What to do with all that unused fabric?? [Archive] - Embroidables

sew blessed

11-12-2007, 03:46 PM

:confused: Does anyone have suggestions for what to do with unused fabric, scraps, etc.? I was thinking along the lines of 1. projects 2. donations
Here are a few of my ideas
1. PROJECTS
-quilts (obviously)
-scrapbooks, embelishments
-hair scrunchies
-personalized placemat for child

2.DONATIONS
-make items to donate to children's hospital (I enjoyed the things that were donated to the children's hospital at Christmas last year. Santa snuck in while baby Stephen & I slept. It's amazing how much of a difference this thoughtfullnes makes when you have a sick child in the hospital.)
-donate unused fabric to senior centers
-church groups for projects
-schools
-quilts for the homeless, or disaster survivors

Does anyone know of any place to send donations?

Honeybee

11-12-2007, 04:50 PM

Project Linus. They make quilts for hospitalized children

Deedles

11-12-2007, 05:15 PM

All of the above. My stash just grows and grows the more I use it. And you know....there's no law that says you have to cut into every piece of fabric you buy! It's OK to just look at it and pet it! :D

rubiesnana

11-12-2007, 05:34 PM

My fabric donations go to the seinor center.

SewAddicted

11-12-2007, 06:34 PM

All of the above responses. But I also like to use them for stitch outs. The stitch outs can then be used in a frame or as a patch or in a quilt.

Pam

pcsews

11-12-2007, 06:53 PM

My sons Art teacher sent home a letter at the beginning of school of things that they could use if you wanted to donate things.....fabric scraps was on that list. I just remember this when I read this post....I'm gonna have to go thru my scraps now....

pcsews

11-12-2007, 06:54 PM

Just thought of something else....I'm saving scraps of the material from the dresses that I have made my DD from the last 4 years. I plan on making a quilt with those pieces.

rodneytb

11-12-2007, 07:13 PM

I use scraps for test stitchouts and save some for applique. As soon as you get rid of it, you will need it!

rosebud314

11-12-2007, 07:54 PM

I donated mine, before we made our big move, to the local senior center. They make quilts for underprivileged folks. It was a real blessing to me to be able to help them out.

Roberta Rowden

11-12-2007, 09:53 PM

Just thought of something else....I'm saving scraps of the material from the dresses that I have made my DD from the last 4 years. I plan on making a quilt with those pieces.
Oh my Gosh! she will love it forever when she gets older. Even those quilts with pieces from grandma, grandpam cousin, mom etc. put into a quilt with writings about the people who wore them. I've heard alot of talk about these and they are very much loved and appreciated gifts that are cherished. My mom and I used to make quilts for the homeless and poeple living in shelters trying to get their lives back on track. Anyway keeps them warm on the long winter nights.

rosebud314

11-12-2007, 09:59 PM

I don't quilt myself, that's why I gave my fabric to someone who does. I love quilts though. Maybe someday:rolleyes: when I have free time.

Terrie

11-12-2007, 10:01 PM

Roberta Rowden

11-12-2007, 10:05 PM

Also, please call the senior centers or where ever you;d like to take them because alot of them don't have machines to do anything with them. They end up with many boxes of pieces of material not knowing what their going to do with it. Just a heads up. Mom and I used to take scrapes, and make scrap quilts. The local community center collected it for us via a write-up in our local paper about us 2 "Quilting Ladies" OMG what a turn out, we were picking up boxes and boxes for a couple weeks. We have tons now. Before mom went to Heaven she bought all the material from our local liquidation store, who had gotten it from many different fabric stores. I tell you there is a bedroom full of clear boxes of material. Hey, its labeled too as far as, solids, prints, calicos and flannel and baby. And yes the bedroom is completely full.

Terrie

11-12-2007, 10:05 PM

Oh my Gosh! she will love it forever when she gets older. Even those quilts with pieces from grandma, grandpam cousin, mom etc. put into a quilt with writings about the people who wore them. I've heard alot of talk about these and they are very much loved and appreciated gifts that are cherished.

Yes, the quilt with dresses from when she was young will mean so much.... I will have to do that for my girls too. I love that idea.

