How can I reuse or recycle scraps of fabric?
Proof that great minds think alike. An email from Lisa Chown:
We are a manufacturer of knitted acrylic accessories and end up having loads of waste fabric, from the shaping of our products, is there a way that this can be recycled rather than send it to the landfill?
And another one the next day from Katrina:
How can I recycle all the fabric remnants I have lying around?? When I worked in an Interior Design shop in London, I know a charity would come and pick up the fabric waste for recycling. I don’t know who to contact…does anyone have any ideas??
And I also did some sewing on Monday night and had some tiny scraps left over and thought the same thing.
So any ideas? Fabric recycling ideas would be best for Lisa and Katrina since I suspect they’ll have more than can be reused – but what about reuse suggestions for people like me? The scraps I produced were too small to be used on other projects (even patchwork/quilting) – but I guess they could be used for stuffing or things like that… right?
(Photo by CraigPJ)
Of course, rag rugs come to mind right away. Once, in a craft store, I saw a “machine” that would use long strips of fabric sewn together to scrunch them up into strips of scrunchie looking material which was sewn together to make rugs. Try this link
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/treasure/msg112240477894.html
here it is again in case my html didn’t work:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/treasure/msg112240477894.html
With small amounts of scrap, one might be able to make fabric yarn, as shown here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ihanna/183962989/
There also appear to be many online buyers interested in larger quantities of fabric scraps. For instance: http://www.alibaba.com/manufacturer/14968147/Fabric.html
I have no idea how such large scale transactions would work or what the buyers plan to do with the scraps, but it might be worth some investigation.
Quilts!!!
If you want to make some cash, cut the scraps up into the same size and ebay them, a lot of people will pay for pre-cut quilting squares. If not, you could even just sell a bag at a time.
For larger scraps, quilts are the way to go, but for those smaller pieces that there’s no way you can sew, I’d suggest leaving them out for birds to use for nesting material. Of course this would only work for the scraps of a small individual project, not a large company. For them I’d suggest looking into a recycling program. Cloth makes a great insulator too, so diversifying into that area might be something to consider as well.
I understand that only natural fibres should be left out for nesting material.
I have used tiny scraps to decoupage boxes for storage. Just apply with Modge Podge and a brush. They look like a crazy quilt design and have a nice shiny finish that holds up well.
As for larger amounts of fabric, senior centers and quilting groups look for fabrics for charitable quilting.
Mary
If you have lots (and lots!!)of little bits, maybe you could use them to stuff cushions, or soft toys, if you are into making those sorts of things.
Regarding the e-bay suggestion above, you don’t need to cut the fabric into little bits. Yardage sells nicely on e-bay, even small pieces, as long as you don’t price things too dear. If you’ll have a steady supply, an e-bay store is the way to go as the listing fee is much lower and the listing duration much longer.
Hi Linda,
I am Carol (artsiecl) …..I wonder what the difference is in E-bay and an e-bay store….guess we have to pay more for the ebay store…huh?
email if you like……I have loads of all types of fabric….old denim too…….and loads of decorator fabric something like 30×30 inch pieces ….. I am artsiecl@yahoo.com email if you will…..
Have you got a local “scrap store” that provides schools and youth groups with materials for various craft projects?
I’ve used the one in Nottingham and found material scraps make wonderful beads. Smaller children can make fantastic collages with tiny pieces — particularly is the material is of different weights and fibre.
wasteonline.org has useful info on this including textile banks and charitable organisations. They make the point that your local council’s recycling officer should have information on what’s available locally.
Ask your local charity shops just what they’ll accept. Ask local schools if they can use fabric for textiles classes (do they still have Art & Textiles classes at schools?) I bet primary schools can use scraps for class projects. And Ebay. Seriously. Especially if there are large pieces, but I’ve seen scraps sold online, too.
There is a fabric manufacturer here in Dallas that gives away bags of scraps using Craigslist. They advertise in the FREE section and are specific about when you have to get there. They bag it in 50lb bags of mixed scrap and they do not allow you to sort through the bags.
