pollyjvan9

I don't know how many of you use fabric other than "quilting cotton", but I often do. I use good condition thrift store garments, new dressmaker blend fabrics and anything that is a color or pattern that I love. Something that came to me this morning when I started sewing was the fabric I was using for the foundation. I acquired several new bed skirts. They had never been used and were great colors and patterns, I cut the skirts off, washed and ironed them and was getting ready to throw the center part away when it occurred to me that it would be good for the scrappy crazy quilts I like to make. It does great. There are always many of these at the thrift store. Maybe you can use this idea too.

erstan947

Thanks good tip!

sueisallaboutquilts

Great idea. The way the economy is right now we need to be more like our foremothers in quilting and you have already done so. The only exception for me is I only like to use cotton fabric. Thanks for the tip :D

littlehud

What a great tip. Thanks for sharing.

Lori L

I have a feeling as time goes on that many of us who are currently "fabric snobs" :) are going to have to bite
the bullet and put our money where are mouths are. Quilting is our hobby and some may be willing to put out the extra for the fabric we enjoy sewing with. Many though are going to have to downgrade the fabric used to continue enjoying the hobby we love. I do realize that our grandmothers before us was using anything on hand for quilts that were necessities and not a hobby but did that make their quilts any less beautiful??? Why is it we all love to see the heirloom quilts and feel honored to have them? I guarantee there was no Moda, Hoffman etc fabrics being used. LOL I too like using a good cotton fabric that has a good "hand". I have recently just learned to quilt and I started out as a spoiled fabric snob. BUT...I am new and don't have a big stash yet. I love quilting enough already to say if I was given a choice between quilting or not quilting.....I'll go with the cheaper fabric to continue my growth as a quilter. Just my two cents worth.....and then some. LOL

CarrieAnne

Polly, great tip! I can usually findold white sheets at the thrift store, too, for not much money.
Lori, I agree with you! Look at all the beautiful Depression era quilts........still here and they used whatever they could!

bearisgray

I wish people would say "less expensive" instead of "cheaper"

One can still find nice/decent/good fabrics at comparatively "reasonable" prices if one knows what one is looking for and where to look.

"cheaper", to me, implies inferior quality.

sueisallaboutquilts

Well said, Lori !! And I am one of those, I admit it. And I'm a huge fan of antique quilts ! :D I can't imagine life w/o Moda lol :mrgreen: But other than fabric I'm not a snob hehe

dkabasketlady

What a great tip! A crazy quilt is on my to do list!! Thanks!

oatw13

I have been using the center part of bedskirts along with leftover batting or fleece to make "quilt sandwiches" to practice free motion quilting.

I will have to remember your idea, too! Thanks for sharing.