We have an annual contest in my city called “Scrapfest” – and it’s more than just fabric (metal, found objects, trash – all assembled into art and showcased in an arts district in our city). There’s also a Scrapfest fashion show and this year I would like to enter several items. Scrap sewing – how to use your fabric scraps to sew a fun wardrobe is my theme this year, and I took some time to sketch out my ideas. They are here, in video:
How can you use your scraps to sew new garments?
Organize your scraps by knit or woven to begin with. You don’t usually need to organize by size, but any really large ones (a yard, even if partially cut, or larger) set those aside. When deciding on scraps to use, first select knit or woven based on the patterns you chose, and then dive in to decide on color arrangements. It’s up to you of course, but either harmonious color or complementary colors pair well together. Similar patterns in different colors also work together well.
Selecting patterns for scrap-fabric garments
You can use any pattern, in theory, by cutting and adding seam allowances to each of the pieces and then sewing it back up, you can “make fabric” by sewing scraps together first and then cutting out the pattern out of the new fabric you made, OR you can work with patterns that have a lot of pieces in them, cutting out various pieces in different fabrics.
If you choose a pattern recommended here, these are already designed with piecing in mind:
- Emile pants by Ready to Sew
- Anything by Matchy Matchy sewing club (see the link below for a free tee pattern)
- Pietra wide leg pants, crop pants, skinny pants, shorts, I have made these many times (but never scrapped!)
- HotPatterns Regatta Tee
- KnowMe 2136 unisex pullover hoodie and jacket
- Craft Studio Tee – Matchy Matchy Sewing Club free pattern
- Around the Block Hoodie by Ellie & Mac Patterns
- Sonia Estep Designs has a bunch of patterns designed for scrap piecing
I have done two methods of piecing scraps; in this Tremont Jacket, I used the “press to interfacing” method outlined below. In the vest, I loosely cut out shapes and then stitched them together, before laying my pattern piece down and cutting around the new fabric I’d made. I also pieced fabric together and sewed it into tops using the cut-shapes method.
A brand new book called Sewing with Scraps just launched, and probably is worth a look. It contains how-to and projects that look really cool. I will definitely consider buying this when my LFS gets this book in.
Assembling scraps for use in making new clothes:
If you’re making a scrap piece method- you can either cut out your pattern pieces from woven interfacing, with the sticky side up, and then lay your scraps down and press them onto the interfacing (securing the edges of the scrap pieces with stitching afterwards),
If you’re using the “make whole cloth” method, you can quilt them (randomly or uniformly) by stitching the edges, right sides together, folding out, pressing and adding another piece until you make a whole piece of cloth to then cut out your pattern pieces.
If you’re doing the scrap piece interfacing method, you are essentially free-form assembling your scraps (good for non-uniform scraps), and then pressing them down to a base. I recommend you use woven interfacing as then you won’t need to line your garment. If you’re making a knit garment, you won’t really be able to use this method easily, it’s really more for woven patterns/garments.
My plan for using my scraps to sew new outfits for my summer wardrobe
I chose all things I have in stash or can reuse for this challenge and I built it loosely around going to concerts this summer. Like the last 2 summers, hubby and I have planned a series of concerts to attend – mostly smaller ones in cities not too far away, from artists we loved from the 80s and 90s, but also a big trip to London (he will work while there), to see a DJ music festival at Old Greenwich.
This capsule wardrobe can be worn for that, for my summer everyday wear too. I started with a pair of the re-released Emile pants from Ready to Sew (left side upper). This pattern is newly redesigned to have both a regular (carrot-ish) shape and a barrel leg shape. I’ll make the barrel leg. It features pieced sections that are perfect for mixing up fabric. I have some remnant scraps from the local Surplus store, and plan to make a pair of pants, and then a coordinating top (mixing in other scraps/fabrics that I already have). The top is the oft-made Antero shell (left side lower, boxy tee with V neck).
Living rent-free in my head is a long denim duster I saw online (another maker made it) so I will craft mine from small remanants and a cut-up pair of jeans, with pockets from an old pair of “paint” jeans that no longer fit me (even for painting.) (left side middle)
This winter, I snow-dyed a couple of heavyweight tee shirts from the 1980s that we had from a long-ago screen printing business. I cropped both – one, I hemmed, the other I am going to add a casing at the waist, cut some strips off the rest of the tee, stitch them together to create a drawstring for the hem. Leftover strips will be used as the outer waistband on a pair of pants and a skirt. (right side top and bottom)
The pants I’ll be making from stash fabric, a dark storm teal color that almost reads as black, with a berry French terry using ME 2033, the barrel leg Wave pants. I’ll use the strip cut from the tee as the outer section of the waistband (inner will be the French terry). This I will wear with a berry Breton Tee from Hot Patterns. (right side center)
I have some denim tencel stripe fabric to sew a pair of Sew House 7 Free Range Slacks. This has a contrast side panel and the stripes sideways will be my accent here. I love a good knit skirt, so the bottom of the other tee shirt will be used as a waistband on a someone else’s stash fabric midi knit skirt. When I travel, I prefer skirts and pants in big cities (albeit cropped pants and midi skirts) over shorts (I will bring one pair of shorts of course, that I sewed several years ago.) (right side lower)
The only non-scrap dress is ME 2076, a dress with asymetrical tiered layers that will be perfect for summer – and concerts.
Last, I added two scrap bags – both of these are new patterns for me, a small phone-sized bag and an asymmetrical pieced flat crossbody bag. Both of these will be great for travel AND concerts, and should fit within the size requirements for USA concerts.
With the exception of some thread, snap shackles, embroidery thread, I have everything I need in stash to sew this, and three of the projects made from stash fabric for my Make 9 2026 are in this. This hits on several goals for me this year including using scraps, completing my Make Nine, AND sewing for the life I lead now.