July 31, 2009
db1921
Not rated yet
I would have to call myself a fabric junkie. I love solid colored fabric and prints and buy it even when I have no earthly idea of what I will do with it. I have so much fabric that my daughters always come by and "shop" in my sewing room before making a trip to the fabric store. And I save every little piece. Surely I will use it for something. Hence my sewing room sometimes looks a little like the storage area of the basement. Then there are times when I go to make a project and still do not have the perfect piece. You would think I would learn but I still save every test sew and fabric scrap. It is an obsession!
Here are some ways that I have tried to use up some of my piles:
These simple squares are great to use as coasters and hot pads in the family room. You will see them somewhere near the TV in all my relatives houses.
How to:
- Simply cut the test sew into a square.
- Cut a border strip of 1 ½ inches or whatever size you like.
- Sew the two sides and cut even. Then sew the top and bottom and square up.
- Cut a piece of batting and a back from coordinating fabric
- Place the front piece face up. Top with the back piece face down. Then the batting on top.
- Using ¼" allowance sew around the square leaving an opening at the bottom to turn.
- Put your hand between the front and back and turn right side out.
- Turn the opening in even and sew shut. Quilt if desired.
Another great way to use test sews is to make them into appliqués. Here is a quilt and pillowcase using some from testing ATG. And here is a link to download the appliqué square in case you would like to try it yourself. Appliqué Square
Click the links to go to the Happy Animals Alphabet and Happy Animals collections.
I am really trying not to add to my stash this year until I have used up much of the stash that I have in my sewing room. (If you read the blog here on making green bags you know how I used up a lot.) But unless they ban me from the fabric store and quilting shows I think it is a losing battle. Does anyone else suffer from this?
OK, its your turn to get creative with your test sews. Let me know what you do as I still have stacks to use up.
Take care,
DB