My mom and I used to make quilts for the homeless and poeple living in shelters trying to get their lives back on track. Anyway keeps them warm on the long winter nights.

What an absolutely wonderful thing to do! God bless you!

I was thinking it would be really nice to piece together quilts for the nursing homes. So many of those seniors in those facilities are forgotten by their busy families and just all alone. My heart goes out to them, and I'd love to do something for them.

sew blessed

11-12-2007, 10:08 PM

Project Linus. They make quilts for hospitalized children

Can you tell us more about this project linus? Do they have a website or a phone# or address? If you know it, I'd love to check it out sometime!

Terrie

11-12-2007, 10:24 PM

I tell you there is a bedroom full of clear boxes of material. Hey, its labeled too as far as, solids, prints, calicos and flannel and baby. And yes the bedroom is completely full.

OMG! I'd go completely bananas! (I need a 12-step program.)

T-Bags & Rags

11-13-2007, 03:25 PM

If you have leftover fleece:

1. Cut it into strips and braid it.

2. Tie off with solid knots.

3. Great for dog toys.

PetSmart sells these for $3.49 each and they're recommended by vets for keeping plaque from building up on the pups teeth!

MackandMorgan's Mom

11-14-2007, 08:25 AM

My intentions were to use them for applique...however I cannot seem to figure out how to applique so they are sitting around collecting dust and Morgan loves to pull them out and drag them around the house...then I have to run behind her picking them up!!! Some I took to school and used them for paint stick puppets for Reader's Theater...check with local schools and see if they would like them...we love anything free :)

sew blessed

11-14-2007, 02:41 PM

SewCrazy

11-19-2007, 02:39 PM

Someday I plan to make my daughter a quilt from her old clothes that are partially stained. Someday...

sew blessed

11-19-2007, 10:59 PM

I love that idea... I would love to do that too... Maybe for my Grandkids...:D

dramaw

11-20-2007, 02:27 PM

I store my unused Fabric in those plastic containers with lids. I get the see through ones...I use it for appliques,,,crazy quilts, in the hoop quilts etc..., I do hoard scraps...can't bring myself to through one snippet away...

Mabel

11-20-2007, 03:20 PM

I save ALLLLL my scraps, sometimes I think I should really just toss the tiny stuff, and just save a big larger pieces. Anyway, I use my knit scraps for the center section of little boys' boxer briefs; I use any print scraps for applique, or quilt squares :) I use pieces that are too little for any sewing project to stuff things that need stuffing :)

kurthco

11-20-2007, 08:59 PM

applique. Just get a larger rubbermaid container and just keep storing.
You just never know when you need just a small piece!

momma4anna

11-21-2007, 06:24 AM

Here is the Link for Project LinusNational headquarters with links to all chapters.http://www.projectlinus.org/index.shtml
Link to Free Patterns http://www.projectlinus.org/links.shtml

Thnaks for the link. Looks like a wonderful organization. When my son and I were in an accident several years ago, some stranger took a small quilt out of his/her car and gave it to my son to hold while he was in the ambulance waiting for me to cut out of the car. Never did find out who it came from, but my son still cherishes it to this day, almost 8 years later.

mdquilter

11-21-2007, 06:29 AM

Thnaks for the link. Looks like a wonderful organization. When my son and I were in an accident several years ago, some stranger took a small quilt out of his/her car and gave it to my son to hold while he was in the ambulance waiting for me to cut out of the car. Never did find out who it came from, but my son still cherishes it to this day, almost 8 years later.

This is a wonderful organization and I have donated several quilts to this group. your experience is what these groups hope for, comforting a child in a difficult situation.

Sew 'N Sane

11-25-2007, 09:19 PM

I just took a bunch of my scraps to a young lady who is going to college and is working on her Interior Design degree. She has to make a book of 100 fabrics and no two fabrics can be the same fiber content. That's a very difficult project for someone to complete when they are a starving college student. Even buying 1/8th yards of fabric, it would still be very expensive.

I also donate bags and bags of scraps to my local chapter of the American Sewing Guild. We have several charity sewing projects that we do each year and they love the great fabrics that I'm able to donate. One of our projects was making toiletry (sp?) bags to give to a women's shelter. We were able to make quite a few bags without having to spend money on anything but the zippers.

