Easy scrap fabric projects that take less than 1 hour
1. Banners
Banners can be made as big or small as you like so you need very little fabric to get started. The above piece measured 21cm x 21cm so even with less than a metre of fabric you could make a couple of lovely banners. These could also easily be made from smaller pieces that you could patchwork together. I recommend a canvas weight fabric so that the piece holds its shape.
You can use a Cricut, like me, to design and cut your phrases, or you could paint, screen print or stencil your designs on. View my designs available to order here.
2. Purses
I had never tried patchwork before making this cute zip purse. I had ordered what I thought were fat quarters but when they arrived they were about 10cm x 10cm and I thought straight away that I would never use them. I challenged myself, as I hate wasted fabric, so I used the patchwork technique to sew six pieces together.
I chose six complimentary pieces and loved it once they were side by side. I quilted the pieces onto some synthetic batting, folded it in half and added a zip, along with a fun lining and created this cute purse. It now holds all of my loose change and comes everywhere with me.
3. Personalised make up bags
This can take the full hour to achieve if you are a slightly more confident sewer but still great for beginners if you take your time. There are loads of video tutorials online that you can watch that show you how to make them step by step.
You can make a squarer bag like the Maisy bag here, this gives you loads of space to store your favourite glam essentials. The Amber bag here has a square bottom but straight top, it’s taller and more slim lined so more easily fits into hand luggage. Please get in touch via my socials if you would like to commission something of your own.
I used my Cricut Maker 3 to add a personalisation to these bags for my customer and they absolutely LOVED them.
4. Snap button purses
Oh what a beautiful purse this is… even if I do say so myself. It’s all about the snap buttons for me. Please invest in a set of brightly coloured snap buttons because when you add them to any fabric project they just make them pop. These purses are an incredibly simple make. When you open them there are 3 compartments and you don’t need a lining fabric. Please get in touch via my socials or comment on this post if you would like a quick tutorial on how you can make your own.
These only take me 15 minutes to make from cutting out the pattern to adding the buttons. I sold them at a local craft fair and one lady returned to my next fair to buy more. I was grateful for the return custom and asked what she had used hers for (money, glasses case, loyalty card storage, etc.) only to be told that she was storing her paracetamol and other daily medications in hers, and wanted to buy some more for her friends at the WI. A niche market perhaps but it worked for her.
5. Removable, reversible collars
Want a way to transform a simple outfit with just one accessory? These pixie style collars are made from so little fabric but they can update a basic crew neck t-shirt in 15 minutes. I do recommend downloading a pattern for these unless you have a great freehand drawing skill. I chose a front and back fabric for the simple reason that I wanted to be able to reverse it and wear it both ways. Most designs online have a tie at the front that you can tie into a bow, instead I added small loops of elastic that I attached a fancy, vintage button to. The way the elastic is attached allows the button to be twisted and worn on either side.
If you have enjoyed this blog and want to see more like this please visit my home page to see what other activities I share.
GetSidetracked 
Leave a comment