10 Secondhand Craft Fabric Stores In California That Are Pure Treasure Hunts

One Berkeley craft shop counts knitting needles, dolls, and painting supplies among its donated stock. Another spot in Oakland keeps a free section outside the store.

That’s the kind of oddball abundance that gets me excited. Some of these shops sell fabric by the pound, like produce at a farmers market.

California has a whole network of these creative reuse stores. Donated fabric, buttons, yarn, and patterns land on their shelves and in their bins. Then makers carry them home for a second life.

I’m a big fan of this kind of shopping. You never know what’s waiting in the next bin, and that’s half the fun. I’d say it beats a regular fabric aisle for pure surprise.

1. Material Happiness, San Diego

Stocked to the gills is how this San Diego shop describes itself, and that’s a pretty fair warning. Fabric fans should clear some shelf space at home before visiting.

Material Happiness is a fabric and fiber craft store that mixes secondhand, deadstock, and new goods. That blend means old, new, and vintage fabrics can all share the same stretch of shelving.

Fabric runs about three to four dollars per yard. The owner will cut your fabric for you, so you can skip the wrestling match with a giant bolt.

Sewists who love slow, thoughtful projects get extra perks here. The shop carries a select range of sustainable sewing supplies, including embroidery and sashiko threads.

Got a pair of jeans with a sad knee? Mending yarns and tools are on hand, which makes visible mending feel a lot less intimidating.

Knitters aren’t left out either. The store has a growing supply of yarn, knitting needles, and books for your next cozy project or quick weekend cast-on.

Here’s a fun twist for the overstuffed crafter. Fabric, sewing, and fiber crafting donations are gratefully accepted, so your extra stash can find a new home.

That swap loop is what makes the hunt so lively. The stock keeps changing as donations come in from other makers around town.

Plan around the schedule, since the shop is closed Sundays and Mondays. Friday and Saturday hours wrap up in the afternoon, so don’t roll in late.

Free street parking makes a quick stop easy. Just don’t promise yourself you’ll only buy one thing.

Address: 3545 Midway Dr Ste P, San Diego, CA 92110

2. Nacho Ann’s Fabrics, Riverside

Finding this shop takes a little detective work, which feels right for a treasure hunt. It shares a building with Reel Fathers Rights, and you use the side door.

Once you’re in, Nacho Ann’s Fabrics welcomes you as a fabric thrift and creative reuse store. The name alone deserves a smile, and the stock earns a second one.

Fabric in the store sells for around five dollars a yard. Thrifted sewing notions fill in the gaps, so you can grab buttons or zippers in the same trip.

Unique finds at friendly prices are the big draw. You might come for a plain cotton and leave with a print nobody else in town owns.

Classes add another layer to the place. The shop works as a community space, offering affordable crafting supplies alongside workshops for curious makers.

That community angle matters in a busy city like Riverside. It’s a spot to learn a skill, meet fellow sewists, and swap ideas instead of just shopping.

Can’t make it in person? The store also runs online, so the hunt can continue from your couch in pajamas.

Hours stretch into the evening Tuesday through Friday, staying open until 8 PM. That’s handy for anyone who works a regular daytime job.

Sunday has shorter morning-to-afternoon hours, and Mondays are closed. Weekend crafters should plan accordingly.

Bring an open mind and a project idea, or come with neither. Inspiration has a habit of finding you here.

Address: 3760 12th St, Riverside, CA 92501

3. Lucky DeLuxe Fabrics, Orange

Need fabric for an 80s-themed outfit and a bag of ribbon for a kindergarten craft? Lucky DeLuxe Fabrics in Orange can handle that odd shopping list in one stop.

The shop opened its brick-and-mortar doors in March 2023 after starting online. It has quickly become a stop for sewists who like their fabric with a story.

Garment sewists get deadstock fabrics, which are leftover materials from past production runs. Quilters can browse quilting cotton, and knitters will spot yarn on the shelves too.

Vintage patterns are a highlight. Flipping through old envelopes is half nostalgia and half design class, and you might find your next signature look.

Notions round out the selection, so you can match thread and trims before heading home. Ribbon comes in all sorts of styles for gifts, crafts, and classroom projects.

The fabric here leans unusual. You’ll see prints and textures that big chain stores don’t carry, at prices that won’t scare your wallet.

Got a closet full of unused fabric or needlepoint supplies? The shop accepts donations, and staff have been known to help carry them in.

