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!
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.
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!).
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!
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.
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!