Are you passionate about quilting but worried about the expenses? Well, fret not! In this video, I'll share with you some fantastic money-saving tips to help you enjoy quilting on a budget. Let's dive right in! Chat with me below do you find the cost of quilting too excessively high? what are your thoughts.

It's not just special rulers. The whole industry has changed wanting their designers to put out so many collections with so many pieces to each collections, each have their own thread line, notion lines, books and there are all different thread and notion companies saying they have the ultimate tool. Even sewing machine companies update way to often. This all creates a syndrome, of I want to use the newest and the best. What has it done to the mind of the sewist? It's created households of overflowing totes, forgotten notions, and why did I buy this products. We all need to slow down, take a good look at what we have, what we really should invest in and enjoy the process.

Absolutely!! I often think of the beautiful quilts our grandmothers, great-grandmothers, etc. made with no more than scissors, pencils, brown bags, cereal boxes and talent. Thank you for this video!

You are absolutely correct. Remember, Missouri star is using their channel as a commercial to sell products.

You are 100% correct. Quilting should be fun but not bankrupting😊.

I do love Missouri Star and their channel for many reasons. I too am frugal and tend not to buy tools or templates unless I can see a number of different uses for them. And to their credit, Missouri Star does frequently present tutorials that show various ways to use their tools and they celebrate a template that has multiple uses. Missouri Star does focus a lot on using precuts for their quilts. Sure you can cut yardage to the sizes you need for blocks, but buying precuts gives you many colors/designs in one package. And using precuts gets you to the piecing stage more quickly if you are a person who doesn't particularly enjoy the cutting process. I know that building up Missouri Star's business began with a significant financial need for the Doans. They have lived frugality in their own lives. Now, they cater to the idea of providing tools and fabrics to meet the needs of many quilters and quilters-to-be. I think one of the great things they have done is provide restoration of buildings and employment for many people in Hamilton, MO. I have never ever heard anyone on the MSQ channel say "To make this quilt, you MUST buy this or that." But I also applaud that you are showing people ways to do things that don't involve buying something special. This is a skill that was necessary in the past and to a large degree we, as a society, have lost it. There is something satisfying about figuring out how to make do with what we already have. And that is a a skill that would benefit a lot of us. So keep doing what you're doing. Let's not forget that we are all unique and we each choose priorities based on our season of life and our means. There's room for everybody, and we need to support each other in developing our creativity. There is never just one way to accomplish that.😉

I agree with the points in your video. To MSQC’s credit, I have heard them say, multiple times, “you don’t really need this or that ruler/ template. Just grab a bowl or straight edge from around the house”. I also appreciate that they show you exactly how to make it. No pattern required. Besides quilt shop clearance sections, I look for quilt shops going out of business. I have saved hundreds of dollars buying their name brand fabrics for $2-3 a yd!!

I agree 100%. As a new quilter you feel “if I don’t get those exact templates my project won’t be as beautiful as theirs”. I have learned that I don’t NEED all those templates or every half inch ruler! Thank you for using your voice to help the newer quilters. Love your videos!!

I’m so pleased you’ve made this video! All these expensive rulers and different notions can take some of the joy out of sewing,as someone else said we need to think of how our parents grandparents did their quilting on shoestring

Wow I love the fact someone thinks like me about all the over priced supplies and other youtubers saying don't buy fabric cheap because it's not good. They are all just in it for the money 💰 Love your channel❤

By using fabric from thrift stores , quilt covers, men’s shirts you not only save money you are also mindful of the environment. Thanks for speaking up 👏🏽

A million percent correct, Karen!! I fell into the money trap when I first started quilting 4 years ago and regret a lot of what I own that I don’t use. Another tip is that there are tons of free patterns online, through KZfaq and Pinterest. I’m convinced that I will rarely ever purchase another pattern unless it’s something really special. Btw, I love your hair! Very cute!

I agree with you as well!! You can quilt without it costing you a small fortune! I am glad someone has spoke up and said something.

