Why Quilting Might Be the Most Frugal Hobby And How to Get Started

Want to try quilting? Here’s why this old-school craft might be the most frugal (and satisfying) hobby and how to get started without spending a fortune.

Of all the crafts I’ve tried over the years (and I’ve tried most of them), quilting is still my favourite.

I stumbled into it, thanks to a book club. The main character in the novel we were reading took up quilting, and I was inspired. Then, I was hooked.

 (That would have landed better if this was an article about crochet!)

Since then, I’ve both hand-sewn and machine-quilted – my current bedspread was supposed to be a wedding present to myself that I didn’t finish until our 13th wedding anniversary. It is all handsewn – not because hand sewing is ‘better’ but because I love the meditative rhythm of hand stitching to many TV and then Netflix series. 

Quilting, like most hobbies, can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, quilting might just be the most frugal hobby out there.

Why Quilting is Secretly the Most Frugal Hobby

Quilting, specifically patchwork, is sewing little pieces of fabric together to make a larger piece.

It’s ALL about using up scraps of material leftover from other projects or salvaged from other items like clothes and old sheets. And the quilting part stitches together layers of fabric for warmth.

Most countries have their own quilting styles and traditions. English paper piecing, Japanese sashiko, and, of course, there are the many American quilting traditions. The first quilted garment was depicted on a carving of an Egyptian pharaoh!

Australia too, has a traditional quilt called the Wagga quilt.

Originally made by men using grain sacks, later by women using sugar bags, flour sacks, wool suit remnants and other bits of old clothing. These quilts weren’t showpieces but practical items made from whatever was on hand.

That’s the spirit of frugal living, isn’t it? Taking what you already have and turning it into something useful, maybe even beautiful.

And quilts carry stories. ‘That floral patch was from Mum’s dress,’ or ‘That stripey bit came from the cot sheet we used when the kids were babies.’ They become memory-keepers as well as something to keep you warm.

How to Quilt Without Spending a Fortune

Like any hobby, quilting can get expensive. Believe me, I spent my fair share plus some on quilt fabric over the years. Not to mention patterns I’ve picked up at the Australian Quilt Fair that I’ll get to…one day.

But, just like the Wagga tradition, there are a ton of ways to keep the hobby budget-friendly while handmaking one-of-a-kind bedspreads and other furnishings for around your home.

And even if you do buy new fabric, that can often be an investment. I have a throw (pictured above) that I made in 2002. It’s a bit faded, but I still use it on my bed and as a throw on the lounge – that’s over 20 years of use! There’s nothing like the Ikea Effect (we have a preference for what we make ourselves) to give something added value!

Here are some ways to reduce the cost.

1. Recycle Fabrics from Around the Home

Look through your old clothing, sheets, tea towels – anything you’re ready to part with. Cotton works best (it’s easier to sew and holds up well), but I’ve even used satin scraps from a formal dress I made years ago. I lined them for stability, and they turned out fine.

If your fabrics feel too mismatched, try focusing on contrast – light and dark values – rather than colour. That helps everything blend more naturally.

2. Raid Your Local Thrift Store

Thrift stores are brilliant for building a fabric stash on the cheap. Keep an eye out for vintage sheets, fabric remnants, or even worn clothing (cotton is best) that you can cut up. Some stores sell bags of offcuts for just a few dollars.

Offcuts and remnants that other sewers have donated? They’re gold for building your quilting stash (hello Spiderman fabric I picked up for $1 at the Salvos!).

3. Ask for Fabric as a Gift (Or a Gift Card If People Don’t Know What to Get You)

One year, a friend gave me a stack of fat quarters for my birthday, a super thoughtful gift for a quilter. It’s halfway to being a lap quilt now, and I’ve got half a mind to gift it back to her when it’s done. (If I ever finish it, that is.)

4. Use Every Last Scrap

Don’t throw out your leftovers. That’s how some of the most fun quilts come together. Scrap-busting quilts, crazy quilts, strip-pieced quilts… they all embrace the mix-and-match charm of using what you’ve got.

Fabric shops sometimes sell remnant bins cheap, or you could swap scraps with other sewists. Factory outlets can also be a goldmine for fabric offcuts.

5. Quilt Over an Old Blanket

Instead of buying new wadding (the inner batting), try repurposing an old wool blanket or even a worn-out doona. It saves money while making your quilt warm and cosy.

Quilts Make Excellent Beginner Sewing Projects!

Quilts are perfect for novice sewers.