I’ve been tempted many times to go down and get one because I do a lot of art dolls, but just haven’t done it yet.
Hi Elise,
I used to collect stuff to make dolls (was going to make pillows with doll faces and necklines on them)….tip, you can use pretty lace (heavy cotton and all) from clothing from garage sales. Also you can buy old ultra-suede clothing a light tan and paint or dye it different colors and have lots of variety…….carol ….
artsiecl@yahoo.com
this is a good way to recycled fabric. So it won’t waste money.
If you have enough scraps you can make the haybox/fireless oven that someone suggested under moulded polysterene. I’m living in a country with tailors on every street corner, just desperate to get rid of their scraps, and so I’m about to investigate this idea with the help of an old basket and these scraps.
What i do woth little bits of scrap material is :
#1 Look for ideas on the internet
(Thats how i came to this)
#2 Make bookmarks and to proit off them sell them. Be a Entrupernuer or however you spell that!
if anybody has extra scraps they are intrested in getting rid of , i can use them !!! no smaller peices than 4 x4 please tho , i am helping out with a cancer group making quilts for sick patients …. if anybody is willing to donate email me at
bearbeard@comcast.net
I have plenty, what country are you based in? I am in Ireland !
Hi there I am in Wales, Uk. I do lots of making with friends for charities localy based – hospital, cancer and Wales Air Ambulance plus any others those who come to make support… Anything from cardmaking panels like for quilting upwards can be used…Basically the larger the better! Can also make favor bags etc… Very interested if you’d be good enough to contact me I know we could put items to good use. Also anyfasteners or items that could be used as toppers or for jewellery or embellishments are very seful for our concerns should youknow anyone else? Thanks for posting and reading!
You can put tiny scraps out in the yard for birds to use when they create their nests.
You can scrunch the fabric sinto balls, and either sew them or wrap wires to keep them in that shape. Then you can sew them together to make gorgeous necklace and bracelets, or just connect them to hooks for festive earrings. More detailed instructions on http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fabric_ball_necklace
You can donate them to orphanages around the world.
stuffing cushions etc is the obvious answer
Thank you so much for the above information. I recently started a recycling business making really cute handmade dolls from recycled materials but I do not know where to get a regular supply of unwanted materials. PLEASE PLEASE how can I get the materials you mentioned above. You never know you might even find my dolls on the High Street one day all made of fabric waste.
I have scrap fabrics that I am looking to recycle or sell. Are you still interested in buying some?
Thanks!
Have bags of remenants, but what country are you based in, I am in Ireland.
Sounds lovely, but I am in Ireland, hardly feasible to get them to you, I am guessing you are not based in Ireland, alas.
Hi
Just wondering if your still looking for fabric and lace, as i have load to get rid of at silly prices.
Im looking for scrap fabrics send them my way! seriously! got them on ebay yet?
I have lots of scraps and am looking to get rid of them. Are you interested in buying them still?
Thanks!
ps, if anyone knows where i can get cheap pieces/off cuts of fabrics
please let me know, hard to find in europe.
doochia3 at yahoo dot co dot uk
They can be used to make small bags for gift-giving. I’ve made drawstring bags that I use every Christmas and most birthdays. Sometimes it is fun to see how far a bag can go. They can also be patchworked if the peices are too small for the whole thing. fastenings can be drawstring, button, or whatever stikes your fancy. Also, they can be used to make tote bags, purses and other soft containers and book-covers.
I save really tiny scraps of fabrics and yarns to use as stuffing for toys or stuffed animals, or anything else that needs a bit of padding. Also, whenever I have scraps of lace fabric, I use them to wrap gifts for my best friend, since she uses the fabric to make sculptures.
And, for scrap ribbons and lace strips, I use them to tie up herbs for drying.
have literally loads of offcuts etc
and pieces never used any where in brighton that will take and reuse ?
