5 easy principles to quilt sustainably

Did you know you can live more sustainably by becoming a quilter?

When I started quilting 10 years ago, I developed a sustainable way of quilting. It was born out of the necessity of a small budget. I couldn't afford all the tools and fabrics my quilting friends were using. 

However, I did manage to make beautiful quilts with the basic tools I had, and by upcycling and re-using second-hand fabrics and old clothes. You see an example of that in the picture. 

Two quilts made with upcycled fabrics, such as shirts and curtains leftovers

But how can I apply sustainability to my quilt?

Throughout the years, I’ve landed on 5 basic principles of sustainable quilting. All my quilting upcycle techniques and lessons are based on these ‘rules’ which I’m sharing with you today. Apply them to your quilting, and you'll be more sustainable!

1. Extending the life-time use of old clothes and fabrics by repurposing them in quilts. 
2. Focus on the process and meaning of making a quilt.
3. Let the fabrics available guide the design process 
4. Creating beautiful every-day use objects with quilt techniques to bring joy to your days 
5. Use even the smallest fabric scraps in projects, so no textiles are wasted.

And I promise you: these principles are not only sustainable, but also make for super original quilts and turn quilting into a mindfulness hobby!

Conclusion: the important role of quilting for a sustainable future

Climate change is a real issue, and all of us need to work harder together to save our planet. The textile industry is a major contributor to climate change, so reducing the demand for new (quilting) textiles and extending the life-time of existing textiles is a good place you can contribute!

Born out of a personal necessity, quilting has shown itself vital for a sustainable future. I’ll talk about the other contributions of quilting in another blogpost.

Questions:Discuss quilting & sustainability

• What do you think the role of quilting in a sustainable future can be? Share in the comments. 
• Do you have other tips to quilt more sustainably?