I don’t buy fabric until I need it. I inherited some and have gone through 75% of it. I suspect if you advertise in the wanted section of marketplace you could even get free fabric, scraps, batting etc. The main way I save money is by cutting scraps into my most frequently used sizes (2 1/2” squares and 2 1/2” strips for me) and making scrap quilts. Lots of scrap quilts. I now save my crumbs too. I put all my blue crumbs together, pinks, etc and make squares of one color family crumb fabric then cut them into 4 1/2” squares, half square triangles etc and make scrappy star quilts. They look great. I find I primarily only buy white or cream for backgrounds.
When I first started quilting, I made a point to learn quilt arithmetic so I could calculate and create patterns in different sizes and create quilts in different sizes. There are thousands of free patterns and any block repeated will make an attractive quilt. I also bought hair clips. Anything that says”quilting” doubles or triples the price. Your visits to Harbor Freight are genius! I did recently splurge on art bin storage boxes and I have LOVED them. They’re so helpful in keeping things sorted. My pledge to myself this year was to shop my stash first. You’re so right about that. I had to buy a new iron so I asked my long arm quilter for a recommendation. She said the Rowenta Chi and Amazon had it for $60. I LOVE it! I bought one of those mister bottles so I don’t have to put water in my iron. I’ve seen those expensive Oliso irons “spit” on TV. I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on an iron that still spits! My idea is to spend your money wherever you feel it really counts-and that is often different for everyone. But it does pay to exercise some discipline on yourself! That’s my plan for 2023. And 2024, too, for that matter! 😀😀😀 Thanks for another good video, Michelle-and say “hi” to the guys from your fans! 😁😁
I have used a Rowenta and Chi and have loved them both! I look for certain characteristics now in an iron and those can be found in less expensive irons! I like your comment on spending where you think it counts. I am willing to pay more for Best Press because I like that product and have used it for years; however, I am not willing to spend so much on irons anymore when I can find a good iron for a lot less. I really have not missed spending so much on fabric anymore either. Some how I just reached that point where I realized I really have enough for now.
Making templates from old cutting mats. Even the cracked ones can work if taped on the back. Check yard sales, thrift stores for them. I use a dremel type tool to cut the mat, often times my husband will cut them for me as well. Also the thicker plastic jugs that milk or juice comes in. I use a warm iron and a pressing type mat or something that won;t melt to help flatten the plastic jugs
STA-flo liquid starch is 2 quarts from purex for $ 3.77 ,,I pour it into a nice spray bottle and starch away ,,Its good Starch from lite to heavy weight starch depending on how much you spray on. Its cheaper than most and better than homemade in my opinion because I have tried both,,the homemade has to be thrown out after about 2 weeks if you don't use it all ,, Sta-flo stayes fresh and I really like it for those of us that can't spend alot or don't want to spend alot this is great and last a long time too. Sew there is my 2 cents worth!!!!🙂❤
I use Sta-Flo as well and love it. I couldn’t justify buying Best Press and I like my results better with Sta-Flo. I dilute it with distilled water in a spray bottle and sometimes add a drop or two of essential oils.
I so agree with not buying pre-cuts. A lot of the pieces that come in the set are not even ones that I like or will use... even more of a waste. Except for fat quarter bundles, I have not once had jelly rolls or charm or mini-charm packs that I have felt I would use every piece. Those get donated, but I still had to pay for them. I also agree with using basic rulers. Rulers are not cheap.
Thanks Michelle for all the great tips! You nailed it with the hair clips. A year or two ago, I found a large container of the large metal clips at a garage sale for a buck. Perfect for all my larger thick projects.😊 And I bought 3 magnetic trays at Harbor Freight after I watched your video. Love them. I use pale pink thread alot. It blends with so many colors! Thanks again for all the great tips! Have a great weekend! 😊
Michelle, you are a treasure. Watching your videos always perks me up. I appreciate your practical suggestions with a dose of humility thrown in as in this video. Here are a few cost saving ideas. 1. If shopping online, get to know a company over time. Each company has a certain rhythm to their sales during the year. Daily sales and flash sales are more common now. Scanning quilt shop emails will give you a sense of the unique marketing style of each company. Make a wish list and wait until it goes on sale. I watch 3 online companies regularly. I scan the subject line of their emails daily. My 6 x24" ruler broke a few months ago. I made do until last week when Missouri Star QC had a , all of their own rulers > 60% off. Another example: I loved a Moda collection but didn't want to pay $12/yard for it. Jordan Fabrics had a one day sale where the entire line was 30% off. They also had the same line in 10, 1/2 yard cuts at a big discount. I bought the half yard bundle. 2. Search online coupon companies for codes for your online quilt shop. It took me 2 coupon companies and 6-8 tries, entering coupon codes. I don't know why I even kept going! Result was 25% off entire order. Thanks again Michelle for the time you spend to turn out quality videos.
Thank you for all this value information. I’m like you. I have a huge stash. I like Villa Rosa patterns, which are very cheap. I also have shopped at the second hand stores for fabric and have started to deconstruct men’s shirt. Found a 5x shirt that had almost a yard of fabric in the back alone.
