March 24, 2021

Project Ideas for Your Fabric Scraps

24 March 2021, written by Caroline
When I was researching options to try and reduce textile waste, I was also thinking about projects that would be great to use up scraps and remnants.  One of the many inspiring things about working at Miss Maude is that we stock the gorgeous Making Magazines which have a collection of smaller projects perfectly suited to scrap busting. They also have some larger projects if you want to get your teeth into something.  With a cuppa in hand, I had a lovely time going through them to collate some (hopefully) inspiring ideas for you or gift ideas for family and friends! I hope you enjoy them!
    a collection of four images. clockwise from top left. a very pale image of two needle cases made of pale creams and greys. the next image is a brightly coloured appliqué cushion sitting on a chartreuse wingback chair and the last image is a black woman holding up a simple cream quilt with delicate yellow and pins and lilacs

    Clockwise from top left;

    •  Needle cases are a brilliant scrap buster and make great presents for any of your crafty friends. This one is from issue No. 5 of Making Magazine.
    • This cushion is a colourful collage of fabrics that have been appliquéd and really make the most of the small scraps of fabric that you have. This project is also from issue No. 5 of Making Magazine.
    • These coasters also use the smallest of scraps of fabric. They come from issue No. 1 of Making Magazine. 
    • Another gorgeous quilt that would use up the scraps from some linen projects that you have had on the go. This is from issue No. 5 of Making Magazine.
    a collection of four images. from the top left it is a picture of a tote bag hanging from a wooden hook. the bag is mute yellows and beiges and is made up of patchwork. the top right picture is a dark denim blue zipper pouch with small red dots on it. it has a flat bottom and a soft curved top. the bottom right is a cutlery pouch made from stripe linen in a beige and white colour. it shows the pouch both open and wrapped up and is fastened by a large ochre tie. the bottom left image is a grey linen apron. it is a half apron just covering the bottom half. It has patchwork triangles in a dark blue colour and the lady wearing it is leaning against a wall with knitting needles and dark blue yarn.

     Clockwise from top left;

    • The Autumn Patchwork Tote which is made up of scrap fabrics to make a unique bag, perfect for all those small bits of linen you might have! I can see it a rainbow of colours, this tote was featured in No. 10 of Making Magazine
    • The Petal Pouch made by Gabrielle from Bibbity Bobbity Buttons, taken from issue No. 1 of Making Magazine. She wrote a great sewing review about how she made and adapted it. 
    • The Everyday Utensil Roll uses a small amount of fabric and is useful. Save yourself from all the plastic single use cutlery and make yourself this delightful roll, or make it for a gift. Details can be found in issue No. 9 of Making Magazine.
    • The Branta Apron in issue No. 6 of Making Magazine (sadly out of stock) is a great introduction into quilting, or if you wanted to combine your love of garment making and quilting in to a quick project (much quicker than a full quilt!). 

    a collection of four images. Top left is a small black and white zip purse being held in the fingers of two hands. The person holding it is wearing a black jumper. The top right is a toddler about two years old wearing a a pale blue linen top and some black flowered bloomers. the bottom left is a project bag made with scraps, it is a wide rimmed and placed on the table. the bottom left is. a black and grey rag rug on a wooden floor. it has a person standing on it and you can just see brown boots and grey trousers.

    Clockwise from top left;

    • The Modern Boro Upper Pouch from issue No. 6 of Making Magazine (sadly out of stock)which uses small scraps and sashiko embroidery. Great for all those small scraps of fabric which you could stick together to make a adorable little purse. 
    • The Wiksten Bloomers are great if you have some larger scraps of fabric left over from a project. They only use between 50cm and 75cm of fabric. 
    • This gorgeous Linen Tote Bag from issue No. 6 of Making Magazine (sadly out of stock) has a deep gusset, and wide top which makes it very roomy and perfect for any knitting projects you might have on the go. Or if you have a crafty friend that would appreciate a handmade gift!
    • The Knotted Oval Rug from issue No. 6 of Making Magazine (sadly out of stock) uses strips of fabric and would be great for any long pieces of fabric that you may have. You know the long bits close to the selvedge that often get left after a project - start saving those!

    a collection of four images. top left is a close up of a pair of underwear with a sparkly waistband and tropical themed fabric. top right is a soft coloured quilt with squares all over it. Bottom right is three cloth pots nestled in to each other and bottom left is a drawstring bag made of scraps.

    Clockwise from top left; 

    • Underwear is a great scrap buster and this pair by @sewvividquilts uses our 40mm wide elastic.  There are various underwear patterns easily found online with a quick search. 
    • a quilt is a very traditional way of using scraps but it doesn't mean it needs to look traditional. This quilt is from issue No. 8 of Making Magazine.
    • a quick little project of nesting baskets from issue No. 4 of Making Magazine
    • The Chroma Project Bag from issue No. 8 of Making Magazine is an easy project to make and gives endless possibilities of colour combinations. 

    a collection of four images. the top left is a circular coaster on a white table. It has a pink edge and delicate pink abstract pattern on the fabric. It has been quilted in a grid to give texture. the top right is a beeswax wrap in a pale yellow with small water melon patterns on it. The wrap is moulded over a bowl. the bottom left is an abstract picture made up in ochre colours. it has been placed over a desk and on the desk there is a cactus is a pale pink pot and two books stacked next to it. the bottom left image is a glasses case with cross stick embroidery on it. It isn't a picture of anything just crosses in a grid in blocks of yellow, blue and pink and white. a pair of wooden framed sunglasses lie next to it.

    Clockwise from top left;

    • These pleated pot holders from issue No. 7 of Making Magazine use the smallest bits of fabric and are pieced together and then quilted. Perfect for little teacher gifts or for someone who has everything!
    • Beeswax wraps are brilliant. I have several that I use all the time and I don't know what I did with out them. Also if you make them out of 100% cotton when they have reached the end of their life you can compost them. The details for making these are from issue No. 9 of Making Magazine.
    • Sometimes its nice to just make something that looks good for no other reason than for making. Not everything needs to be practical. This Landscape Portrait Wall Hanging from issue No. 7 of Making Magazine is a perfect example of that. Its made by piece work called jogakbo in korean and is a style of patchwork, traditionally used to create domestic wrapping cloths (known as bojagi) from scraps of left-over fabrics.
    • The Coastal Glasses Case from issue No. 9 of Making Magazine is a cute little project. Perfect to just pop in your tote that you have made with similar fabric! There is nothing wrong with coordinating your scrap makes!

    I hope you have been inspired by these ideas. Please let me know if you use any leftovers from our fabrics for scrap projects, I would love to see the creative way our community put them to use!