50+ Easy project ideas for fabric scraps, how to store remnants, and what to do with the scraps you don’t need.
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Scraps. If you sew, you have them. You might even have a LOT of them like I do. I have a storage system and plans for most of my scrap fabric, and being organized is the best way to keep them from taking over your sewing room.
What Scraps Should I Keep or Throw Away?
My policy is that if they’re small enough to somewhat fall apart in my hands, they get tossed. Longer strips of knit fabric, even selvage, can be used for drawstrings. If a piece of cotton is the size of my hand, I save it.
If the fabric is ANY workable size for a project AND it’s a custom fabric, then I keep it.
I keep small pieces of plain knits for use as waistbands, neckbands, etc.
Sometimes I keep pieces of fabric from old clothing, such as jeans and pretty shirts.
Storing Scrap Fabric
I have two methods for storing scraps.
IKEA Bins
I use some IKEA storage bins for my scrap storage- they’ve had a couple different types that seem to be the same. The ones I used were Antonius, but they seem to have some called Jonaxel now. I use these bins to double as an ironing station too.
For the scraps, I usually stuff them in one of the drawers. Eventually I’d like to organize these by scrap type, but currently everything is thrown in there together.
Paper Bag
I also keep a small paper bag by my cutting table. Small scraps that I don’t think I’ll use go in the bag. When it’s full, I see if there are any preschools or such that would like the scraps. I use a lot of cute children’s fabric so I hope the scraps are helpful to them!
Other Methods
A friend of mine uses plastic baggies and organizes them by type and color. This is a great option if you’re a quilter! I may eventually try this method because it would make things a lot easier to find when I need them.
Scrap Fabric Projects
Scrap Fabric Projects
Scrap fabric projects that will help you de-stash the excess fabric trimmings in your sewing room! This is a great way to get organized. Don't forget- you can do ANY project with scraps if you're willing to sew the scraps together patchwork-style to make a larger piece of fabric.
How to Make a Fabric Banner with Letters
These fabric banners are easy to make with small pieces of cotton or upholstery fabric.
DIY Pencil Case with Grommets for Binder
This easy pencil case is fantastic for thicker fabrics. You need decent size scraps to make them.
Creative Bookmark Idea: DIY Pen Holder Bookmark
These easy bookmarks are a great use for smaller strips of fabric. Woven fabrics like quilting cotton are perfect for this!
How to Sew a Patchwork Cloth Diaper
Some of my favorite diapers were patchwork diapers made from lots of scrap PUL pieces sewn together.
How to Make a Tote Bag
This tote bag was made from scraps of fabric, all sewn together. It's the perfect patchwork hobo bag.
Make an Easy, No Sew Toothbrush Scarf
These quick toothbrush scarves just require a few very small pieces of fabric sewn together. It's better if the scraps are absorbent!
Creating a Patchwork Kitchen Wet Bag with Scrap PUL
This kitchen wet bag was made with lots of PUL scraps that I had leftover from making cloth diapers.
How to Sew an Easter Basket from Upcycled Fabric
These Easter baskets were made from upcycled clothing and fabric scraps, braided together into a basket.
How to Make a Simple Braided Fabric Basket with Handles {Scrap Buster!}
This larger basket was made just like the Easter basket, but it's larger and offers a lot more storage in our master closet for odds and ends.
DIY Tile Coasters: Easy Gifts with Scrapbook Paper or Fabric
These tile coasters use either small cotton fabric scraps or paper. They're EASY to make.
How to Make Cloth Wipes or Napkins
Use two layers of scrap flannel or combine a scrap of terry/minky with a scrap of cotton to make easy cloth wipes or cloth napkins. You only need a 6" or 8" square for each side!
How to Sew a Fabric Balloon Cover
Use coordinating scraps to make an easy balloon cover for those babies and toddlers.
How to Sew Nursing Pads Without a Serger
These nursing pads are SMALL, but you can destash a small piece of the following for each pad: PUL, absorbency fabrics, and a stay dry fabric.
Baby Swing Strap Covers
These simple strap covers used a tiny scrap of PUL and kept the harsh rope from rubbing against the baby's face or hands. Plus they're cute!
Jeans to Bell Bottoms
Cut a slit in your jeans and add a small piece of fabric to create bell bottoms!
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags
You can make little gift bags with different sizes of fabric... make teeny tiny ones for small gifts like gift cards or jewelry, or large bags for bigger stuff.
Baby Doll Cradle and Accessories
Scraps are perfect for making baby doll accessories like blankets, pillows, clothing, and more!