One money saving tip is that I don't often use "batting", for batting. I use the inexpensive fleece blankets from Wal-Mart. They are 50" x 60" for $3. I cut about a half inch off all the sides because it's usually stitched with a zig-zag. Also, if you stock up during black Friday, you can get them for $1. I stick with a neutral color like grey just in case it bleeds but I've used prints before with no issues.
Christie, I find this very interesting because I have only ever used batting. Over the years, quilters have used a variety of content for the inside of their quilts. This is a very inexpensive option and I think it would be great for making charity quilts to help keep the cost lower. Thanks for sharing!
great tips! My rule has always been to buy what you need and use what you buy. I have one medium size rubbermaid tote for stash fabric. If it is full I cant buy if it is empty or low I am able to make a few impulse buys. I also buy at walmart. I know, poor quality etc etc BUT! I have 4 quilts made with all walmart fabric and they are 30+ years old and used on the regular. The wear is no different from the ones that are made with fabric from quilt stores. I have had only one fabric I was disappointed in and it was bc I didnt check the bolt for content and it wasnt 100% cotton. All in all I am pretty frugal (cheap?) but my best savings is I made my own quilting frame from sawhorses my husband was not using and hand quilt. Labor is free. IF I need something done quicker I enlist a family member to help or do a basic machine quilting pattern on my machine with a walking foot.
From my scraps I will sew same fabrics together so the piece is larger and I can use in another quilt. When I need it in another quilt I cut it to the size I need. The seam does not bother me and most recipients of the quilt don’t even notice it. They are just thrilled to be gifted a quilt.
Thank you for these ideas, Michelle! These are great tips for saving money in quilting. It sure is an expensive hobby, but can be much less expensive with tips like these.
thank you. i want to add, the anti-slip-on rulers are so expensive, i adopt from another RUclipsr to use hot glue gun dots and to squish it on baking paper to make them flat. it works like a charm and is transparent, as well the handle of rulers are out of my rich, so i use another tip from the same RUclipsr, to use a transparent plastic hook and glue it wt a hot glue gun so it is stable and stay there forever. thank you for the very useful videos! bless.
I use old bed sheets and duvet covers as batting when I sew strip quilts. Cutting squares and sew the strips directly on the squares is great. The blocks get sturdy, and with a simple back, it is a good quilt for too hot summer nights.
Thanks for all the great tips! I sew my batting scraps together often for baby quilts and other projects and it works great. I have tried Best Press and like it but I've been using Faultless Luxe finish and it gives great results. I would like to see you do a video on making t-shirt quilts your way.
Great video. Like many of your statements. I have found buying my batting in king-size pkg. Warm and natural works for me. It is in a package and doesn't get all messed up. It's kind of like buying yardage, and I do not mind sewing it together when I end up with smaller pieces. I use Walmart starch. I have had good luck with it and mix half and half. What I need to get is a couple of misters for water and starch . The pre cuts are nice if you are using those sizes in your pattern but I am finding using the June Taylor(just is the one I have)stripology ruler is fantastic and using yardage works well that way. I do have a couple of things that I have splurged on, and that includes rulers. I like having a specific size ruler when squaring my blocks. For me, more accurate cutting happens, and I use my rotating mat. But I chose to add those a little at a time. I really like the idea use what we have first. I am trying to do that now that I am unpacked and getting organized. One big thing is getting everything in order and in many cases the material with pattern together in a clear box so I know what I have. Saves buying again and finding later. Being able to see what I have has given me incentive to get sewing again. Thanks for another great video.
I check out quilt books from our local public library (both physical books and online ones). Sometimes they put them out for sale for $1-$2. Usually people leave quilt magazines on a table free-for-the-taking, as well.
Great tips as always! I need to unsubscribe from the fabric websites. Some are having sales every day, it can be tempting! I try to buy only for a priject in mind. Thanks for the thread tip too. Some of the channels I watch always match up to the fabric.
Diane, I really reached a point where I felt I had to stop buying so much stuff. The accumulating clutter throughout my entire house has been bothering me and I just really had to stop. Now, I am not a hoarder by any means; however, we each have our levels of tolerance when it comes to clutter and I think I simply reached mine. I still have a ton of beautiful stuff from which to quilt.
As always, another great video. Thank you. You always manage to make me re think how i am currently getting things done and how i can make changes and get better results. Whether its an awesome tip, cleaning out drawers or applying a new technique - you always deliver! I look forward to all your videos and sincerelly thank you for producing amazing, informative videos!
All of your tips were excellent 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thank you Michelle for all your videos, it takes a lot of work to come up with all these ideas and then implement them for your video!!! As always, great video 😊
Thanks so much for these tips! I find watching RUclips and learning from others the best way for me to save money. I really like the Sewing Channel; Tracy shared how to make an economy block without sewing onto the foundation paper pattern. I have been able to make 27 blocks with just two pages of the foundation paper that Lori Holt sells through That's Sew Emma. It's also a great time saver because you're not investing all the time that it takes to rip the paper off the back of your blocks!
@@thesimplequilter7499I love all your tips thank you! I was given an older singer and it purrs like a kitten and has the most beautiful stitch. I love it!
