How big...
By creematee
@creematee (2810)
United States
June 4, 2007 1:18pm CST
are your scraps? I'm trying to get rid of some of my fabric stash, but sewing clothing for my kids. I've been pulling out scraps that I have saved That are about 3 or 4 inches big! I can't USE it for much--maybe a Barbie dress, or a piece in a scrap quilt. I also have tiny scraps of fusible interfacing. I mean TINY! It is so expensive, I just hate throwing it away.
Should I give up on these little pieces of fabric? What do you do with your scraps?
5 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
7 Jun 07
I can remember my grandmother not throwing away ANY scraps! She seemed to always find a use for them! I remember she always added appliques to things that she made. For instance, she made a lot of little sundresses for me and she made aprons of course (all the ladies used them back then!) Onto my sundresses she would applique a little flower with green leaves or various other things. She just laid the little pieces down (she held them in place with a special temporary glue that later washed out) and zig-zagged around the pieces. My dresses were always all the rage becuase of the custom work!
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
7 Jun 07
Well I'm glad that I could help! Another hint, my grandmother, when she was looking for 'patterns' to cut out appliques, would often turn to coloring books! The coloring books that are for very, very young children! The ABC coloring books are especially goood to use. For instance, I remember her using a sailboat picture that was in an ABC coloring book as a template! She cut out the sailboat, put a piece of tracing paper under it and then onto the fabric that she was cutting the sailboat out of! Her grandson (my cousin) loved his little pants with the sailboat on the leg!
1 person likes this
@creematee (2810)
• United States
7 Jun 07
DUh! (Hand goes to forehead!) There is no reason why I can't do that! :) My girls would love to have those little hand made details on their outfits. Oooh... I got one of those bedazzler thingies that would outline the appliques so well. The crazy ideas I come up with. (with a little help!!!)
Thank you!
@creematee (2810)
• United States
8 Jun 07
What a cute idea. :) I have used color books for quilting, but never thought to use the applique on clothing. Oh, my kids are going to love me. So will hubby (hopefully!) as I'll get rid of more scraps!! (or maybe create more! HEE HEE)
@cutepenguin (6430)
• Canada
6 Jun 07
If a scrap is really tiny, I throw it away right away. If I think I can use it, it will often become maybe a mini pocket, or a piece of patchwork on a totebag.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
6 Jun 07
Thanks cutepenguin. :) (cute name, by the way!)
I do throw that really tiny pieces away, and I just FORCED myself to throw a few scraps that are abou 8 x 12 inches... left over from an outfit I just finished. I KNOW I could have used them for something SOMEWHERE, but I have so much of that--what I could use it for. LOL!
@cutepenguin (6430)
• Canada
7 Jun 07
Oh! If you have medium sized scraps you need to use up, I tried this fun tutorial for making coasters. It's at allsorts.typepad.com - she has a tutorial for crisscross coasters.
Depends if you like coasters. I did make one, and it turned out quite cute, but I used pink fabrics, so it matches nothing in my apartment. I need more fabric, but I have a hard time buying it unless I have a specific project in mind.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
7 Jun 07
These are really cute! I'll have to give those a try. I'm always looking for cute Christmas gifts. :) Guess I better get using those scraps. :)
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
5 Jun 07
Another thing you can do with really small scraps like that is to use them for stuffing pillows or stuffed animals. I usually toss any scrap that is smaller than about 6 inches square, because I know I'll never do anything with it.
Though I do keep my tiny scraps of cross-stitch fabric, and then use those to make ACEOs. Ooh, that's a though, you could use those small pieces of fabric to make ACEOs!
@creematee (2810)
• United States
5 Jun 07
I never thought of using them as stuffing! I am trying to make a bunch of bears for my 8 nephews... so what an excellent use for those tiny scraps! (a lot cheaper than the poly fil, also!)
Can I ask... What is an ACEO?
Thank you for helping me out! :)
@guss2000 (2232)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I also am a scrap saver. I normally look online for things I can make out of small pieces of fabric. The most common things are hair scrunchies, fabric covered bookmarks, or sew them all together and make something else out of them.
At one time, I can remember seeing someone selling scraps of fabric on ebay. People probably use them for quilts or whatever. You might even be abel to donate them to a charity. I know the Linus club (I believe that's the name) takes scraps to make quilts for preemie babies.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I didn't think about donating to a charity. :) I guess I couldnever know why someone would want MY scraps. HEE HEE I may just have to break down and make some of those little scrap quilts to donate instead.
Thanks for the great idea!
@cowgirl03051979 (918)
• United States
4 Nov 11
the scraps that i have from sewing are usually all different sized and shapes i usually try to save all of my scraps thinking that somewhere down the line there is something that i can use them for and i have scraps that i have saved from when my grandmother used to sew so i have alot of them saved i think a scrap quilt would be a fun thing to make i just have not have had a chance to do so yet and you could also use the scraps to patch up holes in jeans and other clothing
