In case you didn’t know, quilt shops are a great source of interesting fabrics for junk journaling. They sell pre-cut fabric in small sizes called fat quarters, which are usually about 18″ by 22″ depending on the original bolt width. A piece that size will last junk journalers quite a while and gives you plenty to play with for covers, spines, pockets, and more.
This past week, my husband and I took a little play day and drove to a nearby town. We stopped at the local quilt shop “just to look,” and of course, we didn’t leave empty handed. The photo above shows the fat quarters we brought home—fun chicken prints on one side and rich, grungy textures on the other.
The fabrics on the left are perfect companions for two of my Etsy designs:
The three fabrics on the right have a subtle, worn look that makes them ideal for fabric bindings and spines on Tim Holtz–style grunge projects.
Motivation – How to Use Fat Quarters in Junk Journals
If you’ve ever walked past the fabric section and wondered how it fits into junk journaling, fat quarters are a gentle way to start. Here are a few easy ideas:
Soft fabric covers – Layer fabric over cardstock, a manila folder, or lightweight chipboard to make a flexible, tactile cover for your next journal.
Fabric spines & bindings – Even if your covers are paper, a strip of fabric down the spine adds strength and that delicious, well-loved look.
Pockets, tucks, and tabs – Small pieces make wonderful pockets, corner tucks, page tabs, and belly bands that coordinate with your printable kits.
Cluster bases & snippets – Use tiny offcuts under paper clusters, labels, and tickets to give more depth without bulk.
For a fun weekend project, print pages from the Vintage Chickens kits, then pair them with chicken or farmhouse fabrics for a cohesive country style. For grunge lovers, the darker textured fat quarters on the right are perfect for moody bindings and layered, Tim Holtz–inspired spreads.
Celebration – Free Vintage Chicken Ephemera
To celebrate this little quilt shop adventure—and to give you a gentle nudge to use fabric in your own journals—I’ve created a free printable for you.
It’s a one-page sheet of vintage chicken ephemera designed to coordinate with chicken, farmhouse, and grunge projects. You can:
Print on cardstock or full-sheet label paper
Ink and distress the edges for extra grunge
Use them on pages, covers, pockets, page clusters, or anything else. 😉
