ebrillblaiddes
Beginner
TX USA
Member since 5/15/10
Posts: 62 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/22/10 9:21 PM Let me preface this by saying I was raised in economic circumstances where we went through phases of having almost nothing, so that undoubtedly colors my opinion on this particular subject.
That said...
I have a jacket pattern, McCall's 5763. There will be a FBA, because I want to be able to button it up, and because I haven't done one of those before, I'm planning to make a muslin. I have the material (two-dollar muslin bought on dollar-off day at Hancock), but I'm starting to worry about something...what do you do with the muslin after you're done with it? It seems wrong to just throw it away--it's still perfectly good fabric after all. If it were for a regular shirt pattern, I could see bleaching it and trying to pass it off as a regular white shirt, but I'm not seeing that working for this one.
Should I...
Cut it up for pocket lining?
Tie dye it for patchwork or a pattern that uses small pieces?
Shred it for pillow stuffing?
Mail it to my cousin (we're about the same size) so she can see if it fits her, and then talk her into spending her clothes budget on fabric for me to play with?
Cut it into strips for rag rugs?
Burn it according to ancient and honorable traditions as a sacrifice to the Great Powers of Fitting?
I don't think I can start cutting until I have this moral dilemma cleared up. Please help! |
misschris
AUSTRALIA
Member since 2/3/06
Posts: 1328 |
Login to reply to this post
In reply to ebrillblaiddes
Date: 5/22/10 10:42 PM I never make a muslin to the point where it's wearable, so dying/giving away/swapping is not an option for me. I see a muslin as a rough draft just to tweak the fit, no buttons, zips, etc.
Depending on the quality and/or type of fabric, it might get used for dogbed stuffing, purse or bag lining, patchwork or dolls clothes. Big pieces may get used as a muslin for smaller items, eg a shirt back muslin used for a sleeve.
I understand where you are coming from economically, but look at the cost of the muslin as part of the whole garment. If you don't spend that few dollars, you may be wasting all the money you spent on the garment fabric if it's not wearable. ------
chris
Melbourne
|
Vintage Joan
Intermediate
Member since 7/16/07
Posts: 9248 |
Login to reply to this post
In reply to ebrillblaiddes
Date: 5/22/10 11:02 PM Quote:
Should I...
Cut it up for pocket lining?
Tie dye it for patchwork or a pattern that uses small pieces?
Shred it for pillow stuffing?
Mail it to my cousin (we're about the same size) so she can see if it fits her, and then talk her into spending her clothes budget on fabric for me to play with?
Cut it into strips for rag rugs?
Any of the above -- or maybe use it for scraps for testing out techniques or whatever?
There are at least a couple of threads here about clever ways to use up bits and pieces of fabric -- enter the word "scraps" into the search box in the corner (choose "board" from the drop-down list of what to search).
------
my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
http://clearingclearing.weebly.com/ |
JillyBe
Intermediate
CA USA
Member since 1/20/10
Posts: 3194 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/22/10 11:09 PM I can relate to the economic background as well, and I never would have DREAMED of making a muslin in the past.
So far, all I'm using are old sheets; the muslins are their 3rd incarnation (#2 was drop cloths & dust covers during painting/construction) so once they've lived out their useful life as muslins, they'll become rags or stuffing for something. Or maybe, if they're wearable enough, gardening or messy-work clothes. ------
http://jillybejoyful.blogspot.com/
a blog about creativity, sewing, vintage sewing machines, and...... life :) |
Debbie Cook
USA
Member since 4/11/02
Posts: 9587 |
Login to reply to this post
In reply to ebrillblaiddes
Date: 5/22/10 11:31 PM Quote:
Burn it according to ancient and honorable traditions as a sacrifice to the Great Powers of Fitting?
I vote this one! 
I usually just toss 'em with no guilt. I use very cheap muslin and it's not worth using for anything else. I bought it specifically to make fitting muslins so once that's been done, its life is over. Its purpose has been realized.------
--
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com |
dfr2010
 
Advanced Beginner
TN USA
Member since 3/27/10
Posts: 1776 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/22/10 11:33 PM I've picked up a couple patterns for bags and totes ... the ones with pockets have enough small pieces to "repurpose" muslins and scraps, I think ...
This will be after I let my mom, a quilter, go through the scraps first. ------
I don't really make mistakes ... I create "learning opportunities"! Murphy says: The better you match the thread to the fabric, the more likely you will need to rip some stitches out! I spend more quality time with my seamripper than I like ...
Yes, I DO love fabric!!
Happy owner of a band of Brothers: LX-3125, CS-770, CE5500 PRW, a PE-770 emb ... and now Kenmore 158.18032 and 148.12190
Blogging my "learning opportunites" at http://sewingmissadventure.blogspot.com/ |
tourist
Intermediate
BC CANADA
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 5423 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/23/10 10:54 AM I always vote fore re-using things that can be re-used, but have learned to toss some bits of fabric that in the past I would have saved. Check with your local thrift stores because they may recycle fabric that can't be sold as rags or for mattress stuffing etc. I did use one very large muslin (dress with a full skirt that I had intended to use as a nightgown, but decided it was not worth the work) as a bag to collect all my fabric scraps to take in for recycling.
And there are trillions of uses for small bits of muslin - do have a search on the boards. Loads of creative people here!
ETA - I am currently using old sheets given by a family friend and they have such a strong smell of scented detergent and fabric softener there is no chance I will ever use them for anything I want to keep. Plus this was an older, very frugal person who used them so they are practically see-thru. No guilt at all tossing those.
-- Edited on 5/23/10 10:57 AM -- ------
http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown. |
ElizabethDee
Advanced Beginner
NY USA
Member since 12/27/06
Posts: 709 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/23/10 11:09 AM I hear you on using something to death too.
I vote with the others who have said to consider the muslin part of the process of making the jacket.
Let me add something else.
Use the sewn muslin up. I have become a huge, huge fan of muslins in the last year. I write on them with permanent markers, I take them apart and use them as the pattern pieces, I mark seam and sometimes grain lines on them. I cut them apart sometimes.
I wouldn't send a muslin away because I would probably use it as a reference for another garment later. (What if you want to make the jacket again and change the collar? the sleeve? etc.)
That used muslin is valuable!
|
sky
Advanced Beginner
CA USA
Member since 12/4/03
Posts: 500 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/23/10 12:09 PM I have a hard time just throwing my muslins away too, not really for the cost, but for the physical waste (although maybe cotton decomposed fairly quickly). I save any large pieces in a bag to recut smaller pieces for future muslins.
I'll have to keep Elizabeth's thoughts in mind though about using it for a reference later--especially if I start drafting some of my own or finding standard pockets or collars that I want to use for multiple garments..
|
sewsally
Intermediate
WA USA
Member since 8/18/02
Posts: 1200 |
Login to reply to this post
Date: 5/23/10 1:15 PM We take our muslins to sewing class or an ASG meeting so others can try it on to see if they like the pattern. |
|Login|Help]
Printable Version
