If you’re like me and can’t bear to part with your fabric scraps, onesie appliqué is a fun way to use them. Of course, in my case, actually using something from my disastrous scrap heap only serves to justify future hoarding, as in, “See! I knew there was a reason I didn’t throw this (or anything else, ever) away!” Be careful, this is the mentality that can land you on an episode of Hoarders.
Anyway, a good friend just shared the news that she’s expecting twins in April, so I rifled through my scraps and made a pair of congratulatory onesies.
These were as easy as following the directions on the package of Steam-a-Seam – just cut out your shapes, iron them on, and stitch around the edges by machine (I did the squirrel by hand since he was so tiny).
Everything but the faux bois tree trunks were cut from scraps of Lila’s School Days Coat lining. I saved every. little. piece. of that fabric when I made the coat – I just love that Kokka print, and I knew there had to be a future for some of those precious scraps.
I tried to be gender neutral….if there’s a boy in the mix, hopefully he’s secure enough in his masculinity to wear a couple of pink apples on his shirt.
And to package them up I made a little drawstring bag (a mini version of Dana’s Hobo Sack) out of linen.
Maybe I should take this opportunity to organize my scrap bin…any tips? By color? By size? Straight into the trash can?
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These are so cute Gail.
That bear cracks me up – love him! I keep my scraps by colour 🙂
Organization depends on how many scraps you have. The larger your scrap stash, the more levels of organization required. You could start with sizes… Oh, sorry, I’m serious about scraps 😉
You are ridiculous. I cannot believe the cuteness that comes out of your sewing machine.
Tell your friend that April is an excellent month to have twins… though mine were due 3 May and came 12 April, so you never really know what month they are going to appear.
Beautiful Gail. I have started to fret about organising my fabric and what size scrap is too small to keep (I just chucked some tiny tiny bits out last night but even that was tough!). Will look forward to the tips from your readers and with you sharing such lovely projects will totally be able to justify doing a little bit of organised hoarding!
So completely darling! Scraps have power over me too–if it’s bigger than a quarter I keep it because you just. never. know.
I’m curious if you used a stabilizer on the back or just the heat-n-bond, as I’ve made onesies by the same method and a couple of times the jersey got all stretchy/puckery/out of sorts when I stitched around the edges.
Thanks 🙂 – I just used the Steam-a-Seam that I linked to, and no puckering when I sewed it…i’m hoping it doesn’t pucker after it’s washed!
Since my own scrap bin is spilling out over my desk, I’d be the last person to take advice from! Good for you for making a withdrawal from the stash – and such a sweet gift resulted! Seriously cute onesies and bag – I think any mom would be delighted to receive such a beautiful gift!
These are so cute! What a nice gift!
These came out so adorable! And I love that you took the extra step to gift them in such a cute bag. You rock!
way adorable! the little twinsies will look so cute in those! and you saw my scrap bag…i clearly need help too. 🙂
Oh man. Wow. Absolutely stunning and so, so darling. What a lucky little boy (or girl!).
You always blow me away. It’s so beautiful. It would be great even for a toddler’s t-shirt.
Beautiful, I’m sure your friend will be thrilled to recieve these gifts.
These are fabulous and adding a little drawstring bag is such a nice touch. I use similar little bags quite a lot when I’m out and about with Little E to keep her diapers and clothes from flying around in my rucksack. I have yet to find a good sorting method for fabric scraps, please do share if you find one! Right now I use a big carton for all scraps that might be used for sewing (aka embellishments like patches and quilts) and a smaller one for little scraps that are beautiful but only big enough for other craft projects (like cards and mini garlands).
They’re lovely – sweet and fresh but not at all like the goofy things big box baby stores offer. What a wonderful gift! My scraps have outgrown my current bins, so I need to come up with another system too. I’m thinking by size, becuase if you mostly sew clothes, the size determines what you can do with the scraps. For really special fabrics like Liberty, I save even the tiniest. I also take great care to cut out in the most economical way possible. I’m trying to save fewer scraps from fabrics that aren’t special at all, but even small pieces can make matching bonnets or doll clothes. The teeny scraps of Liberty could make fabric covered buttons. And maybe one day, I’ll make a quilt with scraps from all the dresses I’ve made her over the years.
Hello, I am a very charmed first time visitor to your lovely site. I know I am a little late but I have been using dimpa waste sorting bags from ikea – super cheap and 3 sections for sizing. For all other bits I keep, steal and rehome the zipper handle bags that pillows and linens come in. Hope this helps someone and yes I belong to the keep everything club too!