SCRAPS – yes we all have them. In fact it’s a given that if you are a quilter you are quickly going to build up a scrap stash. Don’t know about you but we aren’t like those brave souls who can just toss their fabric scraps in the bin. We keep every tiny little scrap because you never know when you might just need that teeny tiny piece of fabric to fill in a spot. So we have a number of easy projects with full tutorials that will help you to clear up at least some of that scrap stash. One of my favourites is the String Quilt. I love making these.
1. The Crumb Quilting Technique (Not just for quilting)
I just love this technique. You don’t have to even think about it too much. You basically create your own fabric from scraps and can use it in a variety of applications – quilting, bag making, sewing projects, cushions and more. Go to step-by-step tutorial...
2. How to Make a String Quilt from your scrap stash
These quilts look just amazing when they are finished. You can see from the photo that we have sorted out scraps that compliment each other. You don’t have to do that, you can make it completely random if you wish. Such a fun and easy way to use up your scraps. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
3. Pot Holder Tutorial
Oh so simple and oh so effective. These pot holders are made using left over 10″ layer cake squares, but you can cut your own from fabric you have on hand. These pot holders are so quick and easy to make and they make great gifts. Just think of Christmas time when you are looking for stocking fillers. These are ideal. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
4. Zippered Pouch Tutorial
How great are these little pouches? You can run these up in very little time. I use one in my handbag to hold all those pesky receipts I gather when I’m out shopping. It saves me stuffing them into my wallet and overloading it. But they are great for all sorts of uses. Simply sort through your stash and pick out some pretty fabrics that compliment each other and away you go. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
5. Fabric Journal Cover
Another easy project that can be personalized to suit the recipient. You can use one large piece of fabric, sew a number of pieces together to form stripes, or you can even do some crumb quilting to make this cover. They make excellent dust covers for treasured books and can be made in fabrics to suit the book or journal you are reading such as travel or music designs. But they look equally awesome in just random fabrics. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
6. Reusable Heat Pack
Here is another way to use up those left over layer cake squares. You only need 2 to make a useful trivet or a reusable heat pack. Fill the cavities with rice laced with herbs or aromatherapy oils and the room will fill with the wonderful aroma as the pack heats up. I use one filled with herbs and spices such as allspice and the kitchen smells lovely as the aroma of the spices heat up under a hot saucepan. They make great gifts, so why not run up a few for friends and family as stocking fillers at Christmas. Go to step-by-step-tutorial…
7. Needle Holder Tutorial
These needle holders are a great scrap busting project and they take hardly any fabric to make and they are ideal for holding your spare sewing needles. I find it convenient to have my spare needles all in one place where I can get to them quickly and easily. They make great gifts and stocking fillers. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
8. Lavender Sachet Tutorial
These little sachets are made using left over layer cake squares. 2 layer cake squares will make 4 square or 8 triangle shapes. Another quick and easy project. These sachets are ideal to pop into smelly sneakers and shoes or just toss in amongst your clothes, or in the linen cupboard. Just add whatever fragrance you like, I am partial to lavender and vanilla so that is generally what I use but dried rose petals and rose essential oil is also lovely. Go to step-step tutorial…
9. Couched Patchwork Tote Bag
If you have 5″ scraps or left over charm pack squares then you can easily make this bag. You will also need some left over thick ply wool. It’s a nice size for taking to the market, and I use mine all the time. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
10. Charm Square Tote Bag
Another tote bag using 5″ charm squares or you can cut your own 5″ squares from your stash. The padded handle makes this a comfortable bag to wear. Make it for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family. This is a really nice way to use up those 5″ squares, and this tote bag is quick and easy to make. Go to step-by-step tutorial…
Eloise Erwin says
I don’t have a website so I hope this reaches you. A few years back it was popular to have a board covered with fabric and ribbons to hold pictures, notes etc. above your desk. My mom was retired and she kept snip-its and pictures on a table near her chair. I literally made some fabric that blended with her decor and made her a board to hang on the wall beside her chair and above a small table. She loved it and used it a lot for bills, letters, and cards she received from friends.
I know this isn’t as popular as it once was, but I was proud that she used it so much.
Alanda says
That sounds lovely Eloise, do you have a picture of it? We could perhaps do a tutorial on making one of these boards. 🙂
Susan says
Oh that would be great!