It's nice to see the fabric used to help someone who is less fortunate.

fun2sew

11-26-2007, 04:28 PM

I donate to our church sewing club

idesign

11-26-2007, 06:03 PM

Try to find a local quilt club that takes donations and makes them into quilts for charity.

StitchinGrandma

11-27-2007, 08:26 AM

Does anyone know of any place to send donations?
Domestic abuse shelters are a great place to send any type donations and so many forget about those places. So many women are in terribly abusive relationships and have to leave/escape during the day when the abuser is working, or in the middle of the night while the abuser is sleeping that they have to leave almost everything they own just to get out of that house. Once they have had counseling and are ready, they move out and into their own place to live with very little and the shelters have donated items they can give to them but some would welcome fabric and items like that to make things out of.

Another thought is that maybe another person who sews would like what you have and you'd like something they have so you could swap and both be happy with "new" fabric to use.

alissa

11-28-2007, 09:13 AM

I like to do test stitches and then you can make a book of the designs you have.

sydamen

11-28-2007, 09:22 AM

Tanks There are many gods ideas

phins_jazy

11-28-2007, 09:24 AM

Scraps? We're supposed to have scraps? LOL I try to use up every little bit of fabric I have left. I use it it make headbands, or little covered buttons, hairbows, appliques....you name it!

twin mom

12-09-2007, 06:48 PM

How about checking with your local school. I have donated scraps to each of my children's teachers, where they have been used for a myriad of art projects, quilts, white board erasers, Christmas tree ornaments, or whatever. Teachers are amazingly creative, and frequently in need of art supplies. I would check with the school to make sure they have use for it first, though.

blessedw2

12-09-2007, 07:05 PM

Great Ideas! I just keep throwing them in a box, and occasionally toss them!

nanamcd

01-05-2008, 12:21 PM

I'm going to be less inclined to pitch little pieces...you all are so careful to use up everything and waste nothing. That is such a good way to live life, especially in these days of disposable everything. We have taken to recycling every possible piece of plastic, glass, metal, and paper, but I'm going to resolve this new year to creatively use up fabric scraps! Thanks for the great ideas and for turning that particular light bulb on in my head!

Alligator

01-05-2008, 07:04 PM

windwillow

01-27-2008, 05:10 AM

nanamcd

01-27-2008, 05:29 AM

I have ALOT of decorator fabrics, some scrapes and some large pieces. What to do with them? I have made many window treatments, pillows, etc but have alot of fabric and not really sure what to do with it. does anyone know of anywhere to donate that?

Don't know about donating it as fabric, but we have several nursing/convalescent homes in our area that are thrilled to receive simple walker or wheelchair bags - basically a flat tote bag with short strap handles at each end; stitch one end of each handle butted against each side seam, then stitch velcro to the loose end of the handles and also to the inside of the bag against the side seams. That makes the bags easy to attach to various wheelchairs or walkers. Heavier upholstery or decorator fabrics make great, sturdy, and attractive bags for the seniors.

nanamcd

01-27-2008, 05:43 AM

Don't know about donating it as fabric, but we have several nursing/convalescent homes in our area that are thrilled to receive simple walker or wheelchair bags - basically a flat tote bag with short strap handles at each end; stitch one end of each handle butted against each side seam, then stitch velcro to the loose end of the handles and also to the inside of the bag against the side seams. That makes the bags easy to attach to various wheelchairs or walkers. Heavier upholstery or decorator fabrics make great, sturdy, and attractive bags for the seniors.

I can't get my post to edit, but I wanted to add a link to one style of wheelchair caddy. It always helps me to SEE :eek: rather than try to picture in my head. http://www.make-it-easy.com/wheel2.html

artsiegirl

01-27-2008, 07:14 AM

I like to applique as well as everything else so I never throw a scrap away. The little ones make great designs on post cards and I always do a test sew on new designs so there isn't much left, then I make little things to go in my miniature doll houses. I found my friend throwing her scraps away, when I ask for them she thought I had lost my mind. For Christmas she received two pillows made from her scraps that matched her sewing room. Boy was she ever surprised, Think I made a believer out of her.