The space itself is small and cute, so it’s a great quick visit. Free parking in a lot and on the street keeps things simple.

Tuesday through Friday hours run until 7 PM. Saturday closes at 4 PM, while Sundays and Mondays are off.

Address: 932 E Lincoln Ave, Orange, CA 92865

4. OC Creative Reuse, Santa Ana

Think of the junk drawer in your kitchen, then multiply it by ten and organize it neatly. That’s roughly the energy at OC Creative Reuse in Santa Ana.

The center collects used, donated arts and crafts supplies. It then passes them on to students, teachers, maker groups, and artists at low or no cost.

Fabric lovers, head straight for the big fabric section. You can buy fabric by the yard or by the pound, and the prices are very low.

Buying by the pound is a fun game. Grab a heap of scraps for a quilt, a costume, or a pile of scrunchies and see how far it goes.

The rest of the store is just as tempting. Markers, paint, brushes, buttons, paper, beads, and plenty of yarn fill the shelves.

Holiday-themed items and craft paper pop up too, which helps teachers and parents planning seasonal projects. Unique options keep the browsing interesting.

Don’t expect chaos, though. The center stays clean and well organized, so you can actually find what you came for.

OC Creative Reuse is a fiscally sponsored 501c3 nonprofit. Its whole goal is keeping useful materials out of the trash, and your shopping helps.

Timing matters, because the doors are open only Thursday through Sunday. Hours run from 10 AM to 6 PM on those days.

A free on-site parking lot makes hauling home bags of fabric much easier on your arms.

Address: 1601 S Grand Ave D, Santa Ana, CA 92705

5. Remainders Creative Reuse, Pasadena

Bin diving is basically a sport at this Pasadena nonprofit. If digging for the unknown sounds fun, you’re going to fit right in.

Remainders Creative Reuse calls itself a craft supply depot with affordable materials and creative workshops. The shelves hold a big mix of lightly used art supplies.

Textiles are a big deal here. The store carries a vast surplus of fabrics, so quilters and costume makers have plenty to sort through.

Items get sorted into marked bins with labels like fabric pieces, jewelry supplies, and pens. That system gives the hunt some structure without taking away the surprise.

Fair warning, it can feel a little junky. For the right shopper, that’s exactly the charm, since you never know what’s at the bottom.

Beyond fabric, you’ll spot some jewelry, home decor, and organizing supplies. Plastic boxes and crates are handy for corralling the stash you’re about to build.

Workshops are part of the mission too. It’s a nice way to try a new craft without buying a pile of pricey supplies first.

Want a calmer visit? Thursday evenings tend to be quiet, while Saturdays and Sunday afternoons get busier.

The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed.

Free street parking nearby keeps the trip low stress. Just leave room in the trunk for that fabric haul.

Address: 787 E Washington Blvd Ste 101, Pasadena, CA 91104

6. Art From Scrap Creative Reuse Store, Santa Barbara

Hot glue guns, storage containers, pens, yarn, and fabric might all end up in one basket here. That’s the beauty of a store built on secondhand art supplies.

Art From Scrap Creative Reuse Store in Santa Barbara offers affordable, secondhand materials for craft projects. It’s run by the nonprofit Explore Ecology.

The selection covers a lot of ground. If you can name a craft, there’s a decent chance the supplies are sitting somewhere on these shelves.

Fabric and yarn give sewists and knitters a reason to linger. Meanwhile, practical tools save you from paying full price for things you’ll use once.

Knick-knacks are part of the fun. You can sift through odd little objects and imagine them in a collage, a costume, or a shadow box.

Unexpected treasures show up regularly, and the staff is friendly. That combo makes browsing feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Teachers and parents get a lot out of a place like this. Classroom projects become cheaper, and kids learn that leftovers can turn into art.

Hours run Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM. Saturday opens at 10 AM and closes at 4 PM.

Sundays and Mondays are closed, so plan your weekend trip for Saturday. Downtown Santa Barbara makes an easy stop on a coastal day out.

Bring a bag, bring a budget, and bring a little imagination. California’s coast has plenty of shops, but few quite this playful.

Address: 302 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

7. The Legacy, Sebastopol

Spinning wheels at a thrift store? In Sebastopol, that’s not a fairy tale, it’s just another shelf to browse.

The Legacy is a community-focused craft thrift store connected to the Sebastopol Senior Center. It offers a wide range of affordable sewing, art, and needlecraft supplies.

