| Fabric and textiles surround us, from our clothing | | | | can also tear the fabric into strips, and use it as |
| to our carpets. Color, pattern, texture and design | | | | ribbon. |
| affect both our mood and our pocketbooks. | | | | - Fabric scraps can be used in crafts for home |
| Everyone has fabric scraps. They are in clothes | | | | accessories. Make everything from picture |
| that no longer fit, or draperies that are being | | | | frames, checkbooks, album covers, eyeglass |
| replaced. As a frugal homemaker, you can take | | | | cases, and book covers, to bowls and Christmas |
| these scraps and make items of value. | | | | Ornaments. All these can also be gifts. |
| I have seen numerous old drapery panels sell for | | | | - Lay pieces of fabric on the bottom of gift |
| large amounts on eBay. They are either being | | | | baskets and picnic baskets to make them more |
| used to decorate homes with a retro or shabby | | | | decorative. |
| chic design, or are being cut down for pillows. | | | | - Use your fabric scraps to make dolls and doll |
| There are many, many ways to use fabric. Here | | | | clothes. That is another enterprise I was involved |
| are some ideas to recycle fabric, and turn fabric | | | | in for a time. I made dolls and sold them on the |
| scraps into fabric assets: | | | | Internet.... and that was before eBay. |
| - Making quilts is the number one use for old | | | | - Use them to make stuffed toys. You will find |
| scraps of fabric. | | | | many patterns at Goodwill type stores. |
| - You can make pillows. If your scraps are small, | | | | -You can make darling aprons with appliqués, |
| they can be pieced. | | | | and give them as presents. You can also make |
| - Potpourri Sachets. For very utilitarian sachets, I | | | | hair accessories like scrunchies. |
| just take my old potpourri, and wrap it up in a | | | | - Heavier fabrics can be used for small upholstery |
| scrap of fabric and tie it with a ribbon. Then I | | | | projects, such as covering chair seats. |
| place it in drawers or below cupboards. There is | | | | - Use your scraps to cover craft cardboard |
| plenty of scent left for those enclosed areas. | | | | boxes from craft stores and to line the inside. Or |
| You can make these with fresh potpourri, and | | | | use shoe boxes. These decorated boxes are |
| give them as gifts. Make them as decorative as | | | | great for open storage areas. |
| you desire by seaming the sides and adding lace | | | | - Make duffel bags for your children's laundry. Help |
| around the edges, or ribbons accents. If you are | | | | your children learn to sort their clothing by making |
| good with a crochet hook, you can make rag | | | | different colored bags for how you want your |
| rugs. There are other techniques also, such as | | | | wash sorted. |
| just tying bits of fabric into a piece of rug canvas. | | | | - Make protective dust covers for toasters, |
| - Scraps can be made into linens for the kitchen | | | | sewing machines, and other small appliances - |
| dining room. You can make potholders, napkins, | | | | again, a gift idea. |
| place mats, table runners, and even tablecloths, | | | | - Warm up your home office/work rooms by |
| piecing when necessary. | | | | covering office accessories with bits of fabric. |
| - You can use fabric for both fabric art and | | | | Some things you might cover- pencil and tool |
| decoupage. If you stiffen the fabric with Modge | | | | holders, storage containers, and Kleenex boxes. |
| Podge before you cut it, the ends will not ravel. | | | | Just a little bit of fabric will soften up a home |
| Books on fabric art can be purchased at the | | | | office. |
| store or rented from the library. | | | | Imagine how it would be to have a 6x6" piece of |
| - Fabric scraps can be used for wrapping | | | | fabric from all the clothes you wore when you |
| presents. Use it like paper, or make into gift bags. | | | | were a little child. Would that be of value to you |
| You can make a more formal, structured gift bag, | | | | now? Even if you can't use them now, save your |
| or simply make a drawstring bag. Or, cut out | | | | scraps. Put them in a box, and set them aside. |
| shapes from the design of the fabric, and use to | | | | You may be very glad someday. |
| decorate gifts wrapped in plain brown paper. You | | | | |