Thank you for the amazing video and perspective! I’m 63 and just decided to teach myself to quilt and can’t tell you how much money I’ve spent on rulers and fabric. I love your grounded approach- it’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed! ❤

I agree with you on all your points of quilting I am a old school quilter I use what I have for sewing. I have another tip I like to share with everyone I belong to a sewing group and a sewing guild and the members will bring in the fabric,patterns, and notions for who wants the items.

I agree totally. If you think Missouri star is bad, you should listen to laundry basket quilts. It's hard sell to the Max. It does take a little bit of the joy out when you need a bank loan to make a quilt. The quilts that I've made that touch my heart are the ones made from my families recycled clothing. Like you, I'm a country Australian quilter and don't fall for all the hype. There are exquisite quilt shops near where I live but I refuse to pay up to $30 per metre when I have so many shirts, shorts and scraps from 26 years of quilting in my sewing room.

I’ve been quilting for over thirty years and has seen the amount of quilting merchandise available and the prices increase by leaps and bounds. The industry has grown and is now big business. Years ago there was far less quilting gadgets,notions or fabric as we have today. We didn’t have precuts and had to match our own fabrics. We could probably do without 80% of the rulers, notions and gadgets we have today and still make beautiful quilts. Happy quilting.

Thank you so much for this video. I'm new to quilting and was getting overwhelmed with the costs of all the supplies. This will help me to really think about what I really need and don't need. I didn't know about printing out stencils. Great tip....

Two excellent resources for free quilting patterns: 1. library books on quilting, 2. the websites of many fabric manufacturers

I'm new to your channel, I totally agree! I also have fallen into the hype of buying several rulers and the beautiful, gorgeous lines of fabric that I drool over. I also have lots of regrets. 😔I recently went to an estate sale. The lady that passed was a sewer. She had several machines, fabric and notions. At first, I was a kid in a candy store! After I got home, I realized that I could be that poor women.😮. Her children were getting rid of her things. They didn't need or want them. The only value, to them, was to sell them. I started thinking of how much stuff I have. The amount of fabric that I will probably never use. I've stopped buying fabric until I make a significant dent in what I have. I sew because I enjoy it, I have enough to give me LOTS of joy! Thank you for the reminder😘

I think this kind of reality check is important. A big industry has grown around quilting and they exist to make money. Because they can. But quilting existed before the industry existed. Our "training" and conditioning as quilters is that we have to trust the industry and the subtext of the marketing message is that if you try to veer off that path, your quilts will be sub-par. It's super important that we trust our own good sense, intelligence, ingenuity, and creativity AND at the same time educate ourselves as quilters so we know we are using quality products to make our quilts so they will withstand a lot of use and give us years of enjoyment--because it's a lot of work making a quilt! I am a quilty rebel and a BIG fan of thinking for myself and/or thinking outside that quilty box. The need for special rulers for so many things is a particular pet peeve of mine. There are ruler sets that make particular types of blocks easier (Tri-Recs set for example) but do we NEED them? Fact is, it's often possible to do the same thing without the special ruler. Plus, I have to store every tool I buy so I really want to keep the volume under control. The recent surge in popularity of English paper piecing is a particularly egregious case in point. They sell us papers, which we need, but I have proven to myself that I can print and cut out my own papers that are just as accurate and functional as laser cut commercially produced papers. It takes more time than handing over my credit card but I'm in control of that cost/convenience balance which makes me happy. Papers can cost $100 for a large quilt!! (Canadian dollars; I'm in Canada.) Then there are the acrylic templates. Another $100. And the message is that you will need to buy the template set to make the quilt: without the templates, this quilt will not be possible. I make my own from template plastic. You can mark and fussy cut anything out of your own templates. It's faster if you have acrylic templates because you can rotary cut around them which you really can't do with template plastic but that's a tradeoff I'm prepared to make. I feel like it's necessary to fight a creeping dependence on manufactured goods to replace our own abilities, training, and knowledge.I could go on and on but I've said enough already! Great topic. Since I started quilting 30 years ago, I have been fighting the message that if we are not prepared to buy every single thing without counting the cost our quilts will be less than. It's just not the case.

