New Category!

Sustainable Quilts and Wearables

Each year millions of tons of textiles end up in our landfills. How can quilters make a difference?

Some wearable quilt items entered into the 2023 quilt show. (Jacket by J. Elliot; Runners by K. Schmidt)

Sustainable Quilts and Wearables!

We have a new category this year, Sustainable Quilts and Wearables!

Each year millions of tons of textiles end up in our landfills. How can quilters make a difference?

Have you considered entering a quilt in this new category?

At least 75% of the fabric used within the piece must be re-purposed from materials including functional textiles.

"It’s about making thoughtful and informed choices."

Embracing Sustainable Quilting

Sustainable quilting and responsible textile use are gaining attention, but making a difference doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your current practices. Instead, it’s about making thoughtful and informed choices. As you explore new approaches, you may be surprised by the creative possibilities that emerge—benefiting not just the environment but also your budget. Every small decision you make has the potential to influence the larger textile industry—reducing excessive water and pesticide use, encouraging non-toxic dyeing processes, and supporting healthier communities where these materials are produced.

As quilters, we put love and care into every stitch for those we cherish. Imagine if the next quilt you create for a grandchild or a new baby carries an extra gift—the promise of a better future through sustainable choices.

"As you explore new approaches, you may be surprised by the creative possibilities that emerge—benefiting not just the environment but also your budget."

Sustainable Quilting & Textile Practice Checklist

1. Emphasize Recycling and Repurposing

    • Use fabric from your existing stash—if you loved it once, you can love it again! Get
      creative.
    • Upcycle old textiles into new projects—your closet may hold unexpected treasures. (E.g. Make a t-shirt quilt, a jean purse, a denim quilt)
    • Participate in community textile recycling and fabric-sharing initiatives, such as
      charitable quilt-making.
    • Do you have an excess of fabric-like shopping bags or plastic?
    • Stuffing for dog or cat beds from the through away scraps

2. Source Materials Responsibly

    • Choose organic, recycled, or sustainably harvested fabrics and share your discoveries
      with others.
    • Support local suppliers to help reduce transportation emissions.

3. Explore Eco-Friendly Techniques

    • Try low-impact dyes and experiment with natural materials.
    • Conserve water and energy by adopting mindful quilting practices.
    • Reduce waste through creative scrap use and zero-waste designs.

4. Prioritize Durability and Repairability

    • Make quilts and textile pieces that are built to last and easy to repair.

5. Support Ethical Labor Practices

    • Research where your materials come from and ask questions about production ethics.
    • Consider paying a little more for products made by workers earning fair wages in safe
      conditions.

6. Donate and Swap

    • Pass along fabric and supplies you no longer need—local schools, charities, and fellow
      quilters will appreciate them.
    • Organize or join swaps to exchange unused materials for something you’ll use.

7. Engage Your Quilting Community

    • Discuss ways your quilting group can adopt more sustainable practices while continuing
      to enjoy the craft.

Did you notice practices on this list that you already do?

That’s fantastic! Now, can you add one more?

And don’t forget—enter the Sustainable Quilting Category at the Quilt Festival and share how you incorporated eco-conscious practices into your quilt!

Resources for more information about Sustainable Quilting/Sewing

Sewing through Fog

Radha has a whole website devoted to textile upcycling.  She is a textile artist, sustainability educator and small business strategist based in San Francisco.

  • Modern quilting with upcycled & repurposed fabrics.
  • Denim industry pro turned sustainable maker/educator
  • BERNINA Ambassador

Bridget O'Flaherty

Welcome to The Sustainable Quilter, curated by Bridget O’Flaherty, where mindful quilting meets eco-friendly creativity. Discover our shop, classes, and podcast dedicated to stitching a sustainable future.

Bridget wrote a 8-part article about sustainable quilting for the Canadian Quilter magazine.  Find part one here.  https://canadianquilter.com/sustainable-quilting-part-one/

The other articles can be located with a search on the Canadian Quilter website.

If you know of any other resources about sustainable quilting/sewing, please email webmaster@edqg.ca and we will share them here.