You don’t need a fancy machine, a Pinterest-perfect craft room, or decades of sewing experience to start quilting.

If you can sew a straight-ish line, you can quilt.

You don’t even have to start big.

My first project, back in 1999, was a simple block pattern turned into a cushion — the perfect no-pressure intro to the basics.

It’s also how I taught my daughter to quilt when she was about 8. She picked her own fabrics, stitched them together in a simple block, and proudly stuffed the cushion once it was done.

Here’s the funny thing about patchwork quilting: it’s basically cutting up big pieces of fabric… only to sew them back together again to make another big piece of fabric.

And yet, it’s oddly satisfying.

That process teaches you how colours play together, how seams line up (or don’t), and how forgiving sewing can be.

Even better, there’s a tradition from American quilting that says you should never make a perfect quilt because only God makes things perfect. I’m not religious, but I like the sentiment, although I’ve never had to make a mistake on purpose, lol – they just happen.

If you’re keen to try quilting yourself, here’s what I recommend:

How to Start Quilting

1. Pick a simple block pattern.
   Look up something like a 9-patch quilt block or rail fence. These use straight cuts and are easy to sew — perfect for beginners. The Generations website has a block library of over 230 blocks if you want inspiration.
   
2. Choose your fabrics
   You can start with scraps, op-shop finds, or a small bundle of fat quarters. Stick to cotton if possible — it’s easier to work with.
   
3. Cut your pieces
   You don’t need a rotary cutter (though it helps). Scissors and a ruler work fine. Try to be as precise as possible, but don’t let perfection stop you. For my wedding quilt, I used simple handmade cardboard templates for the pieces and just traced around them with a regular pen.
   
4. Sew the blocks together
   Straight seams with a basic stitch. That’s it. If you’re hand sewing, you can use a running stitch (which is the standard stitch) or backstitch, which is what I prefer, just for added strength. Or you can sew using a straight stitch on a sewing machine. Press the seams flat with an iron as you go — it helps everything sit nicely.
   
5. Make it into something useful
   A cushion cover is a great first project. It’s small, quick, and practical — and it gives you a finished item to be proud of. Other ideas include a lap rug, a table runner, a coaster, a mug rug (big enough for a mug and a snack), or a placemat. All of these small projects are great for using up scraps.

Hand sewing vs. machine sewing?

I’ve done both. Machine sewing gets the job done faster. It’s great if you have an audiobook to listen to while you sew (noise-cancelling headphones are ideal for listening over the sound of the machine).

I started with hand sewing, and it’s my favourite way to make quilts. It’s just me, some thread, and Netflix.

I’m currently making an English paper-pieced hexagon quilt for the first time from fabric I bought in Canberra 20 years ago. It’s finally getting used!

There are heaps of resources on the net and YouTube to help you get started. However, while I wanted to link to some here, I feel like they all overcomplicate what is really a super-easy process.

Cut up fabric, sew it back together.

When I got started, I didn’t have fancy tools like rotary cutters. I had two colours of fabric, scissors, thread, and a needle.

And a book of patterns because this was in the era of dial-up internet, and I had no computer.

I winged it. And made a cushion cover. And you can, too, without the fancy do-dads.

Don’t overthink it — just grab some fabric and start stitching. Imperfect is perfect.

A Hobby That Pays You Back in Comfort and Connection

When you tally up the hours spent quilting — especially by hand — it looks like a big investment in time and money.

But the returns?

Comfort, calm, creativity, usefulness, and something warm to show for your efforts.

I’m making an English paper pieced quilt right now to give my hands something to do other than doom-scrolling. I realised I was addicted to social media and a ridiculous matching game, so I deleted everything off my phone but still needed something to fiddle with when my mind spirals.

This is why I like hand sewing so much. It’s productive fidgeting and helps me avoid doom scrolling.

Some of my quilts are unfinished. Some are wonky. Some are treasured.

They’ve wrapped my kids during winter, doubled as picnic rugs, and added a bit of homemade softness to our home.

You don’t have to be “crafty.” You don’t have to get it perfect.

You just have to start with one stitch.

In my case, one stitch at a time saves my mind!

Quilting is great for passing the time, learning a new hobby, and creating soft furnishings for your home and as gifts.

Do you quilt — or have a quilt made by someone you love? I’d love to hear your story.

And if you’re thinking of giving it a go, I hope this gave you the nudge you needed.

You can absolutely do this — and you don’t need to spend a fortune.