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Tip Store: Crafts & Hobbies: Patchwork
Saving Fabric Scraps
I am a quilter. I hate to toss scraps from quilting. I take all of my fabric & batting scraps cut them up in small pieces & toss them in a homemade pillowcase type bag. When the bag is full sew a stitch closing up the bag. This makes a nice soft doggie bed. You can donate to shelters, vet offices or friends with pets. (make sure there are no pins in your pieces) ;)
Contributed by Angie Steele
Contributed by Angie Steele
Turn an Old Shirt into a Beautiful Quilt
Using old shirts to make a quilt will cost you the price of the batting and the backing if you have to buy them. You can use old woollen blankets for the batting and spare sheets make wonderful backing and can even be used for the spacing between the quilt blocks, depending on the design and you choose. Making a quilt by recycling materials you already have will cost you nothing but your time; you can't get much more frugal than that! Using recycled materials is a great way for a beginner quilter to get started too. If the quilt is less than perfect you haven't wasted a lot of money on expensive materials. Quilts can be made from favourite t-shirts, souvenir shirts, uniform shirts, even the odd school shirt. They become a visual history of life, keeping memories alive while they keep you warm.
Cheapskates Tip of the Day 6th January 2014
Cheapskates Tip of the Day 6th January 2014
Quilting on an Extreme Budget
Approximate $ Savings: $300-$400
The first quilt I made cost me nearly $800 to make. I bought all new materials and very expensive wadding, thinking that I "had to." Now being wiser about the very green/conservative/frugal origins of quilting after a few years, I began investigating ways of making quilts on a very low budget. For wadding in my new project, my brother had given me some old woolen blankets, which I am going to use. My children don't like the scratchy feel of the wool, but it is amazing in both summer and winter for its insulating properties. I have also salvaged old sheets for background material and sashing and I am going to back my quilt with an old flannelette sheet. You can get fabric for quilts at St Vincent de Paul etc. This quilt has cost me nothing, I have used what I already have on hand!
Contributed by Lori Woodward, 25th January 2013
Contributed by Lori Woodward, 25th January 2013
Cheap Polar Fleece
Approximate $ Savings: $9.50 per metre
My grandsons asked me to make them a warm rug for when they watch TV and travel in the car. I saw a great example of polar fleece patchwork but after pricing the fleece it would work out far more expensive to make than buying one ready made. I headed for the op shops; there I purchased old baby blankets (some for 50c each) and items of clothing made from fleece e.g. dressing gowns, jackets, etc. I found a much bigger range of colours and at a fraction of the price. The adults dressing gowns I cut down and made into children's gowns and with what was left over added that to my stack of patchwork fleece squares. You can choose between 6 inch or 5 inch (for babies) size squares. A lot of those TV blankets with sleeves in them are being put out by their owners and they sell for between $5 and $7 each, a huge savings compared to new fleece which can be as expensive as $12.99 a metre. I love my original cheap rugs and I am teaching my grandchildren to be thrifty as well.
Contributed by Margaret McDonald, 8th May 2012
My grandsons asked me to make them a warm rug for when they watch TV and travel in the car. I saw a great example of polar fleece patchwork but after pricing the fleece it would work out far more expensive to make than buying one ready made. I headed for the op shops; there I purchased old baby blankets (some for 50c each) and items of clothing made from fleece e.g. dressing gowns, jackets, etc. I found a much bigger range of colours and at a fraction of the price. The adults dressing gowns I cut down and made into children's gowns and with what was left over added that to my stack of patchwork fleece squares. You can choose between 6 inch or 5 inch (for babies) size squares. A lot of those TV blankets with sleeves in them are being put out by their owners and they sell for between $5 and $7 each, a huge savings compared to new fleece which can be as expensive as $12.99 a metre. I love my original cheap rugs and I am teaching my grandchildren to be thrifty as well.
Contributed by Margaret McDonald, 8th May 2012
Free Quilting Patterns
Approximate $ Savings: $5 - $20 a pattern For all Crafters, there is a website called Victoriana Quilt Designs that has over 1000 free patterns for quilting, red work, appliqués etc. with more added every month You can join there newsletter and receive an update of the new sights that have been added. This is a great saving on the cost of patterns. The website is www.freequiltpatters.info
-Contributed by Merilyn, Heathcote, 27th February 2009
Website: www.freequiltpatters.info
-Contributed by Merilyn, Heathcote, 27th February 2009
Website: www.freequiltpatters.info
Stay Warm, Make a Simple Quilt
Approximate $ Savings: $100+
Take a lesson from the days of yore and make a quilt this winter! Rather than using quilt batting from Spotlight I used an old blanket that was never used on beds as it was scratchy. Backed with a flannelette flat sheet that wasn't being used the only outlay I had was for the fabric for the top (unless you had some scraps to use already at home), thread and time. And if you hand quilt all the layers together, you'll be all warm while working on it as well!-
Contributed by Laura, Clayton, 4th May 2010
Take a lesson from the days of yore and make a quilt this winter! Rather than using quilt batting from Spotlight I used an old blanket that was never used on beds as it was scratchy. Backed with a flannelette flat sheet that wasn't being used the only outlay I had was for the fabric for the top (unless you had some scraps to use already at home), thread and time. And if you hand quilt all the layers together, you'll be all warm while working on it as well!-
Contributed by Laura, Clayton, 4th May 2010
Custom Made Craft Stencils - Free!
