10 Quilting Hacks to Save Time and Fabric
March 5, 2025
Hi!
I don’t know about you, but I love finding new hacks to save time and money when I’m making quilts, and today I have a round up of 10 of my favourites. You’ll find there are plenty of clever tricks to help you quilt smarter, not harder, and whether you’re looking to speed up your process or stretch your fabric stash a little further, these 10 quilting hacks will make your quilting life easier and more efficient.
1. Chain Piecing for Speed and Efficiency
(Image from: https://www.simplesimonandco.com/2018/03/what-is-chain-piecing-and-why-should-i-do-it.html/)
Instead of stopping to snip threads between each piece, use chain piecing to sew multiple blocks in one continuous line. Simply feed fabric pieces through your machine one after another without cutting the thread, then trim them apart afterward. This not only saves time but also reduces thread waste. To make it even more efficient, arrange your pieces in sewing order ahead of time, so you don’t have to stop and rearrange as you go.
You can take it one step further too, and sew whole blocks together sometimes, by keeping the squares ‘chained’ in rows, then turning, and sewing the rows together!
2. Use a Rotating Cutting Mat for Precise Cuts
A rotating cutting mat is a game-changer when it comes to trimming blocks and cutting small pieces. Instead of moving your fabric (and risking inaccuracies), simply rotate the mat for easy, precise cutting from all angles. This is particularly helpful when trimming half-square triangles or fussy cutting fabric designs.
3. Press Seams Open for a Flatter Finish
While many quilters press seams to one side, pressing them open can reduce bulk and make your quilt top lie flatter. This tip is especially useful for intricate piecing and when sewing with thick fabrics.
4. Cut Fabric Strips in Batches
(Image from: https://lynsavenue.com/blogs/tutorials/how-to-cut-curve-free-strips-for-a-quilt )
If your pattern calls for multiple strips of the same width, cut them all at once! Layer fabric pieces, ensure they are aligned, and use a sharp rotary cutter with a quilting ruler to cut multiple layers at the same time. This reduces cutting time and keeps fabric waste to a minimum. For extra efficiency, stack fabrics in light-to-dark order so you can keep track of your color choices more easily.
You’ll find you can cut precuts in batches too – jelly rolls and layer cakes are quickly and easily cut with several layers at once, and this can make using these for quick quilts that much quicker!
5. Keep a Scrap Basket for Small Projects
Don’t throw away those leftover fabric scraps! Keep a designated scrap basket and use the pieces for small projects like scrappy quilts, fabric coasters, bookmarks, or even quilt labels. You’ll be surprised at how much you can create from what would otherwise be wasted fabric. Another great idea is to pre-cut scraps into commonly used shapes like 2.5-inch squares or strips, so they’re ready for future projects.
Make sure you check out our “Oh, Scrap!” regular pattern feature in our Premium Online Quilt Magazine, for new tips and ideas each month for projects to use up your scraps.
6. Use Washi Tape for Quick Seam Allowance Guides
(Image from: https://www.knittinginthepark.com/washi-tape-guide-for-your-sewing-machine/ )
Place a strip of washi tape on your sewing machine’s throat plate to mark your seam allowance (e.g., ¼ inch). This gives you a quick visual guide for accurate seams without needing to constantly check your ruler. You can also layer multiple strips of tape to create a raised edge, helping guide fabric through your machine without shifting.
7. Starch Your Fabric for Easier Cutting and Sewing
A light spray of starch before cutting and piecing can help prevent fabric from stretching or shifting. It also gives you crisper seams, which is particularly useful for precision piecing or working with bias-cut pieces. If you’re concerned about stiffness, try mixing starch with water to dilute it for a softer feel while still maintaining stability.
I don’t starch much personally, for straight edged pieces, but this is a great tip for when you are sewing curves. Starching them means much less chance of these bias pieces stretching as you sew them, and that saves time fiddling around with these pieces to get the perfect fit!
