frugal sewing projects

[hmcart]

I have a ds that just turned 3. He is about average in hieght for his age but is very slim so regular 3T pants dont fit well. I have been taking old pants or clothing peices and making patterns for elastic waited pants for him. They are super easy to make and I can make them for less than $1 a pair!

I have also been making wash clothes out of old clothing also. I just use my serger to get a good edge on the squares and viola!

Please feel free to post any frugal sewing ideas here!

[nuisance26]

~100% cotton t-shirts make great cloth napkins and dishtowels. I use all white for my towels and all gray for my napkins so it's hard to tell I'm recycling. I cut down and alter clothes for my kids too because they're so slim. I'm in the middle of cutting down 4 ratty pairs of dh's flannel pj pants into pj pants for ds. Earlier this week I cut down a corduroy dress to make pillow shams for my living room pillows. I accept all kinds of free clothes so I always have plenty of materials. Sheets are fantastic sources of material. You can make beautiful summer dresses and grocery totes from the patterned ones. The solid colors make great curtains and tablecloths.~

[toile]

Thanks for sharing this.
My little one has no play clothes.
I like for her to get dirty outside and not worry about ruining her good things.

Did you find a pattern or trace clothes you have?

[perSue]

3 yo's are the perfect age for scrap toys!

make a rag-doll (remember raggedy andy??)
or what about scrap toy trains?
scrap toy nature figures (i've done this one... trees, a sun, grass, clouds, etc.)

only thing you may need is some filler.

otherwise, if you're looking for clothes to make...
over-alls were made for little boys! and made from scrap jeans, perfect!

[hmcart]

I always use a pair of pants that fit him well for the length and trace. I measure his waist before I place the elastic.

Persue reminded me of toys also. I took some old clothes last year and made scrap monsters from them. He loves them and so did my 17 yr old sister!

[cheapskate 49]

My Dh wears boxer shorts and he likes the ones with the extra fabric in the back and I could not find any patterns for them so I got a pair at the thrift store and carefully took them apart and traced the pattern from them,and they fit perfectly I have made about 15 pairs.

[momof2joys]

I am also looking for some new ideas for extra material that I have lying around the house. I have a flat bed sheet that is blue striped the only issue I have with this, is sewing it because it is made from a satin type material. I am wondering if I should be aware of any bunching or pulling?? I think I might make a sun dress or something like it for dd 11, but I am not sure how it will sew up!! Any ideas???

I hope more add to this thread I am really looking for some great ideas!!

[Pemberleyan]

Great ideas. I also make dish rags out of old towels by serging two squares together.

Here's an idea: DH and I recently purchased a sofa. Now, we've only bought furniture twice in our 16 years of marriage, and I want to make sure this thing lasts a very long time. It's sort of a medium to dark blue and reclines at each end. We have two dogs, so I wanted to make a cover for it. While at the thrift store, I found a piece of heavy corduroy in almost the exact shade, and a duvet cover in a similar shade. The corduroy was only enough to make two arm covers, two foot rest covers and a pillow cover. Out of the duvet cover I made a cover for the back. My mother gave me a fitted sheet in a similar blue, which I used to cover the seats. It's really handy to slip everything off and throw it in the wash.

For the teenager in your life: When I was a teenager in the 70's I made a set of huge pillows for my boyfriend out of old blue jeans. They were in the shape of the three letters of his name, done in a mod sort of 60's font. You could use whatever fabric or font or letter shape suits your teenager. For filling, I've picked up lots of synthetic fiber pillows at yard sales.

[joyofsix]

I've been making pj pants out of flannel receiving blankets for 1yo dd and I also made her some out of old t-shirts. My 4yo likes dresses made from t-shirts. I've just been using old stuff I had around so not real cost except a thrift store t-shirt. Here's a link
http://www.franticallysimple.com/200...-the-ucwwaeds/

[nuisance26]

I am also looking for some new ideas for extra material that I have lying around the house. I have a flat bed sheet that is blue striped the only issue I have with this, is sewing it because it is made from a satin type material. I am wondering if I should be aware of any bunching or pulling?? I think I might make a sun dress or something like it for dd 11, but I am not sure how it will sew up!! Any ideas???

I hope more add to this thread I am really looking for some great ideas!!

~What I've learned about satin type materials is that it is absolutely essential to use a new, delicate sewing needle. You may also need to use seam tape or fray stop depending on how tight the weave is. I'm really cheap about that step and usually just run a zig-zag or serge around my pattern pieces after I cut them so the weave doesn't shift. Some synthetics unravel so easily....urg. What I would do is to chop off a small corner of the sheet and test the way it sews.~

[hmcart]

Ya'll have some great ideas! Keep em coming!