wraez

4dogs, me too! I also use ugly/thin/cheap fabrics for foundation. Usually putting it wrong side up so that any darker colors won't show thru to the light colored strings!

I'm starting to run out of the 'ugly' fabrics and thinking of using my 50% off coupon at Joanns to purchase the cheapest muslin they carry.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

eimay

On a similar note, www.paperbackswap.com is a good site to use to access quilt books. You list books you no longer are attached to (any type book...novels,etc). When someone wants one of your books, you get a point. You can use your points to get what you want when it is available or look through quilting category to see what is available. All it costs you is the postage to ship your book to the person requesting it (usually about $2.50). Not bad when you can get a $25.00 quilting book.

vwquilting

I go to Alibris Books on the web and buy beautiful quilt books for .99 shipping is usually 3.00.

Church rummage sales are a great place for bargains on all kinds of sheets and blankets and clothes at the end they are usually $1.00 a bag.

nonnie

Wonderful, great tips, thanks so much everyone for all the sharing.

Dolphyngyrl

ask for gift cards to your favorite quilt shops for christmas birthdays, anniversaries, etc. That's the only way i get the nice fabric, coupons from stores like joanns, or sales, some catalogs have sales and free shipping.

msuewhite

I, too, use scraps of batting, especially for my mini-quilts or wall-quilts. But I sew the straight edges of the scraps by hand using large basting stitches in a running overcast stitches. Then, when I am at the end, I simply open up the piece, gently pulling apart until the edges butt up. If you stitch loosely, not sewing too tightly together, it will lay flat without any overlapping of the edges. I do this while watching t.v.

jitkaau

I always use 'stash buster' patterns. By that, I mean that there is no wastage. I make the scraps into fancy borders, or cut the fabric from strips so that there is nothing except a minimal squaring up scrap that is left over. Not much fussy cutting in this house! One criticism I received from a member of the quilt guild I belong to was, "I don't like your quilts - they always look like you've made them from scraps." AND THAT IS RIGHT.

jitkaau

If you drove that far in my country, the cost of petrol would be too prohibitive and not worth the effort...such a shame.

misoop

I have found wonderful cotton napkins in sets of 6 or 8 at garage sales.....they're always large enough to use....some with very pretty designs. I don't usually buy the solid colors..just the prints, etc. I always check the Walmart fabric, EVERY time I go in. You just never know what you'll find.

skydiver70

My mother and I used sheets many times as backings. I have found some at thrift stores, too.