Sewing Scraps

LolitaHaze · Aug 7, 2006

Ok Ladies... What do you end up making or doing with your fabrics scraps that you just can't throw out? Do you make accessories to match the outfit or dress originally made from the fabric? Suggestions and photos are now being accepted!!! lol

colleency · Aug 7, 2006

You can use a scrap of beautiful fabric as decor on a hat. You don't even have to use it as a bow or anything, just a lovely fabric swirl lightly tacked down.

Caledonia · Aug 7, 2006

Don't have any examples yet, but my odds'n'ends bag is full of stuff for hat trimmings, making bags with or bag linings, sandals (if you make your own house slippers or sandals, scraps are essential), hankies, gloves if you've got enough material, collars, cuffs, dickies, the list is endless. Save them! I've even got thongs in the basket (clean and unworn!!!!!!) because I might be able to use the lace and other fancy bits - Ummm, writing myself into a corner here....

Lady Day · Aug 7, 2006

OKAY I as SO gonna post this exact topic! WOW!

I have so many scraps that are just that. Not large enough for a project, but I dont want them ending up in some landfill either.

Anyone know of any type of fabric recycling? I like to be Green

Id make a compost of the 100% cotton and wool scraps, but I have no where to MAKE a compost.

LD

Caledonia · Aug 8, 2006

You're getting right down to the nitty gritty LD! Even after recycling the bigger bits into "stuff" what about the rest? Embarrassingly I don't have an immediate answer, but will get back to you.

LizzieMaine · Aug 8, 2006

I'm in the same boat as LD -- I've got boxes and bags full of scraps, mostly cotton, and I hate to throw any of it away because, well, it's impossible for me to throw anything away.

Maybe we need to come up with a Scraps Exchange here -- if someone needs scraps for a project of some kind, post what you're looking for, and those of us who have more scraps than we could ever use could offer up whatever we've got that might match.

Compost is a good idea. Or maybe we could all get together on a beach somewhere and have an all-night Scraps Bonfire Party...

LolitaHaze · Aug 8, 2006

We could make a scraps blanket (or pillowcase) for each other. Each one of us could take a couple of our various scraps sew them randomly together and mail it off to the next person -- so on and so forth until it makes it to the last person, who can finish it off. I am sure all of us have enough random scraps to make a bunch of blankets/cases/ect for each of us who want to participate. Just a thought... [huh]

Or we could send them off to the troops in care packages... now that is old school!

ricki · Aug 8, 2006

Right now, they just go into a scrap pile. Someone told me I should use them for quilting. It probably wouldn't look put together like my grandma's quilts, but seems like a good usse.

Lady Day · Aug 8, 2006

LolitaHaze said:
We could make a scraps blanket (or pillowcase) for each other. Each one of us could take a couple of our various scraps sew them randomly together and mail it off to the next person -- so on and so forth until it makes it to the last person, who can finish it off. I am sure all of us have enough random scraps to make a bunch of blankets/cases/ect for each of us who want to participate. Just a thought... [huh]

Or we could send them off to the troops in care packages... now that is old school!

Thants a good idea.

You wanna plan it. Im still tired from the Pen Pal thing

LD

Shimmy Sally · Aug 8, 2006

My kinda topic!

I use my scraps to line some of the purses I make, add pockets, accent button holes, contrast collars, hair accessories, bows, rosettes, holiday decorations, potholders. I have a vintage "make-do" fabric book. There are so many things you can come up with besides quilting and appliqué. Be creative and have fun.
I sometimes sell or trade my scraps with other seamstresses/quilters.

P.S. scroll down to the bottom of this page for some vintage scrap ideas:
http://italophiles.com/schiaparelli.htm

BettyValentine · Aug 8, 2006

Doll clothes. ^_^ (Or, more accurately, a big pile of scraps that my fiance isn't allowed to throw away because they'll be doll clothes some day.)

xoxo,
BV

Shimmy Sally · Aug 8, 2006

BettyValentine said:
Doll clothes. Or, more accurately, a big pile of scraps that my fiance isn't allowed to throw away because they'll be doll clothes some day.

That's cute! You could even make the rag dolls and stuffed animals. My Mother made quit a few (some I still have).
Or baby clothes/bonnets... I used scraps to make toddler shorts for my son, when the fabric was appropriate.

LolitaHaze · Aug 8, 2006

Lady Day... I can try to plan this, but I have never done something like this before. Do you think we should try to make blankets/pillow cases for the troops or ourselves personally? A gal just contacted me recently about try to get care packages together... I can ask her more about that... I think it would be neat for the troops to get pillows or whatnot that were a put together from all over the country. So far you are the only one to express interest.

LolitaHaze · Aug 8, 2006

Ladies... Now you have my wheels turning! Thank you for the suggestions! I know what I want to do now.

Shimmy Sally · Aug 8, 2006

I'm not sure troops would want blankets, but yes to pillows. The requests we got for care package last year included handheld games, socks, and handheld mister fans.

LolitaHaze · Aug 8, 2006

Thanks for the heads up Sally!

I have never done this before... so I am clueless about this.

Shimmy Sally · Aug 8, 2006

It's going to mean so much to them!

mysterygal · Aug 8, 2006

What I've been making out of some scraps I have gotten are little purses for my girls and making little things for their dolls; sleeping bags, little pillows, doll clothes, ect.

maisie · Aug 9, 2006

This is such a good thread, if i could actually sew making matching bows for your hair or handbags would be such a great idea!!
Its funny as i have a dress, i don't know whether it was shop bought or home made, but i think the latter, but anyway it is black on top with a vibrant print on the botton (the print acutally looks like leaves) and this fabric has also been used to trim the sleeves and make a really cute flower that has been sewn on the top, it looks really sweet!!

Lady Day · Aug 9, 2006

maisie said:
This is such a good thread, if i could actually sew making matching bows for your hair or handbags would be such a great idea!!
Its funny as i have a dress, i don't know whether it was shop bought or home made, but i think the latter, but anyway it is black on top with a vibrant print on the botton (the print acutally looks like leaves) and this fabric has also been used to trim the sleeves and make a really cute flower that has been sewn on the top, it looks really sweet!!

I do that with some of my skirts I make. I sew head bands

LolitaHaze, let me know whats going on. PM me if you want to start the 'scrappin it' around the country project. Ill see if I can help.

LD

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