Thank you for your wonderful video. I've been sewing for a very, very long time and when I started to watch the newer quilting videos, I wondered how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers ever quilted without all the gadgets out in the marketplace. All of them are selling stuff that you don't need (I mean all of them Fat Quarter Shop, Shabby Fabrics, Missouri Quilting, Lori Holt, Debbie Shore, etc. the list is long). The cost of fabric is just crazy and don't get me going on the cost of thread, it's crazy. Another thing I've noticed is that most of them are somehow connected, they use the same fabrics, the patterns are almost the same. Stop falling for all of this puff, just enjoy the quilting process! Thank you.

I agree, I also bought bed sets on sale for quilting, both from the thrift shops and online stores.

I totally agree with you!!! It's like looking in a mirror at myself....I do exactly everything you do!!! I've never followed a pattern ever. I just create my own!!! I make a lot of memory quilts with peoples clothing! It makes such wonderful quilts

Good for you, not all of us have money to keep buying, I use paper then laminate, love this channel x

EXCELLENT, excellent video!!! Best advice I've ever heard for sewing/quilting. Go back to the basics and JUST HAVE FUN! Thank you for reminding me.

Rulers, patterns and kits, oh my... way too expensive. When I started quilting I bought a book with hundreds of blocks and how to make each at different sizes. Yes, that was worth it. Once you get a little experience you don't need to buy the patterns (I have never bought a pattern) and kits. Also, I can get 1 yard of fabric (on sale often) for the same price as a fat quarter. I'm on a tight budget and frugally purchase all of my quilting items. Love your channel! Thank you!!

I so agree! I print items to cut by hand or I can scan to my cutter. I’ve even gone to muslin as a stabilizer for my embroidery.

I agree with you. I had to leave my job for early retirement due to a bad accident at work. I am always having g to scrimp and save just for the fabric. I would love to spend lots of money on fun toys but it is not possible. Learning to be use what I need and ❤being inventive. Thanks for the tips.

I made a twin size patchwork quilt of scrap fabric. No fancy ruler, rotary cutter or cutting mat; just a pair of scissors a school style 12 inch ruler and an old 70’s sewing machine. The only extra cost was the thread and a previously thrifted sheet for the backing. It was my first quilt with simple squares…just a fun project for me to sew with my ten year old son. We chose coordinating colours from my fabric stash and planned the layout and repeats carefully. He enjoyed learning to use the sewing machine and has done a few more sewing projects since then. The quilt is beautiful despite its simple design. The cost? almost nothing…making memories with my son? priceless.

Couldn’t agree with you more, I’m in the uk so don’t order from American companies as postage is more than the items. I hate yellow rulers as struggle seeing through them, I do like creative grids large ruler. My other bug burn is fabric has gone through the roof in the past 18 months, why are tons of shops charging new prices on old stock

Totally absolutely agree. It’s ridiculous. School glue is a pound, sewline glue pen and refills are a fortune compared. I’m so anti these rip off quilting supplies and suppliers.

Hi from Melbourne. I started my quilting journey when Covid started, and I decided to do everything by hand. As a nurse, an older nurse, I found the hand sewing so good for my mental health. My style of quilts was story/memory/photo, and I wanted to make a quilt for my granddaughter in South Africa. As you know, our lockdowns were extremely difficult, and the longer the lockdowns the bigger the quilt became. When I started my husband insisted on good tools. My initial layout was about $600 but that included a laser printer, ink, rotary cutter, two rulers, large ruler and thread cutter, cutting mat etc. All that was necessary and I still use it. A large expense, which I thought was necessary and was such a waste, was buying every single type of needle that everyone suggested. I tried them, didn’t like them, bought something different. And because there wasn’t a person to speak to at the shops, I did click and collect and then I didn’t like the product. One day when our shops opened, I found a pack of needles in the $2 shop. You know, I hand sewed that entire reversible queen size quilt using two of the needles. The quilting I used different needles. Only now did I find a quilting needle I like. I have so many packets of unused needles, many I don’t even know to which packs they belong. The same happened with expensive thimbles. By the way, that quilt took me 2 years, and as soon as our borders opened, we took it to South Africa.

