks about 20’ long each. I went looking for blue and/or grey stripe shirts and came home with 6 light blue check, grid or solid looking shirts and 1 grey grid pattern shirt. So now I am changing plans and making a blue and white 2” checkerboard quilt instead. And if I want more patterns, I’ll shop my stash of quilting Cotton’s.
I relate to your channel because I break down mens suit/sport coats and make handbags from patterns I developed by being “inspired” from bags I have seen. I also make quilts from fabric found at thrift stores. Only due to your channel have i recently looked to men’s shirts for fabric (I even recently bought some linen yardage and two cotton sheets at thrift store thanks to your inspiration) I must confess I patronize my local quilt shop at lot also. Recently to find matching hand quilting thread so I can finish a partially completed whole cloth baby quilt I saved at the thrift store. You are the first you tube channel I felt compelled to contact. Keep up the good work.
Judy!! Sorry for the late reply---I'm just now catching up on comments from "older" videos (more than the last one is older for me lol!) I LOVE this idea of making handbags from men's suit/sportcoat fabrics---genius!! 🤓🤩 I'm glad you've broadened your horizons to men's shirts; truly there are so many great shirts out there it's just hard to believe! I confess that I, too, patronize my local quilt shop AND I stand by using both thrifted fabric AND LQS fabric. Both are valid sources for fabric! Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, for watching my videos and especially for commenting! I feel the love and I'm giving it back to you in gratitude! ❤️
I've decided I need to go to the thrift store with you and follow along right behind you, buying the stuff you pass by. This is the third unicorn hunt of yours that I've watched, and you nixed what looked like a beautiful heavy indigo-dyed men's shirt, another long-sleeved shibori dyed shirt, light colored with dark wine-colored dye, and another dk blue and white shibori dyed pair of pants. I love ethnic fabrics, esp indigo dyed or ikat prints, I'm all over them when I find them in the thrift stores. I do a lot of boro and slow-stitch work, and those fabrics and linens are perfect for it.
It DOES sound like you need to tag along with me and get my castoffs! And isn't this just the best thing about quilters and quilting and fabric (in general) there are as many interests and tastes in fabric and styles as there are quilters!❤️
I had a friend (who has since passed away) and we liked a lot of the same things. You could not let her get ahead of you at a yard or rummage sale, she would pick that place clean before I even had a chance to choose anything! I miss her a lot...
I'm smiling! Thanks for taking us with you. You have such discipline. So jealous, so proud. Oh, and now when I see purple shirts I do think of you! I too do the "swish, cotton poly".😊
Marsha, so glad I could make you smile! I wish it was discipline (and not knowing how many shirts I still have to break down at home! 😱) But thank you thank you for the kind words and support! Also, "Swish, cotton poly" made me laugh! 😘
Thanks for taking us along with you on a hunting adventure. It was an interesting experience imagining the combinations of fabrics I’d put together in a quilt as you’d fly through the racks. Fun episode. 👏🏼👏🏼❤️
Thank you, Shannon! 🥰 There were so many shirts that I could have gotten if I was making a different kind of quilt!! (Flannel! My word the flannel that was there!) 🤩 Thanks always for watching and for your support---so glad you enjoyed this one! 😘
Wow! Where you live the men must dress up more than where I live (rural, farming MN) so I don't see such lovely shirts. Also, you're probably not seeing linen in the summer because more people shop the current season. Look for linen in the winter months when everyone is buying flannel. But I suspect you know that already. Keep up the great work! I love your videos.
So I have to share I actually bought five shirt the other day, $6.00/ each. Now do I need the fabric absolutely not, but you have weaken my curiosity. The shirts were a pin stripes with one being a small gingham. Wish me luck. I love your quilts and your videos so thank you for sharing. 👍❤️🙂
I just found you yesterday. I have never thought about thrifting men's shirts for quilting/sewing projects. This was so much fun going along with you to look at men's shirts! I am going tomorrow to look for men's shirts along with silk scarves that I collect.
It’s so funny watching you get excited about particular shirts. And wanting to buy a shirt because of the yoke, cuff, and placket details. Do you use these very small pieces? I have bought shirts but only rarely have I used them. However, I do want to make a quilt out of my husband’s shirts. Watching your work will help me. Shirts sometimes have such interesting fabrics-things you could never buy in fabric stores. At the moment I volunteer in a local thrift shop, and, as a volunteer, I can get fabric, shirts, or household linens at half off. The store is small, so we don’t have as big a collection as a Salvation Army or the like. Enjoying your videos. Thank you.
I have lived in Baton Rouge my entire life and I have never heard the expression “that’s kind of I”. It’s my new favorite saying. If everything was half off and the price was not too expensive to begin I would have bought anything I loved even if it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I admire your discipline. Thanks for taking me shopping. I have never encountered corduroy at the thrift store. I would love too. I like to put different textures in toddler quilts.
Oh corduroy in toddler quilts!! Destry, what a great idea!! 🤩 The texture! 😍 And the phrase is "kind of high!!" but "kind of I" works too, I think! 😂 I'm not sure it's discipline as much as knowing how many shirts I already have that need to be taken apart!! 😱 (But I'll take the compliment anyway!) 😘
Hi Cathy and Paul, I have been watching you for about 2 months now and this video has finally inspired me to be brave enough to start a "shirt hunt" at my local thrift shops!
Oh Giselle!! That is so wonderful!! ❤️ You will not regret it---but if you don't find amazing shirts on your first go, be patient! It is definitely a feast-or-famine sort of shopping practice! 😉🤓🤞🏻
Get the shirt, get the shirt! I'm yelling to the screen. But I know you must already have a pile at home. I love all your videos but op shopping has a special place in my heart.
