6 Ways to Use Leftover Fabric
A tottering pile of junk cloth doesn't always qualify as clutter if it can be put to good use around the house. See how
Aditi Sharma Maheshwari
17 June 2017
Blogger, dog mom
Are you someone who is reluctant to discard old clothes and other fabrics, perennially hopeful that one day they will come in use? Struggle with the ‘toss or not to toss’ dilemma no more. You stand vindicated. They can be used! Patchwork and repurposing old cloth can bring any house to life, one room at a time. All it takes is a little imagination. Check out these ideas for inspiration.
1. Upholster a seat
If shopping for a new statement chair or sofa isn’t on your to-do list, look deep inside your cupboards for solutions. Use old saris, coloured sheets, or embroidered pieces of cloth you have no use for, stitch them up in a pattern and use it to upholster an old seat to give it a fresh look. In this image, see how this long, multicoloured settee gives some colour relief and adds spunk to the dark-toned living room.
If shopping for a new statement chair or sofa isn’t on your to-do list, look deep inside your cupboards for solutions. Use old saris, coloured sheets, or embroidered pieces of cloth you have no use for, stitch them up in a pattern and use it to upholster an old seat to give it a fresh look. In this image, see how this long, multicoloured settee gives some colour relief and adds spunk to the dark-toned living room.
2. Make a table runner
A quick dash to your fabric stash can help you find the perfect piece for a table runner. This dining room is enlivened by a bright and colourful patterned cloth that creates a beautiful contrast to the wood.
Handmade Home: How to Sew a Table Runner
A quick dash to your fabric stash can help you find the perfect piece for a table runner. This dining room is enlivened by a bright and colourful patterned cloth that creates a beautiful contrast to the wood.
Handmade Home: How to Sew a Table Runner
3. Use it as a carpet
Casual and playful, denim material can be put to use too. What better way to recycle your old jeans than by making a stylish, one-off patchwork rug for your home.
Revisit Patchwork for a New Take on an Old Favourite
Casual and playful, denim material can be put to use too. What better way to recycle your old jeans than by making a stylish, one-off patchwork rug for your home.
Revisit Patchwork for a New Take on an Old Favourite
4. Create fun cushions
Design cushion covers by stitching up old T-shirts, dresses or jeans. The best part is that cushion covers don’t always need to be colour-coordinated. A flurry of different hues on a single-toned bed, like here, can look fantabulous.
Make a Gorgeous (Cheap!) Pillow Using Vintage Clothes
Design cushion covers by stitching up old T-shirts, dresses or jeans. The best part is that cushion covers don’t always need to be colour-coordinated. A flurry of different hues on a single-toned bed, like here, can look fantabulous.
Make a Gorgeous (Cheap!) Pillow Using Vintage Clothes
5. Decorate as wall art
Another fun way to display leftover fabrics is by using them as wall art – see how in this room, a variety of fabrics in embroidery hoops decorate the neutral corner wall.
Another fun way to display leftover fabrics is by using them as wall art – see how in this room, a variety of fabrics in embroidery hoops decorate the neutral corner wall.
You can lend some personality to your home office by using fabrics as pinboard material. In this room, a patterned cloth is stapled on a large board and hung on the wall. Placed against the teal wall, the rich pattern also looks like wall art.
6. Hang outdoors
For garden parties, add an extra flair to the decor with your old scarves or saris hung overhead for a dreamy feel. See how the sheer blue-green cloth above the pink table setting creates such a cosy atmosphere for the outdoors.
Read more:
Soft Furnishing Maintenance 101
A Guide to Choosing Curtains
Tell us:
How have you put leftover fabrics to use? Tell us in the Comments below.
For garden parties, add an extra flair to the decor with your old scarves or saris hung overhead for a dreamy feel. See how the sheer blue-green cloth above the pink table setting creates such a cosy atmosphere for the outdoors.
Read more:
Soft Furnishing Maintenance 101
A Guide to Choosing Curtains
Tell us:
How have you put leftover fabrics to use? Tell us in the Comments below.
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I did recycle my old t-shirts into no-sew cushion covers recently. Mum and I also made patchwork covers for the fridge and washing machine long back.
These ideas are making me put the scissors and needles to work again. The table runner and pinboard inspired me!