ASG Sewing Blog – Page 43

August 13, 2021

What to Do With All Those Fabric Scraps

If you sew, let’s face it, you create fabric scraps. With a world focus on going green, it’s not acceptable anymore to simply send leftovers to the landfill. So what can you do with all those pieces you no longer need?

Giving scraps a new home

If you just have to get the scrap fabric out of your house, try looking for someone who may need them:

My local mechanic loves getting cotton weight fabric to use for rags. Anything that will sop up a spill or wipe off greasy hands is welcome. This helps him save the cost of buying rags, plus he then burns the used ones in his wood stove to heat his shop. Scraps — or even used clothing minus buttons, zippers, etc. — should be at least 12 inches square. Clean fabric that is sun faded, misprinted, or even stained works fine, and he doesn’t even mind wrinkles!
Schools, recreation centers, day care, and senior centers that offer art programs are often looking for donations of scraps that can be incorporated into their projects.
With the increased interest in sewing due to the pandemic, some libraries have begun holding sewing classes as part of their programming. Scraps are especially appreciated for their beginning quilting projects. Some libraries even accept sewing machines in working order so that patrons can check them out to use either on site or at home.

Libraries are also looking for volunteers to teach sewing in a one-time or on-going program. It’s a great way to promote sewing and ASG, especially during National Sewing Month in September.

Colleges with Fashion Design programs often have cash-strapped students who need fabric to complete collections and gratefully accept donations of those pieces that no longer seem to fit your style. Smaller pieces are also needed for the early sewing classes when they are just learning zipper insertion, plackets, etc.
Women’s shelters may have a sewing room for residents to use. Scraps can be used for patching clothes and creating items for little ones.

Giving scraps a new life

The most obvious answer is to create a scrap quilt. I had a friend who would cut her scraps into equal sized squares and throw them in 3 bags: lights, mediums, and darks. When she felt like sewing but didn’t have a project in mind, she would alternately reach into each bag and stitch the squares together into 9 patch squares, then stitch those squares together in a random fashion. She was not a purist, so she wasn’t worried about 100% cotton. She used blends and anything that felt appropriate. Not only did she get rid of those scraps, she was able to donate the quilts to veterans homes, shelters, and foster children’s programs.
Another friend told me she likes to use her scraps to make little zippered bags for cosmetics, jewelry, or even credit cards. If the piece is large enough, the entire bag can be made from the same fabric, or separate scraps can be pieced together to create a quilted look. These little bags can be kept on hand for quick little gifts.
If you hate wasting money on wrapping paper that just gets crumpled up and thrown away, why not make reusable gift bags? Large scraps can be used for the entire bag, or smaller ones can be strip pieced to create the desired size. And they can be any size from those that hold a ring to an extra large package. I like to take leftover pieces of lace and sew it to the top edge, then fold the fabric in half and stitch down the side and across the bottom. Sometimes I even tuck two scraps of ribbon (at least 12” long) into the side seam to use as a tie and create a pretty self bow. In just a matter of minutes you can have a gift bag done to use the next time you need to wrap a present. Your recipient will be so impressed. Just don’t tell them it was made from scraps.

Scraps for Charity

What about those batting scraps that quilters often produce? Take simple pictures from a coloring book and cut out animal or geometric shapes from fabric. Stuff with leftover batting and donate to first responders to give to children at the scenes of accidents or domestic violence cases.
A neighborhood groups in my chapter is dedicated to charity work. One of their projects is a fidget quilt that they donate to a local visiting nurse program for their Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. They create the quilts by taking 4” to 6” squares of brightly patterned or textured fabric and sewing them together to create a small laptop quilt of approximately 18-24”. The fabrics are sewn together to create the top and backed with a solid fabric. Batting may be used, but it is not required. The two pieces are quilted together along the block lines. Patients are attracted to the bright colors and textures and are often soothed by touching them.
My personal favorite (because it uses up every tiny scrap bit) is to create animal bed pillows. I use heavier weight fabric to create the pillow by cutting an 18” square or larger (or piece several smaller scraps together to achieve the desired size). Then I sew two of these squares together, stitching around the four sides and leaving an opening of about 5 inches. I always have one of these “pillows” in progress in my sewing room. As I cut out each new project, I take the leftovers and trim them into small 1” pieces and throw them into the “pillow.” I even use the trimmings from the serger. When it is loosely filled to about 2/3 to ¾ capacity, I machine stitch the opening closed. Animal shelters and veterinarians accept these pillows and send them home with the animals. It’s a great way to use up scraps and help our four- legged friends at the same time.