I love the excitement you show when you find something that you love. Little happy dance. 💃🏻 I’ve been looking at clothes differently now that I’ve been watching your videos. I have a cute plaid skirt from Talbots that is now destined to become a couple of yards of fabric. 😉
Andrea, it is crazy how quickly some random shirt becomes, "oh that would make a great low volume for X-Y-Z quilt I'm making!!" And I have retired more than one shirt of my own to my fabric stash!! 😘
The cord that you were talking about - see the description below: Pinwale corduroy The opposite of elephant cord, pinwale corduroy features a large number of tiny ridges in every square inch. Some of the finest forms of pinwale corduroy can feature up to 21 wales per inch. I did not know about Elephant Cord...I learned something new!
YES! Learning is my favorite!! ❤️ And of course learning the names of things (especially fabrics) is top of the list! Hooray! 🤩 Thanks for sharing! 😊🤓👍🏻
I loved the plum shirt, too! Sometimes I would guess when you might say, "muted." Love ya! btw, when folks post that, "Paul is a saint.", I just want to add that you are, too. Supportive wives and husbands are are a "beautiful thing." I'm thankful for my husband, too. OK, time to get off and no more air quotes from me! 🪡🎽👕 You are the Goat- Greatest of all time quilt maker from men's shirts 🤩
That plum shirt! 😍 Thank you, Susan for your kind words and support---Paul and I are definitely a good team, and it sounds like you and your husband are too!! Aren't we both the lucky ones! ❤️ Love the air quotes, so keep that up! 😘
I love to go shopping with you and Paul - my favorite videos! Often I see shirts that I think would be great in Christmas quilts such as that black plaid with red in it. Recently purchased (even though I swore I could not purchase anymore men's shirts!!) a beautiful emerald green gingham shirt - I LOVE the color and can't wait to use it.❤❤
You had me at "emerald green gingham!" 🤩❤️😘 So glad you enjoy these videos, Mary Beth! And yes, I agree there are often lots of shirts that would be beautiful in Christmas quilts!! ❤️
Your BSO is my " squirrel" distraction. Love watching these. My nearest big thrift shop is an hour away, the local one is sponsored by my church, and very small. The mens dept would fit in a 12x16 ft. ? Room.
Was wanting the plaid flannel shirts you restrained yourself from buying! Been working on a variety of plaid flannels for a 2024 quilt for my niece and her husband. Now just need to re-watch your video and break them down! Thanks for taking us shopping with you!
I KNEW there would be viewers who would say, "aahhhh! I need those flannel shirts!" 🤓😁 If only I could shop literally with (or for!) the viewers whose projects I know about! That would be FUN! 🤩
Thanks for taking us along. I'm so envious of the prices before having a half price day - you did really well. Like you I'm struggling to find greens. But I love the turquoise linen you found. Hope you enjoy sewing with them.
Maggie, the greens are always the hardest for me. ALWAYS! I feel like I need to design a line of green fabric (in every shade)---I think quilters everywhere would thank me! 😂🤓❤️
LOVE this shopping trip video.! There were several shirts I would have bought that you returned to the rack - you exercised more restraint than I would have. I’ve been busy breaking down gingham shirts - I so love your gingham quilt - and I have many more shirts to break down before beginning my gingham quilt. I’m wanting to make mine king size and I just may do it. 😁😍👏
Yay, shopping day! There were a couple more I would have gotten...the dark grey and the dark one with the kaleidoscope type pattern on it, but that's just me. It's always fun to listen to you think out loud ♥
Ragath----you're right, $8 is not really a bargain unless your fabric by the yard is more than $8, in which case you're still saving money (since one L or XL shirt is close to a yard of fabric!) 😉🤓
Looks like you had a good day! Oh don't you hate when you see a great color shirt, get all excited, and then... it's poly-cotton?! lol, I found a "vintage" Strawberry shortcake fitted sheet in excellent shape, I am not sure what to use it for, yet but I still got it. I do not have your iron will😅
I'm not sure it's an iron will as much as the knowledge of how many shirts I have at home that need breaking down! 😱 But I bet your Strawberry shortcake sheet will be super fun to quilt with! 😊
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Yes! My girls (youngest is 19 so "technically adults lol) are all wanting Strawberry Shortcake pillow and/or another makeup bag so it will be used and well-loved, and you just can't beat buying that much CUTE fabric for $1.50 😁
Absolutely wish I’d been there with you 🤔🤷♀️ I’ve never seen that many shirts in one place 😮 I would be able to get lots more shirts for my blue and white quilt 🤣🤣 Thanks for taking me with you 👍🇬🇧
Glynis, you know I'd be happy to have you with me any day!! ❤️ It WAS a TON of shirts! Sometimes when there are that many it can be kinda daunting to go through them all! 😱 You're gonna have more fabric than you know what to do with for that blue and white quilt! 😘
Angie, it ended up being a great haul, and YES it was so little money in the end! I think I need to design a whole line of green fabrics (one in every hue) because matching greens is SO HARD! 😱
Kathy I love when you do these videos, I’m from Arkansas so I relate to the southern language😁 I hunt thrift store always, right now hunting Gingham after I saw your Gingham quilt. Thank you for all your content❤️
Thank you, Julie! It's nice to know that my fellow Southerners get the references! 😘 You will not regret finding gingham and quilting with it---it was a FUN quilt to make! ❤️
I think these are my favorite videos that you and Paul make. I might have to make a trip to AL just to see these thrift stores. Compared to CA the prices are SOOOO good!!
