In the world I grew up in, almost everyone was "frugal" - because we had to be.

Reuse, recycle, don't waste food, pay cash for, or do without were the mantras I heard growing up.

My Mom made hundreds of lap quilts for nursing homes, and she usually used old sheets for the liners. Also for "summer quilts"

Price of cotton fabric is going up. I think it's a great idea to recycle rather than go out and pay the outrageous prices. We can speak with our wallets. Besides, isn't the origin of patwork recycle of the good parts of worn clothing/ The gals on the prairie didn't have the luxury of the LQS. They were limited to the bolt choices at the general store and what their budget allowed.

Most of my backing fabric is actually from the discount rack at the LQS.

You are so right....I have!!! :thumbup:

I was just reading the comments, (don't you just love going back to see what everyone is saying) and a question popped into my head. I stopped at a garage sale an hour or so ago on my way to see a friend and picked up a Ralph Lauren large mans shirt. It is 100% cotton and is an absolutely beautiful navy blue plaid (the cost was $1.00). Just down the rack a short distance I found another Ralph Lauren ladies XXL shirt, it is also $100% cotton. They both feel wonderful, almost silky. My question is how is this 100% cotton fabric different from the 100% quilting cotton? I will be watching for replies.

I was just reading the comments, (don't you just love going back to see what everyone is saying) and a question popped into my head. I stopped at a garage sale an hour or so ago on my way to see a friend and picked up a Ralph Lauren large mans shirt. It is 100% cotton and is an absolutely beautiful navy blue plaid (the cost was $1.00). Just down the rack a short distance I found another Ralph Lauren ladies XXL shirt, it is also $100% cotton. They both feel wonderful, almost silky. My question is how is this 100% cotton fabric different from the 100% quilting cotton? I will be watching for replies.

Sorry some kind of glitch in my computer. It froze up and of course I kept hitting the send button!

Great tip.

Might be a tighter weave with finer threads. Sort of like the differences in thread counts of sheets.

By the way, on the shirts, Good Score!

Men's shirts are great for quilting. The fabric is called shirting. Check out the queen of men's shirt recycled into quilt fabric:

http://quiltville.com/

She has a book all about using them: Scraps and Shirttails

She recycles every tiny bit of fabric into quilts.

The Frugal Gourmet used to say FRUGAL...the ability to save money on things you could in order to splurge on things you want. Like making your own stock and spending $15.00 a pound for fancy mushrooms!

I LOVE FRUGAL!!! Use up those scraps, buy at the resale shop, scrap that mayo and ketsup jar, turn down the heat, etc.!
Put me near a vintage machine and I'm ALL IN!!!!!