Who is the most frugal quilter?
 

Let's have a fun "contest" to find the most frugal quilter on the QB. Is there anyone out there with only one, older sewing machine, uses scissors to cut, makes their own patterns, and re-uses old clothes for fabric?

Though I am very frugal, it wouldn't be me as I have at least 5 machines(or heads) and I do buy fabric on occasion, although I have a big stash of scraps.

So bring on the candidates!!

I'm not eligible. Usually, if I like it, I buy it (within reason).

I can act frugal! Does that count?

Nope, not me. If I didn't have all my toys, I probably wouldn't be a quilter. I'd go back to knitting or drawing/painting.

I give it a try by doing scrap quilts. But then I get on this board and get ideas for the next best quilt to make. Joann's must have stock in this board.

I used to be that frugal quilter from necessity, not by choice. I still prefer to up-cycle clothing and shop yard sales and thrift stores for material because it's fun to "make do." I have two machines that were given to me and my two purchased golden oldies @ $ 60 complete with cabinet and a Singer 301A to drag around so I'm totally disqualified.

Discovering rotary cutters and mats was just as liberating as finding out what an equalizer a rechargeable screwdriver and drill could be and the day I got to dump the wringer washer.

Definitely not me this year. In fact I am day dreaming about getting a 10 needle embroidery machine. However, I do have only 1 rotary cutting tool, 1 cutting guide, 1 self-healing mat, 1 serger, 1 treadle which I will probably be selling, my mother's old 201 Singer, my old Pfaff 360 and my Brother 2500D.

Not me. I do quilt with a $60 Singer 301 only, though I do own other machines. But I have several rotary cutters, several mats and buy fabric when I 'need' it.

Not me. I went to Joann's today. :) (I'm currently in the states). I laughed at someone's comment about Joann's having stock in this board. I'm sure that we encourage each other to buy, albeit unwittingly. We also encourage each other to try things we've never ever tried before, or would ever try if we hadn't seen someone here try it.

hmmm... I don't think the frugal quilter would be on the internet, wasting time like the rest of us...

if it weren't for rotary cutters and my machines I wouldn't quilt, its why my first never got finished

Check out some of the blog posts from this lady http://frugalincornwall.blogspot.com/

She is doing everything as frugally as possible.

I can spell "frugal". That's as close as I get!!!

Oh, I am! I am the proud owner of 3 sewing machines, but I finally found the one I want to settle down with! I currently have a Singer 206k and a Janome 3022 (I think) for sale... Interested?! :) I own 2 pair of scissors (large and small), 1 thimble, one rotary cutter. I do have 3 irons, tho. I couldn't resist my last two.. they were $2.50 each!
As far as my sewing machines, I have spent $650 on sewing machines in the past year... but I've sold all but 3 for $705! And I just gave one to my mother for Mother's Day.
My enormous sewing desk was free for picking up. My cutting table was free.

I splurge on quilt tops already made. I am hoping to find someone who will trade tops for quilting with me and save even more. Oh, I only buy batting when it's 40% off (or better). I do have a LOT of thread that I need to use up and I bought it inexpensively.
My stash is mostly recycled clothing. Some is actual "fabric" that has been donated to me. Some is stuff I've picked up at yard sales. I don't need a stash, tho and will probably end up Paying it Forward some day.
All in all, I've probably spent $300 on what I have right now. I have enough to make 7 quilts. I plan on giving 6 of them as Christmas gifts, which will save me about $600 on gifts this year!! So my hobby is not costing me as much as you'd think!

Oooooh, ooooh!!! I've been using up bits and pieces of odd spools of thread and bobbins, on parts of things that won't show! That ought to count for something! :p

I checked out that frugal link and have decided I am too OLD to be frugal!!! :)

I can trace my lack of frugality back to 1980 , the year I discovered the rotary cutter. Before that it was all sissors and templates.. an just the cutting took forever! After the rotary cutter ... I had to keep finding the lastest and greatest "stuff".

