Let’s face it—quilting is a passion, a form of therapy, and an artistic outlet all rolled into one. But it can also put a dent in your wallet and your schedule if you're not careful. When Gudrun first started quilting back home in Iceland, she didn’t have the luxury of endless fabric or fancy tools. Everything was expensive and had to be stretched. So she learned quickly how to quilt smarter, not harder.

Now that she’s been quilting professionally for years, she still carries those budget-friendly habits—but has also come to realize something just as valuable as saving money: saving time.

So let’s talk about both. Whether you’re pinching pennies or just want to get more done in less time, here are some smart ways to make quilting more efficient, more affordable, and more fun.

💸 Money-Saving Tips for Quilters

Shop Your Stash First

Before heading to the quilt shop, dig through your stash! You’d be amazed what treasures are hiding there. Challenge yourself to design around what you already own—you might even discover some brilliant fabric pairings you hadn’t noticed before.

Scrap Quilts = Maximum Value

Scrap quilts are not only beautiful and full of personality—they’re also the best way to use every last bit of fabric. Keep your leftover strips, squares, and odd shapes—you’ll use them eventually, and your future self will thank you. Better yet, shop for scrap bags and remnant bins at your local quilt shop or online; they’re often sold at a steep discount and perfect for building a budget-friendly stash.

Rethink Precuts—Go for Half Yards Instead

While precuts like jelly rolls and charm packs might seem convenient, they’re often cut inconsistently, which can lead to frustrating inaccuracies and wasted fabric. Instead, invest in half-yard bundles—they offer more usable fabric and greater flexibility across projects. In fact, with one half-yard bundle and the Stripology Mixology 3 book, you can make two full quilts! It’s a smarter, more efficient way to stretch your fabric—and your budget—further.

Thrift and Repurpose

Vintage sheets, shirts, and even curtains can be fabulous quilting fabric! Thrift stores are a goldmine. Always check fiber content (100% cotton is best) and give them a good wash before using.

Invest in Quality, Not Quantity

One good rotary cutter, mat, and ruler can go a long way. It’s better to have a few reliable tools than drawers full of gimmicks. And speaking of tools...

⏱️ Save Time—and Frustration—with Stripology Rulers

This is the part where money meets time. Because time is money—and it’s also peace, productivity, and more finished quilts!

If you haven’t tried a Stripology Ruler yet, let me tell you: it can literally save you up to 75% of your cutting time. Yes, you read that right.

Instead of lining up your ruler over and over for each strip or square, the Stripology Ruler lets you cut multiple strips in one go—with perfect accuracy every time. That means:

• Fewer mistakes
  
  

• Less trimming
  
  

• And much faster piecing
  
  

In quilting, time adds up fast—especially when you’re prepping a large project or working with lots of small pieces. With Stripology, you gain back hours you’d spend measuring, lining up, or fixing errors. And you turn that time into actual progress at your machine.

Gudrun has designed dozens of Stripology-friendly patterns, and has seen firsthand how it changes the game—especially for quilters who value their time or are quilting between other life commitments. And the best part - you can use Stripology Rulers on any quilt pattern!

Quilt Smart, Quilt Happy

Being on a budget doesn’t mean giving up the joy of quilting. It just means being more intentional—about what you buy, what you make, and how you spend your most precious resource: your time.

Cutting with more speed and precision using Stripology Rulers, using up every scrap in your stash, or sewing a heartfelt gift from thrifted finds—remember: quilting isn’t about having more. It’s about making more from what you already have—including time.

So quilt smart, quilt affordably, and quilt with joy.

⭐Looking for more time-saving tricks? Don’t miss the 'Tip of the Day' playlist from Tipsy Tuesday—it’s packed with quick, helpful tips to make your quilting faster and easier!⭐