Pre-cuts: I was excited that MSQC allows you to buy fabric by the 1/4 yard. you can get (3) 2.5” strips and (1) 1.5” strips, or (8) 5”, (16) 2.5” squares and (1) 1.5 strip out of a quarter yard. I always compare the 1/4 yard cuts to a jelly roll or fat quarter bundles.
Yes! Take care of your equipment! Also I only buy precuts if I love all the fabrics in the line. I have two large quilts that started with large fat quarter bundles that I knew were not going to be enough so shopped my local quilt shops sales room and fleshed out the rest of the quilt with fabric that coordinated. There were already so many different fabrics in the line that you can't even tell I added more to them.
Still thrifty with buying stuff. My last 3 machines were , a gift, free( left at the transfer station), and won at auction for $12( end of day, not much bidding). Love thrift shops and lawn sales.
Pastel threads you have purchased to quilt a project are also useful for piecing. It’s amazing how light green or light blue will blend in just as well as or better than gray or beige.
@Donna F I also buy the foam core boards at Walmart for 98 cents and cut them into 8 equal pieces to wrap my larger pieces of fabric on. Cheaper than buying the fabric boards you can purchase. Just fold the fabric one more time lengthwise and roll on them boards. They don't fit exactly but close enough not to be a problem. If you have wider fabric you may need to cut the pieces bigger.
Figure out what kind of quilts you like to make. I prefer scrappy quilts, so I do buy pre-cuts. A mini-charm, charm, honey bun, or jelly roll all cost less that a 1/4 yard of each & so far I have used 90% of the pieces in the packs that I have bought. (I'm ok with giving the pieces that I don't want to a friend. The value of generosity can't be valued in dollars and cents.) Now if I preferred "3-yard" quilt or something similar, I would buy differently. But right now I am happy with 4-patches, Irish chain, 9-patches, log cabin, & string quilts, all of which I make scrappily with pre-cuts.
I have a Rowenta and it’s been really good. It has only spit may be a couple of times. I got it with the coupon when Joannes allowed you to buy those with a coupon. Sometimes you can find a really nice one at Goodwill which I did so I have a back up(for 25!).
I've saved a ton of money on starch because I never use it. I can hear all the gasp, lol. Seriously though, I've just never gotten into the habit of it, and I never had anyone teaching me how to quilt so no one ever stressed to me the importance of using it.
Great tips, thank you for taking the time to make this great video. This is the first time that I've seen your channel, and I am going to subscribe for sure.🙂
I didn't know how to safely store long pins for quilting, they came out the bottom of my dressmaking pincushions and got me, so I cut 6 mini-charm pieces, sewed them together for a cube, stuffed that and only put pins in from the top. Easy done. Thanks for the tips, all the best. Tips for beginners: If you have a frugal quilty friend, go shopping together. If you like the same fabrics, you can each buy ×21, 1/2 yard cuts each (18"), or 22" or 24" for 2 feet long this will get you 4 layer cake squares, not 2. (Do you belong to a group? If you all like a set of fabrics, try sharing your pre-cuts from home, would a one yard of each cut get you enough to share around? 36" is 3 × 10 inches (×12 LC sq's) plus a 6 inch strip, if cut straight in the shop. What about the selvedges?) Cut 1/2 yd down the centre of width and swap the second halves, with your friend, so you both get plenty of variety, in nice (extra big?) fat q's for 42 each. Can you find 42 fabrics that go together, or 21 for 2 of each, or 11 with 4 of each? You could challenge all group members to use the same layer cakes cut by you, do you need 2 for a larger quilt? Do you cut accurately? You can cut your own pre-cut strips? If you want 2 or 3 charm packs, get out your 10" strips, cut 1 square of each fabric, and quarter them, or use a 5" strip and cut 2 or 3 of 4 possible squares. It can be better to leave bigger chunks big. You can break them down when you know what you want to use them for. You decide if cutting a 10" strip off a set of fat quarters to store separately, will save you from getting out the larger bits later while knowing you have wiggle room for mis-cuts and finishing bits, making sewing quicker to get to, and life easier. Or cut up your fq's into proper pre-cut sizes right away, do you want to, or keep your options open? You can do a few per day for a while? Even do your scraps too, then? Layer cake squares are versatile. Yet if you find you need 5 1/2" squares, having a 5" strip won't help much, though it will give you 2 jelly roll 1/2 strips, should you want them, or lots of squares (×16) in each half or in each layer cake square. Handling of neatly stacked straight cuts can give you frayed edges over time, thus they do those dusty jagged edges. If you don't really love a set of cuts, try not to have to use the same set in every quilt you make for a while. Left over bits can be used in smaller things. The most important thing is to keep have fun.
These are such great reminders. But I am not a fabric hoarder. I have a carefully curated collection. The problem with buying fabric on sale that aren't not used is that colors change over time. A few later it can be very hard to find something that coordinates. I have not purchased any quilting fabric for more than a year. And a couple of years ago I gave a lot of fabric away. These are sad things, but you can have so much that you can no longer function. However I have some good place that I can donate to, like Mennonite Central Committee that will use it for relief. They make blankets for people in crisis around the world. Before I owned a Bernina I didn't realize the difference it could make. So my tip is to NOT use someone's high end machine, so you don't want one. LOL. I finally got rid of my daughters t-shirts. After being told no for almost 20 years, I am giving up. But I donated them to MCC which makes them into rags they can sell. I love fre motion quilting!!!