Exactly what I was thinking!

Just clothing??????? I use a lot of repurposed fabric, but I also buy a lot new.

OOooooooo I'm not even in the running, although I do recycle jeans and ties and such. To many machines and new fabrics, even though I got it at 50% off or better.

I am about as far from frugal as I can be. Just ask my DH. lol
Sue

Okay, if this would have been posted three years ago then I most definitely would have been in the running. The first quilt I ever made was for my cousins baby. I borrowed a machine as I didnt own one, I used a pair of regular kitchen shears to cut up my own childrens old baby clothes to make this quilt. Then when I need a certain shape so I could piece the block I drew it out on cardboard from whatever shoebox I could find and then cut it out with the same shears that I was using for the fabric then pieced it all. So, yes I used to be very frugal because I had no choice. Now fast forward to 4 months ago. I purchased a new machine, set up a sewing nook, and now have a stash that although not huge would have been a dream three years ago. I still like to think I am frugal but lets be real there is no such thing as frugal when youre a fabric addict. LOL.

Can I try out for this AFTER I use my Joannes coupons tomorrow???

I would have to say I'm 50% frugal and 50% not. Kudos to the quilters on this board who have come up with huge money saving ways and means. Coffee filters for stabilizer, chalk backing tubing for pinmoors, carpet blades for rotary cutters, recycling containers for storage, homemade ironing board, and the list goes on and on. I save so much money from their innovative ideas that I'm able to buy more fabric. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Me too! I was frugal for too many years, now I don't have to be. This isn't to say I don't enjoy a good sale.:thumbup:

Coffee filter for stablizers?! I've never heard of that, and I am so glad you threw that out there! Thanks!

I guess I'm somewhere in between. All of my 4 machines are at least 40 years old, my stash fits in a 5-drawer dresser, I don't really buy much fabric. However, what I do buy is good quilting quality from the LQS where I work, I have quite a few books and patterns, and so many scissors I lost count.

Not me either. I have 5 machines, only cut with my rotary and have a semi decent stash.:D

Yes, I have a Brother LS 2125i I bought at Wal-Mart four years ago. I have one pair of material scissor which I hide from the family. And I use clothes that I used to be able to wear and ones that my daughter out grew for some of my material. I go to the local thrift store and look for sheets, pillow shams and various other large material items looking for the best bargains. I am terribly addicted to my local Hancock's Fabric and troll the sales tables, desperate for as much material as I can get for $20. I am currently a college student so there is no extra money but if there is and I get my hands on it, baby it goes for fabric. I gather all the great free quilt patterns and keep them on a 4 GB flash drive. Yes, I am very frugal at the moment.

Not me...I'd rather go without food than let my fabric appetite go unsatisfied. I don't buy tools, patterns, books, rulers, machines or any of that stuff...just fabric. lots of fabric. :o

You rock for accomplishing this hobby as a broke college student, I remember those days, and there was little money. I remember living off mac and cheese, so kudos to you.

I am totally FRUGAL.....about everything BUT, quilting and plants...I have a total of 8 machines, a huge stash, too many quilt books and templates and always on the lookout for anything more that I might like or use. I love collections of fabrics and collections of plants....have about 45 roses plus 50 more that I started last year for myself and my 2 kids that are ready for transplanting, over 150 colors of tall hybrid bearded iris, over 125 colors of daylilies, and approx. 30 or more hosta, 10 hardy hibiscus, 15 hydrangeas 20 perennial types of daisies and a gazillion other plants...too many to mention

I am definitely going to have my husband read this!! He will feel so much better about all the plants I've bought in the last couple of days!!

