In this video I’m chatting about sustainability and, more specifically, alternative places to source quilting fabric—thrifted, secondhand, recycled, upcycled, and resold. I’m definitely not claiming to be an expert (this subject is complicated), but over the last year I’ve been trying to be more deliberate about what I buy and where I buy it. I talk a bit about how some big-name fabrics are printed in places like Japan and Korea with stronger labour and environmental laws, and then I pivot to the “new vs used” question that I can actually do something about in my own sewing room. I show you my thrift store hauls (sheets, flannel, duvet covers, even a towel for makeup wipes) and how I’m using them in real quilts—especially as backgrounds and sashing in my scrappy makes like my interwoven quilts and more. I also share my experience at Ecoequitable here in Ottawa, which was a total treasure hunt: donated new fabrics and notions that get resold to fund community programs. Along the way I share practical tips like checking fibre content (including the iron “polyester smell” moment and even a burn test in the shop). My big takeaway: quilting has always had a repurposing heart, and I’m excited to explore that more—one thrifted “bit and piece” at a time.