I don’t have a long arm machine. I find having my quilts done costs so much. Did you do the quilting on your inexpensive machine when you started piecing?
No I did not. I only started machine quilting once I had my Bernina. It came with a stitch regulator and a great walking foot. Now I will at least quilt baby quilt size and under. Paying to have them quilted is expensive.
I do most of my shopping online too. I’m on the mailing lists for several smaller quilt shops and the major ones too. They occasionally have 20% off sales, especially around holidays. Buy purchasing enough during the sale to get free shipping, you can eliminate that portion of the cost.
Rae, I really have not had the urge to buy. I just have felt so overwhelmed with all the stuff in my quilt room!!! I have so many nice fabrics, panels, kits etc I my possession already!!!
There used to be a song in the ‘80s that had a line: Strumming my life with his fingers…. ….or something to that effect. Every single tip you voiced hit home with me. I have pieced batting, oiled and maintained my machines, sewn up most of my scraps, still have way too much yardage, almost despise precuts (except fat quarters), repurpose things several times, have tried to do limited buying and hit sales whenever possible. Since I have 2 sewing machines, a serger, and a cover stitch machine, I have to be frugal with tools and notions. Each type of machine has its own needs. One thing I’ll add, is sewing machine feet. They cost a small fortune. Many of the feet can be used for other purposes than it’s name would indicate. For example, I use my pin tuck feet to couch cord onto the cuff of a pillowcase. It actually gives better results than my couching foot. I have pin tuck feet with 3, 5, 7, and 9 grooves. I use 3 and 5 grooved feet. My bad. To save money, figure out what feet you need, try to buy them on sale, and be creative in their use. Often you can do a task with an alternate foot. Storage is also a huge cost. Expensive tubs and baskets can rob us of the fabric and equipment we need to enjoy our hobby. So being creative with storage can save money too. Great ideas!!! Every one of them.
Thank you so much for sharing! Now I have only bought extra walking feet…I don’t even know what a couching foot or a pin tuck foot is….I will have to look them up. Do you sew garments?
@@thesimplequilter7499 No, I do not make garments although I’d love to learn. I’d like to be able to sew a nice tee shirt, a sweatshirt, and maybe another item or two.
The only time I buy fabric is to finish a quilt. Or, I may buy fabric to do a special event, such as Christmas. Then, I need to keep the fabric with that project. Otherwise, no-no-no I do not buy fabric just because I want it.
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Those were really good tips. Buy once cry once and take care of your equipment. I love you!!!💕❤️
Thanks Wes! 💕🥰💕
When you were talking I thought of something I used to say. It's not a good deal if you don't need it. Good tips!
Great saying!
My sisters and I give each other lists of our pattern, templates, rulers and notions so when we need a special item we can share rather than purchase.
That's a great idea!
I don’t buy fabric until I need it. I inherited some and have gone through 75% of it. I suspect if you advertise in the wanted section of marketplace you could even get free fabric, scraps, batting etc. The main way I save money is by cutting scraps into my most frequently used sizes (2 1/2” squares and 2 1/2” strips for me) and making scrap quilts. Lots of scrap quilts. I now save my crumbs too. I put all my blue crumbs together, pinks, etc and make squares of one color family crumb fabric then cut them into 4 1/2” squares, half square triangles etc and make scrappy star quilts. They look great. I find I primarily only buy white or cream for backgrounds.
Thanks so much for sharing!!! I like your system!
I have built my stash with shopping at estate sales. Great way to also get notions, patterns and specialty rulers.
Thanh’s for sharing!
When I first started quilting, I made a point to learn quilt arithmetic so I could calculate and create patterns in different sizes and create quilts in different sizes. There are thousands of free patterns and any block repeated will make an attractive quilt. I also bought hair clips. Anything that says”quilting” doubles or triples the price. Your visits to Harbor Freight are genius! I did recently splurge on art bin storage boxes and I have LOVED them. They’re so helpful in keeping things sorted. My pledge to myself this year was to shop my stash first. You’re so right about that. I had to buy a new iron so I asked my long arm quilter for a recommendation. She said the Rowenta Chi and Amazon had it for $60. I LOVE it! I bought one of those mister bottles so I don’t have to put water in my iron. I’ve seen those expensive Oliso irons “spit” on TV. I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on an iron that still spits! My idea is to spend your money wherever you feel it really counts-and that is often different for everyone. But it does pay to exercise some discipline on yourself! That’s my plan for 2023. And 2024, too, for that matter! 😀😀😀 Thanks for another good video, Michelle-and say “hi” to the guys from your fans! 😁😁
I have used a Rowenta and Chi and have loved them both! I look for certain characteristics now in an iron and those can be found in less expensive irons! I like your comment on spending where you think it counts. I am willing to pay more for Best Press because I like that product and have used it for years; however, I am not willing to spend so much on irons anymore when I can find a good iron for a lot less. I really have not missed spending so much on fabric anymore either. Some how I just reached that point where I realized I really have enough for now.
