Wee Scraps…

January 28, 2014 by sewruth 20 Comments

Here are some ideas to use up those extra bits of fabric – we call it ‘material’ in Ireland. I realised that I have many uses for scraps from the smallest to larger bits so I’ve had to split the posts otherwise you would have still been reading this single one by next Tuesday.

Narrow strips

If you have £125 to spend on a strip of silk fabric that wraps around your wrist or holds your ponytail in place then you don’t need to make a twilly! If however, you don’t have that kind of money but do have thin scraps of fabric left over from a project, then you can make a matching piece of fabric jewellery; a handbag or hair accessory; or tie it just about anywhere you like. And you got it practically free!

 

 

Materials needed:

Two pieces of 3″ X 33″ (8 X 100 cm) (Hermes twilly size) or as close as you can get from your scraps.

Sew the two strips right sides together with 1/2″ (0.8mm) seam allowances

This is a useful way to use the edge of fabric where you have cut the pieces on the folded edge. And of course, you don’t have to point the ends – you can leave them square.

Can also be used as watch straps too. All you need is a watch with bars. Thread your twilly through the bars; wrap around your wrist 3 or 4 times; tie off and tuck the ends in.

Twilly made from animal print jersey, so  just a strip of fabric, no sewing as there’s no fraying – how easy is that?

Watch strap/twilly made from iguana: folded strip of fabric sewn and turned. Ends sewn closed

Narrow twilly to match V1247 top fastened with snaps.

 

Even if you don’t have enough scraps for a fully fledged twilly, you can take the other option and wrap uneven, short scraps around cheap bangles.

Holding the end, start the wrapping making sure the strips don’t unravel. Continue wrapping all the way around the bangle, overlapping the start point. Secure the finish with hand stitches or even glue.

Works best with an unfraying fabric. If your fabric is prone to fraying, just press one edge under and keep this folded edge uppermost during the wrapping. Tuck the final edge under too for extra neatness.

However, a fraying tweed or boucle might just look great with the threads loose.

Belts

The Button belt

Measure your waist (over the dress or garment) and add 3-4″ (8-10cm).

Cut two strips the depth of your desired belt plus seam allowances; OR, one strip, doubled and folded. This would usually be 2″ (5cm) for a narrow belt.

One strip of robust interfacing, or two strips of lighter weight interfacing. If you are using fusible, this is also a great way to use up all the odd shaped scraps of interfacing. Just iron them on, overlapping the edges and trim the excess off.

Two buttons.

The real benefit of this type of belt is that you start off wearing it at the tightest fit and as the day wears on you can move the opening to the second, looser button and still be accessorised! It also requires no buckle or fancy haberdashery – just some spare buttons.

Of course the easiest belt is a again a folded strip of fabric (I don’t even interface this) with a thread through buckle. Can be tightened or loosened at will. And I often just tuck the loose end into the belt.

I always think that this finishes off an outfit and only takes 30 mins to do.

Then you have the daddy of all belts – the obi – for another day me thinks……

Until then, here’s a few other ideas to use up the smallest bits of fabric…….

Covered buttons, shirt facings, waistband facings and bias binding, pocket handkerchief, cut into shapes and appliqued onto skirts, underwear and pockets.

For bound button holes and trims

Go here for an early tutorial to make a faux fur scarf, hat and boot trims – leftovers from a Paco Peralta jacket.

I hope this has given you some ideas and maybe inspired you to use your scraps instead of throwing them out. Next time, the obi belt tutorial, bias binding and other things to do with small – medium scraps.

Thornberry makes necklaces.

Beth keeps selvedge edges as stabilisers.

Please share in the comments section what you do with scraps so we can add to the list of inspirational stuff to make from scraps. Thanks a lot.