I don't know why that surprises me, Caitlin, but it does! I'm so glad you enjoy these videos--I feel like you (and many others) are with me when I shop! 🥰 Almost everything in Alabama is cheaper than CA I bet! 😳😊
Loved this newest video. Thank you! What restraint! What an inspiration! I’m afraid if it had been me, I’d be telling my husband to go get a shopping cart (I.e. buggy 😁)…so I could FILL IT! I’m headed out to a GOODWILL store which just opened up in our town. I can’t wait to see what fabric treasures I find!
Thank you, Denise! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! 🥰 Good luck with your Goodwill shopping trip--I hope you find lots of great bargains and gorgeous shirts! 🤞🏻🍀🤩
My first visit to our new GOODWILL store yielded two king sized pillowcases - 100% cotton that feature super cute cats and dogs. They cost $1.99 for the two! They’ve been deconstructed, washed and dried, ready for their new life in a quilty project. More return visits are already being planned! WOO-HOO!
Oohh, love all those shirts! I'm like, "oohh, linen, I must have that"! Then I can find a project later on.😂 Using a taupe linen shirt in a pattern currently. Looks devine.❤ And it certainly needed starch.🤣
Linen and starch are like peas and carrots or peanut butter and jelly! The perfect pairing! 😁 I knew you would love my shirt purchases in this video---I wish we were closer so we could do a swap from time to time! ❤️
Aww!! Thank you!! ❤️ I'm glad to have you with me on my shopping trips! I would love to see you in action---I bet you are a force to be reckoned with! 😘🤓
The 70’s Christmas wrapping paper looks to me like maybe a royal Stewart tartan. There were tartans associated with different clan names, and I know LL Bean and Lands End were using a bunch of them 15-20 years ago. I sympathize with the unicorn searches. I can never find what I need when there’s something specific!
Valerie, thank you for giving me a specific name for that tartan! You know I like knowing the real names of fabrics! And yes, my goodness, the unicorns! I'm going to start making my own fabric so I can get what I want!! 🤓
Do you have a video that shows how you take a shirt apart and how you cut it for a project? It may seem obvious but I have yet to make my first quilt and I’m wondering how to maximize my fabrics.
@@Imjetta7 oh I have the whole series! Lol. I thought you might just need a link for the first video! You can find them all in under the “videos” tab. And I think we may have a playlist with these videos as well!
Photos of camera bag construction (and pattern) are on now my Patreon page---available to everyone, not just patrons! 🤓👍🏻 Link to Patreon is in the description box of the video! 😘
Hi Kathy! I'm curious...what do you do with the collar and the cuffs? Looks like it would only be enough fabric for one or two squares. Thanks for all your insight :) Love your videos - I'm learning so much from you :)
I'm currently working on a long-term project that is a scrappy star set in a navy background, so I'm saving up (aka hoarding) special and interesting shirt fabrics for that project! The center pieces of the star are fairly small so I'm hoping I can use them there! ❤️
Robin, you know he did! He generally encourages me to get a lot of things that I hesitate to get (if he knows I secretly really want to get it!) Sometimes he's like, "it's a no from me." 😂 Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
I have something in common with you. In a four months period we have had to replace both my car and my husband's car. My husband's due to a car accident and my transmission just died. Both were paid off and we thought we'd have them for a few more years. So goes life. Great video and great deals. I love thrifting and looking at men's shirts. I'm always looking for the half off tags. It's so much easier to spend $2.50 for a shirt then the normal $4.99.
Oh, girl! Replacing cars (especially ones that are paid off!) = the WORST! Thanks as always for watching and commenting--I'm glad you enjoyed this one! ❤️ And you are SO right, spending is easier on those half-off days with $2.50 price tags!! 😍🤩
Love watching you thrift! I live in Ontario Canada and would love to get your prices. We have Value Village and they want $15.00 for one used shirt. It’s hard to be thrifty at those prices. The other thrift stores are $5.00 to $10.00 per shirt.
Depends on the shirt! I generally think of each shirt as a yard (if it is a large or bigger) but because it’s broken up into shirt pieces, it doesn’t work like a full yard of fabric.
Brenda, part of it is I just love linen in general! But what I love about it for quilts is how soft it becomes over time (with washing and use), how textural and crinkly it is, how easy it is to care for it (wash and dry, on almost any setting), and how heavy it is while still being very breathable. If there was a "perfect" fabric, linen might be at the top for me! ❤️
Love your shirt haul!!! One of the thrift stores where I shop have ALL of their men’s shirts at $2.50 all the time. Tell me some colors and I will happily send your way.
Christina, you are the sweetest!! I might send you a swatch of one of those ombre 2.5" strips and you can keep your eye out for the "unicorn"--a teal/green that matches!
It's because it's not quite "live" on Patreon yet!! But coming next week (or maybe in a day or two) 😉 It will be the same name: The Catbird Quilts And yay!! Thank you! 🥰
I did a little clap clap, Kathy’s going shopping again. Did I blink during a previous video when you mentioned a patreon channel? I went to patreon app and looked, nothing came up. I skimmed the transcript and fast forward and couldn’t find the part of the video where it was mentioned. How do I look?
You may have blinked, but it's not your imagination---The Catbird Quilts Patreon is coming! (woot woot!) ❤️ Not fully up and running yet, but look for it in the next week! 🤩🤓🥰
Dying when you turn down $7.99 as too expensive. Ours are usually $16.99 at Value Village, &14+ at Goodwill, or $10+ at Deseret Industries. 😢 Also, add me to the Get It! Chorus.
