Save those scraps! Here’s a big new collection of free tutorials and patterns to help use up those fabric pieces and remnants you have tucked away in your craft room (updated 2012).
I’ve listed plenty of ideas for goodies that are not only useful but also a few cute and charming just-for-fun items too (some even gift-worthy!).
No matter how big or small that little piece is, you should find something here to make with it.
Note: Many are just a sample idea from a larger collection of projects, I’ve included reference links to those pages as well (found here on Tipnut).
Have fun and as always…I’ll be updating this page with new goodies as I find them so you may want to keep it bookmarked for future reference. Enjoy!
Finger Hot Pads: Cute little pocket hotpads for your fingers. You’ll find dozens more potholders to sew on this page.
Pop Garden Flower: Includes a measurement chart to make Small, Medium and Large size flowers. Over 40 more flowers are on this page.
Keychain: Great stashbuster that you can embellish any number of ways. Lots of ideas are also listed on this page.
No-Sew Sachets: Stuffed with potpourri, lavender flowers or balsam fir needles. More ideas are found here.
Business Card Holder: Supplies include fusible fleece, small hair elastic and a button.
Covered Tape Measure: Tutorial via free pdf download.
Press Bag: Made with two 9 1/2″ squares of fabric (one for lining), top cuff is folded down and embellish as you like (yo-yo, button, etc.).
Envelope Bag: A sweet little pouch with a button and loop closure, use to carry small utensils and other goodies.
Dresden Petal Handbag: Template included, you’ll need 14 strips using 7 different fat quarter scraps.
Embroidered Buttons: Stitch on a piece of fabric before covering buttons, either sketch your own designs or use the print as a pattern.
Reversible Coffee Cozy: Lined with cotton batting, free template download via pdf. Lots more ideas are found here.
Ruffled Bib: Gather strips of assorted fabric prints then sew onto a bib (either one you make or one ready-made). Lots more ideas on this page.
Glasses Case: Features a foldover tab with button & elastic closure.
Checkbook Cover: Features a sweet fabric ruffle embellishment across the top.
Coasters: Padded with batting.
Coin Purse: Made with a gold purse frame and pretty fabric (lined).
Tissue Cozy: A basic design using four coordinating pieces of fabric.
Bracelets: Strips of fabric are sewn and braided to make a cuff, then crafty bling added for embellishment.
Microwave Heating Pad: These can be made in a variety of sizes, try making pocket or hand warmers. Fill with rice, beans, etc. (ideas listed on the page).
Keyboard Wrist Rest: Make these any size you like, filled with rice, template download available.
DIY Stickers/Tape: Easy to make and useful for wrapping, these are made with double sided adhesive tape.
Hair Curlers: A small amount of polyester stuffing is used to shape the curlers, you’ll also need a button and some thread.
How To Make A Yo-Yo: These are used to embellish all kinds of things (totes, quilts, hair clips, etc.).
Phone Sleeve: Can be made for any brand of cellphone with minimal adjustment but designed specifically for an iPhone 4. More phone covers & cases are shared here.
Cloth Baby Shoes: Could these be any cuter? Free pdf download.
Jean Cuffs: Add a fun print at the cuff and buttons in a complimentary color.
Closet Tags: Fabric pieces in a variety of colors are used, along with Heat N Bond Ultra (no sew), ribbon and pinking shears.
Quilted Bouquet Cozy: A sweet little project made with assorted fabric pieces, cotton batting, coordinating ribbon and grommets.
Glam Makeup Brushes: You can also use decorative paper with this, sealed with a coat of Mod Podge.
Braided Rag Bags: Can use repurposed items (such as t-shirts, ripped denim) and leftover material/prints with different textures and colors.
Envelope-It: Attached to elastic so you can wrap it around books, ideal for stashing receipts, etc.
Great site! I am looking for ideas to use the lining from clothes I have bought and repurposed for other things. I have washed the lining fabric, which washes and dries in the dryer nicely, but I haven’t been able to come up with or find any ideas for using it. I have thought of fabric flowers, but most of the colors are dark, so I would like some other ideas to use the lining fabric for. Thanks for any suggestions.
