Remember, initially quilts were made for utilitarian usage. Scraps of fabric, scissors, needle, thread and imagination, these are the basics. Just look at some of the historical masterpieces that were made.

You have already gotten so many great ideas.

I buy a lot of my quilt backings from connectingthreads.com. I have found clearance fabric for as little as 2.97 a yard. And, the Waverly brand fabric at Walmart is only, 2.97, 3.97 and 4.97. I also buy that as backing fabric. I try to budget out just a little for backing fabric each month. And, that is all I'll allow myself to buy. (right now, I am saving for long arm quilting services.)

The other thing is to think smaller. Instead of making a large quilt, make a table topper or placemats or even a wall hanging. Sometimes, that will satisfy the new technique or pattern you want to try out.

Love the suggestion that "coffeecozy" made. Be very selective of what large quilts you make, and make quilts that take longer to make and really enjoy the process.

Right now, I find that may have been the biggest mistakes I made in quilting. I made all queen size quilts that are sitting and waiting to be quilted. I have neither the talent or interest in actually quilting them. And, my machine, just doesn't have the power to handle the bigger quilts. Hence, saving for long arm services.

I've also started with going with a list and don't deviate from the list. Only buy exactly what I went in for and use coupons no matter what it is. Even if it is one piece of felt or a spool of thread. (I need to save as much as I can.) Or, make a longer list so you don't shop as often and save the money ahead for it.

And, use up that I'm not in love with it fabric on the back. You'll be proud you used it up. And, it will be that much less fabric you'll have to buy.

my idea was to find people who will let me piece their fabric for them. I'd have to approve the pattern first, since I only want to do what I want to do. They buy the fabric, I cut and piece (the part I love) and then give the floppy to them and they can get it quilted as they see fit.

I would not be charging for my work. I give away most of what I make, so this way I am only giving away my time and not also fabric I've purchased. I don't "love" quilting and binding near as much, so won't do that for free.

I buy flat sheets from Target....(Threshold brand...300 thread count)...they wash beautifully...not a huge assortment of colors (I think there are 10 or 11 colors)...I watch for them to be on sale...either in the store, or order on line and pick up in the store...when they go on sale even king size is less than $20...which in MHO is a good price.... I've not had any trouble long arming them...and use the "scraps" for piecing or binding.

Right on!! My quilts are like that. I can't afford the fancy stuff ... wish I could ... but I have a huge stash of just any ole thing and I love the craft of quilting. My little quilts are made to cuddle with, play with, stay warm with, etc. What more can you ask from pieces of scraps and a little batting!

So many great ideas here!

I love scraps and the quilts are so pretty. If I don't love the fabric any longer I add it to my scraps. I make my own jelly rolls and turn them into strip quilts which I donate. January is my official donation month and I clean out my scrap bin. This year I had so much fun doing that I have kept going. We all know scraps do multiply and even when I am tired of the fabric it looks super in a scrappy!

Make scrap quilts and smaller quilts. Use large pieces and piece your backs from different fabrics. Often I take a border fabric I like and then find odds and ends to make the blocks as long as the colors go with the border fabric. I also take fabrics I might be tired off and sort them in color groups. Then I make a two or three color quilt using these fabrics. I do not have many larger pieces I like for a border so I find myself making more quilts with no border. As a last resort maybe trade fabrics with someone else or sell what you don't like or use and use the money to buy fabric you do want. Here is one I recently did with three colors.

You and I are right on the same track Prism99. Whenever I finish a quilt whether its from my stash or new purchase, what I don't have is the back. I have several friends that just put anything on the back. I can't do it and often will hang onto a top till I can purchase cute backing material.

Living on SS makes it very hard to do as much as I would like, however, I try to use every little bit of my fabric, buy from on this site because the prices are great and do without a lot of fancy feet etc.

What a wonderful idea, SuziSew, about the fabric swap. I pick you quilting supplies at estate sales when ever I can. Have gotten some great things over the years.