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I’m very lucky that I can afford fabric store prices, so no hate required. Just frustration that I can’t reach through my screen!!! I am trying to buy more used/vintage/upcyclable stuff, though, and am treasure hunting that way. - Cassandra
I remember Gallagher but not bing bing!! Now I'll have to Google that! And you are so right ("Typical quilter's response") LOL!! We do love to encourage our fellow quilters to get the good fabric! ❤️
Hi, I'm just curious ... Is quilting/sewing just an expensive hobby or is there any chance to get money back on things you make in order to buy more for your hobby?
Hey grumpy! It can get very expensive, especially if you consider the time and/or have quilts professionally quilted. Some people do sell quilts or make them on commission and recoup their costs; most people aren't able to charge what they are *truly* worth when you factor in the time it takes, the materials, and the skill needed to make them, though.
As a keen op shop trawler, I always enjoy these videos. I get to shop vicariously. But, wow, you are so disciplined!
Thank you, Kaytie! That means a lot from you since you are an "op shop trawler" (and that phrase made me laugh, btw!) If I got everything I saw/liked/could use, my house would be overrun with thrift store shirts!!
Thanks for taking us with you. I love the hunt! I found a wonderful little girl dress, red and white pucker seersucker Strasburg dress. Beautiful.
Thanks Paul for the summary the end!
Isn't he the best?!
I love shopping for shirts while I'm laying on the couch!
Robin, your comments made me LOL!
Nice collection there. I would have had to have bought another 5 shirts at least. You have superior moral fiber!
LOL! 😂 I'm not sure about superior moral fiber!! Sometimes mid-shopping spree I remember how many shirts I still have to break down and I think, "hmm. Maybe I shouldn't get that one (or 3 or 7!!)" Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
Excellent pun!
Cathy, you don't need to hide your Hee haw roots! Thanks for taking us shopping with you.
Sarah! I can sing that whole Hee Haw song word-for-word, but I bet you knew that already, didn't you! 😘
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I expect we had similar childhoods, sitting on the floor in Grandma's living room, watching wholesome TV
Love Paul’s sounds effects. Angelic “ahhhhh”. And all together now “you met another . . . . “
RIght?! He is a hoot! (and so was Hee Haw--glad to know I'm not alone!)❤️
I really enjoyed your shopping adventure. In fact, today I went to a thrift store and bought my first 100% cotton man's shirt that is plaid and suitable for Christmas quilt!!! Let the collecting begin!!
Hooray!! So glad you enjoyed our shopping trip together---it is almost as much fun shopping and collecting shirts as it is quilting with them! ❤️
What i luv about your 'thrift with me vidos' is that they are very calm.. i think having someone with you to video and of course Pauls editing makes it enjoyable to watch.. i have seen some thrift with me where i felt like a nervous wreck watching it LOL
Lol! I can't imagine trying to film them by myself---and of course for me it's like just shopping with Paul. 😉 But I'm so glad you enjoy them, and I'm glad that I'm calm (at least on camera! Ha!)😂😘
The Goodwill in my town is so small, the men’s shirts fir on two racks about 20’ long each. I went looking for blue and/or grey stripe shirts and came home with 6 light blue check, grid or solid looking shirts and 1 grey grid pattern shirt. So now I am changing plans and making a blue and white 2” checkerboard quilt instead. And if I want more patterns, I’ll shop my stash of quilting Cotton’s.
I relate to your channel because I break down mens suit/sport coats and make handbags from patterns I developed by being “inspired” from bags I have seen. I also make quilts from fabric found at thrift stores. Only due to your channel have i recently looked to men’s shirts for fabric (I even recently bought some linen yardage and two cotton sheets at thrift store thanks to your inspiration) I must confess I patronize my local quilt shop at lot also. Recently to find matching hand quilting thread so I can finish a partially completed whole cloth baby quilt I saved at the thrift store. You are the first you tube channel I felt compelled to contact. Keep up the good work.
Judy!! Sorry for the late reply---I'm just now catching up on comments from "older" videos (more than the last one is older for me lol!)
I LOVE this idea of making handbags from men's suit/sportcoat fabrics---genius!! 🤓🤩 I'm glad you've broadened your horizons to men's shirts; truly there are so many great shirts out there it's just hard to believe! I confess that I, too, patronize my local quilt shop AND I stand by using both thrifted fabric AND LQS fabric. Both are valid sources for fabric!
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, for watching my videos and especially for commenting! I feel the love and I'm giving it back to you in gratitude! ❤️
I used to do that same thing, only I went to yard sales in areas that executives lived. Really nice fabric.
I've decided I need to go to the thrift store with you and follow along right behind you, buying the stuff you pass by.
This is the third unicorn hunt of yours that I've watched, and you nixed what looked like a beautiful heavy indigo-dyed men's shirt, another long-sleeved shibori dyed shirt, light colored with dark wine-colored dye, and another dk blue and white shibori dyed pair of pants.
I love ethnic fabrics, esp indigo dyed or ikat prints, I'm all over them when I find them in the thrift stores. I do a lot of boro and slow-stitch work, and those fabrics and linens are perfect for it.
It DOES sound like you need to tag along with me and get my castoffs! And isn't this just the best thing about quilters and quilting and fabric (in general) there are as many interests and tastes in fabric and styles as there are quilters!❤️
I had a friend (who has since passed away) and we liked a lot of the same things. You could not let her get ahead of you at a yard or rummage sale, she would pick that place clean before I even had a chance to choose anything! I miss her a lot...
You need that one that looks like hand quilting……I love that one….
I really considered it. But the texture felt so strange!
