Batting scraps

A longarmer friend gave me a huge bag of batting scraps. I sewed a six- foot long denim tube, stuffed (and stuffed and stuffed) it with the scraps, then tucked one end into the other and stitched it closed by hand. It made a big "doughut" for our dog to sleep in. A friend collects scraps (batting and fabric) that go into donated "mattresses" for her local animal shelter.

Ask a local longarmer who has asked her for scraps, then send them on in that direction!

Bert > uses for all

I use any scraps that are at least 7" x 16" to line burp cloths for Newborns in Need. The bigger leftovers are used for piecing. Hadn't thought about saving the smaller pieces but it does seem a shame to just toss them. Polly

Ask a local longarmer who has asked her for scraps, then send them on in that direction!

Bert > uses for all

Reading about stuffing and stuffing them in a tube made me think about using the tube as one of those things you put along the bottom of your door to keep drafts out. That would use up quite a few scraps.

Trixie

I use all those scraps of batting that are too small even for potholders and Christmas ornaments as stuffing for pin cushions. They would also be very good stuffing for small toys.

I have no ideas about the thin strips of batting, but I have to say that I love the colors in that quilt. It's beautiful!

There are a million uses for small scraps regardless of shape. Everything from stuffing toys to pincushions to trim on larger projects where bitty bits are just more convenient.

Those long edge strips though are just grand for wrapping in fabric, stitching to secure the fabric, and then weaving into bedside rag rugs. I sewed up such strips for a lady up the street for a while. She would give me fabric for wrapping, I would get to keep what was leftover of the fabric, she would make the rugs and sell them at flea markets. It was a nice arrangement until she took her earnings and moved to warmer climes. They made nice cushy warm rugs, very washable too. I had one, but I gave it to my grandma because it matched her bed quilt. She only ran the strips in one direction and used carpet warp for the other direction.

NightMist

well, if you like Mod Podge, you could use EVERY size scrap plus mod podge to cover notebooks, boxes, table tops, whatever needs a cover up! No sewing either!

Musicmaker

My local quilt shop likes scraps of all kinds for the dog pillows they make for the local humane society.

KT. in MI

Someone named Jill uses batting scraps to stuff beds for her local animal shelter.

I think she can use fabric that you don't want either, but I'm not sure about that.

Martha

My first Rag Quilt called for batting sandwiched between the front an back pieces. These pieces were a combination of 9 inch squares or three 9X3 inch rectangles quilted separately and then sewn together to make a 9 inch square like a rail fence. So the skinny pieces of batting were either 9X3 inches or 9X 9 inches. I think that this might be the way to use up skinny batting as well.

And if all else fails.

Grab some similar scraps of fabric and sandwich with some spray and practise MQ or HQ.

I played with some like this when I had finished with clearing my sewing room. Made some mug stands for round the house. You know, next to the computer, by the bed, next to the TV. I just stitched lines and lines of fancy machine stitiches and then made and edge; chopped that off and bob's you uncle! Had a lot of fun, learned again what my machine could do, especially the embroidery attachment, and had something useful at the end.

The other (probably more sensible, but boring) thing to do would be to document the stitiches and weights and threads and make a reference for future use.

You never know when you will need to be able to stitch welting or plug in a zip or place a motif precisely.

Oh, and a last thought. Mini pillows to decorate a bed or a boring chair. Make a lot of them and scatter them at the pillow end. I've seen this done before, and it looked rather fetching, and was very comfortable to plop into.

Or a Christmas tree made of triangles, individulally stuffed and joined togather. hang on, I've got a pattern for one of theose. they were selling for =A3mega at one of the shows. Looked great, but so easy... if fiddly.

Getting carried away, sorry. Nel (Gadget Queen)

I am reminded of the stuffed fur fabric Christmas tree... :D