What do you do with your leftover scrap fabric? Hopefully some of these ideas will challenge you to accept the go green concept and you are creatively using those scraps instead of stuffing our landfills.

~Rosemary Fajgier

August 11, 2021

Using a Wing Needle

Do you know how to use a wing needle? This 1 minute video gives you a sneak peak on using this specialty needle

August 6, 2021

Hot Pad Helpers

Whether you call them hot pads or potholders, the purpose is the same—to protect hands and table surfaces from the heat of a pan just removed from the stove or oven.

Hot pads are an ideal beginner sewing project (perfect for kids), and they’re a fun way to use up scraps since they don’t take much fabric. Because of their size, they’re also ideal to experiment with new sewing techniques you may want to try out before using on a larger project.

Hot pads are so much fun, we bet you can’t make just one!

Size-wise

Hot pads can be made in many sizes and shapes, but one thing’s for certain, whatever shape you choose, be sure they’re large enough to keep your hands from getting burned when in use.

Many potholders are simple squares—from 5” to 10”, though the larger sizes offer better protection. Some are circular and of similar sizes, while others are rectangular and designed to be folded over a warm pot handle. There are also patterns for holiday themed shapes, like Easter eggs, Valentine hearts or Christmas trees.

In addition to their padded selves, most potholders offer an extended loop for hanging. The loop can be made of the same fabric as the holder or from the binding used around the shape’s edge. Loops can be along one side, or at a corner.

Layer Up

The anatomy of a potholder is simple—two layers of fabric with heat-resistant protective layers between. It’s important that the outer fabric layers are not synthetic, as they should be able to withstand heat up to 400° Fahrenheit. Cotton is a good choice for the outer layers as it’s heat resistant and readily washable.

Between the outer layers is the main source of heat protection. Some sewers like to use multiple layers of preshrunk wool for its insulative qualities, others use layers of cotton batting, and perhaps most effective is a batting with an insulative layer, like Insul-Bright®, made by the Warm Company or Pellon Insul-Fleece™. (Product links lead to Amazon and any purchases you make may make us a small commission at no additional cost to you). This specialized product has a metallicized polyester film needle-punched into batting. This heat-protective layer should then be sandwiched between two layers of cotton batting.

Artful Additions

Because of their small size, potholders are the perfect canvas to try a new sewing technique like appliqué, machine embroidery or decorative stitching (with cotton threads), strip piecing, scrappy piecing, etc.

Simply draw the shape of your potholder onto the right side of one fabric layer, do your embellishing and trim the piece to size. If you’re piecing the potholder front and/or back, do that sewing before cutting the shapes.

Back to Basics

To make a hot pad, layer the back and front pieces wrong sides together with your choice of the inside insulative layer(s). Pin the layers and quilt them together. Quilting can be done in straight lines, free-motion designs, or using an embroidery machine. If you choose not to quilt the layers together, baste around the perimeter about 1/8” from the cut edges.

Cut a 2 ¼”-wide strip of binding fabric to go around the potholder. Depending on the size, it may be necessary to piece together two width-of-fabric strips. Note: If your potholder has curved corners, cut the binding on the bias. Fold the binding in half wrong sides together and press.

Bind the potholder, mitering the binding at any corners. When you come back to the starting point, stop just before the original stitching, but do not trim of the extra binding length.

Turn the binding to the underside and hand- or machine-stitch the folded edge in place. At the original start point, fold the binding and extend it to form a hanging loop and stitch the edges together, tucking the raw end under the end of the binding portion. Finish the stitching to anchor the loop base.

Once you’ve mastered the basics of potholder making, consider adding a pocket to one side. Slide your hand inside for easier gripping with the padded portion of the hot pad.

~Linda Griepentrog
Linda is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and she does writing, editing and designing for companies in the sewing, crafting and quilting industries. In addition, she escorts fabric shopping tours to Hong Kong. She lives at the Oregon Coast with her husband Keith, and two dogs, Yohnuh and Abby. Contact her at .

August 4, 2021

Fireside Chat: Sarah McFarland from Threads Magazine

Enjoy our 40 minute chat with Sarah McFarland of Threads Magazine. Shara shares her journey to her role as Editorial Director, as well as the incredible opportunity she has to mingle with some of the greatest talents the sewing world has to offer.