I've been a good girl lately as far as quilt shop purchases, but I'm feeling some withdrawal, so I think I better go there tomorrow... :)

I am very frugal....sew on a 50's machine purchased for $20.00 at auction in the early 80's. Did splash out $100.00 on a functioning treadle (needs restoration, but think of the electricity I'll save:)). Buy all my fabric on sale/thrift stores/ebay (other quilter's scraps/rejects). Buy all my quilting mags second hand and save coin for any books that are really worth buying (if I can buy used....all the better). I do own a rotary cutter, mat and rulers and do subscribe to the internet (but quit the satellite tv service to save money). I also just purchased tickets to the Craft and Quilt Fair which is on in town next week. I am taking my recently widowed Mother as a bit of a treat....so I do have my "unthrifty" moments. Guess it's become a lifestyle choice....and a bit of a game. Fortunately I have a husband who is much the same.....some people probably think it's a bit weird....but hey...we're happy.

Ah hmmm. Would a frugal quilter have a computer? Just sayin.

I guess I fall into that catageory in a few ways. I do a lot of chairty sewing. I make about 20 Linus quilts a month, sew Princess Pillowcase dresses and have volunteered to make hospital gowns for children in Haiti. I shop for fabric for those projects in particular everywhere and anywhere. I probably average less than $2 a yard for fabric for those projects by hitting sales, using coupons and thrift stores. The little dresses use bias tape for the shoulder straps. I purchase the quilt binding size tape and cut it lengthwise into four pieces. Each dress requires two pieces 32inches long. By cutting it that way I can get 4 times as many sets of straps out of one package of bias tape. Our local Walmart is expanding into a Super Walmart and they just added a fabric department. They have pretty floral fabric for just $2 a yard. It is poly but it is perfect for the little dresses as it is light weight and will look good without ironing. Between it and the tape trick the little dresses cost me less than $2 a piece to make. I do own four Bernina machines and a Brother embroidery machine but each is used almost daily and I have made literaly thousands of items over the years. I don't smoke, or have my nails done I color my own hair and mostly read books from the library or yardsale paperbacks. My biggest vice is going out to lunch with my friends. Most of my clothing came from Walmart, on sale when ever possible. Lets face it I'm cheap.

When I see the people with 3 and 4 machines, I think I am frugal--till I remember how much I paid for my Bernia 820 LOL--then not so much! We all try to save where we can I suspect, while still getting the stuff we think we need.

I think the most frugal quilter would be those that use selvages to piece with.

If it weren't for last year's purchase of a MC6600P it might be me. Prior to that my most expensive machine cost $100, two had belonged to my grandmother and one - the treadle - to my husband's grandmother and prior to that maybe to her mother too. My preference is for making very scrappy items out of off-cuts because, for some inexplicable reason, I find it nerve wracking to cut into proper yardage. On a quilt retreat I took projects but spent the entire time making little phone covers out of scraps someone else had threatened to throw away. I found the thought of 'good' fabric being trashed almost upsetting. I make aprons out of my husbands old shirts and am now a whizz at letting out fishing trousers using the inside of pockets or hems to accommodate an expanding waistline. I felt quite frugal until my husband bought me a Studio fabric cutter for an anniversary present; now I just feel blessed. So clearly I'm not going to come close in this contest but I'm very interested to see who does.

I only have one machine and I always shop my stash before going to the fabric shops. I bargain shop for needed supplies such as batting or cutting blades, never full price and always use JA's 50% coupons. I have begun to go to some local quilt shops for specialty fabric or special colors/prints but I shop the bargain bins. For instance, yesterday I needed fabric for a backing and binding or a mystery quilt I finished a year ago. (Quite gorgeous even if I do say so myself.) I found a wonderful choice in the bargain bin. It was priced at $6 per yard WooHoo! I was so pleased. But if it took all on the bolt 8 yards, I got it all for.....$3 per yard. This shop was participating in a three month shop hop, so I got another 20% off the total. Now that is bargain hunting! I have three extra yards of good quality fabric that I can then use when I stash shop another time.

Frugal, yes but I spend from time to time when needed. I do emphasize ..... needed not wanted. :)