Making templates from old cutting mats. Even the cracked ones can work if taped on the back. Check yard sales, thrift stores for them. I use a dremel type tool to cut the mat, often times my husband will cut them for me as well. Also the thicker plastic jugs that milk or juice comes in. I use a warm iron and a pressing type mat or something that won;t melt to help flatten the plastic jugs
Thanks for sharing!
STA-flo liquid starch is 2 quarts from purex for $ 3.77 ,,I pour it into a nice spray bottle and starch away ,,Its good Starch from lite to heavy weight starch depending on how much you spray on. Its cheaper than most and better than homemade in my opinion because I have tried both,,the homemade has to be thrown out after about 2 weeks if you don't use it all ,, Sta-flo stayes fresh and I really like it for those of us that can't spend alot or don't want to spend alot this is great and last a long time too. Sew there is my 2 cents worth!!!!🙂❤
I agree completely! Love the Sta-flo!
Renee, Thank you do much for sharing
I use Sta-Flo as well and love it. I couldn’t justify buying Best Press and I like my results better with Sta-Flo. I dilute it with distilled water in a spray bottle and sometimes add a drop or two of essential oils.
I use this as well and put a few drops of essential oil in it. It has never spotted my fabrics and has a nice smell according to what oil you use.
I so agree with not buying pre-cuts. A lot of the pieces that come in the set are not even ones that I like or will use... even more of a waste. Except for fat quarter bundles, I have not once had jelly rolls or charm or mini-charm packs that I have felt I would use every piece. Those get donated, but I still had to pay for them. I also agree with using basic rulers. Rulers are not cheap.
There are lots of ways to help cut the cost.
Thanks Michelle for all the great tips! You nailed it with the hair clips. A year or two ago, I found a large container of the large metal clips at a garage sale for a buck. Perfect for all my larger thick projects.😊 And I bought 3 magnetic trays at Harbor Freight after I watched your video. Love them. I use pale pink thread alot. It blends with so many colors! Thanks again for all the great tips! Have a great weekend! 😊
You are most welcome and thanks for sharing!
Michelle, you are a treasure. Watching your videos always perks me up. I appreciate your practical suggestions with a dose of humility thrown in as in this video. Here are a few cost saving ideas. 1. If shopping online, get to know a company over time. Each company has a certain rhythm to their sales during the year. Daily sales and flash sales are more common now. Scanning quilt shop emails will give you a sense of the unique marketing style of each company. Make a wish list and wait until it goes on sale. I watch 3 online companies regularly. I scan the subject line of their emails daily. My 6 x24" ruler broke a few months ago. I made do until last week when Missouri Star QC had a , all of their own rulers > 60% off. Another example: I loved a Moda collection but didn't want to pay $12/yard for it. Jordan Fabrics had a one day sale where the entire line was 30% off. They also had the same line in 10, 1/2 yard cuts at a big discount. I bought the half yard bundle. 2. Search online coupon companies for codes for your online quilt shop. It took me 2 coupon companies and 6-8 tries, entering coupon codes. I don't know why I even kept going! Result was 25% off entire order. Thanks again Michelle for the time you spend to turn out quality videos.
Mary, Thank you for all your additional tips!!!
Thank you for all this value information. I’m like you. I have a huge stash. I like Villa Rosa patterns, which are very cheap. I also have shopped at the second hand stores for fabric and have started to deconstruct men’s shirt. Found a 5x shirt that had almost a yard of fabric in the back alone.
Good idea!
One money saving tip is that I don't often use "batting", for batting. I use the inexpensive fleece blankets from Wal-Mart. They are 50" x 60" for $3. I cut about a half inch off all the sides because it's usually stitched with a zig-zag. Also, if you stock up during black Friday, you can get them for $1. I stick with a neutral color like grey just in case it bleeds but I've used prints before with no issues.
Christie, I find this very interesting because I have only ever used batting. Over the years, quilters have used a variety of content for the inside of their quilts. This is a very inexpensive option and I think it would be great for making charity quilts to help keep the cost lower. Thanks for sharing!
Great tip. What is the fleece blanket called? Will it be in kids section?
@@akshathakini157 It's usually on the aisle with all of the blankets and bedding. They are labeled as "fleece blankets". Very generic. 👍🏽
@@cyvonn Thanks
@@akshathakini157 Sure 😊 Happy quilting 😊
great tips! My rule has always been to buy what you need and use what you buy. I have one medium size rubbermaid tote for stash fabric. If it is full I cant buy if it is empty or low I am able to make a few impulse buys. I also buy at walmart. I know, poor quality etc etc BUT! I have 4 quilts made with all walmart fabric and they are 30+ years old and used on the regular. The wear is no different from the ones that are made with fabric from quilt stores. I have had only one fabric I was disappointed in and it was bc I didnt check the bolt for content and it wasnt 100% cotton. All in all I am pretty frugal (cheap?) but my best savings is I made my own quilting frame from sawhorses my husband was not using and hand quilt. Labor is free. IF I need something done quicker I enlist a family member to help or do a basic machine quilting pattern on my machine with a walking foot.
Judith, That is great information! Thanks for sharing!!
