How to Find Fabric Scraps for Your Scrap Quilt

Want to make a scrap quilt, but don’t have any scraps? I’m going to share a few ways to source scraps for your next quilt.

Years ago, when I just started quilting, I wanted to make a quilt for our baby. I knew I wanted to make a simple blue and white quilt, but I wanted a lot of different blue fabrics in it and I only had three fat quarters of blue and purchasing 10 more fat quarters, wasn’t in the budget. So I did what any young mother does, I called my mom.

My mom doesn’t quilt, but she sews clothing and I knew she must have some blue fabric. Since I only needed 2 1/2” squares, I figured she could help me out - and she did. A few days later a package arrived on my doorstep with more than enough bits of blue to finish my quilt.

The scraps were a lifesaver and I have continued to enjoy making scrap quilts ever since. (You can check out some of my scrap busting quilt patterns here.) If you are not blessed with an overflowing scrap basket, here are a few ways to source scraps.

Ask Around for Specific Fabrics

(Before we get started on this, don’t expect other quilters to provide all the fabric for your quilt or to even share. That being said, if someone no longer has a use for their scraps, they are often willing to share. Ok, on we go!)

If you just need a few scraps, there is nothing better than just asking your fellow quilters. This tactic works especially well if you know exactly what you want - or are willing to take anything. Notice that I didn’t ask my mom for generic fabric scraps, just the blue ones. If you are making a quilt with fall leaves, ask for fall colors to improve the variation of the leaves. Or maybe you are looking for any type of 1930’s fabric. If you know what you need, ask for it specifically, if you are open to anything, put out a general call.

Some examples of pre-cuts from Moda Fabrics

Try Using Precuts

When I was making my quilt, precuts weren’t that big of a thing. They just weren’t as common in the early 2000s. However, they are a great way to get a lot of different prints in one place. Precuts are basically small pieces of an entire line, or collection, of fabric. If you are using precuts in a scrap quilt, mix in other fabrics so that the precuts don’t make the scrap quilt too matchy-matchy. If you use precuts for half of your fabric and coordinating scraps for the rest, your quilt will look scrappy, but cohesive. My favorite type of scrap quilt!

Organize a Scrap Swap

I love swapping scraps! It is nice to get rid of some scraps that I don’t need or want and so much fun to find beautiful treasures in other people’s scraps. Every year at our guild retreat, we have a scrap swap and it is a lot of fun to see everyone dive into the scraps to find their favorites.

You can organize your own guild scrap swap or invite a couple people over to your house for a small swap. Everyone can leave with some treasures!

Thrift Shops

Check out your local thrift shop, you might get lucky and find fabric. I’ve also seen beautiful quilts made with men’s cotton button up shirts sourced at Goodwill.

Purchase a Scrap Pack at your Local Quilt Shop, Etsy, or Ebay

Does your local quilt shop sell scrap bags? That can be a great place to pick up some fabric at a reduced price. There are also quite a few people who sell scrap packs of fabric on Etsy or Ebay. Before purchasing online, be sure you read the description completely, so you know exactly what you are getting. Sometimes the photo is an example of the types of fabrics you might receive, but not be exactly what you get.

Freecycle

Freecycle is an online forum, organized by area. If you have something to giveaway, you can post an “Offer” to the site, and if you are looking for something you can write a “Wanted” post. This is a bit hit and miss, but it can’t hurt to post that you are looking for fabric scraps.

Hopefully, this has given you some good ideas and places to start in your quest for fabric scraps. There is nothing nicer than a scrappy quilt! Good luck in your search and have fun sewing!

Have you had luck finding scraps in other places? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!