Your table runner is gorgeous ❤

I'm a new quilter at 59y.o. I dont know color, I'm slowly getting the basics of course, but I won't buy yardage yet. Putting color's together freaks me out, it's so hard!!!! So for right now I have to buy things that go together (Walmart has fat quarter bundles for $6 or $7 and yardage for $4). The day I buy a bag of scraps will be a welcomed miracle! Thankyou for your video, it was a big help! I was feeling bad watching the designers and shops on you-tube that my quilts can't compare. You gave me some confidence!

Yard sales and old sheets, are a great way to get fabrics. I got two large tubs of mixed fabrics for 10.00 at a yard sale. It was great!

Thanks for this. I took a class March 2023 and got hoodwinked by my quilting shop.i have 3 rulers a square a triangle and the long one showed i refuse to buy anymore. My second quilt was built around teatowels and some embroidered panels and its still my favourite. I have stopped going to the quilting shop because she laughed at me trying to do improv when I've only been quilting for a year. I have found a cheaper longarmer who works from home. I buy my fabrics from Spotlight when on sale.i am currently makingaa quilt using old pillowcases. I did buy some fabric from a thriftstore to try out a kaleidoscope quilt but found out later it was polyester. 😮 you have given me some more ideas and i thought of another clearance store where i can get backing fabric. Thank you so much for being so honest

Loved the 8 tips. I too get sick of quilt stores saying that you "NEED" this ruler or that ruler. I enjoy your videos very much.

I may be wrong, but Missouri star had just built all those shops and then covid hit. Maybe they took a really big hit financially. But they are really expensive and I too don't watch a video when you have to buy a specialty ruler. But I have to say that I bought a t-shirt quilt making kit and it was the best decision I made for that project. The ruler was great. And the backing was a dream. Better than anything I have used.

This is great advice. I like your channel for a refreshing dose of common sense and for the inspiration. You always talk about creating and sewing. Not about buy this and then buy that. It's quilting for the rest of us.

You are so right! Lots of quilters can’t afford a lot of rulers!

I'm a Missouri Star fan girl, but I too watch the sales. I've got a wall of templates and rulers and end up using only a couple of basic ones. I do like MSQC's five inch ruler and the 2.5 ruler, but as Jenny says, use what makes sense to your brain. As to fabric, I love me some Moda, but the discount wall at my store always has lots. Great backing fabric. Muslin is a nice backing fabric too. Good tips! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

You are right on!!!! Most quilters are wise, and you are right on. I feel the same!!!❤❤❤❤😂

I couldn’t agree more! I have turned off tutorials that require specialty rulers many times. Mainly because I liked one pattern but then I would have the ruler and would feel guilty about not using it.

Thanks for this video! You are exactly right! I have spent a small fortune on my quilty habit! Starting to destash! Keep up the good work! I love you and your style!

Really enjoyed this video. This introduction to your channel impressed me so much that I just subscribed. As a fourth generation quilter and instructor for many years, I could not agree with you more. It is so refreshing to see a fellow instructor who really cares about their students and is so willing to share their special tips so freely. We teach to share our craft and skills with others and that brings us joy. Teaching never made me financially rich, but the wealth of happiness, satisfaction in seeing others excitement over their accomplishments and friendships I made along the way is a lasting "wealth" that is beyond measurement. Thank you for caring and helping to keep this beautiful art alive.

You are absolutely correct! We do not need all the rulers templates and patterns. And I love the tips you gave about sales and saving money on fabrics and shopping sales. Good video!

Amen sister!!! Have also done many of the things u mentioned. Quilting/sewing is my happy place. It will not break the bank for me. 🥰

Loved the video. I have used the foam, wooden shapes from Dollar Tree, and even coloring books. There are so many options if just use a little imagination. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you.

I taught myself to quilt by watching YT - very grateful to you all. I match my fabrics by matching the colours/shades, as you pointed out. I also don't buy fabric on impulse - I buy for my project. I have added to my notions over time but still not falling for the "must have" latest gadget. I've never bought a pattern. I have bought a couple of books from goodwill tho for joy and inspiration. TFS.

