Renton’s Jewlie Hagen is picky about what her children wear, but she’s also particular about the price.

“It’s really expensive to buy clothes, even if you shop at Target,” she said.

So when she discovered Just Between Friends, a twice-annual children and maternity consignment sale, she had to tell her friends.

“This was the coolest thing in the whole world,” she said.

Sea-Tac’s Kay Koitzsch opened the franchise with the national company after visiting a sale in Spokane. With three locations, one in the Cascade Shopping Center, her sale is the largest in the Seattle area.

The sale doesn’t just help mothers save on purchases, but it also enables them to turn a profit on their own lightly-used goods.

“In a way I look at it as recycling,” Hagen said. “I know that it’s going to go to a good home.”

Mothers keep about 65 percent of the sale price, which they set.

“My take last year was $285,” Hagen said.

The sale overcomes the negative stigma of consigned clothing with rigorous quality regulations, and all the clothes must be cleaned and pressed.

“We have volunteers who check everything to make sure there are no stains or tears,” Koitzsch said.

Hagen expects to only spend about $100 on all the clothes her 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son will need for the winter.

“This sale I’m going to try and look for Christmas outfits,” she said. “I focus on my daughter, because her clothes are expensive.”

Koitzsch opened the Renton Sale fall 2006 at the Renton Community Center with about 43 consignors.

The Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 3-4) sale will have about 300 consignors and fill about 30,000 square feet.

The sale offers more than just children’s and maternity clothing. Mother’s can also get items such as strollers, furniture and even toys.

Leftover clothes are donated to local charities, unless consignors decide to keep them. The Mom’s Club of Renton is also selling items to raise money for charity.

“There are a lot of components to this sale,” she said. “That’s what I love about this business. It’s all about building community and helping families.”