Frugal Quiltmaking

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My Dad has often said he can't understand why someone goes out and buys a perfectly good piece of fabric, cuts it all up in little pieces, and sews it back together again!!! I must say it does seem absurd when put that way. But it is so much fun!!!! Originally, as I'm sure you all know, quilts were a way to make something useful from left-over scraps, and worn clothing etc... but it has been transformed into a true work of art. I love to see the beautiful designs people dream up, and can spend many hours analyzing quilts. But over and over my eye is drawn to the "scrap" quilt. The ones that don't have matching fabrics, but manage to look like they were planned to the last detail. This is the look I have been working to achieve.

I mostly make quilts out of old clothes, scraps of fabric from other projects or that people have given me. I rarely buy anything new for a quilt, but sometimes I might need to purchase a solid color to contrast other fabrics. For the lining I often use blankets cut to size, or quilted mattress covers, these are often found at yard sales for a quarter. I bleach and wash them and they are as good as new. For the backs, I might use sheets. Sometimes I will find an old faded comforter, and just make a new top to fit it.

These are just some of my ideas, I'm sure there are many people who have much more experience, and even better ideas than I have, so add them on!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 15, 2001

Answers

Melissa, you have once again proved that there is nothing new under the sun, and that perhaps great minds think alike! My dad said the exact same thing your dad said. I make quilts of scraps leftover from sewing projects and only rarely buy fabric just for quilting. The very first quilt I made used an old comforter for the filling and I tied it together with scraps of yarn. I have also used sheets for backs. My mom will buy that really nice cotton batting for me sometimes; otherwise I get whatever is the cheapest. The discount fabric warehouse where I shop was selling imperfect king/queen size batts for about $6. The "perfect" ones were more than $20.

When I began to show a serious interest in sewing, my mother gave me her sewing machine and my grandma gave me a big suitcase stuffed full of fabric scraps from years of sewing. This is what I used for my first quilt. I used the same scraps to make a quilt for my grandma and for my brother. My brother showed it to his new wife and pointed out all the different scraps: "This was my favourite pyjamas, this was Grandma's dress that I liked the best, this was a Sunday outfit of my sister's, etc." We look at those quilts and it's like going back in time.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), November 15, 2001.


This is a bit off the subject but similar. I had an electric throw which is really a small electric blanket. It didn't heat anymore, so I pulled out the wires and covered it on both sides with fabric and made bias tape out the scraps to finish the edges. Of course, I tied it before that and evened out the edges. It makes a great throw in the living room when the cold winds blow.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.

Good idea Ardie. I think the material they make those electric blankets from is very durable, so it is good to have a way to use it even when it may not heat any longer. I will keep this in mind if I run across any of them in the future.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 15, 2001.

My Grandma got me started with scrap quilts from old clothes. She used to save the buttons and zippers too. I inherited them all and have some very interesting buttons. One of my favorite scrap quilts that is currently under construction is being made of my old suits from my former "regular" job. Most of them are wool or woolblend, so it will be a winter quilt. I plan on using an old wool army blanket for the inside, but haven't decided yet on the backing. Perhaps something exotic. But, it really did my heart good to cut up those suits. Kinda like tearing the bridge down behind you. I've also just recently cut blocks out of what seemed like a million pair of bluejeans collected ever since the 70's. I'd been hauling them around from place to place for the one day I would make a tied jean quilt like my other Grandma did. I remember sleeping under her jean quilt one winter night. It was so heavy, I almost couldn't move. But, the only thing that was cold that night was my nose. lol Love that memory. Quilts are good for that.

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), November 15, 2001.

I have an article that I wrote on this subject; I was going to send it to Countryside. Maybe I should go ahead and mail it (wonder if they'd swap a few articles for a subscription!)

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 15, 2001.


Rebekah, The smaller magazines I've written for usually paid me in one or two copies of the issue my story appeared. I'd ask for a subscription anyway. Especially if you include pictures. Keep us posted and good luck. Iris

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), November 15, 2001.

I have been intrigued for a long time by the Tightwad Gazette's .99 cent quilt. I went to a factory outlet and bought a huge bage of good size flannel scraps for $5.oo There were so many, I split them with my Mom. I cut four inch sguares and sewed them in strips- thier were red ones and blue ones so I made a kind of checkerboard patters. For the other side, I sewed strips of good denium taken from work out jeans. The quilt was so heavy it didn't need a lining. I tied it with scrap yarn and bound it with homemade bias strips made from scraps from another project. I havn't been able (yet) to get down to .99 cents but I figure $2.50 is not bad. Ive had this quilt for ten years and have dragged it on picnics and beaches and everywhere and its still in great shape.

-- Kelly in Ky (ksaderholm@yahoo.com), November 16, 2001.

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