From my scraps I will sew same fabrics together so the piece is larger and I can use in another quilt. When I need it in another quilt I cut it to the size I need. The seam does not bother me and most recipients of the quilt don’t even notice it. They are just thrilled to be gifted a quilt.
Way to go!
I have used clothes pins in place of the clips. They work very well.
Great idea! I even have a bunch of miniature clothes pins already!!!
Thank you for these ideas, Michelle! These are great tips for saving money in quilting. It sure is an expensive hobby, but can be much less expensive with tips like these.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts!
I heard Lori Holt suggest mixing Best Press half and half with water. It works great and you save a bunch!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
thank you. i want to add, the anti-slip-on rulers are so expensive, i adopt from another RUclipsr to use hot glue gun dots and to squish it on baking paper to make them flat. it works like a charm and is transparent, as well the handle of rulers are out of my rich, so i use another tip from the same RUclipsr, to use a transparent plastic hook and glue it wt a hot glue gun so it is stable and stay there forever. thank you for the very useful videos! bless.
Great tip!
I use old bed sheets and duvet covers as batting when I sew strip quilts. Cutting squares and sew the strips directly on the squares is great. The blocks get sturdy, and with a simple back, it is a good quilt for too hot summer nights.
Ido to.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Excellent ideas - not just for new quilters, but for those who have accumulated our very own mini-quilt shop🥵😊❤
Yes!!! I really have not had the urge to buy in several months. I just need to use up quite a bit of stuff in my room before I buy anymore!
I like the "our very own mini-quilt shop" comment. SO true!
Thanks for all the great tips! I sew my batting scraps together often for baby quilts and other projects and it works great. I have tried Best Press and like it but I've been using Faultless Luxe finish and it gives great results. I would like to see you do a video on making t-shirt quilts your way.
I do need to make my daughter that t-shirt quilt she is wanting.
Great video. Like many of your statements. I have found buying my batting in king-size pkg. Warm and natural works for me. It is in a package and doesn't get all messed up. It's kind of like buying yardage, and I do not mind sewing it together when I end up with smaller pieces. I use Walmart starch. I have had good luck with it and mix half and half. What I need to get is a couple of misters for water and starch . The pre cuts are nice if you are using those sizes in your pattern but I am finding using the June Taylor(just is the one I have)stripology ruler is fantastic and using yardage works well that way. I do have a couple of things that I have splurged on, and that includes rulers. I like having a specific size ruler when squaring my blocks. For me, more accurate cutting happens, and I use my rotating mat. But I chose to add those a little at a time. I really like the idea use what we have first. I am trying to do that now that I am unpacked and getting organized. One big thing is getting everything in order and in many cases the material with pattern together in a clear box so I know what I have. Saves buying again and finding later. Being able to see what I have has given me incentive to get sewing again. Thanks for another great video.
You are so welcome and thanks for sharing!
I check out quilt books from our local public library (both physical books and online ones). Sometimes they put them out for sale for $1-$2. Usually people leave quilt magazines on a table free-for-the-taking, as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Great tips as always! I need to unsubscribe from the fabric websites. Some are having sales every day, it can be tempting! I try to buy only for a priject in mind. Thanks for the thread tip too. Some of the channels I watch always match up to the fabric.
Thanks!
You are a treasure Michelle😊 i have been trying to get a handle on spending. It's hard!! You think you have to have it but you really don't! 😊
Diane, I really reached a point where I felt I had to stop buying so much stuff. The accumulating clutter throughout my entire house has been bothering me and I just really had to stop. Now, I am not a hoarder by any means; however, we each have our levels of tolerance when it comes to clutter and I think I simply reached mine. I still have a ton of beautiful stuff from which to quilt.
As always, another great video. Thank you. You always manage to make me re think how i am currently getting things done and how i can make changes and get better results. Whether its an awesome tip, cleaning out drawers or applying a new technique - you always deliver! I look forward to all your videos and sincerelly thank you for producing amazing, informative videos!
Carol, thank you so much for comments! It was so nice of you!
All of your tips were excellent 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thank you Michelle for all your videos, it takes a lot of work to come up with all these ideas and then implement them for your video!!! As always, great video 😊
Kathleen, Thank you so much for your comments! That is so nice of you!
Absolutely love my magnetic pin holder from Harbour Freight! I never would have thought to go in there if it wasn’t for your video.
I'm so glad!!!
Lots of great tips! Thanks!
You are most welcome!
Thanks so much for these tips! I find watching RUclips and learning from others the best way for me to save money. I really like the Sewing Channel; Tracy shared how to make an economy block without sewing onto the foundation paper pattern. I have been able to make 27 blocks with just two pages of the foundation paper that Lori Holt sells through That's Sew Emma. It's also a great time saver because you're not investing all the time that it takes to rip the paper off the back of your blocks!
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing!
Older model straight stitch Singers etc. are a good machines for quilting and are easy to find used and less expensive.
I made a lot of beautiful quilts on my old Singer!!
@@thesimplequilter7499I love all your tips thank you! I was given an older singer and it purrs like a kitten and has the most beautiful stitch. I love it!
I really need to utilize the batting by the yard tip. I spend so much on batting!