~Sheryl Belson

July 30, 2021

Fabric Sources: Plants (part 1)

This is article 1 of a multi-part series focusing on three categories of fabric – fabric made from plants, from living things, and from minerals. This month – plants!

Plants (part 1) | Plants (part 2 )
Living Things: Silk | Living Things: Wool | Other Living Things
Minerals: Acrylics, Polyester, & Nylon (part 1) | Minerals: Spandex and Rayon (part 2)

Did you know that the overall global textile industry is valued at nearly one trillion dollars? The plant-sourced portion of this market grows about 7% annually and now makes up about 1/3 of the total fabric market. It also can have an ecologically positive impact on our planet.

Processing leaves, stems, stalks, seed pods, and fruit into fabric is BIG business!

While some are common and have been around for ages (think cotton and flax), other fabrics made from plants are gaining popularity. With an increased demand for fabric that is cruelty free, as well as the environmental concerns associated with creating synthetic fibers, shoppers are turning to some of the oldest and most sustainable plant fibers.

Which of these plants are used to create fabric?

If you answered ALL of them, you would be correct!

You will certainly recognize some of the plant sources such as cotton, flax (used in linen production) bamboo, and cork. But a few may surprise you. In Part 1, we are covering Cotton and Flax and have also included links to info on Bamboo and Cork.

—– The Fabrics You Expect —–

Cotton

Cotton is the natural textile fiber most widely used around the world. It takes center stage in the global textile industry, capturing about 25% of the market. And it is not a newcomer! Cotton was grown in Pakistan’s Indus Valley more than 5,000 years ago and was used to make clothing in ancient Egypt. Cotton is widely used in the modern fashion industry, both in flat fabrics and in woven clothing items and household textile products and it combines well with other natural and synthetic fibers, such as rayon, polyester, spandex, etc. Let’s face it… cotton is a fabric staple that is here to stay.

How is it processed?

Cotton comes from plants that produce seed pods filled with ball-shaped clumps of cotton fiber. The seeds are separated from the cotton fiber mechanically and then the threads are spun from the remaining, seedless white fiber. The resulting threads are then woven to make cloth, which can be dyed. To watch and learn more about the process, view this 6-minute video.

Pros: Cotton fabrics are comfortable, very soft, light, durable, has good heat conduction and absorbency. This makes is a great choice for garments that are in close contact with the skin, both in spring-summer and fall-winter seasons.
Cons: Cotton tends to shrink and is prone to wrinkles and fading.

What about sustainability and the environmental impact?

The biggest bet of sustainability is the use of certified organic cotton. Organic cotton is more eco-friendly than non-organic cotton, as it uses less water and is free of chemical pesticides, insecticides and herbicides that may otherwise pollute waterways.

Where can you buy it?

You can buy cotton and cotton blends almost anywhere. This is one fabric you will not have any trouble finding. But to give you a few places to purchase with your ASG Member discount, check out these sellers:

Flax

Linen is another popular and common fabric, though it captures a much smaller market share than cotton. It is made from the fibers of the flax plant and is considered more of a luxury fabric than cotton. Egyptians used flax to create linen cloth more than 4,000 years ago and used it in both clothing and to wrap mummies. Today, flax is often blended with other materials to add strength or reduce wrinkles.

How is it processed?

Flax has leaves that consist of long, tough fibers. The procedure to turn the plants into fabric is labor intensive, which makes linen much more expensive than cotton. To get a peek into the process, watch this 2 ½ minute video from the V&A museum.

Pros: Linen is stronger, cooler, and lighter than cotton. It softens with each wash, making it increasingly comfortable. These qualities make linen an excellent choice for casual summer clothing and many home décor items.
Cons: Flax fibers are inelastic which is why linen wrinkles so easily.

What about sustainability and the environmental impact?

Flax is one of the more promising developments in sustainable textiles since it can be grown with far less water and fewer pesticides than cotton and produced at a lower price.

Where can you buy it?

Like cotton, you can buy linen and linen blends many places. Buy it with your ASG Member discount from one of these sellers:

There’s still more!

In Part 2 of Fabric Sources: Plants, we’ll cover some of the unusual and unexpected plants that are used to create fabric.

~Sheryl Belson