I have used some applique paper which I found most sub-par quality (a misguided gift from a loved one) in place of freezer paper.
When my cheese cloth supplies ran low, rather than forgo canning the bounty of my orchards, I used the dreadful fabric that passes for quilting cotton at that big chain store -- you know the one with the yellow faces everywhere.. Dear me, senior moment, but I can't recall just what it is called. They are forever rolling back prices and rolling in inferior grades of dry goods. But they sufficed for straining apple sauce.
Once, lacking ties for my garbage disposal bags, I used selvedge edges which I have been collection for some 60 years to secure the ends. Prior to that I fashioned string mops from my selvedges, with great success.