Posts Tagged scrap friendly projects
Scraphappy February
Posted by tialys in Arts and Crafts, Miscellaneous Crafts on February 15, 2020
This month I’ve used some scraps and managed to increase the stock, just slightly, in the most sadly neglected of my three Etsy shops.
I made a few needle cases a while back, gave some as gifts and took some to sell at a couple of the fundraisers for the dog refuge I support. I had three left which I stuck in a drawer and forgot about until I came across them again a couple of months ago. I thought I might as well put them in my shop so I did and sold a couple quite quickly. Thinking to follow up on that success, I thought I’d make some more as they are the perfect size to use up scraps – albeit not the teeny tiny scraps. The biggest piece of fabric you need is about 11 x 8 inches.
The first one I made with a precious scrap of Echino fabric by Kokka. The quilting is done with the outer, wadding and lining, then the pocket and felt ‘pages’ added afterwards. Then the whole thing is edged with binding in the same way as you would a quilt.
Unfortunately, I messed up the first one by not mitring the corners neatly enough so – what a shame – I’m going to keep that for myself as the little needle book I bought ages ago is looking a little tatty and is only big enough to hold needles. I want something to also put scissors, etc. in for when I take small hand sewing projects downstairs occasionally (my workroom is upstairs).
The second one is also Japanese Echino fabric – another scrap from the same original yardage.
All the bindings, interior fabric, felt and trimmings are also leftovers from other projects.
The last – for the moment, but I have more plans – is the Llamas in Love. Llamas are ‘a thing’ at the moment – I think they are the new flamingos – and this was a scrap of organic cotton I had left over from a bag project.
It’s fun trying to find coordinating fabrics from the scrap bin to make it look as if that’s the way you planned it all along.
I really enjoy making these although I would prefer a quicker way to bind them as I’m hand-stitching the binding down on the inside as I do for quilts and it takes time which doesn’t really make them cost effective. Any suggestions?
Still, it’s using scraps and that can only be a good thing can’t it.
Scraphappy Day is organised by Kate & Gun for anybody who wants to make new things from scraps of any kind – doesn’t have to be fabric or yarn. Here’s a list of participants – both regular and occasional – if you want to have a look at the sort of things you can do with scraps.
Contact Kate (first name on the list) if you want to join in.
Kate Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn,(me) Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline, Sue L
and Sunny
First Scraphappy Day Of 2020
Posted by tialys in Arts and Crafts, needle felting on January 15, 2020
A new year, a new scrap friendly project – and a very simple one it is too.
If you’ve been reading my recent posts you’ll know I’m trying out needle felting again.
Before the French postal service did away with their economy international tariff, I used to sell French linen of the sort that is used to make tea towels. I still have lots of scraps and offcuts and sometimes use them for various crafting purposes.
Most people seem to use a foam pad underneath their work or even a sort of brush thingy – these protect your work surfaces, support your work in progress and, usually, stop you stabbing yourself with the stiletto like barbed needle that is used for needle felting.
When I was doing my research into needle felting and deciding whether to to take the plunge again after my not too successful efforts a few years ago, I spotted several people using hessian bags filled with rice and, as that seems more eco friendly than foam or a plastic brush, I thought I’d put those pieces of linen into use.
The linen is quite a coarse weave so I think it will work well.
I just cut two squares, approx. 12 x 8 inches, overlocked the edges, leaving a gap to fill with about 1.5kg of the cheapest rice I could find, and sewed up the gap.
Scraphappy Day is organised by Kate & Gun for anybody who wants to make new things from scraps of any kind – doesn’t have to be fabric or yarn. Here’s a list of participants – both regular and occasional – if you want to have a look at the sort of things you can do with scraps.
Contact Kate (first name on the list) if you want to join in.
Kate (me!), Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline, Sue L
and Sunny
Scraphappy Day October – A Close Run Thing
Posted by tialys in Arts and Crafts on October 15, 2019
Can the 15th of the month really have come round again? What with striving to get all my crochet squares done to keep up with the crochet along, and trying to get Mr. Tialys’s shirt finished so that I can start on making stuff for Christmas, it took me a bit bit by surprise.
It’s not as if I’m short of scraps as you can see below.
But I had not transformed anything from either the cotton fabric or jersey scrap bins nor even the selvedge bin this month.
I hate to disappoint however.
Remember the shirt I’m making for Mr. Tialys out of Liberty of London tana lawn?
Well it has nifty little pockets in the collar for stiffeners – you know those little plastic doodahs that slide in and keep the collar of a more formal shirt looking neat.
Like so
I was chuffed to bits with those little bits of tailoring – the thread is such a good match you can’t even tell those little diagonal slots are there at the end of the collar but I’m going to show you anyway.
So, instead of using ordinary plastic I wanted to make these collar stiffeners a bit different so that they would be instantly recognisable by Mr. T. as belonging to this particular shirt.
I searched the house hoping to find an old plastic folder the girls might have used for school as I often used to buy them ones with patterns on – spoilt rotten they were – but I had no luck. Then I caught sight of a store fidelity card in my daughter’s room which was made of nice thick plastic as used in credit cards and the like. So, I had a lightbulb moment.
I had a look in my purse and, yes, I still had it.
I don’t have much occasion to shop in the actual Liberty store in London at the moment and I have Liberty fabrics galore in my stash so can’t think I’ll be using it any time soon even if it’s still valid.
So, the answer was obvious
I managed to cut them around the Liberty name and the crest for this shirt and still have some of the card left to use for future shirts – and there will be some because, strangely, I really love making them.
So, no fabric scraps used this month and the jury is probably still out as to whether an unused store card counts as scrap but you can’t say I didn’t try.
Scraphappy Day is organised by Kate & Gun for anybody who wants to make new things from scraps of any kind – doesn’t have to be fabric or yarn. Here’s a list of participants – both regular and occasional – if you want to have a look at the sort of things you can do with scraps.
Contact Kate (first name on the list) if you want to join in.
Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn(me), Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.