I'm smiling! Thanks for taking us with you. You have such discipline. So jealous, so proud. Oh, and now when I see purple shirts I do think of you! I too do the "swish, cotton poly".😊
Marsha, so glad I could make you smile! I wish it was discipline (and not knowing how many shirts I still have to break down at home! 😱) But thank you thank you for the kind words and support! Also, "Swish, cotton poly" made me laugh! 😘
Thanks for taking us along with you on a hunting adventure. It was an interesting experience imagining the combinations of fabrics I’d put together in a quilt as you’d fly through the racks. Fun episode. 👏🏼👏🏼❤️
Thank you, Shannon! 🥰 There were so many shirts that I could have gotten if I was making a different kind of quilt!! (Flannel! My word the flannel that was there!) 🤩 Thanks always for watching and for your support---so glad you enjoyed this one! 😘
Wow! Where you live the men must dress up more than where I live (rural, farming MN) so I don't see such lovely shirts. Also, you're probably not seeing linen in the summer because more people shop the current season. Look for linen in the winter months when everyone is buying flannel. But I suspect you know that already. Keep up the great work! I love your videos.
Well that was fun! I so would have taken that "good green" striped shirt home!
I’ve never worked with a herringbone fabric. If they fray a lot that makes them perfect for rag quilts. Now that is on my hunt for list.
I love the golds, brown beiges and the blacks, grays with bright colors for a contrast.
So I have to share I actually bought five shirt the other day, $6.00/ each. Now do I need the fabric absolutely not, but you have weaken my curiosity. The shirts were a pin stripes with one being a small gingham. Wish me luck. I love your quilts and your videos so thank you for sharing. 👍❤️🙂
I just found you yesterday. I have never thought about thrifting men's shirts for quilting/sewing projects. This was so much fun going along with you to look at men's shirts! I am going tomorrow to look for men's shirts along with silk scarves that I collect.
So glad you found me-welcome! 😊🤓❤️ I hope you find some wonderful men’s shirts to use for fabric!! 🤞🏻
It’s so funny watching you get excited about particular shirts. And wanting to buy a shirt because of the yoke, cuff, and placket details. Do you use these very small pieces? I have bought shirts but only rarely have I used them. However, I do want to make a quilt out of my husband’s shirts. Watching your work will help me. Shirts sometimes have such interesting fabrics-things you could never buy in fabric stores. At the moment I volunteer in a local thrift shop, and, as a volunteer, I can get fabric, shirts, or household linens at half off. The store is small, so we don’t have as big a collection as a Salvation Army or the like. Enjoying your videos. Thank you.
You should have bought that green striped shirt. I liked it a lot.
Mary, I do use the very small pieces---not often, and not always in quilts, but they get used!
I really loved watching this!
The excitement my first shirt charity shop run 🙌. 100% cotton now to follow your break down episodes & make a stash 🎉. Thank you 😊
What fun! Your husband is a saint❤❤
Thank you! He is!🥰
I have lived in Baton Rouge my entire life and I have never heard the expression “that’s kind of I”. It’s my new favorite saying. If everything was half off and the price was not too expensive to begin I would have bought anything I loved even if it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I admire your discipline. Thanks for taking me shopping. I have never encountered corduroy at the thrift store. I would love too. I like to put different textures in toddler quilts.
Oh corduroy in toddler quilts!! Destry, what a great idea!! 🤩 The texture! 😍 And the phrase is "kind of high!!" but "kind of I" works too, I think! 😂 I'm not sure it's discipline as much as knowing how many shirts I already have that need to be taken apart!! 😱 (But I'll take the compliment anyway!) 😘
Hi Cathy and Paul, I have been watching you for about 2 months now and this video has finally inspired me to be brave enough to start a "shirt hunt" at my local thrift shops!
Oh Giselle!! That is so wonderful!! ❤️ You will not regret it---but if you don't find amazing shirts on your first go, be patient! It is definitely a feast-or-famine sort of shopping practice! 😉🤓🤞🏻
I am not sure why I haven’t watched all your videos yet! Love your thoughts as you go.
Thank you, Tina! ❤️I hope you enjoy them all! 😊
Get the shirt, get the shirt! I'm yelling to the screen. But I know you must already have a pile at home. I love all your videos but op shopping has a special place in my heart.
Lol! Nicole, I DO have a pile at home and it's getting out of hand!! 😱
I love the excitement you show when you find something that you love. Little happy dance. 💃🏻 I’ve been looking at clothes differently now that I’ve been watching your videos. I have a cute plaid skirt from Talbots that is now destined to become a couple of yards of fabric. 😉
Andrea, it is crazy how quickly some random shirt becomes, "oh that would make a great low volume for X-Y-Z quilt I'm making!!" And I have retired more than one shirt of my own to my fabric stash!! 😘
Here in the UK - our charity shops are small and only a tiny selection of men's shirts as they have to fit in so much other stuff.
Love to see you shop❤
I got a couple of black shirts with some grey, gorgeous fabric. I am going to have to look how you cut them up again…..
The cord that you were talking about - see the description below:
Pinwale corduroy
The opposite of elephant cord, pinwale corduroy features a large number of tiny ridges in every square inch. Some of the finest forms of pinwale corduroy can feature up to 21 wales per inch.
I did not know about Elephant Cord...I learned something new!