Just found your channel. You're so right. I make lots of my quilts from scraps n leftovers fabrics, love MSQC videos but not swayed by the idea of spending my money on tools etc. its all marketing. I love Jenny's spontaneous n honest n direct words to be creative and go for it.. always do stay within your budget. So thank you for sharing ❤❤from Tasmania, Australia

So so true...my mother made many quilts with only scraps from clothing she had made. She never had a ruler or template

I always advise new quilters not to get on the bandwagon of buying every speciality ruler sold. And looking at sites like quilters cache for patterns etc.

While there is always a cheaper way to do things, some people are not as imaginative or as experienced as others and like having an easy alternative available. They may not be experienced with searching the internet for patterns and downloading free patterns or live near dollar stores where they may possibly have foam forms in the right size to use as a pattern. No one is being forced to order products from these companies. Missouri Star and Laundry Basket Quilts are wonderful companies and are offering products to people who are free to buy them if they want them. There is nothing wrong with that. It is called free enterprise.

Thank you from another discount table fabric shopper. Thanks for sharing these common sense approaches to quilting and for reminding us that piecing fabric together started (in many cultures around the world) as a way to make do and be thrifty.

I am new to quilting as well and it is overwhelming listening to all those opinions out there. I have bags of jeans I collected over the years and thought about using flannel sheets in addition to the jeans blocks instead of buying fabric. Also thrift store shopping is on my agenda. Thank you for your honest chat!

Love this. As a younger person with low money then older with less. I did not buy any fancy rulers. My quilt turned how just fine. Thank you

Say on, Say on!! 🥰 I purchased a metal L ruler from the dollar store. It was a dollar!!

You nailed it!! So appreciate this rant

Thank you ❤️ I love this video! Although I am not a quilter, I do create a lot of items using fabric. Years ago I started buying clothing from thrift shop's and deconstructing it. It is amazing the fabrics that I find! Everything from silks, velvets, linens, and laces. My purchases support the thrift store and I am helping to keep things out of the landfill. Fast fashion is a huge problem! Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts. Thank you again for your honesty. I feel like you are my favorite Auntie that always tells it to you straight! 😅 ❤

I agree with you, never buy fabric at full prices, it takes the joy out if your have to pay so much for fabric. It should not break the bank to enjoy this hobby

I completely agree. I watch some of their videos as well and the reason I don't watch them all is because of all the items they constantly try to sell you. I want to watch a how to video, not sales.

You put into words what I have been thinking for a long time.

I totally agree with! you! I watch the videos, mostly I just skip through them. I watch to see what is new in the way of fabric then go Stay to buy. Many of the shops offer free shaping when you spend thirty five dollars. Also, they ship faster because they aren't as busy. Some of the shops offer ten and twenty percent off. Tea dyeing fabric also tones down fabric that is too bright. I use fabric that may not work for a block buy can be pieced together to make a back or used in the middle instead of batting to make a light weight quilt for the warmer months. Second hand shops to buy clothing to buy up to make into blocks. Thank you for this video. I have felt this way for along time.

Bravo! 'Quilting fabric' used to be stained, torn, outgrown clothing, table cloths, sheets,etc. It was recycling before we knew the word. If people have $$ to throw away on all of the trendy stuff, fine. Go ahead, but it's absolutely not necessary.

I have never bought precut material for the 25 years I have quilted, except last year. I needed black a selection of black and white to finish a quilt and I saw one jelly roll that worked perfectly. I have so much material from the 90's that I will never be able to use, however. Thanks for your tips as I agree so much. I do have a lot of rulers I don't use but have used a few new things that I bought recently. They were not expensive!

Thanks for the money saving tips. You always have such great ideas.

