Fabric scraps: 2 ideas

If you're like me, you try to recycle/upcycle whatever you can. In my case, it comes from not having much in the first place, and really having to adopt the "waste not, want not" attitude.

So here are two quick, easy, and not terribly original ideas for using up those scraps of fabric that are just a little bit too small.

Idea #1:

Fabric necklaces.

As I'm sure you're aware, there's no rocket science to this craft. Just braid together strips of fabric that you like to a desired length. Fold the ends over, stitch, and trim. I stitched on ties (which you can't see here) in a coordinating fabric. That way, I can wear it either short or long. Then I made a little flower out of another strip of denim, and sewed a shell button to its center. Ta-da! The nice thing about this is that you can make them to suit your own tastes. You can also use a fabric that doesn't fray as much for a crisper look. I just prefer the organic, sort of rustic feel.

Okay, and Idea #2:

Fabric book-covers.

 

Remember when you were in school and you covered your textbooks with brown paper bags? To make these fabric book-covers, you're using that exact same method. Just take a rectangle of fabric, lay your book on top (open), and mark where you need to fold. Remember to fold the top and bottom in first, if needed, THEN fold in the sides. I used a running stitch; one straight across the top, one straight across the bottom. Remember to measure the width of the fabric with your book closed. Remember that? How you'd go to close the book and the back cover would pop out of the flap because you never measured the paper with the book closed. So close the book, and use a pencil or whatever to mark where your flaps will fold over. I went back later with a fabric pen (best things ever!) and drew a free-handed design, but you could leave it plain or embroider it or...you get the picture. The possibilities are endless. Slide your book in and--instant style! (If you have the time or desire, making a cover for all your books looks AMAZING on a shelf. The fabric adds a special texture and dynamic that paper just cannot. You could even make them with all the same fabric, which is a great way of tying all those mix-matched covers together.)

There you have it. DON'T THROW THOSE SCRAPS AWAY!! Or I'll find you.

Seriously.