YES! Learning is my favorite!! ❤️ And of course learning the names of things (especially fabrics) is top of the list! Hooray! 🤩 Thanks for sharing! 😊🤓👍🏻
I loved the plum shirt, too! Sometimes I would guess when you might say, "muted." Love ya! btw, when folks post that, "Paul is a saint.", I just want to add that you are, too. Supportive wives and husbands are are a "beautiful thing." I'm thankful for my husband, too. OK, time to get off and no more air quotes from me! 🪡🎽👕 You are the Goat- Greatest of all time quilt maker from men's shirts 🤩
That plum shirt! 😍 Thank you, Susan for your kind words and support---Paul and I are definitely a good team, and it sounds like you and your husband are too!! Aren't we both the lucky ones! ❤️ Love the air quotes, so keep that up! 😘
Thanks for taking us shopping. I love seeing how you catorigze shirts. Always enjoy your videos
Thank you, Jeanette! Thank you for coming along with me on my shopping trip! ❤️
As usual I enjoyed this video I always learn something from you thanks for sharing
Thank you, Darla! I'm so glad you enjoyed it---thank you so much for watching and for commenting! ❤️🤓🥰
I love to go shopping with you and Paul - my favorite videos! Often I see shirts that I think would be great in Christmas quilts such as that black plaid with red in it. Recently purchased (even though I swore I could not purchase anymore men's shirts!!) a beautiful emerald green gingham shirt - I LOVE the color and can't wait to use it.❤❤
You had me at "emerald green gingham!" 🤩❤️😘 So glad you enjoy these videos, Mary Beth! And yes, I agree there are often lots of shirts that would be beautiful in Christmas quilts!! ❤️
I really enjoyed this! I was saying, get the green stripe!
Oh yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it--and I wish I had gotten that green striped shirt! ❤️
I’m dying 😂”where oh where are you tonight” ❤
LOL! That one came from deep in the recesses of my childhood! 😂
Your BSO is my " squirrel" distraction. Love watching these. My nearest big thrift shop is an hour away, the local one is sponsored by my church, and very small. The mens dept would fit in a 12x16 ft. ? Room.
Gail, so glad you enjoy these thrift haul videos!
At 25 seconds: *GASP!* Ohhhhh goodie goodie I've been waiting for this!
I'm so predictable. 😁
You are. And I love it!!
“Kinda high” also means expensive in the north
Good to know! I said it and thought, "hmm. I bet not everyone uses this phrase!"
Was wanting the plaid flannel shirts you restrained yourself from buying! Been working on a variety of plaid flannels for a 2024 quilt for my niece and her husband. Now just need to re-watch your video and break them down! Thanks for taking us shopping with you!
I KNEW there would be viewers who would say, "aahhhh! I need those flannel shirts!" 🤓😁 If only I could shop literally with (or for!) the viewers whose projects I know about! That would be FUN! 🤩
@@TheCatBirdQuilts would love to shop With you anytime!
Thanks for taking us along. I'm so envious of the prices before having a half price day - you did really well.
Like you I'm struggling to find greens. But I love the turquoise linen you found.
Hope you enjoy sewing with them.
Maggie, the greens are always the hardest for me. ALWAYS! I feel like I need to design a line of green fabric (in every shade)---I think quilters everywhere would thank me! 😂🤓❤️
LOVE this shopping trip video.! There were several shirts I would have bought that you returned to the rack - you exercised more restraint than I would have. I’ve been busy breaking down gingham shirts - I so love your gingham quilt - and I have many more shirts to break down before beginning my gingham quilt. I’m wanting to make mine king size and I just may do it. 😁😍👏
Renea, I think you should go for it!! The gingham blocks come together so fast and they are so pretty when it's all put together!! ❤️
Yay, shopping day!
There were a couple more I would have gotten...the dark grey and the dark one with the kaleidoscope type pattern on it, but that's just me. It's always fun to listen to you think out loud ♥
Aw, Kim! Wish you could have been here to talk me into that grey shirt and the kaleidoscope one! ❤️ Love having you with me as always!
I was rooting for the kaleidoscope shirt as well!
As was I.
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I wish I was there too!
Loved this! Where I live a good large or extra large shirt is $8. Not a bargain for quilting.
Ragath----you're right, $8 is not really a bargain unless your fabric by the yard is more than $8, in which case you're still saving money (since one L or XL shirt is close to a yard of fabric!) 😉🤓
Looks like you had a good day! Oh don't you hate when you see a great color shirt, get all excited, and then... it's poly-cotton?! lol, I found a "vintage" Strawberry shortcake fitted sheet in excellent shape, I am not sure what to use it for, yet but I still got it. I do not have your iron will😅
I'm not sure it's an iron will as much as the knowledge of how many shirts I have at home that need breaking down! 😱 But I bet your Strawberry shortcake sheet will be super fun to quilt with! 😊
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Yes! My girls (youngest is 19 so "technically adults lol) are all wanting Strawberry Shortcake pillow and/or another makeup bag so it will be used and well-loved, and you just can't beat buying that much CUTE fabric for $1.50 😁
Oh, that was so fun, thanks for bringing me along
Thank you, K! It was fun being there so I'm glad you came along with me and enjoyed it, too! ❤️
Absolutely wish I’d been there with you 🤔🤷♀️ I’ve never seen that many shirts in one place 😮 I would be able to get lots more shirts for my blue and white quilt 🤣🤣 Thanks for taking me with you 👍🇬🇧
Glynis, you know I'd be happy to have you with me any day!! ❤️ It WAS a TON of shirts! Sometimes when there are that many it can be kinda daunting to go through them all! 😱 You're gonna have more fabric than you know what to do with for that blue and white quilt! 😘
That red would make nice binding….maybe?
Oh! I loved that green striped shirt! It was a great green. Wow you did great! Nice haul for so little money.
Angie, it ended up being a great haul, and YES it was so little money in the end! I think I need to design a whole line of green fabrics (one in every hue) because matching greens is SO HARD! 😱
It's me!! Yes, buy it!!! 😂 I surely would have gotten some of the ones you passed on 🫣
LOL! I transcended time and heard you while I was there shopping, didn't I? 😘
Kathy I love when you do these videos, I’m from Arkansas so I relate to the southern language😁 I hunt thrift store always, right now hunting Gingham after I saw your Gingham quilt. Thank you for all your content❤️
Thank you, Julie! It's nice to know that my fellow Southerners get the references! 😘 You will not regret finding gingham and quilting with it---it was a FUN quilt to make! ❤️
Like the green stripe, and that paisley…..