Thank you! Just being honest. People try to take advantage of newbies/beginners. I'm new to the quilting world and I'm not deep in all the gadgets that they've been trying to get me to buy into. I thought it was just me who got sick of the "must have" for quilting punch lines. I head to the Internet for whatever is FREE! I'm new to your channel. Thanks for your honesty.❤❤❤

Karen, this video is so informative! I definitely agree with you about the high prices of quilting items, especially fabric, batting and backing. I can make gorgeous pre-cut quilt blocks from inexpensive beautifully printed old bedding, tablecloths, curtains, even OLD DRESSES! Many of them have the most beautiful vibrant prints and designs that would be ideal for making quilt blocks. The fabric quality from these items is also quite impressive. Thank you for mentioning about going to thrift stores. I never thought to do that, and I have a couple of thrift stores near me.👍

Hi there, it’s Linda the librarian. I agree with whole heartedly. As a librarian. I did similar to you to present to between 50& 100 kids for Summer Reading Programs craft activities. B-Blessed 😂

Thank you! I was literally this past week contemplating the purchase of these bunny & egg rulers/templates at MO star, but after hearing your reasoning, I have reconsidered! You make so much sense, and I'm too easily caught up and impulsive when I visit quilt shops! I wouldn't use them enough justify the purchase!!

Glad I found you today! I really enjoyed hearing your point of view - it’s always a good idea to stop and consider one’s choices. Some days I’m frugal, some days I’m spendy. I don’t NEED the vast majority of what I have, and that’s ok. My local fabric shop is moving and had an amazing sale on skinny bolts. I took full advantage of it. $5-$6 US a yard. I felt guilty for a minute, then realized if others wanted what I bought, they would have bought it. 😉 I also have an Accuquilt. Super spendy. I’m blessed and lucky, for sure. Thank you for the reality check! You have a new subscriber.

Great video. Loved your passion in the delivery of your message.❤

You are so right. What attracted me to quilting in the beginning was the idea of using scraps left over from other sewing projects. I had little money at the time. I started out with cardboard templates that I made myself, my sewing machine, basically one ruler, pencil , thread and scissors. I bought remnants and grab bags of fabrics at flea markets. And guess what? I made quilt blocks. It’s easy to get caught up in spending a lot but not necessary. And it uses more imagination doing it that way.

Great tips. Love the view on rulers. Elaborating on a couple of tips. My mother cut her templates from cardboard. Don't want to use cardboard, you can get relatively inexpensive sheets of plastic. I use men's shirts too. One of my thrift stores sells men's shirts for $2 ea. I have also gotten sheets for $2‐4. I also didn't use pre cuts. You are cutting them for a block and you end up with pieces left over. Buy yardage and cut your pieces.

My local thrift stores don't usually have fabric, but I definitely look through the sheets, blankets, and curtains section. 🙂

Actually I quit watching Missouri Star for the same reason. Thank you for sharing and being honest!!!

I love your channel. And I totally agree with you about the rulers. You go girl.

Wonderful supportive of the idea of just go with quilting. I just do a design my own from allowing my creative spirit to lead.

I agree. At 62, I'm brand new to quilting and was so overwhelmed on what I need and what i don't. Thank you fir giving such great advise. Also i have ordered several fabric squares from temu. In several sizes to get started.

You are correct, MSQC tutorials are designed to show off the newest “wow” gadgets. But they are a large company and they want to sell you something so they will stay in business. Sometimes it is obvious that a ruler is a one and done type. However, if I were to use it over and over, then I might consider it. It is easier for me to use a hard plastic template than a paper one. I watch their tutorials because they are fun and inspirational. But I recognized early on that they aren’t going to really teach me much. That’s the benefit of the KZfaqrs that really teach something about quilting, I learn from them, not from MSQC. They are entertaining and seem like delightful people, but I’ll come to you for the real learning.

