new to quilting
 

I am teaching myself to quilt and where would I buy very cheap fabric until I get where I can use better material once I get used to it? Fabric is so expensive! Thanks for any tips. I just got the mat, rotary cutter, a book and ruler.

If you want to get practice sewing seams and rotary cutting, my suggestion is to raid the local thrift stores for flat top sheets. I have an awesome quilt that I made out of nothing but 8 inch squares from flat sheets with a flannel sheet for the back. It lives in the trunk of our car for impromptu picnics or park days, or for when the dog decides she wants to take a ride LOL. It is 100% utility use only, but it really got me used to my rotary cutter and piecing when I first started.

Some estate sales, garage sales, and thrift shops actually sell fabric and sewing notions.

I hope wherever you are you are able to join some sort of quilting guild or group. If there isn't one then as you get comfortable with quilting maybe you cans start one. My church started a local Prayers and Squares group [ an international interfaith organization that is free: <cite class="_Fe">www.prayerquilt.org/</cite>‎ ] Several of the ladies had never quilted before. Our quilts are tied, so that includes our more senior members in the making of the quilts.

Maybe some LQS owners will begin to recognize the importance of being a clearing house for local quilting groups. That is my hope for the future.

In Batesville, Arkansas there is a place called Marshalls. Try looking that up and see all that they have. My sister goes there from time to time, and she LOVES it. Very inexpensive.

If you can't find fabric remnants at charity shops hit the discount clothes racks...cotton shirts, cotton pants, check out the area where there are tablecloths, even napkins. Just make sure it's not too worn and you are good to go. Quilting on a shoestring is just as much fun and the quilts just as beautiful as ones made out of more expensive new fabrics.

No idea where you'll get fabric, but just wanted to say 'Hi' and welcome to the board. I've had so much help, support, encouragement and inspiration from the wonderful people here.

One word of warning - it's addictive! :D Happy quilting!

Welcome to the board and the hobby of quilting. I'm glad you joined us!

Try using all cotton men's shirts too. Often you can get them cheaply at a thrift shop- go for the xls- more fabric for your dollar. There is a website- www.quiltville.com where you can see a great method to deconstruct a shirt.

Welcome from Northern California. All above are good sources. Be open to different fabrics and be sure to come back here if you feel a need to. The people here are the best. BrendaK

Welcome. I agree with several of the above posters. If you're a member of a church, you might want to just get the word out that you're new to quilting and would appreciate fabric. My Mom is a knitter and you can't imagine the yarn she get's donated to her. She's done knit hats for all the first grade classes at a local elementary school for a number of years, plus donates her time. This year the school decided they wouldn't be doing projects, so her "help" wasn't needed!

Welcome from Texas. Lots of great advice here

Hi and welcome! To all of the great suggestions above, I would add that you may find fabric at yard sales. Also, if you'd like to do a project with one "special" fabric and the others from second-hand sheets, clothes etc., you can check Walmart or (depending if you have a store in easy driving distance) get signed up for coupons from Joann's. Almost every month Joann's has a coupon for 40%-50% off a single cut of non-sale fabric and many of the quilting fabrics are offered at similar discounts ("Keepsake Calicos" often go on sale for 50% off and many are $6/yd regular price...another basic line of blender fabrics is often offered at $3/yd as well).

Welcome. All the advice is very good. I was raised being poor and frugal. My mother did quilting and using and practicing on discarded clothing, towels, anything that wasn't good became something. Like someone mentioned-be careful about material that is too worn. Use that stuff for stuffing. This kind of thing is great for practice and can be turned into something nice.

This story makes me soooo sad. I was a first grade teacher. "Projects" such as this are what bring school and community together....and it's where students (eh hem, and teachers) develop new interests. I met with the same issue when I retired. The 4-H leader who was there when I was working was so interested in getting people in there for different things the members worked on. She once told me that she looked forward to the day that I retired so I could work with the members on their sewing projects. Well.....when I retired, there was a new leader and she just flat told me that "they didn't have time for sewing." Broke my heart.

Welcome to the world of quilting. You will find lots of help and ideas here. Good luck in your search for fabric.

Welcome to quilting. Another place to order fabrics is Whittle's. They are in KY and have a web site. Good fabrics at low prices. I hope you can find a guild or fellow quilter to give you some one on one advise when you need it. There are so many ways to accomplish the same results so don't be afraid to try everything and find what suits you best.

Don't rule out Walmart and Hancocks. Both have fabric on clearance sales all the time. Or at least they do around here! Welcome to quilting. It is not an inexpensive hobby, as you have already noticed, but it sure is fun!

Dina

What's wrong with the new leader is she nuts. All kinds of crafts as far back as I can remember included all types of sewing. I would have informed her of that. Don't think she'll be much of a leader for long.

countryflowers1 welcome to the board. Ask relatives and neighbors also for discarded fabric/clothing, towels etc. Check out "bag" sales at rummage sales. Also if you go to the yard/garage/rummage and estate sales on the last day you can usually get some really good deals. If they have bag sales, don't just stuff fabric in the bags. Fold them neatly and you'll get more. Amazing what you can stuff in a regular grocery bag (paper or plastic). I walked out with almost 10 yards of fabric for $1.00. It was a smaller bag. the larger paper bags were $3.00 and I walked out with about 20 yards of fabric. That also included some notions. Had all kinds of sheets and large men and women's shirts and blouses.