Being an avid lover of craft, I was finding a lot of my materials were quite expensive (as you can probably imagine). I've found one good way to cut down is to make your own stencils. They cost a fortune from the shops, and by making my own I can have the designs exactly as I want them. If you're doing a one-off project, just Google 'stencil designs' (or something similar) and you'll find literally thousands of designs you can print out and use for free. Or if, like me, you tend to use stencils over and over, invest in a laminating machine. They're pretty cheap these days and it's a one-off investment. Simply laminate your printed design and cut it out, and it's there to use again and again. If you can't justify such a purchase, many places (like Officeworks) offer a laminating service for a good price. Happy stencilling!
Contributed by Heather, Wembley, 28th September 2009
Contributed by Heather, Wembley, 28th September 2009
Crazy Patch Recycled Throw
Rather than throw out or give away all the polar fleece jumpers, dressing gowns and other garments that the kids have grown out of or are in need of being replaced, try cutting out 25 centimetre squares from them and using scraps of 8 ply wool, blanket stitch around each square. Once you have enough in different colours/patterns, sew them together into a throw rug or blankets for beds, great for when it's cold and you don't want to run the heating. They can be either stitched by hand using an overcast stitch very small so it won't be noticed or maybe using a large zig zag stitch on a machine. Contributed by Vicki, Boronia, 19th November 2009
There's No Such Thing as a Fabric Scrap
As a patchwork and sewing diva, I collect all fabric scraps no matter how small, to use later for creative purposes i.e. appliqué sewing work when small pieces are needed, so why buy them when you can go through your scrap box for inspiration. The scraps are great for entertaining the grandchildren who love to use them by sticking them on paper to make beautiful collages - hours of fun -cheap entertainment.
Contributed by Elisabeth, Leongatha South, 15th June 2009
Contributed by Elisabeth, Leongatha South, 15th June 2009
Make a Memory Quilt
Instead of purchasing fabric to make a quilt, why not use your old clothing? My grandmother made me a quilt for my 21st birthday that was created using left over fabric and out grown clothes. My mother's wedding dress, scraps from the bridesmaids, my christening dress, the first dress I wore home from hospital, my old school uniforms, band tee shirts, the seat covers from my first car, my high school formal dress: literally every square tells a story that means more to me than any colour coordinated fashion quilt ever could do- and every piece of it was free.
Contributed by Sandi, Brisbane, 24th March 2009
Contributed by Sandi, Brisbane, 24th March 2009
Lots of Sewing and Craft for Free
Like a lot of people I like to sew. If you join a group of friends for sewing you get to have a night out for free or for the cost of a homemade cake or jar of coffee once in a blue moon. On top of that you can swap patterns..free. Plus ideas and help all for free. You can even swap fabric that you are finished with for some you want. Make new friends and get started on those gifts you are always going to make. Savings all round.
Contributed by Ruth, Orange, 4th March 2008
Contributed by Ruth, Orange, 4th March 2008
Re-cycling Old Furnishing Fabric
When having furniture re-upholstered, have the upholsterer return the old fabric and (depending upon the condition of the old fabric) use it to make cushion covers, cubby house curtains, doll house furnishings etc, or even just craft scraps.
Contributed by Karen, Port Kennedy, March 16th 2005
Contributed by Karen, Port Kennedy, March 16th 2005
MacQuarie Mills for Fabric Bargains
The MacQuarie mills in Albury are having a huge sale. Pieces of fabric marked up to $45.00 are selling for $1.00. Seconds of woollen batting 170cm wide and selling for $2.50 per metre, batting is used as the middle of a quilt. At this price I have bought 10 metres for the price I would normally pay for 1 metre. The quality appears to be even on my piece. Also bought piece 1.5 metres of wool and cashmere for $1.00. The mill typically insists on personal shopping. Anne is the lady in charge....maybe you could absolve her of any recourse if you were not thrilled with your piece and she might mail same. So much material so little time.
Contributed by Carol, Mudgegonga, June 3rd 2006
Contributed by Carol, Mudgegonga, June 3rd 2006