Ways to Recycle Your Fabric Scraps

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Luv2Sew

Besides your usual stash of fabrics, I’m sure all you avid sewists have a stash of scraps leftover from various projects.  But what do you do with those scraps?  Leave them in a bin and forget about them?  Well, here’s a few ways to rid yourself of those scraps – and free up some storage space!

1.  Make a scrap quilt.

One of the many fantastic scrap quilt books on Amazon.com.

One of the many fantastic scrap quilt books on Amazon.com.

Several scrap quilt patterns exist, as do scrap quilt books.  You can find them on Amazon.com or at your local quilt shop.  Or, you can “wing it” and make a mystery quilt.  Who knows where your imagination will take you?

2.  Donate your scraps to charity. 

San Francisco's Craft Supply Recycling Center

San Francisco has a terrific organization (SCRAP) in which crafters can donate unwanted craft supplies that will be used in art workshops and/or sold to raise money for art programs.

3.  Donate your scraps to quilters with limited resources (no nearby shop!) 

Our friendly local quilt shop.

Our friendly local quilt shop.

My friends at the local quilt shop bring their scraps to the shop owner.  She piles bags and bags of scraps in her car and takes them to her sister’s house far far away.  Her sister lives far from any quilt or fabric shop, so she invites her friends and they have a “scrap party.”  They’re very appreciative of their quilt shop friends who are willing to part with so much fabulous fabric.

Havel’s Sewing would like to know: What do you do with your scrap fabric?

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Fabric Flowers Make Marvelous Accessories

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Luv2Sew

Sometimes, when you finish a project…say, a new bag or maybe a cute blouse…you notice that there’s something missing. Not a stitch or a pleat, but something decorative that makes the project POP. Here at Havel’s Sewing, we’ve found a simple solution to that elusive little problem: fabric or zipper flowers. Just whip up a flower or two, add it as a pin or a permanent fixture to your project and VOILA! Instant pretty!

Two great tutorials come to mind:

zipper flowers

1. Martha Stewart’s Zipper Flowers

 fabric flowers

2. Sew Ritzy~Titzy’s Fabric Flower

Both make great additions to your repertoire of sewing projects.

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Try Two Pairs of Snips for Your Projects

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Luv2Sew

c33013

I use my Havel’s Sewing Snip-Eze for almost everything.  I use them as a seam ripper, a thread cutter and as a little tiny finger to pull the bobbin thread loop up once it’s been threaded on the machine.  So, I’m not surprised when they get dull.  It can happen within a couple of quilts’ time.  Especially if you have to unsew part of a block or row. 

DW-TC9000PK-thread nipping

The dullness used to make me sad.  But now, to alleviate that sadness, I use two different snips when I’m working on a project.  (And I try to be good about using an Ultra Pro Seam Ripper – which won’t get dull due to all the extra blades.)  Enter the Dura Snips.  They’re on a neck strap so they’re always close at hand.  I use them to snip thread and starter pieces of fabric.  The Snip-Eze are still my tiny fingers and my sometime seam ripper, but they don’t dull as quickly now that the Dura Snips take on the “heavy duty” snip cutting.

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Sew, Mama, Sew’s “Best of the Decade” List

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Luv2Sew

The fantastic blog belonging to the online shop Sew, Mama, Sew features a thoughful and thought-provoking list of the best and most influential designers and more within the sewing industry.  She predicts future trends, as well.  Take a look.

To read the list, click here.

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Sewing with Secondhand Treasures

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Luv2Sew

In this era of thrift and resourcefulness, both experienced and novice crafters are looking for ways to reduce both their craft budgets and environmental impacts. One surefire way to do both is to repurpose what already exists. Three current craft/sewing guides promise to inspire and instruct sewists who like the idea of working with old sweaters.

You can either felt thrift store finds or deconstruct your favorite crew neck from junior high. Projects from these three guides range from slippers to hats and toys – all made from old sweaters.

sewing green

Betz White’s Sewing Green is a sure-fire hit with clever crafters. She includes brief felting instructions for thrift store sweaters. Her slippers project is practical and delightful. Don’t miss her pajama pants made from vintage bedsheets, either.

But back to sweaters.

sweater chop shop

Crispina ffrench has been recycling sweaters since 1987. In her book, The Sweater Chop Shop, she offers projects ranging from blankets to dresses – all made from old sweaters. This pioneering “green sewist” is best known for her “Ragamuffins,” which got her started in her recycled clothing business many years ago.

sweater surgery

The third book for maximum repurposing inspiration is Sweater Surgery by Stefanie Girard. Hats, toys and bags are just a few of the projects available in this guide. Make heirloom toys for baby gifts from your favorite discarded sweaters.

You can have loads of fun searching thrift stores for old sweaters – or just comb through your closets and reduce a little clutter. Just get started! And feel free to share what you’ve made.

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