All great tips!
It makes a difference! Especially if it is on sale or you have a coupon!
Use a normal foot and a decorative stitch already on your machine to quilt your quilt yourself.
Thanks for sharing!
Pre-cuts: I was excited that MSQC allows you to buy fabric by the 1/4 yard. you can get (3) 2.5” strips and (1) 1.5” strips, or (8) 5”, (16) 2.5” squares and (1) 1.5 strip out of a quarter yard. I always compare the 1/4 yard cuts to a jelly roll or fat quarter bundles.
I have done the math also and precuts just cost more per yard than yardage…unless they are on sale.
@@thesimplequilter7499 absolutely
Yes! Take care of your equipment! Also I only buy precuts if I love all the fabrics in the line. I have two large quilts that started with large fat quarter bundles that I knew were not going to be enough so shopped my local quilt shops sales room and fleshed out the rest of the quilt with fabric that coordinated. There were already so many different fabrics in the line that you can't even tell I added more to them.
Way to go!
Great tips! Thanks, Michelle!
Thank you!
Still thrifty with buying stuff. My last 3 machines were , a gift, free( left at the transfer station), and won at auction for $12( end of day, not much bidding). Love thrift shops and lawn sales.
All great ideas!
Fabulous suggestions! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Pastel threads you have purchased to quilt a project are also useful for piecing. It’s amazing how light green or light blue will blend in just as well as or better than gray or beige.
Good to know!
Thrift stores have a lot to offer too.
Absolutely!
Yes they do!
I also buy the cheap plastic cutting mats from the Dollar Tree store (they come 2 in a package) and cut templates from them.
Cool I use them as design boards, to carry stacks from the cutting table to the machine, and as a rotating cutting mat.
@Donna F I also buy the foam core boards at Walmart for 98 cents and cut them into 8 equal pieces to wrap my larger pieces of fabric on. Cheaper than buying the fabric boards you can purchase. Just fold the fabric one more time lengthwise and roll on them boards. They don't fit exactly but close enough not to be a problem. If you have wider fabric you may need to cut the pieces bigger.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Figure out what kind of quilts you like to make.
I prefer scrappy quilts, so I do buy pre-cuts. A mini-charm, charm, honey bun, or jelly roll all cost less that a 1/4 yard of each & so far I have used 90% of the pieces in the packs that I have bought. (I'm ok with giving the pieces that I don't want to a friend. The value of generosity can't be valued in dollars and cents.)
Now if I preferred "3-yard" quilt or something similar, I would buy differently.
But right now I am happy with 4-patches, Irish chain, 9-patches, log cabin, & string quilts, all of which I make scrappily with pre-cuts.
Great post! Thanh’s for sharing!
I have a Rowenta and it’s been really good. It has only spit may be a couple of times. I got it with the coupon when Joannes allowed you to buy those with a coupon. Sometimes you can find a really nice one at Goodwill which I did so I have a back up(for 25!).
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you, great tips which are also great reminders!
You are most welcome!
I've saved a ton of money on starch because I never use it. I can hear all the gasp, lol. Seriously though, I've just never gotten into the habit of it, and I never had anyone teaching me how to quilt so no one ever stressed to me the importance of using it.
I think you should do what works for you. No gasps here! Enjoy!
I don't buy plastic storage bins and project bins. I keeps things in recycled cardboard boxes and trays. They don't look pretty but it works for me.
Great tip!!! Thanks for sharing!
Great tips, thank you for taking the time to make this great video. This is the first time that I've seen your channel, and I am going to subscribe for sure.🙂
Welcome and thanks for watching my video!
I didn't know how to safely store long pins for quilting, they came out the bottom of my dressmaking pincushions and got me, so I cut 6 mini-charm pieces, sewed them together for a cube, stuffed that and only put pins in from the top. Easy done. Thanks for the tips, all the best.
Tips for beginners: If you have a frugal quilty friend, go shopping together. If you like the same fabrics, you can each buy ×21, 1/2 yard cuts each (18"), or 22" or 24" for 2 feet long this will get you 4 layer cake squares, not 2. (Do you belong to a group? If you all like a set of fabrics, try sharing your pre-cuts from home, would a one yard of each cut get you enough to share around? 36" is 3 × 10 inches (×12 LC sq's) plus a 6 inch strip, if cut straight in the shop. What about the selvedges?) Cut 1/2 yd down the centre of width and swap the second halves, with your friend, so you both get plenty of variety, in nice (extra big?) fat q's for 42 each. Can you find 42 fabrics that go together, or 21 for 2 of each, or 11 with 4 of each? You could challenge all group members to use the same layer cakes cut by you, do you need 2 for a larger quilt? Do you cut accurately? You can cut your own pre-cut strips? If you want 2 or 3 charm packs, get out your 10" strips, cut 1 square of each fabric, and quarter them, or use a 5" strip and cut 2 or 3 of 4 possible squares. It can be better to leave bigger chunks big. You can break them down when you know what you want to use them for. You decide if cutting a 10" strip off a set of fat quarters to store separately, will save you from getting out the larger bits later while knowing you have wiggle room for mis-cuts and finishing bits, making sewing quicker to get to, and life easier. Or cut up your fq's into proper pre-cut sizes right away, do you want to, or keep your options open? You can do a few per day for a while? Even do your scraps too, then? Layer cake squares are versatile. Yet if you find you need 5 1/2" squares, having a 5" strip won't help much, though it will give you 2 jelly roll 1/2 strips, should you want them, or lots of squares (×16) in each half or in each layer cake square. Handling of neatly stacked straight cuts can give you frayed edges over time, thus they do those dusty jagged edges. If you don't really love a set of cuts, try not to have to use the same set in every quilt you make for a while. Left over bits can be used in smaller things. The most important thing is to keep have fun.
