From Scrappy to Happy - making the most of your fabric scraps

scrappy to happy blog
scrappy to happy
Handmade from the Heart Tote Bag blocks by Blanca H Sanchez made from old jeans

In a room filled with neatly folded fabrics and colour coordinated threads, you don't often give a second thought to off-cuts or fabric scraps.

However, the smallest pieces of fabric can still make something truly amazing.

Quickly, back to the sewing room! Pull those scraps out of the bins. We have some fun projects you can use those little bits and pieces on to make something wonderful.

Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs - Crazy Patchwork Quilt Block 3

Patchwork quilts and other patchwork projects are the perfect designs to go from scrappy to happy.

Patchwork or "pieced work" is a form of embroidery that involves stitching together pieces of fabric. This usually based on repeating patterns built up with different fabric shapes (which can be different colours). These shapes are carefully measured and cut, into basic shapes making them easy to piece together.

Patchwork is most often used to make quilts, but it can also be used to make bags, wall-hangings, cushion covers and more.

We love to work with patchwork, it always looks wonderful, especially when embellished with embroidery.

Crazy Patchwork Quilt - made by Ann Schumanno

Our Crazy Patchwork Quilt is a great design to use for all those little scraps. Even the most odd combinations of fabric in this kind of design are stunning, especially with the added embroidery.

Another WONDERful design we have to make use of scrappy bits is our Wonder Quilt design.

Wonder Quilt Design - made by Jackie Uher

This was one of the first designs we did as a Block of the Month Quilt, a new design block released every month for a year! We still have one running at the moment... the Mystery Block of the Month, Japanese Hexagon Quilt. We've just released block 7.

Another Mystery Block of the Month design - Japanese Hexagon Quilt

However, to the matter of scraps...

The Wonder Quilt is a design that is made up of lots of lovely little pieces of appliqué, and this is just perfect for scraps.

But wait, there's more. If quilting isn't your thing, we also have a couple wallet and gift tag designs to keep you excited about those scraps.

Gift tags or Gift Voucher Holders, Cards and Gift Bags are a great way to make something for someone you know just really loves to shop or adds a little homemade touch to a gift wrap.

Designs like our Easter Bunny Gift Set are quick and easy to make and use the smallest of scraps, but have the biggest of impact!

Depending on the time of year we have a variety of gift tags and bags to suit all occasions.

Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs - Happy Birthday Gift Tags

For those who like a little more of a challenge we have anything from our Hexagon Wallet, Quilted Patchwork Handbag or Quilted Patchwork Zipper Purse.

Hexagon Wallet design - made by Kelly Morin

Note: with these last projects you will need more than scraps to finish these completely, however, they are still a great use of your little bits and bobs.

Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs - Quilted Patchwork Handbag

Being able to take all of those little pieces thought to be heading to the scrap heap not only means you're making the most out of your fabric, but you can justify buying more because you can say you used up every last stitch of it...

At least that's our excuse, and we're sticking to it!

We hoped you enjoyed learning a little more about making use of your scraps. We highly recommend having a look through our designs to see if you can find anything else to go from Scrappy to Happy with.

Share what you make with us on our Facebook Group, tag us into your Facebook or Instagram posts, and please review our products.

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