How to Collect Materials for Quilting

Frugal pioneer homemakers salvaged scraps from old clothing and stitched them into comfy quilts. Today's quilt blends the colors, design and textures of a variety of fabrics purchased new, leftover from other sewing projects or rescued from cast-off garments.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabrics
• Covered Containers
• Scissors
• Scissors

1. Set aside a central, convenient place to store fabric scraps where they will stay clean. A rubber tote with a snap-on lid works well.

2. Learn what types of fabric work best. Although the most common quilt fabrics are broadcloth and calico, others, such as flannel, are occasionally used. Small prints show up best when small pieces are cut for a design. Most quilts combine light, medium and dark materials.

3. Save scrap fabrics left after cutting out pattern pieces from sewing projects.

4. Visit flea markets, garage sales and auctions to look for bargains on interesting fabrics you can wash and use. Remember stains or worn spots can be cut out.

5. Ask friends and family members to save scrap fabrics and discarded clothing for you.

6. Browse at fabric stores and dig through the remnant and markdown bins.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure fabric is washable so that your entire quilt will be.
• Use preshrunk, colorfast fabrics.
• Avoid buying large amounts of fabric for future projects until you complete your current one, especially if you're a beginning quilt maker.
• Gather favorite, worn-out garments to make memory or baby quilts as family heirlooms.

[quiltmaster]

on 5/23/2009 shellyT, check out thrift stores. skirts and dresses are bargain fabric sources.

[shellyt]

on 3/13/2009 Can someone help me find scrap material. I want to make quilts for children who are in the hospital and I can not find fabric the is inexpensive. I live in a small town and we have no fabric stores. I have no where to go Please help

[itsruthieagain]

on 2/1/2008 Both of my parents have passed away and most of my kids never met them. So I got their old clothes out of the box and made a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. The only hitch was the fact that some of my dad's old shirts were made out of a fabric that burned and shriveled when I tried to iron it! The tag was missing so I don't know what it was! So, test an old fabric to make sure it will wash and iron.

on 11/22/2005 When using new fabric for quilting, it is better to soak it in water for a few hours to dissolve any starch. This avoids uneven shrinkage later. Salt added to the water will also help fasten the color of the fabric.

on 11/22/2005 It's always best to use the best materials. You'll find these at your local quilt shop. 100% cotton is highly recommended. If collecting for a scrap quilt, buy lots of fat quarters. These are pieces 18" x 22". Support your local quilt shops!