Jars of buttons are a classic sight here. Sorting through them feels a bit like raiding a grandparent’s sewing box, in the best way.

Fabric sells by the pound, which is great for scrappy quilts and patchwork. Sewing patterns, yarn, and books add even more project fuel.

Bigger finds show up too. Sewing machines and spinning wheels have been part of the mix, so keep your eyes open if you want new equipment.

Paper crafts and paint supplies round things out. Parents shopping with kids can grab materials for school projects and rainy afternoons.

Fair warning, you may need a basket sooner than planned. A quick look can turn into an armload pretty fast.

Hours run 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Wednesday and on Saturday. Thursday and Friday stay open until 6 PM, while Sunday is closed.

Free parking in a lot and on the street makes the visit easy. That’s a relief if you plan to carry out a sewing machine.

Sebastopol sits in the heart of Sonoma County, so a craft run can pair nicely with a scenic drive through Northern California.

Address: 789 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol, CA 95472

8. Creative Upcycle, Pleasant Hill

Quilters, needleworkers, and sewists, consider this your supply closet with a cash register. Creative Upcycle in Pleasant Hill packs in a wide sweep of second hand craft materials.

Fabric gets plenty of shelf space, along with papers and lots of odds and ends. The range covers both quick crafts and big, ambitious projects.

Sewing gear is a strong suit. You can find notions, rulers, and even used sewing machines, which is handy for beginners testing the waters.

Prices are low enough to feel like a steal. That makes it easier to experiment with a new technique without stressing over wasted money.

The store’s bigger purpose is reducing waste. Every bag of donated supplies that sells is one less pile headed to the landfill.

Need a project idea? Wander the aisles with no plan and let the materials nudge you toward something new.

Wednesday is the late night, with hours stretching until 8 PM. Other weekdays and Saturday run from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Sundays are closed, so weekend crafters should aim for Saturday. A free parking lot keeps things easy when you’re hauling fabric.

Pleasant Hill sits in Contra Costa County, an easy hop for many East Bay sewists. It pairs well with a reuse tour of nearby Berkeley and Oakland.

Go in with a list if you must. Just know the list probably won’t survive the first aisle.

Address: 1660 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

9. Reuse for Arts & Crafts, Berkeley

Dolls, jewelry, knitting needles, and handmade art all share space at this Berkeley shop. It’s a craft store with a strong conservation streak.

Reuse for Arts & Crafts sells a wide selection of donated supplies. The whole idea is giving materials another round instead of tossing them.

Upcycled sewing supplies and fabric are part of the lineup. Yarn and knitting needles make it a solid stop for fiber artists too.

Painting supplies show up in good numbers. If you’re mixing media, you can gather paint and fabric in one trip.

Handmade art is also on display, which adds some local flavor. It’s a nice reminder of what all those donated bits can become.

Families find plenty to like. School projects about protecting the planet fit right in with a store built around reuse.

Shoppers who enjoy a real treasure hunt will feel at home. Yarn found here has already turned into finished projects for crafty locals.

The shop opens at noon daily and stays open until 7 PM Monday through Saturday. Sunday closes earlier at 5 PM.

Crowds tend to pick up on weekend afternoons. Monday and Thursday evenings are usually quieter, which is ideal for slow browsing.

Free street parking is available along the area. San Pablo Avenue makes the shop easy to reach from much of the East Bay.

Address: 1824 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

10. East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, Oakland

A free section outside the front door? That’s a strong opening move from this Oakland reuse shop.

East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is a quirky, eco-minded resale shop. Its stock runs from arts and craft supplies and fabric all the way to furniture.

The range is the real thrill. One visit might turn up fabric for a quilt, while the next delivers a chair that needs a fresh cover.

Prices inside are super cheap. That makes it easy to grab extra materials for experiments without feeling guilty.

Versatile is the best word for the inventory. Painters, sewists, collage makers, and costume builders can each find something to work with.

The shop’s purpose is giving items a new life instead of sending them to a landfill. Every purchase keeps that loop going.

Don’t skip the free section on your way in or out. Outdoor freebies can be a surprise bonus for patient hunters.

Doors open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons get busy. For a calmer browse, Wednesday and Friday evenings tend to be quieter.

Telegraph Avenue has both free and paid street parking nearby. Give yourself time, because California’s reuse scene rewards the slow shopper.

Address: 4695 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609