Frugal quilting

[ANNE E.]

Hi Everyone,
Am I a sad case?
I have Just spent a few hours sewing together strips of batting to make squares to practise my free motion quilting.
I make a quilt sandwich with calico and my "frugal" batting and try FMQ it seems to work ok.
I live in the UK and anything to do with quilting is very expensive and a penny saved in this way means more money for fabric.
I'm not really a meany but I just can't throw away those scraps of batting, it's the same with fabric, (it will come in useful one day) I think!!!
Does anyone else have some money saving tips?
I hope I have posted this in the right place
Anne

[Margo C.]

Anne, I also piece together scraps of batting and use it in quilts! Just be aware that SOME battings have a definite grain line, just like fabrics do. If you will gently tug in each direction you can see if there is a difference in the amount of stretch. If there is, just be try to have all of the grain lines going the same direction when piecing for a quilt. This is definitely more important if it will be used in a wall hanging. You will want the strongest grain running from top to bottom to avoid stretching while hanging.
There is a new product on the market now to fuse batting pieces together, but I think you could probably make your own strips from lightweight fusible interfacing.
http://heatpressbattingtogether.com/

Now that I do some paper piecing, I save any computer paper if the back side is blank. Since the paper will be removed after paper piecing, I'm getting double use out of the paper.

I also make use of a stack of old recycled manila folders to make quilting templates by tracing the shape onto freezer paper, then fusing the FP to a manila folder before I cut out the shape. Much cheaper than fusing several pieces of FP together for stiffness!

[ANNE E.]

Hi Margo,
I didn't know about the grain line but as I only use the scraps for practising my FMQ I'm not too worried.
Thanks for your reply
Anne

[Cheryl K.]

Anne, you're not a "sad case", you're a creative quilter! I also stitch together batting scraps to practice free motion quilting, test tension, etc. I also use it for small projects such as totes and pillows. Sometimes I will hand whip stitch pieces together to make sure no seams can be identified but that is on a case by case basis. Even little batting scraps can be used for ornaments, pin cushions and tufted applique pieces.

Ever since the TQS show with Sue Carlton, I save little pieces for random applique pieces. I just have to force myself to actually play with the idea so I don't just feel like I am nesting or hoarding. :roll:

I have awarded myself the "econo-quilter" award since I am starting to save used Shout Color Catcher sheets. The sheets pick up the leftover dye or dirt from my wash cycle and they measure about 4" x 9.5" in size. They look like hand dyed fabric with a felted feel like a cut-away stabilizer. I don't have any false illusions about adding this to a quilt but I keep thinking I can use for some applique post cards (ala Sue Spargo??) or some doo-dad.

Of course, the "Econo-Quilter" award is a roving award, meant to be claimed by the next good idea! :lol: I wonder who will be next?

[Annis C.]

Remember those pink foam dryer sheets. They are in a quilt I made for my younger son around 1981. Each rectangle shape backed a fabric size brick that made up the quilt background. It was an outdoor scene with sky, clouds, grass, house, fence, etc., and flowers and trees were appliqued on it with a utility stitch. You can see the pink on the edges of the white clouds, sidewalk and windows.

I love those shout color catchers sheets. I'm not saving mine yet but have been tempted.

[Lotti D.]

i think i'll have to start using those colour catcher sheets....
i keep all kinds of scraps of fabrics, batting, whatnot - there's so much we can use it for - and face it - this passion of ours is not cheap (well havn't really found many hobbies that are - if it doesn't involve expensive mechanics / gear / accessories, there's the proper shoes, the coming & going, whatever
but it does keep us sane (well some of us anyway) - and a penny saved on batting for smaller projects - or for pieces where it can be stitched together - can be spend on something else we "need"

[Hannelore N.]

Anne, I also live in the UK, and I like to pick up men's cotton shirts in charity shops. It takes some time to unpick all the seams, but your end up with some very useful, large pieces of fabric with a handful of buttons thrown in.

[Pam D.]

Ann, I'm from UK and I do the same. I even begrudge the cost of calico for practising free motion quilting. I have started to do some practise on recycled computer paper, although it doesn't have quite the same feel going through the machine as a fabric sandwich. I have also recently taken on board an idea, I think from Margo, that suggests that you practise drawing/doodling the pattern on paper as quilting is like drawing with the machine on fabric. I just use a cheap childs sketch pad. I don't think any of us can afford to waste our fabrics or threads. And Murphy's law suggests that it is the scraps you throw away this week that you will find a use for in a few weeks time.

[Pam D.]

Anne, I also live in the UK, and I like to pick up men's cotton shirts in charity shops. It takes some time to unpick all the seams, but your end up with some very useful, large pieces of fabric with a handful of buttons thrown in.

I also purchase men's cotton shirts from the Salvation Army, when they go on sale for 3/$0.99. I don't bother to open up the seams, I just cut them off. I've now got a bag of about 40 shirts already cut up and another bag of almost 30 shirts yet to be cut up. I've figured out a way to cut off all of the good parts while leaving all of the seams, yokes, collars, cuffs and button plackets of a shirt all still connected in one piece. I'm saving these parts for God only knows what, but I plan to use some of the front pockets for an advent calendar.

Occasionally, I'll find a lovely piece of vintage fabric or a vintage 100% cotton sheet at Salvation Army. Rarely, do I pay more than a couple of dollars for them. I've been very lucky to have inherited some lovely vintage decorator fabric samples from my great aunt who once worked in the upholstery department of a local high end furniture store. Several of these vintage fabrics have been used in my quilts.

My quilt guild also has a FREE table and I've scored many great fabric finds there, including some from the stash of the late Cuesta Benberry. So, if your guild doesn't have one, why not initate one?

[Julia L.]

I agree with all of the above.I save everything.I think you would enjoy Bonnie Hunter's website http://www.quiltville .com as she has all kinds of ideas for making blocks with all of those little scraps.When I have nothing else on,I sit and piece her wonky stars and mile-a-minute tiny blocks and one or these days I'll have enough to put a quilt top together.

[Cheryl K.]

Very interesting site. Thanks for sharing that.

[Lotti D.]

excellent site - thanks

[Lotti D.]

love the site, tnx
i had a blog that show all kind of low cost quilt accessories, but cant find it at the moment, promise when i will find it again i will send you all the link.
enjoy quilting

[Lorna B.]

I also piece together batting to use in quilts, espcially for wallhangings and the 3 tree skirts I made a couple years ago. I like Bonnie Hunter's site and have been more frugal about saving scraps since I saw what she does with them.

[Catherine S.]

Is this confession time? :? I had read of a use for used dryer sheets, so have been saving mine. I just can't remember what I wanted to do with them. :? :? I know you can use them to give a quick shine to your shoes, and I have used them to remove pet hair off of something, unless it is too hairy. Does anyone have any quilting related ideas for use of used dryer sheets?