Depending on size: quilt squares , or keep them in a big jar until you have the need to stuff soemthing
I was in a mechanical supply shop a while ago and they had huge bags of cleanup rags that they were selling. I took a second look – all their ‘rags’ were clean, good quality oddly shaped pieces of corduroy. They had obviously been cut from clothing as some had seams and/or labels but there was no wear and the pieces were nice and large. It was a mystery where they originally came from but I bought a bag and picked thru it for the pieces I wanted then gave the rest to my man for his work shop. I was tempted to keep the whole thing and plan a quilt but the colours were a bit too varied to look good together without a lot of work.
I also like to find a charity shop that sells their silk ties in packets. You can’t pick thru them but for the price you tend to get enough of what you can use that it is worth while. I throw everything I am interested in into the laundry along with a dye magnet sheet* and wash it on a cycle that is a little harsher than what I ever plan to wash a completed project (even if the ties are silk). If the fabric comes out the laundry looking good then I know that it is going to stand up and be worth my efforts to encorporate into a project. Ties and tie shapes can be used as to sew into clothing (dresses, belts, & skirts are the most obvious and popular but I’ve seen a smock top, vests and a bandeau too)
This is really of interest to me. I myself am a textile student and it is quite unbelievable how much waste is produced.
I am currently in discussions about setting up an organisation where scraps and fabrics which would either be put in the bin or sent off to charity shops could be sent to a collection point. I would then hope to have a team of volunteers in place that could help transform these into practical items such as aprons, bedding etc that would then be distributed to charities and people in need or into charity shops where by they can be sold on to make more money.
I hope this would help cut down waste that would end up in a landfill but also be profitable for charities.
I would really appreciate your feedback on this.
Thanks for raising such an important issue.
Natalie
nattyrobertson@hotmail.com
Hi Natty, like the sound of your proposed project. What country are you based in though, I am in Ireland with sacks full of remenants !
Kate is me again in Wales, jsut occurred to me that years ago what first got me into crafting and creating was local store selling small bundles of fabric suitable for projects like small dolls clothes at £1 a bag. Pocket money prices is your key… They shall soon go! The folk I craft with are usually those who can when they can due to ill health themselves… Schools will often be greatful for a free termly supply too!
For really small threads and scraps you can make lace. Start by making a sandwich – lay down a rectangle of water soluble stabilizer then scatter your bits evenly around the stabilizer. Lay a second piece of stabilizer over the top and carefully pin everything in place – lots of pins everywhere so no shifting! Take the sandwich to your sewing machine and start sewing. You can sew in a grid or in loops or in any manner you like but the lines must cross because the stabilizer will be washed away later and the lines of sewing will be the only thing holding your new lace fabric together. As you sew you will sew through your scraps, catching them in your lace and making them part of your new fabric. Be sure you get enough lines of sewing to create a fabric. If you are sewing in a pattern and you don’t want to mess it up with more sewing lines but you need more lines to hold your fabric together solidly, change to invisible thread and sew with that for a while.
After you are finished making your lace you need to soak it for a while until the stabilizer melts. You will have to rinse it a couple times after because the stabilizer stays in the fabric and makes it stiff even after it looks like it is all out.
You can use your new lace as a scarf or an overlay (where it kind of looks like boucle).
Cut patterned pieces into squares/rectangles to wrap gifts instead of wrapping paper.
Just finished a communal rag rugging project using scraps of fabric donated from individuals (old garments), charity shop and local curtain company. http://abscraft.blogspot.com/
In my research, I also found out about several other kids of rag rugging including a fantastic contemporary kind where you use circles of fabric and poke it though the centre with a prodder (could be made from an old fashioned broken peg or a shaved down toothbrush) partially through a backing (hessian) then glue the back (I think you could stitch the back to save using latex glue).
Before
I have a pick-up load of quilt scraps and yardage. Come and get ‘em.
FREE
I have a pick-up load of quilt scraps and yardage. come and get em
FREE….eiram@netptc.net
cut the scraps into very small pieces, stuff toys with the scraps, if you bagful of scraps stuff your pillow with them.
I’d use them to stuff mattresses in different sizes for animal shelters as charity. They’re always in need of suff like that. Bigger bits could be quilted double and used as blankets.