What a cool idea! I am horrible at saving things, especially in my crafty life...but you've given me some neat ideas here. Unfortunately for you, you may have lost a scrap supplier when you gave your friend those gifts.;)

By the way...I love your reason for editing this post. I didn't even know we could do that! You guys are too smart:rolleyes:

NJMo

01-29-2008, 08:36 AM

Try www.warmheartswarmbabies.org. I'm in that group and we make blankets and preemie items (including burial outfits) for all sizes up to 4T. Sometimes we need only a 12 inch square to make a burial blanket or a tear hankie for a mom who has lost a baby. My son was two pounds at birth and his first blanket was a smaller than a man's hankerchief. We take scraps, squares and leftover fabrics. We have lots of volunteers who piece quilts, outfits, etc.

NJMo

01-29-2008, 08:38 AM

Oh, forgot to mention above -- we also make tote bags (aka diaper bags) so we are ALWAYS looking for heavier fabric. Smaller pieces are okay as we make quilt block bags. By the way, we charge nothing for anything we make and last year we gave away over 77,000 items.

Becca

02-06-2008, 07:37 AM

My Grandma taught me to sew and to use every scrap of fabric and even thread. She would use them to stuff pillows or use them for the inner layering of her quilts. She made me a cloth doll and it was stuffed with threads and scrap fabrics. I will never forget her and all her wisdom.
I also give to the many groups everyone has mentioned. Grandma would definately approve!!!

Snyder.crafting

02-06-2008, 07:48 AM

:confused: Does anyone have suggestions for what to do with unused fabric, scraps, etc.? I was thinking along the lines of 1. projects 2. donations
.............

Wow, there are a lot of great responses to your post. I did not read through every single one, so I apologize now if I am repeating ideas.
Projects:
- sew together square-ish scraps to form a funky looking fabric and then turn that 'fabric' into a kids paint/craft apron or a pair of crazy pants for playing outside, etc. You do not need to sew the scraps together as precisely as a quilt because it is for a play/work outfit. I got this idea when I bought a crazy looking pair of capri's from Thailand for my DD to play in. The squares are all crazy colors and prints and they are not perfectly square.
Donations:
- My best recommendation is to open your yellow pages and look up assisted living/elder care homes and call them to ask if they accept fabric donations. My grandmother is in a home and her neighbor across the hall makes lovely hand made gifts (cards, table runners, etc) out of scraps of fabric.

Roberta Rowden

06-29-2009, 01:03 AM

Another thing my mom and I did was make lap quilts for the ladies at an assisted living center for Mothers Day. Small ones so they didn't get caught up in the wheels of their wheel chairs. One little woman asked what we were there for, and how much were they. Oh my gosh! I told her we just made them as gifts for them, she chose her lap quilt and got up to give me a hug. It went from giving a lap quilt to my moms friend and she got so much attention from it she told some of the ladies that we could make some for them too...well we made 22 for all the women there. After we left the men wanted to know why they weren't offered any; she told them that they had to wait until Fathers Day...thank goodness there were only 18 men. lol When we came back on Fathers Day, the men were waiting for us in the dining room! LOL It was alot of work but I'm glad we did it. And I'm sure so were they. Any retirement center or community center would love to get them. Happy Quilting. Roberta

janyse

06-30-2009, 11:30 PM

roberta
Love your idea about lap rug's for mother an father's dayfor elderly, at the moment am doing rugs for sick children to keep while in hosp and take home thinking about doing some for premmie babies, we do get some elderly ladies in n/homes to knit booties ,hats they lo
ve it and the like to help janyse.

chartwell

07-10-2009, 07:31 PM

When my girls was little my mom would make them dresses. She kept alot of the scraps. So when my oldest Daughter got married I made her a double wedding ring quilt. I used alot of those scraps and she loves it.She remembers some of the fabric also.

Granny313

07-14-2009, 09:09 PM

My grandmother did the same for my sister and me. I could recognize ALOT of the scraps. When my sister died, I did get her quilt. It is very precious to me.... Also, my mother used to wear flannel pj's all her life. I do believe that when she died she still had the ones from 50 years ago. She even kept some of the pj pants that my daddy wore that were along time ago. When she died, I kept them all and have been working on a quilt for my girls from them. It is a surprise, they do not know. Maybe I will finish it before I die (LOL)