Love to go thrifting. Thank you. Would like to buy them all, but can't.only a thrifter could get this excited.
Thanks for watching, Pam! ❤️ I feel the same---so many great shirts, so little time!
I think these are my favorite videos that you and Paul make. I might have to make a trip to AL just to see these thrift stores. Compared to CA the prices are SOOOO good!!
I don't know why that surprises me, Caitlin, but it does! I'm so glad you enjoy these videos--I feel like you (and many others) are with me when I shop! 🥰 Almost everything in Alabama is cheaper than CA I bet! 😳😊
I've found some treasures in the short sleeve section 😊 Don't pass it off;)
I sure would like to go shopping with you girl!
Loved this newest video. Thank you! What restraint! What an inspiration! I’m afraid if it had been me, I’d be telling my husband to go get a shopping cart (I.e. buggy 😁)…so I could FILL IT! I’m headed out to a GOODWILL store which just opened up in our town. I can’t wait to see what fabric treasures I find!
Thank you, Denise! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! 🥰 Good luck with your Goodwill shopping trip--I hope you find lots of great bargains and gorgeous shirts! 🤞🏻🍀🤩
My first visit to our new GOODWILL store yielded two king sized pillowcases - 100% cotton that feature super cute cats and dogs. They cost $1.99 for the two! They’ve been deconstructed, washed and dried, ready for their new life in a quilty project. More return visits are already being planned! WOO-HOO!
Oohh, love all those shirts! I'm like, "oohh, linen, I must have that"! Then I can find a project later on.😂 Using a taupe linen shirt in a pattern currently. Looks devine.❤ And it certainly needed starch.🤣
Linen and starch are like peas and carrots or peanut butter and jelly! The perfect pairing! 😁 I knew you would love my shirt purchases in this video---I wish we were closer so we could do a swap from time to time! ❤️
I = LoVe = shopping with you!
Aww!! Thank you!! ❤️ I'm glad to have you with me on my shopping trips! I would love to see you in action---I bet you are a force to be reckoned with! 😘🤓
I want that striped one, light tan….
"If I find some gingham..." I'm right there with ya, Cathy!
I mean, who can turn down half-price gingham?!❤️ Thanks, Janet, for the solidarity and support! I feel seen! 🥰😘
The 70’s Christmas wrapping paper looks to me like maybe a royal Stewart tartan. There were tartans associated with different clan names, and I know LL Bean and Lands End were using a bunch of them 15-20 years ago. I sympathize with the unicorn searches. I can never find what I need when there’s something specific!
Valerie, thank you for giving me a specific name for that tartan! You know I like knowing the real names of fabrics! And yes, my goodness, the unicorns! I'm going to start making my own fabric so I can get what I want!! 🤓
Do you have a video that shows how you take a shirt apart and how you cut it for a project? It may seem obvious but I have yet to make my first quilt and I’m wondering how to maximize my fabrics.
I do! You can watch part one of how to break down a shirt here: th-cam.com/video/0loHzQtmp6Q/w-d-xo.html
@@TheCatBirdQuilts awesome, thank you! Any plans to do the rest?
@@Imjetta7 oh I have the whole series! Lol. I thought you might just need a link for the first video! You can find them all in under the “videos” tab. And I think we may have a playlist with these videos as well!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Thank you! I probably could normally, but I’ve been traveling for three weeks and I’m a bit muddled. 😂
Hello Cathy. I would like to see the camera bag you made your husband, it sounds interesting. I enjoy seeing the shopping videos, thanks for sharing
Marcella, I don't have a good way to put photos on here on YT. Do you happen to follow me on Instagram or FB? If so I will send you a photo!
Photos of camera bag construction (and pattern) are on now my Patreon page---available to everyone, not just patrons! 🤓👍🏻
Link to Patreon is in the description box of the video! 😘
Hi Kathy! I'm curious...what do you do with the collar and the cuffs? Looks like it would only be enough fabric for one or two squares. Thanks for all your insight :) Love your videos - I'm learning so much from you :)
I'm currently working on a long-term project that is a scrappy star set in a navy background, so I'm saving up (aka hoarding) special and interesting shirt fabrics for that project! The center pieces of the star are fairly small so I'm hoping I can use them there! ❤️
Love watching you shop and Paul moving camera. Saying NO , lol
Robin, you know he did! He generally encourages me to get a lot of things that I hesitate to get (if he knows I secretly really want to get it!) Sometimes he's like, "it's a no from me." 😂
Thanks for watching and for commenting! ❤️
I have something in common with you. In a four months period we have had to replace both my car and my husband's car. My husband's due to a car accident and my transmission just died. Both were paid off and we thought we'd have them for a few more years. So goes life. Great video and great deals. I love thrifting and looking at men's shirts. I'm always looking for the half off tags. It's so much easier to spend $2.50 for a shirt then the normal $4.99.
Oh, girl! Replacing cars (especially ones that are paid off!) = the WORST! Thanks as always for watching and commenting--I'm glad you enjoyed this one! ❤️ And you are SO right, spending is easier on those half-off days with $2.50 price tags!! 😍🤩
Great haul!😅
Love watching you thrift! I live in Ontario Canada and would love to get your prices. We have Value Village and they want $15.00 for one used shirt. It’s hard to be thrifty at those prices. The other thrift stores are $5.00 to $10.00 per shirt.
