Scrappy Ways to Create Unique Fabric

How to create unique fabric out of scrappy pieces..

I'll admit it. 

If I'm in the midst of cutting material for a project and teeny tiny pieces of fabric end up cluttering my work area, they tend to go in the garbage.

I'm not talking about pieces that are large enough to use in some future patchwork process. These are odd shaped scraps, smaller than 1" x 2". I used to save them for stuffing purposes (my first Fritz frog was stuffed with fabric remnants), but I have enough old pillows that are waiting for similar reuse. So mostly I've been throwing away these "extreme" scraps.

Recently, I came across a couple of innovative uses for these types of scraps that might make me change my throwaway habit.

They can be turned back into usable fabric.

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Now, whether you think the processes are worth your time and effort is another thing altogether, but my first impression was positive. I could see myself doing this if I had some final project in mind that required these specific "looks".

The first method is from YouTuber Don Kim, whose meticulous work I've highlighted here a few times. In a video titled "Don't throw away the sewing waste. It can be a "flower"/tote bag" uploaded on November 19, 2022, he demonstrates how small scraps of fabric can be captured under some fine mesh and turned into unique material for any sewing project.

Don Kim's "scrappy" fabric (image courtesy of Don Kim on YouTube)...

The process is actually very simple. He cuts a piece of muslin fabric and some mesh, sews three sides of them together, and then fills the subsequent "bag" with small scraps of fabric. The surface is then smoothed out and the final edge is sewn up.

Next, he quilts it with a tight diagonal crisscross pattern across the entire surface. This ensures that the scrappy pieces will stay put.

The piece is quilted all over (image courtesy of Don Kim on YouTube)...

Once that's done, the piece is trimmed to size (the original muslin and mesh should be cut larger than what's needed for whatever the project is) and put to use just like a regular piece of fabric.

Only this fabric is totally unique... no one else will have it.

Don Kim's fabulous tote made out of scrappy fabric (image courtesy of Don Kim on YouTube)...

In this particular case, the final project — which required two panels of this scrappy fabric — was a tote bag.

Is that or is that not a totally creative way to use up extreme scraps? (By the way, instead of the fine mesh, I'm thinking that one can probably recycle a sheer curtain panel from a thrift store.)

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Here's another method that employs pretty much the same process, but is meant to arrive at a different end product: padded fabric.

This is a tutorial that was posted to the international Bernina blog (which I featured here) on June 21, 2023. It's called "making padded fabric" by Amaia Arana.

Throwing down some fabric scraps (image courtesy of Bernina)...

For this, you'll need two pieces of actual fabric to sandwich around the scraps. The amount of scraps needs to be sufficient to add bulk, but not overly so. Also — ideally — the two fabrics should be heavy enough (or dark enough) that you won't be able to see evidence of the scraps between them.

On the right side of the fabric meant for the lining, measure out and draw vertical quilting lines (she used 2cm). Spread out the scraps evenly on the wrong side of the exterior fabric. Then place the lining fabric on top, right side up.

The finished product (image courtesy of Bernina)...

She then does a lot of pinning to secure everything before taking it to the sewing machine and serging the sides to trap the scraps. (Now, borrowing from Don Kim's method, I can see making a "bag" first and filling it up with the scraps as an easier way to do this.) After everything is contained, quilting is done per the drawn lines on the lining fabric.

The padded fabric is then ready use.

What can you make with this? Tea pot, French press, or bowl cozies. Basket liners. Table runners. Pouches. Tablet cases. (Or, if you're into clothing, a vest would be a great choice.) Since a quilted fabric like this already has both an exterior and lining side, all you might need to make something is some bias binding to finish off the raw edges. It's also easy to make reversible items.

If you have old t-shirts that are ripped, stained or no longer fit, this would be an excellent way to recycle them. You could cut them up into nice soft scraps for this purpose.

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While I'm on the subject, let me suggest a third method of creating some unique fabric. It's a process that I've already covered here before, using selvages. 

Making fabric out of another type of "scraps"...

I made my selvage fabric by fusing the strips to some Decor Bond interfacing and then zigzag stitching the edges together. It later became a storage canister.

So there you have it: three different ways to create unique fabrics. Definitely some techniques to consider the next time you want to make a truly original project.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a deal on actual fabric, Spoonflower has a sitewide promotion on this weekend for 15% off everything. (Link at the top of the sidebar.)

I debated whether or not to include this "real time" update, but felt the need to do so, deep down in my bones. I just have to share the fact that there is so much chaos going on right now that even hobbies like blogging and sewing are unable to divert my thoughts.

Places where I spent my youth could very well burn up in the coming days as a result of widespread wildfires across Canada's north, where over two thirds of the population have been evacuated. Beside us in BC's Okanagan Valley, a new monster fire is growing more dangerous by the second. All of this is in addition to what I've already seen this year in Canada, across Europe, and just last week in Maui.

I am drained just hearing about it all and cannot imagine how these people are coping right now.

I've helped where I can, but let me add something to my usual sign-off this week, for the benefit of all: be safe and be strong.

'Til next...