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-   -   Please share your best money-saving tips for quilters on a budget (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/please-share-your-best-money-saving-tips-quilters-budget-t65244.html)

marlene tarzwell 09-19-2010 05:31 PM


Originally Posted by 4dogs
I just discovered that IF you purchase an entire roll of batting (it comes at this store at 80 yards per roll) it is cheaper if the employee doenst have to "do" anything to it (like measuring and cutting)..it sells for $1.50 a yard if you have it measured, but in buying the entire roll of 80 yards, I got it for $1.00 per yard.......of course it will last for a year and its a huge roll, but that is a lot of $$ saved !!!

I agree! Last yr. I went to Handcocks and bought a whole roll of batting at 52% of. I will be using it for a looong time. Only thing is I have it stored in my garden bath tub with a sheet over it.[Don't use that tub anyways]

trisha 09-19-2010 05:48 PM


Originally Posted by jlm5419
I'll start:
I get flat sheets from the thrift store to use as backing for quilts. They're large enough they don't require a seam, and usually much less expensive than fabric from the LQS.

Do you dye them to match the fabrics on front if the sheets are white?

MaryAnna 09-19-2010 05:57 PM


Originally Posted by MadQuilter
Challenge yourself to use your stash and try different color combinations from what you have WITHOUT going out to buy more. (A lot harder to do than it sounds.)

Or find a pattern that uses the amount of colors you have to work with.

I love your idea! I think we all ought to do this one for sure! I was part of another group that did 'frugal living' and we challenged ourselves not to buy any more food (other than milk, eggs, perishisables) and we'd eat our way through our cupboards, freezers, and fridges...I could've gone past the 9 day benchmark! We don't realize what we've got stashed!
Great idea MadQuilter!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

trisha 09-19-2010 06:02 PM

I go to a lot of auctions. Generally,,,the people there are looking at the high end stuff,,,and I can get all the craft stuff and fabrics for pennies. Came home yesterday with about 12 yards of different christmas fabrics, looks like they were never used...for 6.00.

Dee 09-19-2010 06:40 PM

I save everything. It always comes to use later on. I save buttons, zippers and DH always asks if its a save before he throws anything away.

Tallulah 09-19-2010 06:45 PM


Originally Posted by mar32428

Originally Posted by maryb119
I use Warm and Natural batting. I save the left over pieces and then I cut the edges straight and butt them together and use the three step zig zag stitch to stitch them together. The three step zig zag is a stitch the looks like a zig zag but has three stitches one way and then three stitches the other way. The edges lay flat without a "ridge" that a regular zigzag leaves. Once the item is quited. you can't tell it it was joined together or not. Why wast good batting?

I do the same thing.

Me, too. I save the pieces left over after machine quilting and sew them together for small projects.

arpdesigns28 09-19-2010 07:41 PM

Sometimes shopping online can help save a ton, even with the shipping and handling. I have found that shopping online at some very reliable quilt shops across the country has aided in reducing spending. My only prob is trying to get more of WHAT I NEED, and not what I need plus what is pretty. Best of luck.

lclang 09-19-2010 08:05 PM

I like to use the liners out of cereal boxes for template material for fussy cutting or for applique. It is easy to see through and free. Store my irons on a small round metal tray so I won't melt my table when I put them away hot. Cut two and a half inch squares to use for leaders and enders and put them face to face so that I am sewing two together. Then run them through again sewing into four patches, then again sewing two four patches together and again sewing into 8 patches. While I am making something for gifts or for myself, I am also working on blocks for charity or baby gifts. They work up nicely with same size blocks of off white with machine embroidery on them. Makes really cute quilts with baby faces, Sunbonnet Sues, or Overall Bill. I love scraps!

Suse 09-19-2010 09:09 PM


Originally Posted by angieh1964
. also have started hitting garage sales for jeans for totes

What a great idea! I hadn't thought of that. Thanks!
8-)

teresa crawford 09-19-2010 11:11 PM

hi, i'm sorry for that rude remark she made, i a'm a pres.of our guild, i sure hope that our lady's never say anything to each other like that, srappy quilts are bueatful ,and they keep you warm, would like to see some of your quilts,ok ...


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