How do you use it all up with fabric scraps?

[vickilynn]

No fabric goes to the trash from my sewing room! I make 3 sorts for fabric scraps: 3 inch square, 1 1/2 inch strips, and tiny slivers.

The tiny slivers and other misshaped are used to fill up a pillow case, then I make a pillow. And my favorite is the string quilts from the strips.

What do you do with scraps?

[Michelle]

Sometimes I use them as appliques. If I have strips, I use them for string quilts. It really depends on the fabric & size/shape. Bigger "scraps" I use for undies for the kids, sleeves, bindings, collars, etc.

If I can't figure out what to do with it, I ask my sewing friends if they can use it and then give it to them.

[vickilynn]

I'm impressed making undies. Wish I had thought about that when my granddaughter was younger. Now, she is sewing quilts with me, but handmade undies would be a noo. About all the grands will go for is pj pants.

[Momto2Boyz]

I don't buy store bought fabric, I reuse old clothing, blankets, etc. for all of my sewing, so I end up with some weird shaped scraps.

But here, nothing goes to waste either. I use them for various things; appliques, fabric beads, jewelry, decopage, just all kinds of stuff!

Hee hee hee, I make my own undies too. Just for myself though, Dh and the kids would never go for it! It's so much cheaper and I can make way cuter undies than I can buy!

[cab54]

Quilts, doll quilts (for the tiny scraps), and rag rugs.

[vickilynn]

Rag rugs and undies.....I'm going to have to check these out!

[mauimagic]

What great ideas!! Vickilynn, I love how organized you are with your scraps!! I feel as if I have wasted soooo much fabric!! But never more!! Never thought about stuffing pillows with tiny scraps!!

Never knew what they were called, but the many pillows that I made last Christmas were string quilts!! Love that there is a name for them.

In the past, I used all of my scraps for patchwork quilts, cannot even recall how many I made - well over 50!!

[vickilynn]

Actually, I read that people were using fabric scraps for dog beds.....I thought and why not for people pillows....it makes a great stuffing for a large pillow that my grands use to lay around on the floor.

[Momof3girls]

I use scraps for quilt squares too. I also let my kids use the little odd shaped pieces to make doll clothes, super hero capes and blankets for their toys.

[vickilynn]

I need to remember to cut a square and save for a scrappy nine patch!

[Michelle]

I forgot about my kids digging through my scraps to make clothes/blankets/beds for their stuffed animals & dolls.

[Debbie-cat]

Great ideas everyone! Thanks for sharing. I am going to have to try a few of these ideas out.

[mauimagic]

Check out Peanut's quilt squares in "Quilt square a week" - she's got some great patterns that would work well with scrap squares too!!

[canadamom]

I have made several full size quilts with only postage stamp size squares.
I cut all scraps to that size and then piece quickly.

[mauimagic]

Canadamom - what size seams do you use and do you sew by hand or machine? Would love to see one of yours.