Oma Ledford says
About 2o years ago I had one of these over my desk /sewing table. I filled it with little momentos, special interest items. Old patterns, Odds and ends of needlework my grandmothers had made. Wonder what I did with all those little things? Will have to go looking for them. Thanks for the reminder
Mary says
I have two young granddaughters who are doing this at the moment. Really enjoying making their board from chosen fabrics.
Patsy Daniels says
My daughter was in kindergarten and they made a fabric cover board and I still use it!! That was several years ago now she’s a teacher so that will tell you maybe how many years it was !!!
Jutta Stone says
Oh, loved those. They were padded with Criss-crossed ribbons all over them attached with thumb tacks.
Susie says
Thanks for the cool ideas! I have so much extra fabric. I’m not a quilter but I make “stuff” and collect odd fabric. Plus I save old clothes that aren’t good enough to pass on. I love the crumb quilt square idea. Thank you so much!
Alanda says
The crumb quilting technique is great fun. There is no need to think too hard with it as you don’t need to calculate anything or measure. I love it.
Sandy Thomas says
It is addicting making crumb blocks.
Alanda Craft says
It certainly is Sandy. 🙂
Deborah says
These are great ideas that I will keep in mind for after I finish the care blankets I make for Christmas & my granddaughters graduation quilt (still mulling specifics of that). Thanks
Alanda says
You can check out more of our easy sewing projects here Deborah – https://www.alandacraft.com/2018/06/18/quick-and-easy-sewing-projects-for-beginners/
patricia savoie says
love quilting
Soli says
Thanks for sharing.
Miriam says
I nade one of those board to hang pictures on it out of left over drop ceiling boards. Covered with fabric , took large zig zag to section off put eye hooks into it and hung on wall.
Alanda says
That’s a great idea Miriam. Thank you for sharing your project idea with us. 🙂
Brenda Taylor says
What a great idea. Thank you for sharing
Laura says
Every little, tinniest scrap I save. I have a grocery bag taped to my cutting table & toss all scraps into it…even just slivers from trimming blocks. When I’ve accumulated several bags I make a square out of heavy fabrics, sew 2 together & stuff with scraps. Donate to local animal shelter for cat or dog beds. Shelter loves them because they are washable.
Alanda says
What a great idea Laura, thank you for sharing this with us. We make no-knit scarves from our smaller scraps that are too small to use for crumb quilting, but I love the idea of making cat and dog beds from the scraps.
Flower Anne says
Thanks, but my scraps are really teeny tiny, normally less than 6 or 7 cm square, and smaller…. any ideas for really tiny bits?
Alanda says
Did you click through to the crumb quilting tutorial? You can use very small pieces for that method. Otherwise I would be using them for a collage type thing. So you place your bits of fabric onto a fusible, overlapping each piece slightly, then iron on and then free motion quilt over the pieces.
Nikki Timberlake says
Laura says
Every little, tinniest scrap I save. I have a grocery bag taped to my cutting table & toss all scraps into it…even just slivers from trimming blocks. When I’ve accumulated several bags I make a square out of heavy fabrics, sew 2 together & stuff with scraps. Donate to local animal shelter for cat or dog beds. Shelter loves them because they are washable.
Alanda Craft says
What a lovely way to use up those scraps Nikki. The animals and the staff will certainly appreciate you thoughtfulness. 🙂
Cheryl says
Love your “10 ways to use up fabric scraps”, but I can’t find the tutorial on number 10 “Charm squares tote bag.”
Would it be possible to send me the tutorial or how to find it.
Thank you
Cheryl
Alanda Craft says
I’ve added the link now Cheryl. Thanks for letting us know. Also just going to put the link here as well to save you having to look for it in the post: https://www.alandacraft.com/2014/09/29/super-cute-moda-charm-square-tote-bag-tutorial/
donna ferris says
I took all my larger scraps and made napkins… I am trying to go green and have quit buying paper towels. These napkins will be used instead of paper towels.
Alanda Craft says
Great idea Donna!
Loretta says
These are all great scrap-buster project ideas. Thanks 🙂
Paula says
I’m sorry but there were so many pop up ads especially one with a cutting device that obscured 1/3 of the iPhone screen that I gave up.
Phyllis Geddes says
Hi you talk about layered cake squares what do you mean by that
Alanda Craft says
Layer Cakes are packs of 10″ x 10″ precut squares of fabric. Search for “Moda Layer Cakes” in Google and you will see what we mean. (And if you want to cut your own you can check out our tutorial here: https://www.alandacraft.com/2018/11/30/cut-10-layer-cake-squares/