How to Quilt… for Free!

A new sewing project for me typically starts at the local quilt shop, but with the cost of high-quality quilting cottons reaching $12-13 per yard, lately I’ve been shifting my focus to more of a “make do” approach.

The concept of “making do” is not a new one. During the Great Depression, from 1930-1940, quilt making became a popular and affordable way to keep warm. Sewing enthusiasts made quilts from scraps of old clothing, grain sacks and other materials. During this time, a popular flour company, the Kansas Wheat Company, even started printing floral designs on their flour sacks so that the fabric could be reused for quilts and even clothing.

During World War II, from 1939-1945, wartime shortages and rationing made obtaining new fabric difficult. “Make do and mend” became a popular mantra. Once again, the citizenry was called upon to repair and reuse textiles, including for the making of quilts.

I am fortunate to not have lived during such difficult times, and I am blessed with a fairly impressive stash at this point in my quilting career. I have found that I can find just about anything I need in those sacred bins. If I can’t find what I was originally thinking of, I can always find something else that would still be a great fit. Many times, it’s more fun to work with the challenge of finding something that fits. Technically, the fabric is not “Free” as I paid for it at some point, but the price I paid was likely far cheaper than the going rates. As I now like to say, “It’s free to me!”.

Blog post by Jen Lopez. 

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