Sea Band Covers
These small fabric covers were a great way to make those sea bands more attractive without losing their functionality.
DIY Door Silencer
These small door silencers use a very small scrap and help keep it quiet when you're sneaking out of baby's room after they fall asleep.
DIY Outdoor Guinea Pig House
This small scrap of outdoor fabric was used to make a little awning over the window in our outdoor guinea pig cage.
An Alternative to Plastic Wrap: Reusable Bowl Covers
These PUL scraps are fantastic for making bowl covers or casserole dish covers. You just need a piece bigger than your bowl's top.
DIY Wall Art: No Sew
Have a favorite fabric that you'd like to showcase? Staple the fabric over a board or canvas.
How to Make a Denim Bracelet from Upcycled Jeans
These bracelets were made from a small scrap piece of jeans!
How to Make a Denim Kerchief with Upcycled Jeans
Also made with scrap jean fabric, this kerchief doesn't use much fabric.
How to Make an Easy Patchwork Denim Skirt
This skirt was made with strips of scrap fabric including some jean, dress pant fabric, and some quilting cotton.
Using Fabric Scraps to Make the Baby Taylor Tee
Here's some scrap pieces of knit fabric that were put together to make this shirt. It was a GREAT use of the tiny piece of moon and stars knit that I had left.
DIY Tooth Fairy Pillows for Boys
These tiny tooth fairy pillows take very little fabric and they're SO useful.
How to Sew a Soap Bag
Love these soap bags for holding soap slivers... they double as a scrubber/luffa!
How to Fix Footie Pajamas With Holes in the Toes
Use scraps of knit to replace footies with holes in them.
How to Make a Clothespin Bag
Make a clothespin bag! This one uses an old shirt but you could use scraps for this too!
How to Repair Holes in the Knees of Pants
Instead of trying to patch the holes in pant knees, use scraps of fabric to replace the knees altogether!
Toy Car Roll: Video and Photo Tutorial
These toy car roll ups use one long strip of fabric. Woven fabric is best.
How to Sew a Toy Car Carrier
These toy car carriers are a bit larger so you'll need a bigger cut of fabric... but it's still good for those large scraps!
Sew Easy Pokeball Boo Boo Bags
Use red, white and black scraps to make boo boo bags in the shape of Pokeballs.
How to Make a Coffee Cozy: Sew it with this Easy Free Pattern!
These coffee cozies use barely any fabric!
How to Make a Hot Pad: Perfect for Hot Casserole Dishes!
Hot pads are a doable project with a smaller scrap of fabric. You just need two cuts of fabric the size you want to make your pot holder--- plus some insulating fabric.
How to Make Pattern Weights from Fabric Remnants
Tiny fabric remnants are perfect to make easy pattern weights.
Doggy Bag Dispensers
Make tiny doggy bag dispensers.
DIY Christmas Tree Angel
Take a small scrap from your wedding dress to make an angel ornament or tree topper for your Christmas tree... then donate the rest of the dress to the angel gowns program!
Cloth Diaper Liners
Save fleece scraps to make simple cloth diaper liners. Knits like cotton lycra may work as well!
Bias Tape
Make some easy bias tape using long strips of fabric.
Handkerchiefs
If you have a large enough square of fabric and it seems like it'd be comfy to blow your nose on, finish the edges to make simple handkerchiefs.
Reusable Sandwich Wraps
Make beeswax sandwich wraps with squares of cotton fabric.
Eye Pillows
Eye pillows don't use a lot of fabric and they'd be good for a small project idea.
Socks
Make some socks with those fabric scraps. Big scraps for the big kids and little ones for the baby.
Other Uses for Fabric Trimmings & Scraps
Sell Them
You may be able to sell larger scraps in bundles to people who quilt or like to do small projects, particularly if you have a lot of custom fabric scraps or solid color scraps.
Donate
Sometimes local schools or preschools may take the scraps for crafts.
Freecycle
Try giving away bags of scraps on Freecycle. I usually keep a large paper bag around to toss all of my scraps in.
Use for Stuffing
Use them to stuff an item you are making, such as the floor pillows that I made my oldest son when he was a baby or the yoga bolster that I made for myself.
Give Them to Kids
These are fun for the kids to use for their own mini sewing projects or for them to glue to paper (like magazine scraps) to create unique projects.
Use Them for Applique or Bands
Small scraps are perfect for applique or, if they’re knits, to save for waistbands, neckbands, and the like.
What’s your favorite project to make or thing to do with scraps? Leave me a comment below!
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