April is Earth Month and it’s got us thinking about holding ourselves accountable and targeting small steps to affect change and positive growth on our earth and environment. We’ve been talking and brainstorming and while we are committed to conscious action throughout the year, not just in April, we did land on a fun first step… something that involves one of our favorite fabric companies AND all of you! We’ve kicked off a partnership with Free Spirit Fabrics in the form of a Scrap Drive! They have graciously agreed to collect cut-offs of fabrics that might otherwise be discarded and redirect them to our Chicago office.
Once the scraps arrive, they’ll be sifted, sorted, and curated into fabulous mini bundles that will then be partnered with complementary Aurifil threads. We’ll drop little hints along the way about what to expect and when, but we hope that this whole initiative will inspire us all to look at our scraps with fresh eyes!
Why scraps? Scraps and cut-offs may seem small and unassuming, but throughout our industry as a whole, they truly add up. They often end up being pushed to the side, discarded, and thrown away, ultimately adding to the nearly 16 million tons of annual textile waste in US, 85% of which ends up in landfills. So, maybe we consider things differently… think about how to piece these little bursts of color together to give them new life. We’ve been inspired by a few makers in particular and will link our faves below.
- @sewfabstories — Fabric confetti pouches with Alka Maurya
- @_aimeehagedorn — Scrap fabric & hand stitched patches with Aimee Hagedorn
- @lovecraftsdotcom — DIY lampshade cover with Love Crafts
- @katemustsew — Scrap rollup fabric with Kate Sandford
- @jordsen.sewing.studio — Denim scrap collar with Jordan Gomez
- @nordiccrafter — Upcycled pouch with Irina Malyukova
While we’re busy prepping our bitty bundles, we’d love to know… how do you handle your scraps? Are you a sorter? A tiny-piecer? A collage-artist? What are some unique ways to use our scraps? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Additional Resources:
We understand that not all scraps will be repurposed into something new, but there are other ways to keep those bits & pieces out of landfill. If you choose not to use your scraps, we’d encourage you to consider one of the options below or look into textile recycling programs in your area.
- For Days – Trashie Bag | Fabric Scrap Take-Bag Bag… exchange bags of scraps for retail credit!
- Textile Recycling Program – Chicago | Textile Recycling in Chicago
- FabScrap | Fabric Recycling and Repurposing in NYC & Phildelphia
I think that this is a wonderful initiative. I love to use my scraps and sew them up into quilted storage boxes, table runners, cushion/pillow covers, tote bags, zipped pouches, coasters…
I love using my scraps as a teaching tool for color studies. I pull a selection of scraps together into a potential color palette. Then I discuss with my students why the colors work well together, and what other colors could be added to the palette.
I LOVE SCRAPS! I sew scraps together to make larger pieces of fabric which get cut into blocks and sewn into quilts. I also make scrappy everything – potholders, mug rugs, greeting cards, Christmas ornaments, etc. here’s no end to the possibilities. I think this is a great collaboration between Aurifil and Free Spirit.