I been saving my thread clippings to make thread bowls. It takes a lot time to save up enough but now I have my SIL saving hers for me too. I agree I buy sheets at walmart on sale for backing. I also sew the leftover triangles you get after you cut your corners off together and put them aside when there is enough makes great scrappy laptop quilts or mini quilts, potholders,pillows, etc. I have a hard time wasting any material or scraps so I use most of it in some way. I also save 2 inch squares for what will be a postage quilt only 1,000 more to go since it is only 3 of each kind of material I use, It is fun I keep each different project organized seperately so it is ready to go when I have everything I need for it.