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What to do with upholstery fabric donation I've been given a trunk full of upholstery samples . . . .
pfaffkj Intermediate TN USA Member since 7/28/05 Posts: 461	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/24/12 8:57 AM While I was visiting a small, family-owned furniture store yesterday, the topic of sewing came up. Owner asked did I know of any quilters. He had a huge box of discontinued upholstery fabric samples that he planned to throw away, but would gladly give to someone who would come by for them. Of course, I said giddily said I'd take them off his hands! Now I have a trunk full of upholstery samples (mostly 8 x 20 inche pieces) and not much idea of what to do with them! I could not let them be trashed! Totebags, pillows, purse organizers, cell phone cases, and eye-glass cases have come to mind as projects for these fabrics. My creative knitting/sewing/quilting friends are coming over next week to go through them and take whatever they'd like -- I'm happy to share, and there is plenty to go around. I'm posting to (a) share the joy of my treasure! and (b) ask for other ideas of what to do with said treasure! Our group has a sale in the fall, so we have a venue for selling what we come up with. Just writing about this is getting me excited -- I may not be able to wait for the gals! I may jump head first into that box this morning! ------ Karen Yards in stash: I don't want to know! 2013 yards sewn: 1 2013 yards bought: 5
SewRaeMe Advanced Beginner CANADA Member since 3/20/08 Posts: 240	Login to reply to this post In reply to pfaffkj << Like this post Date: 3/24/12 10:03 AM There may be a preschool or kindergarten class that would want them, I know they are often looking for swatches etc. for crafting. ------ Formerly The Canadian
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1232	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 3/24/12 10:17 AM When the Women's Exchange in NYC went out of business (RIP), they gave me about 8 boxes full of upholstery samples. You're doing the right thing: share liberally with friends, make small projects until you're sick of it (I hung on for a few years). Then, list them on Freecycle and pass on the joy. I also made dozens and dozens of primitive folk art dolls. Then I made an appointment to visit a Folk Art Gallery in Manhattan and the owner LOVED THEM. He put them up for sale at $120 each for about 3 years. Maybe I sold only a half a dozen of them, but, I must say, it was a GAS being a real Folk Artist for awhile. And everyone I know visited the gallery just to see the dolls. I even wrote an article about it and sold THAT to a cloth doll magazine. But that's it. I got it out of my system. No more upholstery fabric and no more dolls. Only clothes. j.
justgail Intermediate IA USA Member since 1/19/06 Posts: 514	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/24/12 10:35 AM Notepad covers, cup wraps, fabric cups and boxes (either made of fabric or cups and boxes with fabric glued to them) for organizing, pet beds, are a few more things that come to mind. If you have some soft chenile samples, they could be used for a lap robe or quilt. I'd think it would be heavy enough that it would just need a backing and tied, batting would not be needed.
Sharon1952   Advanced MA USA Member since 7/1/08 Posts: 2643 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/24/12 10:40 AM I too received some samples a few years back. I made quilted vests and jackets out of them. My samples came in "families" that really went well together so I just used them all in a random patchwork of triangles or rectangles. Your patterns for the garments have to be simple and without major details because of the thickness, but they got lots of compliments. They do have to be dry cleaned though! I hand washed one and they bled and some shrank- it was a total loss! ------ Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness. ~Author Unknown
M.S. Intermediate Member since 3/6/09 Posts: 1137	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 3/24/12 10:58 AM Mom's church ladies make tote bags out of these for Lutheran World Relief. The LWR website has details. ------ Pfaff 138-6 Brother PQ1500S Necchi 4795 US Blindstitch 718-9 Kenmore 16644 Janome CoverPro 1000 Singer 201-2
psew   Advanced Beginner CA USA Member since 4/19/08 Posts: 290	Login to reply to this post In reply to pfaffkj << Like this post Date: 3/24/12 12:02 PM A coworker who knew that I sewed did the same by giving me all her old upholstery samples. Well, I had fun combining the samples to make grocery shopping bags. They make very sturdy bags ... I was inspired by the greenbag lady... this is the pattern I used for the bags. GreenBag Lady pattern I've also made zippered pouches, crayon holders, knitting needles holders,, etc.. have fun.
Chris Bryant   Intermediate VA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 210	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 3/25/12 11:21 AM I've been making pet beds for my SPCA for years with the stash of Home Dec I took about 5 years ago. I'm almost finished with it and will never be tempted again. I can't tell you how sick I am of that stuff, but the good news is that I use up bobbin thread that I don't have any good use for, because the pets don't really care about the colors. So, I suppose it had some positive attached to it, but I will never want to take any more, ever! Chris
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4378	Login to reply to this post In reply to pfaffkj << Like this post Date: 3/25/12 1:07 PM 50 years ago, my Brownie troop wove sit-upons out of newspaper strips. Now the Girl Scouts use fabric for their sit-upons. Your fabric samples would be perfect for that. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
schmammy   Intermediate TX USA Member since 12/5/06 Posts: 467	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/25/12 1:40 PM I have used upholstery fabric to make dog totes (like for carrying your small dog around). ------ Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet http://chihuahuaonmylap.blogspot.com/

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