Great tips! I need to use my precuts like cake layers, charms, and mini charms. They are expensive and they are a pain to starch!
These are such great reminders. But I am not a fabric hoarder. I have a carefully curated collection. The problem with buying fabric on sale that aren't not used is that colors change over time. A few later it can be very hard to find something that coordinates. I have not purchased any quilting fabric for more than a year. And a couple of years ago I gave a lot of fabric away. These are sad things, but you can have so much that you can no longer function. However I have some good place that I can donate to, like Mennonite Central Committee that will use it for relief. They make blankets for people in crisis around the world. Before I owned a Bernina I didn't realize the difference it could make. So my tip is to NOT use someone's high end machine, so you don't want one. LOL. I finally got rid of my daughters t-shirts. After being told no for almost 20 years, I am giving up. But I donated them to MCC which makes them into rags they can sell. I love fre motion quilting!!!
Lol!! I like "carefully curated collection"!
I don’t ever buy wide fabric for quilt fabric. I piece the backing.
That is what I did for years! Many quilters do the same.
Thank you
You are most welcome!
I don’t have a long arm machine. I find having my quilts done costs so much. Did you do the quilting on your inexpensive machine when you started piecing?
No I did not. I only started machine quilting once I had my Bernina. It came with a stitch regulator and a great walking foot. Now I will at least quilt baby quilt size and under. Paying to have them quilted is expensive.
Do you sell your quilt projects and how do you determine what to charge?
Not yet. I may in the future because I am making so much stuff lately!
I do too.
Awesome!
I buy for projects now because a few years ago my stash got damaged and I had to throw it away.
After that I can see why you only buy for one project at a time!!! Thanks for sharing!
Wooden clothes pins are real cheap.
Great point!
I’m disabled and can’t drive so online shopping is usually my only way to shop
I do most of my shopping online too. I’m on the mailing lists for several smaller quilt shops and the major ones too. They occasionally have 20% off sales, especially around holidays. Buy purchasing enough during the sale to get free shipping, you can eliminate that portion of the cost.
Yes, I have done that also!
Great show and tips, just wish I had more willpower to follow them🤦🏻🤷🏻♂️
Rae, I really have not had the urge to buy. I just have felt so overwhelmed with all the stuff in my quilt room!!! I have so many nice fabrics, panels, kits etc I my possession already!!!
I love your videos, i wish you had a better microphone setup thou
I am sorry you are having difficulty wit the sound. I am using a top of the line microphone setup. What do you recommend?
@The Simple Quilter maybe having it closer to you.
What size is your big ruler please
My big ruler is 8.5 x 24.5. It is a Creative Grid ruler. I can see those the best!
There used to be a song in the ‘80s that had a line:
Strumming my life with his fingers….
….or something to that effect.
Every single tip you voiced hit home with me. I have pieced batting, oiled and maintained my machines, sewn up most of my scraps, still have way too much yardage, almost despise precuts (except fat quarters), repurpose things several times, have tried to do limited buying and hit sales whenever possible.
Since I have 2 sewing machines, a serger, and a cover stitch machine, I have to be frugal with tools and notions. Each type of machine has its own needs.
One thing I’ll add, is sewing machine feet. They cost a small fortune. Many of the feet can be used for other purposes than it’s name would indicate. For example, I use my pin tuck feet to couch cord onto the cuff of a pillowcase. It actually gives better results than my couching foot. I have pin tuck feet with 3, 5, 7, and 9 grooves. I use 3 and 5 grooved feet. My bad.
To save money, figure out what feet you need, try to buy them on sale, and be creative in their use. Often you can do a task with an alternate foot.
Storage is also a huge cost. Expensive tubs and baskets can rob us of the fabric and equipment we need to enjoy our hobby. So being creative with storage can save money too.
Great ideas!!! Every one of them.
Thank you so much for sharing! Now I have only bought extra walking feet…I don’t even know what a couching foot or a pin tuck foot is….I will have to look them up. Do you sew garments?
@@thesimplequilter7499 No, I do not make garments although I’d love to learn. I’d like to be able to sew a nice tee shirt, a sweatshirt, and maybe another item or two.
a Janome has much cheaper feet and a really good machine
The only time I buy fabric is to finish a quilt. Or, I may buy fabric to do a special event, such as Christmas. Then, I need to keep the fabric with that project. Otherwise, no-no-no I do not buy fabric just because I want it.
Vikki, A great plan and it sounds like you do a great job sticking to it!!!! Awesome!
I copied patterns from library books for years
Yikes!