Quilted Casserole Carrier Ideas Using Salvaged Fabrics

I love projects that feel both useful and nostalgic, and this one checks both boxes. Using a salvaged quilt, I stitched up a simple casserole carrier, perfect for potlucks, family dinners, and church suppers. It keeps dishes warm, adds a touch of handmade charm, and gives new life to something that might otherwise have been overlooked at the thrift store.

Reclaimed (Salvaged) Quilts

I used a salvaged quilt to sew a simple casserole carrier, perfect for potlucks and family gatherings. It is a practical way to repurpose a thrifted textile while keeping useful items out of the landfill.

By the way, it’s the second Wednesday of the month, which means it’s Thrift Store Decor Tour Day! Please visit my friends using the links at the bottom of this article.

First, a brief background. I made my first salvaged quilted casserole carrier nearly twenty years ago. You will see photos of it later. While attending a potluck recently, a friend saw it and expressed interest in having one. I visited a few thrift stores in search of quilts. The only quilted material I could find was a few pillow shams. Then I remembered I had a sofa cover and an unused quilt tucked away in the basement.

Materials and Supplies to Make a Quilted Casserole Carrier

Reclaimed or salvaged quilt(s)
Rotary cutter
Sewing mat and ruler
Scissors
Tape measure
Sewing machine
Thread
Pins or clips
Fabric chalk or markers
Dowels

materials to make a quilt casserole carrier

Cut List for Making a Casserole Carrier

(1) 13 1/2 x 36 (This piece will make the handles)
(1) 13 1/2 x 31 (This piece will make the “tie” section)
(2) sections of trimmed hem approximately 10 inches (for ties)

Sewing Instructions

After cutting out the two large pieces of quilt, machine-stitch an overcast or zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.

I often say I would rather be sawing than sewing. Although I’ve sewn for many years, I’m not a fan. I look for easy hacks to keep projects simple. You may notice that some of the photos show different stitches. I bought a new machine a couple of years ago, but I haven’t used it very much. I was having a tough time, and it turned out to be a minor tweak to the bobbin installation.

Fold ends of long piece (36″) over 2 1/2″, and pin or clip
Find the center, cut out the hole for your hand, 1 1/4 x 4″ wide.
Unfold the section
Do an overcast or zig-zag stitch

Finish the Longer Piece

Fold the previous section, pin it, then sew it in place. I kept the same look, using a zig-zag stitch for this.

Attach the Two Pieces

Center the two coordinating pieces and use the same zigzag stitch to sew around the “square.” The patterned quilted material is a former sofa cover. The coordinating gray was a queen-sized quilt.

Add Hemmed Ties

I was anxious to test it out to make sure it worked as well as my original quilted casserole carrier. In this photo, you can see that I cut away the hem from some of the gray quilt to use as ties.

Quilted Casserole Carrier

You may notice a switcheroo in the pattern. The sofa cover has a different pattern on either side. I made four quilted casserole carriers altogether: two with these pieces and two in all-gray. I washed all four, so there are a few stray threads here and there that I forgot to snip before taking these photos.

The stitching issue on my sewing machine was resolved when I made the two gray carriers.

coordinated fabric quilted casserole carrier

The ends tie nicely around the disposable pan. However, if you have a 13x9x2 glass casserole dish with handles, it’s a little tight in the fit.

The dowels are craft dowels from my stash. They’re fine for the disposable tin pan, but for a glass casserole, I think they need to be larger in diameter.

How to Use a Quilted Casserole Carrier

The handles work great for carrying the casserole, and the flaps fold over during transport, helping keep the temperature steady.

Vintage Quilt Casserole Carrier

casserole carrier made from a vintage quilt MyRepurposedLife — Vintage Quilt Casserole Carrier

Why Thrifted Quilts Work So Well

Old quilts are ideal for projects like this casserole carrier because they already have built-in padding and durability. The layers help insulate hot dishes, while the worn fabric adds softness and character you just cannot fake with new materials. Even quilts with stains, tears, or missing sections can be cut down and repurposed into something useful, making them a great thrift-store find for practical, everyday projects.

As promised, here’s my vintage quilted casserole carrier, stains and all.

This is what started my latest project. I took green beans and potatoes to that potluck, and used my casserole carrier to tote the crockpot. My friend saw it and wanted one for her slow cooker. As it turns out, the one I made her is too small for her larger crockpot.

So, if you want yours to double as a crockpot carrier, you may want to tweak your measurements. In addition, you will need larger dowels, like the ones pictured here.

This vintage quilt belonged to an old friend of mine. It had been in her family for years, and they were going to throw it out. I liked the color and the pattern. Even though I made the new quilted casserole carriers, I’m sure this one will still be my go-to.

If you’ve made your own, please tell me your best tips in a comment below.

DIY Quilted Casserole Carrier

making a casserole carrier from a vintage quilt

If you love seeing ordinary thrift store finds turned into something useful, you are going to enjoy the rest of today’s Thrift Store Decor Tour. Be sure to click through the links below to see how the rest of the team gave new life to their own secondhand finds.