Send me your frugal quilting and fabric art tips to share with other quilters.  Nowadays, some people call them “green” quilting ideas if it means recycling quilting supplies.  I shall start a Frugal/Green Quilting section.

There was a great response to Karen Weideman’s guest post, 10 Ways to Save Money Quilting.   So it seems this is a popular topic.

Share your recycling, frugal, or “green” tips for quilting and fabric art.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Frugal or “Green” Quilting Tips Popular – Share Yours With Us at Q & P

10 Ways to Save Money Quilting

Guest Post by Karen Weideman

(Karen blogs at Thrifty Mommy and has many great ideas for saving money in other aspects of living, as well as quilting.)

 Although I am not a quilter, I have watched my mom quilt, and she certainly taught me how to save money. Here are some easy ways to save money while quilting.

1) Put an ad on freecycle. You can put an ad stating that you need quilting supplies such as fabric. Someone that’s cleaning out their basement or storage closet might be able to help you out.

2) Look in thrift stores. Sometimes thrift stores will have fabric and quilting supplies at for a fraction of the price.

3) Consider using sheets for fabric. My mom sometimes uses sheets for backing material on her quilts. She looks at Target and other places for clearanced sheets. This is much more cost effective than material.

4) Borrow supplies. Of course, I don’t mean for you to borrow fabric, but if there is a special stand, needle, mat, pattern, stencil, etc, then ask your quilting friends to borrow theirs.

5) Join a quilting club. Many times these clubs are free and others are willing to share ideas, patterns, and leftover materials.

6) Use the internet as a source. You can find free patterns, tips, and other helpful information on the internet.

7) Take advantage of craft store coupons. Many craft stores have a weekly coupon in the Sunday paper. Use it to purchase hoops, stands, needles, batting, etc.

Watch for special sales. Most craft and fabric stores will have special sales during the holidays.

9) Look for marked down fabric and remnant pieces. Sometimes Wal-Mart will have close-out or end pieces for $1.00/yard. Most fabric stores have a place where they keep discounted remnant pieces.

10) Repurpose old items. This could include sheets, shower curtains, table cloths, and clothes.

(Amazon image; click on book for details)

(c)2008 Karen Weideman

Post from: Blisstree

10 Ways to Save Money Quilting

 Time travel is on my mind this week since that’s the theme for One Book Two Book, where I co-blog with Karen  Weideman.  We’re tying our weekly themes in with Camp Weary Parent this summer to bring readers, young and older, books and activities to enjoy.

How about a time travel quilt?

This phrase, time travel quilt, brings to mind so many possibilities….activities for children, ideas for quilts, topics to write about?

*Pretend it’s a Magic Carpet Quilt.  As the children sit on the quilt they can pretend they’re going to many lands and eras.  Possibly some of them will be suggested by patterns in the quilt or fabric from specific eras.

*Look to see where the various fabrics came from in a family quilt.  Then research and tell stories about the people who wore them (if the pieces are from clothing) and the times and area in which they lived.

*If the quilt was made by a relative or ancestor, learn more about that person.  If they’re living, ask them questions.

*Write a story about the quilt and the people who are represented by it and actions that shaped them.

*Make a quilt using reproduction fabrics from a specific era or different eras.  My granddaughter recently made a quilt with a Civil War (US) theme for a school project.  She researched the ladies who made quilts for the soldiers and the fabrics they used.  One of her mom’s quilting friends gave her some reproduction

Let these ideas serve as a springboard to creativity and originality of your own.

Time Travel Posts at One Book Two Book:

Travel Through Time with the Magic Tree House Books

One Book Two Book Ties in With Camp Weary Parent

(Amazon image; click on picture for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Experience Time Travel with a Quilt