Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

Ideas for How to Quilt with Eco-friendly Methods and Materials

Quilting Daily — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:50:51 GMT

Our foremothers knew how to make a quilt using only what they had, from scraps of fabric to natural dyes. But, quilt making the frugal and eco-friendly way was easier for them:

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

pat p. — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:01:58 GMT

I cut my scraps into rectangles that are 3"long and anywhere from 1" to 4" wide,it is not necessary to be on a straight line. When I have a stack accumulated I sit and sew them,long sides together,using a quarter inch seam. Press all seam allowances to one direction. Wind the strip around a dowel rod piece or cardboard,just keep adding to it. Before you know it you'll have a 3"wide crazy strip that you can use for countless parts in your next projects!

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

jessicaloughrey — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:53:27 GMT

almost forgot, i also use scraps on my art dolls.

jessicaloughrey.blogspot.com/.../art%20dolls

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

jessicaloughrey — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:51:27 GMT

i use scraps to make my scrappy patches, to make mini art quilts and to embellish journal pages.

jessicaloughrey.blogspot.com/.../scraps

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

captina — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:53:41 GMT

I've been making a puff quilt for my bed and started looking at my bedside lamps. The lamps are in great shape but the shades were looking a bit dated. I cut little squares, about 1" x 1" from my scraps, using liquid stitch, I applied them to my old lampshades! When I finished applying the squares, I painted the entire lampshade with modge podge. It is now easy to keep clean and matches my new quilt!

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

lemur00 — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:19:12 GMT

I use a lot of scraps on chirimen style dolls and kanzashi flowers. The pieces needed are often quite small and can utilize the ones that you just can't throw away.

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

artladyj — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:09:16 GMT

My quilt guild makes premie quilts for local hospitals. They are roughly 16" square. I delight in using my scraps in these along with donated fabrics received by the guild. It is so fun building color groups and making each little quilt "by the seat of my pants." No two are alike. They just grow like Topsy. We do not add batting but use flannel or poly fleece for the backs. They are "birthed," meaning we seam them RS together leaving an opening through which to turn the quilt. I always edge stitch and quilt by machine or hand. I shop the Goodwill for baby blankets I can wash and cut up for backings.

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

5dogz — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:20:29 GMT

Re: scraps. Great ideas. But, one very important use of scraps is for dog/cat beds for the animal shelters/rescues. Any fabric/batting scraps can be placed in a pillow case (2nd hand stores have lots of them). Once 3/4 full, sew it closed and donate to your local shelter. All of the animals will thank you for a soft, comfy bed.

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

pat p. — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:50:15 GMT

I like to take a few hours,go through my scrap stash and pick out a stack as varied as can be,get out the fusible web and fuse several sizes. It is wonderful to have a ready to go supply of "iron-on patches" or whatever I might want them for. Just draw the design on the paper side and I'm good to go!

re: Seven Ways to Make Quick Work of Fabric Scraps

debp33 — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:55:33 GMT

How about a pincushion? I just did a tutorial on how to make an owl one here:

debzpicaday.blogspot.com/.../day-195-of-365.html