Greetings, Sewcialists! Morgan here, kicking off Scraptember. The theme this month is simple: use those fabric scraps that we all have to sew up something beautiful and useful!
Creating projects from scraps is a fantastic (and cheap!) way to get creative with colors, textures and shapes. Here are a few of my inspirations for this month:
These tops from OAOA have cool pieced sections inset in simple garments.
A tank like this would be great for larger scraps and would work well with a pattern like the Wiksten or Tiny Pocket tanks that so many of us have in our pattern arsenal.
This Sass & Bide top plays with interesting trims in between larger blocks of color and print and would look great in a woven or knit.
Sewing scrap garments can be as experimental or as simple as you like. If you enjoy the structure of using a pattern, consider using scrap pieces to sew up one of these:
Seamster Pattern’s Yellowtail Tank
Finally, one of my favorite ways to sew with scraps is by making undies! Why not use Scraptember as an excuse to crank out some useful and cute new underthings for yourself or your loved ones? Our very own Gillian got Scraptember jump-started by making a undies out of her knit scraps.
I’ll be back soon with more inspiration! In the meantime, please do share your scrappy makes in the Sewcialist Flickr pool if you’d like to be included in the end-of-month round-ups. Feel free to add #scraptember hashtag if and when you post anywhere else in sewing blog land.
And share: what are your favorite scrap-busting projects and patterns?
I’m looking forward to this motivation to use up scraps! I’ve been trying to be better about throwing out scraps that are too small to be useful, but keeping the ones that are bigger in a more organised location (aka. not just thrown on the floor for months!) Obviously I”m really enjoying making undies, but I also like saving knits for contrast bands or colour blocking. Now to just sew some of the things I have in my mind! 😉
Have you ever seen Tasia’s scrap storage system? She does it by color, which sounds right up your alley: http://sewaholic.net/sorting-scrap-fabric/
Excellent tip on using scraps for contrast!
Anytime I can combine crazy fabric, I love it!
Yep, time to go wild!
love the piecing in that first pic! i always worry about looking too crafty when combining fabrics, but it’s definitely fun to use up those small, otherwise unusable, bits. can’t wait to see what people come up with!
Isn’t that cool?? I think the almost-monochromatic piecing is really working on those shirts.
What a great theme! I’ve been giving my cotton scraps too small to use to our library craft program over the summer, but they are full up now 😉 I’ll have to use some of the larger bits to try out some patterns in the stash. Hmmm. Got me thinking!
That’s a great idea. I brought in some of my larger scraps to a sewing class I taught recently and felt unburdened! I hope you enjoy experimenting this month.
I’ll admit I’m a bit of a hoarder– if it’s large enough to possibly sew something out of, I have a hard time throwing scraps away! I have been tossing around making some undies, though. So maybe this would be a good month to try that. (Trying not to overdo it since I also have a winter coat to start!)
Me too, Becky! I’ve been looking around for a textile recycle drop off near me, too, because it would be easier to get rid of unusable scraps if I could find a non-landfill option. I think undies might be the perfect in-between project when you want a little break from your winter coat!
Great pattern suggestions!! Thank you so much!! That yellow tail cami is looking PERF for my knit scraps!
Very cool! I’d love to see it if you make it up!
I tend to make shell tank tops for under cardigans and underwear with scraps. If its something really comfy, I make a PJs dress, too. I like having a “dress” that’s actually PJs so if I answer the door, I don’t look hobo-esque. The rest of my pjs are old tshirts stolen from my husband and quilting cotton pants made by my mother, the combinations are interesting to say the least.
Those sound like great scrap projects! I have hierarchies of PJs too – I like to wear boxer-style shorts but my first attempts were incredibly short and unfit to wear in public (and after two years, they’re pretty much in shreds). I made two more recently and (misguidedly?) feel ok leaving the house in them!
My scrap bin could definitely use this kind of challenge! I think it would feel so good not to let them go to waste. Thanks for the awesome inspiration!!
I hear ya – my scrap bin is bursting. It’d be great to have you join in, Margo!
Brill inspiration, Morgan! I’m definitely joining in with this one.
This Style Arc pattern basically is that pieced tank, if anyone wanted something ready-drafted: http://www.stylearc.com.au/stylearc/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=8&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=701&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=45
Awesome, Katie! That pattern is super cool. I’m thinking there’s some Style Arc in my future…
Thinking that maybe this KwikSew top could be a useful starting point… not sure if the result would be too much though!
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing that pattern. I think it all depends on the scraps you start with and your threshold for print/color/texture mixing!
Oh, I love this idea! I’ve recently been forming a plan to try a technique I read about in Natalie Chanin’s books: string-quilting. I’m going to try my own technique of making “fabric” out of scraps, then using the “fabric” to make a regular garment as with any normal piece of fabric. Maybe a deadline will make me get it done!
Have you thought about starting an exchange for scraps? I might have colors other people could use, and vice versa. In fact, I’d love to get my hands on blue scraps. I’ve been on a blue kick lately.
How exciting! I love the idea of making your own fabric from scraps. AND I love the idea of a scrap exchange! Do you have any thoughts on what sort of platform would be most useful?
Gosh, I have no idea. Yeah, how would people exchange scraps easily? People could do local exchanges of fabric, like CraigsList for fabric.
Everyone get scrappy!
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