I 100% agree with you ! ❤ Great talk on your video. New subscriber here. I also had aha moments about rulers, fabrics & patterns etc. It has gotten CRAZY. I quit quilting for almost 3 years. So now I am A LOT more resourceful. If i can get 2nd hand electric blankets from the thrift store I take out the electric cords and I found there are 2 layers of blanket that are thin and then I take them apart for 2 large pieces of batting. The electrical cord parts I use for rope in the yard. I also sew like batting materials to make a larger piece of batting or stabilizer. If I need a shape in plastic or acrylic ( plexiglass ) because I am going to use it a lot, I ask my local window glass shop if they can make it for me and how much. I once had them make leaves and other shapes of various sizes very inexpensively. My pet peeve in addition to rulers is ……kits, I see a kit and think oh cool there is almost everything to make the quilt……………OH NOoOOOO….. then I find I have to buy the pattern and often times template or ruler SEPARATELY ! ! ! ! WHY !? Is the pattern NOT included ! Just boggles my mind ! The quilts I make I give away because most people cannot afford to buy them. Quilting is a therapy for me . And it offers some comfort to others. I was inspired by the child’s book The Quilt Makers Gift. Thank you all viewers for your comments and Crafty Quilting Designs ! You all are very talented and creative. Have a marvelous day everyone !

Good ideas, although I have to say that the Temu squares were pretty poor quality and inconsistent. I did get some other good stuff from Temu (Japanese style strips) which were much better. Also, I never throw away woven clothes. They all get cut up for quilt fabric, and any leftover pieces are snipped and saved in plastic bags to use for stuffing pillows, dolls and other crafts. As for MSQC, they have good tutorials and I just ignore their shameless hawking of special rulers and tools.

I'm with you on the "back in the day" quilting! I think that every time I see someone talking about how important it is that all the paper templates for English paper piecing be identical. They didn't have Cricut or these die presses back when EPP started! 😅

Thanks for your honesty. Great tips ❤

I think your thoughts are excellent, and I enjoy your videos and your personaltiy. I think that improvising and figuring things out leads to great satisfaction.

I agree with you. I also either look for free patterns or make it myself. Beautiful bunny on your quilt! Good job! Thank you for the tips. 🙂

I love you Karen! You always brighten my day!

Thank you so much for this video, I am learning to quilt and I thought that you had to have those different rulers for your quilt to be right. Awesome information

I know I am a bit late to this but……. I have only just got into quilting and I have fallen into the trap, spent a fortune because I thought I had to have it. Thank you for your honesty.

I love your quilting tips. I have used cotton sheets as backing. I've used mens shirts, in fact, that's one of my favorites because you can find some nice plaids. Just found your channel and subscribed, love it, thanks for sharing.

Thank for reinforcing what I was thinking😊

Love how you think!!! I have been quitting for years and have never bought batting. I use blue jeans or a heavy fabric. As for patterns, look in kids coloring books. You can find all kinds of cute pictures.

And THAT is why I no longer watch MSQC! Sometimes I watch the older technique videos but not the new ones that inflate their bank accounts and drain mine. So glad I found you!

I love your ideas. I was shocked at the cost of fabric. I started buying cotton fabric squares from dollar tree because I like the thickness of the cotton. Then I cut them and make baby quilts to donate. I recently found a beautiful flat sheet I never put on my bed because the fabric was so pretty, I got that from a second hand shop years ago. That I will use for a bac king.

Oh I so agree. I think I have thrown away a ton of money when I first started quilting. Instead of purchasing a new template or ruler I check to see if a friend may have one that I could borrow. I really appreciate your tips, hacks, for quilting. Now I am on a fixed income and I find tons of free patterns online!!! Thank you so very much! I love these hacks!!

I always head to the "last chance" section of the fabric stores. A lot of good fabric for 70 percent off...yes please! Remnant shelf always a good option, too. I also bought temu fabric...good fabrics, good price. Thanks for your videos!

I certainly agree with you good on you for speaking up 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Hi Karen. As a beginner in patchwork, learning from KZfaq, I do exactly what you say, using fabrics from shirt and other clothes, duvet, etcétera. For me is absolutely right. I enjoy watching videos of boxes opening, but it’s difficult to me understand how they buy so many and expensive ones and in many occasions just leave them in a shelf and love videos from MSQC and other big shops, where I’ve learnt so much and I’m thankful because they offer a lot of free pattern, but I understand they’re a business and want to sell. I suppose there are options for everyone. I love your videos.

Thank you, you’re just awesome. ❤👍🏾