How Small is Small
Updated: Sep 26, 2022
I always enjoy finding ways to use up all of the remnants and scrap pieces when working on a project.
While sewing I place 3 bowls next to the sewing machine, I don't throw ANY of the pieces away, they are sorted into three different piles.
The first is for the very narrow strips which will be used to create fabric beads and those that are really tiny I will move to the pillow/doll stuffing box.
The second, for the slightly larger pieces which will go into the mosaic fabric box. They can't be used as leaders and enders they are so small that there would not be room for a seam allowance.
And the third for crumb qulting. The pieces will be used as leaders and enders while working on other projects.
People have been asking me what leaders and enders are.
What are leaders and enders? Leaders and enders are bits of fabric that are used to start and end your sewing on. It saves one the hassle of continuously lifting the presser foot and cutting the thread. When you get to the end of your stitching you slip 2 remnants under the presser foot and sew on them, this way creating a continuous line of sewing and are creating something else at the same time.
You are accomplishing a number of things when creating leaders and enders
Your fabric doesn't bunch in the throat plate
Your sewing thread never jams.
Your thread doesn't nest - create a bundle - under your fabrics
You are not wasting thread.
The thread won't pull out of the needle and you don't have to rethread all the time (preventing lots of cursing) and as a bonus
You are creating 2 projects at the same time.
I also strip piece some of them inbetween working.
The pile is growing
Little hands helping me to sort. She loves the colors. I am teaching her to sew and she really enjoys the no rules crumb patchwork.
Some of the scrap pieced pieces so far