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Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:04 pm
by snapdragon
Finding myself re-stacking duvet covers and curtains which we no longer use I thought they'd make some shoppers/totes. :sign7: :sign7:
They did, took a couple of handfuls to the foodbank who were calling for 'bags for life', some to charity shops, because I haven't the front to stand around handing bags to folks on the street like Morsbaggers do.

What else could I make out of all this excessive cloth?
Any ideas

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:31 pm
by Weedo
Try your local schools and libraries - if kids over there are like kids over here they are always short of book bags. Light materials like cottons etc. make great bags for keeping dried pulses and seeds.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:19 am
by Flo
Turn them into bags and cushion covers - next time there's a jumble sale in your area if they have such things then a few of these can be sold and raise cash for some good cause?

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:29 am
by snapdragon
Weedo wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:31 pm Try your local schools and libraries
/snip/
That's an idea :thumbright: I'll ask the neighbour who works at the primary school
Flo wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:19 am Turn them into bags and cushion covers -
/snip/
sold and raise cash for some good cause?
yeah cushion covers are quick and easy. original plan was bags to give away but then the local charity shop closed.
There's a table top sale in the village hall but pricing stuff I've made :dontknow: and selling !¿ :hiding: eek

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:16 am
by Green Aura
Depending on colours/patterns what about making some simple kids clothes. There's loads of free patterns and ideas knocking about online.

I don't know if the foodbanks would give them out but there must be some charity that would be grateful for them.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:22 am
by Green Aura
...or if your material is 100% cotton, get some absorbent filling and make re-usable menstrual pads.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 8:13 pm
by snapdragon
Oh I've shelves full of patterns Maggie, ,nearly eighty years of them, from baby to adult, but most of the fabric isn't suitable, it'd be a bit 'sound of music' where she clothes the kids in furnishing fabric. (lol. I have Dirndl and berg hosen patterns)
From past experience old sheets make good sanipads

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:04 am
by Green Aura
I rather liked those Von Trapp curtain clothes! :lol:

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:03 pm
by BernardSmith
If you weave you can turn this fabric into rugs or place mats and the like. You need to cut the fabric intro strips and bingo ! (there are numerous videos on Youtube - You don't need to buy a manufactured loom. For such weaving you can make a very simple loom from wooden frames.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:30 pm
by snapdragon
I do, on occasion, and have a basic rug loom, (which probably needs a new home because I reverted, due to circumstances, to knitting up the majority of the mass of rug wool I'd acquired)
cutting fabric into bits to remake is like patchworking, unless you're an artist and can sell, I can't see the point
Sorry, :banghead: I shouldn't be negative :iconbiggrin:

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:33 pm
by snapdragon
Green Aura wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2020 10:04 am I rather liked those Von Trapp curtain clothes! :lol:
:laughing6:

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 8:11 pm
by ina
Dare I say it - I never watched Sound of Music? But I read the original book (or books, I think it was 2). Would love to read them again, but I think they went for recycling like so much other stuff when they cleared my parents house. :(
But: I used to buy sample squares of furnishing material and made the most wonderful waistcoats and cushion covers...

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 11:10 pm
by snapdragon
Ooh samples are a joy, never know what they might be.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:30 pm
by Weedo
I'm with you Ina - never seen the movie. However I do recall the brocades, damasks, twills, tweeds, satins and silks that were normal wear a couple of years ago, even for us guys. No-one would ever consider wearing jeans to go out, not even to an afternoon BBQ.

My daughter converts old sheets etc. to clothes for the kids - with queen sized sheets there is a lot of unworn fabric around the central worn out bit.

Re: Recycling hoarded fabrics

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 5:10 am
by ina
Weedo wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:30 pm
My daughter converts old sheets etc. to clothes for the kids - with queen sized sheets there is a lot of unworn fabric around the central worn out bit.
What my mother used to do - cut those sheets in half down the middle and sow them back together inside out. You do have a slightly annoying seam down the middle, but the sheets will last another few years.