Any tips for UGLY scraps of cloth like old socks that are pilled & torn? Other than uneven filling for door stops & such there’s no tips online for what to do with them. Seems such a waste to toss in the trash…I’ve got 5 kitchen bags full of them waiting for a new life!
I use worn out pilled socks and socks with holes in them to do my dusting and cleaning. Just slip them over your hand, and presto you have a wonderful “rag” to clean with. Then just throw it away or wash if you wish. I keep a bag under the sink in each bathroom and the kitchen so I always have one handy to use.
You can make the warmest coverlets from double knit material. It will last for years too, Or donate to a local church and they will make quilts from the material.
The very first quilt I ever made was from double knits back in the late 60’s.Dh was in viet nam I needed things to do after the kids were down for the night.I and my next door gf,got together and cut out a bunch of blocks,then sewed them together.I don’t think we even put any batting in it,what did we know.We backed them with sheets.
Those were as the op said the warmest covers.When I got tired of it my kids tok it over,then my oldest son threw it in the back of his car where it resided for years and made many trips to the beach and parks.I remember just one time during all those years putting a new back on it.Memories!1
Kathi
Just found a locker box full of material I bought when we were stationed in North Carolina. Lots of polyester double knit. Not sure what to do with it.
I can go through ideas and patterns of things to make all day long! What a great site this is! I love to make things, and scrap materials can become a profitable hobby if you can make all these wonderful things with them. It is also a good hobby for people that are not very mobile! Great ideas for gifts, etc. Thank you so much for everyone that send ideas!
Great collection – thank you for posting!
Use scraps to make door mufflers. Purchase colorful hair elastics and attach each one to the end of a padded rectangle made from scraps. Hang around the door latch to soften the sound of a shutting door.
Maybe I’m just not smart enough. BUT – I hate to follow patterns! (But I can if totally necessary) I figure out stuff by looking at stuff already made, to give me an idea. Then I make it! It may not be as perfect this way, but it’s a lot more fun. Like: eyeglass case. I use the glasses to be ‘cased’ as a measure by wrapping fabric around them. I add seam allowances if it’s sewn, Then just connect the sides. Doubling fabric makes the case more padded. Add a button or Velcro if you want to close it. I also do carpentry, bead work, knit & crochet, paint, gardening -everything to keep busy. All w/no patterns. Working off a picture is so much more FUN!
Thank you for sharing all of your I wonderful projects.
Thank you for this site. I just made the hair curlers. A fun and easy project that I will be gifting to my long hair relatives and friends.
Hi, love love love your site. I have been trying to find dresses to sew for my English bulldog. Really shirt, very broad girl. Clothes for other breeds even same weight range just do not fit English bulldogs. Can you are any of your readers help k out? She weights 60 lbs, but weight doesn’t really have an issues.
Thank you in advance and keep up the good work and keep the information coming.
Bev
Any luck finding patterns for English bullgods? I’ve also tried to find or make a pattern too.
Thank you so much for compiling this wonderful list of things to make with scrap fabrics!!!
Just wanted to also say thanks for the awesome list of what to do with scrap fabric. I am reinspired. Ready to sew. Cheers!
Many thanks to Tip-Nut, i look forward to my weekly updates for more great ideas, keep up the great work. many thanks. Susan
I’ve come up with a great idea to reuse old pillows. I firstly laundere them to freshen them up and use the old stuffing/packing for pin cushions toys etc. i’ve found it a great alternative than going out and buying filling which can be expensive. Hope you find this useful. Tip Nut is a great site for ideas and tips. many thanks.
Susan (Ire.)
This is a fantastic idea. Reusing the pillow filling. (Thanks!)
I love this! thank you for all the work put into it!
You have a wonderful site. I now need patterns for sun glass cases? Any help you can furnish is appreciated. Thank you
I made the quilted bowl from another issue and except for the beautiful
embroidery work she did, mine looks exactly like hers. The directions are
right on and easy to follow. I’m so proud of it.