8. Nest Your Seams for Perfectly Matched Points
To get those perfectly aligned corners, press your seams in opposite directions so they “nest” together when sewing blocks. This technique minimizes bulk and helps keep your quilt blocks precise. Using a pin directly through the seam intersections before sewing can also help lock the pieces in place (especially if you’re joining at angles that aren’t a regular 90 degrees).
9. Label Your Quilt Pieces to Stay Organized
(Image from: https://fabricandflowers.co.uk/how-to-organise-and-piece-a-quilt-block-successfully/ )
Use sticky notes, pins, or small clips to label your quilt pieces before sewing. This is especially useful for complex patterns with multiple fabrics, ensuring you don’t accidentally mix up similar-looking pieces. Another fabulous trick that I use all the time is to take a photo of your layout before you start sewing, so you have a reference if anything gets out of order.
10. Make a Design Board to Plan Layouts Easily
A simple foam board covered with batting makes an excellent portable design board. You can arrange your quilt blocks on it to preview layouts before sewing, making it easier to visualize the final design and prevent mistakes. For blocks with lots of pieces, this is a game changer, and will definitely save time in double/triple checking yourself before you sew each piece.
Bonus Tips for Saving Time and Fabric:
I found some bonus tips to share too:
11. Strip Piecing for Faster Quilt Blocks
Instead of cutting individual squares, sew long fabric strips together first, then cross cut them into segments. This speeds up the process and reduces cutting errors, and also ensures that your strip sets will go together perfectly, as they all have the same seam allowance.
12. Chain Pressing for Efficient Ironing
Instead of pressing each block individually, you can lay out multiple seams and press them all in one go. This reduces repetitive motion and speeds up ironing time. This works well on chain pieced blocks too. Sew all the seams, then press the whole block at the once time.
13. Use Foundation Paper Piecing for Precision and Less Fabric Waste
Paper piecing helps eliminate fabric waste by cutting pieces precisely, reducing excess trimming. It’s great for intricate designs and maximizing fabric efficiency. Even better, use the freezer paper method for foundation piecing (Check out the new pattern in next month’s Premium Online Quilt Magazine using this technique!), and save paper too!!
14. Plan Quilts Based on Fabric You Already Own
Before buying new fabric, “shop your stash” and plan quilts around colors and prints you already have. This prevents unnecessary purchases and saves $$, and helps reduce the amount of fabric you have stashed away already.
15. Keep a Notepad for Quilting Measurements and Adjustments
Jot down adjustments, cutting sizes, and notes on a dedicated quilting notepad to avoid repeating calculations and mistakes in future projects. A dedicated notepad for new quilt project ideas is invaluable too. Scribble down or sketch ideas as you have them, and you can flip through for inspiration when you’re ready to start a new project.
These quilting hacks are small changes that can have a big impact on your quilting experience. Whether you’re looking to save time, reduce fabric waste, or simply make your process smoother, implementing these tricks will help you quilt more efficiently while still enjoying the creative process.
Do you have a favorite quilting hack? Please share it in the comments below – I’d love to hear yours!
5 responses to “10 Quilting Hacks to Save Time and Fabric”
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I often do applique so I never cut my scraps into squares or strips until I’m ready to use them. Sometimes I may want a shape that I can get out of a scrap but not if I’ve cut it smaller, e.g. a 2.1/2 inch flower before it’s been cut into a 2 inch square.
It is always good to be reminded of ways to make sewing easier and more effortless. Your reminders are so helpful. Thanks so much.
Great tips Jody – thank you!
I thought the reason seams were pressed to one side was to make it easier to repair seam openings after wear and tear of quilts. Of course, this is not so important for art and wall quilts, though..
I think often it’s a matter of personal choice as to how we press seams. Some like them open for a flatter finish for quilting, and others prefer to one side for greater accuracy in matching seams through nesting them. I hadn’t heard about it being for easier repair reasons – it makes sense in that respect. I haven’t ever had to repair a seam in a finished quilt either though, so I hadn’t thought about it from that perspective. Thanks for sharing this – definitely something to think about!