Hi. Our group does charity quilting. Often times we are donated good clothing to use. Its washed ,then cut out all seams,zippers and such. We do not use any worn spots like hem edges. Mens shirts work well. Yard sales here in Ok towards the end will often sell a whole bag of cotton cloths for $1.00 You can use any pattern. Scrap quilts have a charm all their own. Does not take long to build a stash if you ask your friends and family for any scraps left over from sewing. Hope this helps some. Okie quilter