CountryFlowers1: I've sent you a pm.

Welcome to the Boards!

Michelle

Welcome to the Board and to quilting. My sister sent me a website a while ago and while I haven't ever bought anything from it (I hate trying to match fabrics on a website and scrolling through upteen pages), their prices look good. I don't know what kind of quality they have (and you said you weren't concerned about that right now), so $2.99, $3.99 and $5.00 a yard fabrics might work great for you. http://www.5bucksayard.com/

Welcome, Welcome, I am teaching myself to quilt too. It's lots of fun if you let it be. Don't stress yourself out it will take awhile to be comfortable. Quilting Board is a wonderful group and you can find as much help here as you'll need.
Everyone is so nice and remember there are no dumb questions. If you don't know, ask!

Welcome, Welcome! I too am teaching myself to quilt. It can be a lot of fun in you don't let it stress you out. This board is full of information and most of all friendly people. You can find out anything you need here if you just ask. My advise is to check out videos on YouTube and Craftsy classes. There is a basic quilting class on Craftsy that is free to take and is very good. I have learned a lot by these two methods. Have fun and good luck!

Raid your closet and others for clothing that is not worn any more. I don't know about you but I have a linen closet full of pillow cases that the matching sheets have been long ago warn out. Some old drapes can be used. Be inventive with anything that has fabric. DO check your fiber content... 100 percent cotton can withstand a hot iron..blends will melt.

I taught myself to quilt years ago. I learned a couple of things. Choose a simple pattern first. Don't be in a hurry to finish it. Take a little time each day, even if it is only to stitch one seam, and eventually it will get done. Do a "tv" size quilt first. I usually make them 5x7 feet. It will be easier to handle and it will get done quickly. Having a finished first quilt will make you happy and want to make more. A too difficult quilt or too big quilt can be discouraging at first.

Don't worry about being perfect. It's no big deal if you cut off the points of stars. The size of the block needs to be the size your pattern calls for. The seams inside the block really don't have to match perfectly. Eventually, you'll learn how to get better at matching seams up.

Don't buy too many doodads right away. Scissors, rotary cutter, cutting mat, a 6x12in ruler will do. You'll need two kinds of thread if you are going to hand quilt. Sewing machine thread and quilting thread for hand quilting. If you are going to quilt it on the machine, you just need sewing machine thread. For piecing, just buy one spool of a neutral color. Everyone has their favorite neutral color. I just use a lightish beige. After you finish your first quilt, you'll know what doodad you would really want and use. I have a zillion doodads that I never use.

Adding borders is an easy way to enlarge a quilt. If you get tired of the block/fabric that you have chosen, or you are just not happy with the quilt, just add a couple of borders and you are done.

Consider tying your first quilt. You will get the quilt done faster. The type of bat is important. If you tie it, I'd suggest a 5oz polyester bat. It will give loft to the quilt and you won't have to make so many ties.

Ask for help along the way. It's better to have advice when you get stuck. There are always more than one way to construct a quilt. You'll eventually find what works best for you. Post on this Board and you'll always get a lot of help fast!

Finally, try to create a mind set that doesn't see doing the different steps of quilting as fun/awful or love/hate. Tell you brain to think of fixing mistakes as simply a part of quilt. Ripping out seams is just a part of quilting. If you hate it, you'll not want to do it and be upset that you made a mistake and have to rip it out. Instead, think "this is part of quilting and I love quilting." Once your mind thinks this way, you won't be so upset, angry, or frustrated that you made a mistake. It's a lot more fun if you don't hate having to do something.

Welcome!

I built a lot my stash from Craigslist. Quilters are offloading items all the time! The "yard sale" board here is wonderful, too.

I find that Wal Mart often has sales from 1.00 to 2.44 per yard. You might have to settle for odd colors or prints but it beats the higher price market, especially if you (like me) consider your self new although I started almost 3 years ago, still I can't always afford the better materials. Also if you have a Jo Ann's, get on their mailing list, watch the local paper for sales and coupons then double up on them. Yesterday I bought 10 yards of fabric that was 10.00 per yard and I only paid a little over 3.00 per yard. I had coupons from their mailing list, I downloaded a coupon, they had this material at 30% off and I bought the end of two bolts which gave me and other discount. I am still learning, I have used, used pillowcases and sheets, will one day make a quilt from my mom's cotton house coats that I have kept since her passing. Welcome aboard and good luck hunting.

Check out the fabric at Hobby Lobby (if there is one near you). Good quality and inexpensive.

Welcome to the board!


Anita

One can sometimes get lucky and find decent fabric that is relatively inexpensive.

Do not waste your time using scuzzy fabric - it won ' t hold up.