Maybe I’m the only one who has leftover fabric scraps lying around. But if I’m not, and you’re looking for ways to use up leftover fabric – this post is for you.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good patchwork piece. Some of those trendy, quilted, patchwork jackets are absolutely the cutest! But, I can only have so many of those in my closet, and I really want the one (or two) that I have to be special, nicely designed, and match my vibe. This means we need more ideas for using up our other fabric scraps.
Enter…this post.
I’ve compiled a list of recent projects I made, some visibly patchy, some subtly patchy, and some you wouldn’t even know were made of fabric scraps.
I hope this post inspires you to get creative. Now let’s get into it!
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Wavy Patchwork T-Shirts
This project is the perfect thing to sew if you want to upcycle some old clothes that have holes or stains, or if you have a bunch of stretch cotton scraps. Because this shirt is made up of mostly funky shapes, you can clean out your collection of itty bitty scraps, which honestly is so satisfying.
You can find so many fun inspo pics on Pinterest for this type of t-shirt and create any design you desire. Make it as a sweatshirt, as sweatpants, or as we did, as a comfy t-shirt. Check out the Wavy Patchwork T-Shirt post for the full tutorial!
Bucket Hats
Bucket hats are the perfect way to use up leftover fabric! You can patchwork pieces together or make a hat out of solid fabric pieces. The best thing about making bucket hats is they use very little fabric and are super easy to sew.
I’ve made close to a dozen bucket hats for various friends and family in tons of fun colors as I attempted to use up my corduroy scraps. Corduroy doesn’t have to be the material you use, but I will say, it makes a perfect, sturdy bucket hat.
This project is perfect for using up leftover facing, denim, and corduroy scraps. Not to mention, it’s a great project for using up the extra thread in your bobbin. It can be frustrating when you finish a previous project and there’s still a bunch of thread left in the bobbin that you don’t want to pull out and throw away. During the patchworking process, you can use up the thread in your bobbins and clean those out.
For this project I used a free sewing pattern from Mood Fabrics then I just sat on the floor and went through all of my corduroy scraps cutting out pattern pieces and patchworking together all of the colors until the pieces were too small to make any more hats.
Pro Tip: If you do this, try to pin your pieces as you go. It is easy to lose track of pieces.
I also recommend the Essentials Club bucket hat pattern which I have used in the past with great success.
Tote Bags
Tote bags can be made using bigger scraps of fabric, or even by patchworking some pieces together. I especially love how this Tote Bag With A Hat Strap turned out after I pulled leftover materials from my scrap bag.
What kind of scrap material would you make a tote bag out of? I believe I used four different materials in this project.
Laptop Bags
These laptop bags were so easy to make! I followed a tutorial from Rosery Apparel and upcycled some button-up shirts I thrifted in Perú. For the inner padding, I managed to use up leftover fabric of an old blanket that I used in another project. Finally, I gave it my own personal touch by adding a Peruvian ribbon to the bottom of one of the bags.
I obviously won’t need another laptop bag for a hot minute. But I’m glad I finally made something to give my laptop extra protection while we’re traveling.
Scrunchies
Scrunchies are the perfect way to use up your satin scraps! Even if you patch some pieces together it won’t ruin the finished look. Because the end result is bunched up you hardly notice all the seam lines.
To clean out my satin scraps and abundance of elastic, I made as many scrunchies as I could piece together. These were the perfect thing to replace a worn-out scrunchie that was falling apart in my drawer and made a good gift for all my nieces and my two sisters-in-law.
Corset Top
Believe it or not, you can make an Anthropologie-inspired corset top out of fabric scraps. I made this top from my leftover pink corduroy that I bought to make a pair of overalls. I also made two bucket hats out of the same corduroy! So clearly I bought way too much of this material.
Happily, I can say that the leftovers are now gone! However…you may still see some corduroy sewing projects in the future since I haven’t yet published all the projects I made from my corduroy leftovers.
Patchwork, Reversible Vest
You can use up leftover fabric by making your own Reversible Vest with an easy tie front. This project is super quick to sew and uses up a lot of bigger pieces and some bias tape.
This easy reversible vest is self-drafted and perfect for wearing in the spring, summer or fall. It’s very lightweight – though it could be heavier depending on your chosen material, and makes the perfect patchwork project!
Shoe Bags w/ or w/o Pockets
I am in love with the way these shoe bags turned out! You can easily make a shoe bag with a pocket, or sew a pocket-free shoe bag. All you need is a little fabric – scraps are perfect, but if you have bigger squares, that works too! – and two or three hours to put this together.
Shoe bags are the perfect project to accompany you on your next adventure. Whether you’re visiting Perú or taking a road trip across the US, this bag makes the perfect addition. They’re washable, pack away nice and small when not in use, and are a great gift to give at Christmastime if you’re looking for something extra to put under the tree or in the stocking.
Bandanas & Hair Scarves
Bandanas are so fun and easy to make. You can easily patchwork them together, or make them out of larger scraps to use up leftover fabric.
I had a lot of fun making a couple of these for some cats and dogs in my life. I also recommend making them for people of course! I made a large one for myself out of satin materials and wear it as a head scarf.
Check out the full tutorial which walks you through ideal sizes for all your bandana needs.
Patchwork Mesh Top
Mesh tops are so fun to wear and are a quick project to sew. Whether you have odd-shaped leftovers to use up and you’re looking for the perfect tulle project, or you want a simple mesh top without all the added seams. We have two sewing tutorials taking you through the simple self-drafting process to make your mesh top. In just a few hours you can add this wardrobe staple to your closet.
To learn how to patchwork your scraps into the perfect top, check this post out, or for a more basic mesh top, click here.
I hope you found this list helpful! Let me know in the comments what other scrap materials you’re trying to use up or if you have any specific projects you’d like to make. I’d love to be a part of your creative journey!
Explore other recent posts:
- What You Should Know About Your Money Before Moving Abroad
- More Great Sewing Projects To Use Up Leftover Fabric
- How To Successfully Make $0.00 Online While Working A 9-5
- How To Make A Satin Lined Beanie From Fabric Scraps
- The Most Important Travel Items For Your Next Trip
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P.S. Looking for a fun activity you can do with a friend while working on tedious crafty tasks, download our free trivia here.
Playing trivia is a great way to keep your mind active and have fun with your crafty friends and family while busting out those seam ripping, crocheting, and other time-consuming, but necessary, crafty tasks.