You are amazing Now if you could tell us how to get more time to do all these wonderful things, Thanks so much
Hand sewn projects can be tucked in a baggie to carry in purse or pocket. Work on them while you wait…for a meal, a ride, a break at work, ballgame, etc.
I am making a collection of straight pin/needle holding pads that can be safety pinned to a shirt or the quilt block materials we will pass out to interested people to stitch and return while they are waiting… in the hospital or at home. Our group will turn these blocks into more quilts to distribute to patients in the Palliative Care program for people in the hospital with a final diagnosis.
Hi, Love your site! Do you have any doll patterns, I have a new grand daughter and would love to make her a doll with all the dresses.
Wow. The lady’s site with the diaper holder really put me off. If you don’t want people to use a pattern to make something to sell, don’t put it online. It’s as simple as that. Craziness. Thanks for the other awesome ideas! I am in the market for a sewing machine now, and once I find one, LOOK OUT!!
I have 4 fabric napkins, was wondering what I could make with them. They are about 18″ square. Thanks
You could make them into square pillows. Simply sew them around the edges and either insert a pillow form or fill with stuffing. A really quick easy way to change out decor for cheap!
It makes two pillows or add another interesting fabric to the back for some reversable fun (then you would have 4)!
They make darling doll dresses. Cut napkin in half. Narrow hem 4″ down on long sides of rectangles to make armholes. Sew side seams together below hems. Make 1/2 inch hem at top of rectangles to make casing. Trim bottom with ruffle, fabric band, lace, braid, ric-rac or whatever suits your fancy. Thread a 15 inch ribbon thru each casing, gather to fit doll’s neck, and tie at shoulders. These work up fast.
I always make rice bags out of napkins. Perfect sized. Just fold, sew most the watt strings, add rice, sew the rest. Microwave or freeze for sore neck muscles.
I was hoping to find a pattern for a shower curtain with left over fabric bits…no luck today been looking for hours. Any suggestions??
ok ur ? was on shower curtain from left over scraps. here is a thought take a patturn for a crazy quilt and make it the size you want the curtain and then just find a shower curtain pattern that is normal and make it like it says.
also you can just sew all your bits of fabric into the size of curtain you need and get an inexpensive clear liner…heavier duty the better and sew your final fabric piece sheet to it.
I made a shower curtain with an old sheet I bought at a rummage sale. I searched for years with no luck to find a cute shower curtain that would match my other shower accessories and wall color with no luck until I found an old gently used sheet that tied everything together perfectly. I had to shorten it up a bit and I used the buttonhole maker on my sewing machine to make the top holes and then hung large ornate showercurtain rings on to cover up the buttonhole outlines. Its perfect and I didnt have to go out and buy the grommets!!
Hey! I like your site – I’m a naturally frugal person, and I have a sewing business. I’ve recently relocated to Tennessee from Georgia and I’m eager to get something going. I get teased about my frugality, but I want to ad my tip: save those plastic onion bags and sew together to make a miniature facial scrub puff (exfoliant). Or, you’ve heard about all those “sugar scrubs”? Well, I was a lab assistant for my dad, a biologist, and we’ve confirmed that plain table sugar is very healing; so, I have discovered that it makes a great facial scrub. Thanks!
Hi Joanne, I’ve listed some free clothespin bag patterns here.
Hi I’m looking for a pattern for a clothespin holder with a hanger type or and other styles. Thank you
Thanks, Joanne ! My thoughts exactly. I love the freshness of hanging bedding and towels outside, and remembering my Mom’s and Grandmother’s clothespin holders.
Joanne: I just looked up the patterns on this site (“search”). I found some really neat patterns – from 2008. Check it out!
I made a really easy clothespin holder by using my grandson’s size 4 knit polo style shirt. I simply sewed the bottom closed and hung it on child size hanger. The placket neck opening is the perfect size for reaching the clothespins.
I do not sew…but I think that even I can make this! How clever! Thanks for sharing.
Dear Joanne,
If you are looking for a clothes pin holder.
Use a 2t dress basic and cover the bag from the store on the hanger with a ric rac across the.
Sarah, NH