Sandy, "Value Village" needs to get a new name since that is not really a value!! It IS hard to be thrifty at those prices! 😱
Those are the kinds of prices we see in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What is the estimated yardage you will get from the 12 shirts?
Depends on the shirt! I generally think of each shirt as a yard (if it is a large or bigger) but because it’s broken up into shirt pieces, it doesn’t work like a full yard of fabric.
The southern idiom explanations crack me up😂and remind me how much ‘southern’ I have become
It gets in your bones when you're not looking. 😂 And of course, we Southerners believe that everyone is the better for it when that happens! 😘
Just curious why you love linen so much for quilts. I shop for shirts too.
Brenda, part of it is I just love linen in general! But what I love about it for quilts is how soft it becomes over time (with washing and use), how textural and crinkly it is, how easy it is to care for it (wash and dry, on almost any setting), and how heavy it is while still being very breathable. If there was a "perfect" fabric, linen might be at the top for me! ❤️
@@TheCatBirdQuilts thank you for your reply. I will look into some linen in shirts and try it out. It will be an interesting trial.
you may have already said at one point and I just missed it...but what do you do with all the buttons?
I have mine in a jar. Haven't been able to come up with anything fun, creative or exciting yet! (open to suggestions tho!)
@@TheCatBirdQuilts mine are in a jar!! No clue what to do with them!
So excited for this video love the thrifting video's... Fingers crossed
Thank you, Dana! ❤️ I think it was a good (productive) one!
Yes loved it !!!! Always wishing you quilty thrifty luck!!! Hello half off!!! Teehee so fun thank you for sharing
19 Shirts? Holy Cow! What a great hee haw haul! lololol ;)
Right?! Crazy!
Hey Cathy!
Hey, my friend!! ❤️
Love your shirt haul!!! One of the thrift stores where I shop have ALL of their men’s shirts at $2.50 all the time. Tell me some colors and I will happily send your way.
Christina, you are the sweetest!! I might send you a swatch of one of those ombre 2.5" strips and you can keep your eye out for the "unicorn"--a teal/green that matches!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I’ve been putting together a box for you! Hope you enjoy it. Hopefully it will be mailed tomorrow.
Envious of the prices in the US. Thrifting in Sweden is not nearly so affordable. I do miss the US for some things! :)
Marcia, I have heard similar comments from others outside the US! It has made me approach thrift shopping with more gratitude! ❤️
Great haul!
Nice haul!
Thank you, Heike! I was surprised in the end how many shirts I got!! 😱🤩
@@TheCatBirdQuilts that's the way to get some great deals. ❤️
If you use linen, why do you not buy ladies linen pants at the thrift store?
I do actually buy them when I can find them! 🤓❤️
I have looked for you on Patreon without success. How are you listed on Patreon? Thank you. Look forward to every video!
It's because it's not quite "live" on Patreon yet!! But coming next week (or maybe in a day or two) 😉 It will be the same name: The Catbird Quilts
And yay!! Thank you! 🥰
So eager, am I. Thanks for the super quick response.
Thanks for asking this question as I had the same one! And Cathy, thank you for the quick response. You are a force, girl!❤️
I did a little clap clap, Kathy’s going shopping again. Did I blink during a previous video
when you mentioned a patreon channel? I went to patreon app and looked, nothing came up. I skimmed the transcript and fast forward and couldn’t find the part of the video where it was mentioned. How do I look?
You may have blinked, but it's not your imagination---The Catbird Quilts Patreon is coming! (woot woot!) ❤️ Not fully up and running yet, but look for it in the next week! 🤩🤓🥰
Dying when you turn down $7.99 as too expensive. Ours are usually $16.99 at Value Village, &14+ at Goodwill, or $10+ at Deseret Industries. 😢
Also, add me to the Get It! Chorus.
Oh, I hate that for you Tangled! Prices are so high where you are! 😱😭 And lol, "Get It! Chorus." LOVE it! 😂❤️
@@TheCatBirdQuilts I’m very lucky that I can afford fabric store prices, so no hate required. Just frustration that I can’t reach through my screen!!!
I am trying to buy more used/vintage/upcyclable stuff, though, and am treasure hunting that way. - Cassandra
I adore you!
That’s all I have to say.😉🥰
It may take me forever to break it down (or maybe I won't take it apart) but you know that plaid purple shirt is headed your way if you want it! 😘
Good haul. 👍🏻❤️
It was! And I wasn't super hopeful in the beginning, so it was a bit of a surprise! 🤓😊
Shopping bing bing!!! (Remember Gallagher 😂?). I must have thought “get it “ about 10 times!!! Typical quilter’s response😊
I remember Gallagher but not bing bing!! Now I'll have to Google that! And you are so right ("Typical quilter's response") LOL!! We do love to encourage our fellow quilters to get the good fabric! ❤️
Don't deny, buy, they're half off!!
Hi, I'm just curious ... Is quilting/sewing just an expensive hobby or is there any chance to get money back on things you make in order to buy more for your hobby?
Hey grumpy! It can get very expensive, especially if you consider the time and/or have quilts professionally quilted. Some people do sell quilts or make them on commission and recoup their costs; most people aren't able to charge what they are *truly* worth when you factor in the time it takes, the materials, and the skill needed to make them, though.
I should have caught that half sale.
Right? It was crazy--they had a ton of stuff!
Good thing I'm not shopping with you, I'm such an enabler with a large fabric stash!
Note to self, "no new substrates." Second note, "no shirts, you don't need a new hobby - hunting for shirts & breaking down shirts."
Lol! Amy, I love this comment! ❤️
Bso, lol!!!
I would have bought so many more than you. I have zero willpower
LOL! Corey! 😂 It's only because I know how many shirts I already have that I haven't even broken down yet!! 😱