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TEDDY FINAL RASTERAsset 3.webp

The Joy of Scrappy Sewing


A handmade cloth teddy bear with golden swirls and a teal bow peeks out from beneath a vibrant array of rainbow-coloured fabric scraps, capturing the joyful, personal essence of scrappy sewing and the beauty found in every leftover piece.

By Sandi, your stitching soulmate at Family Comforts


A Treasure Trove in Every Scrap

There’s something truly magical about digging into your scrap basket, like uncovering forgotten treasures in a patchwork time capsule. A tiny triangle from a beloved quilt. A floral strip that once edged your favourite bag. Even the smallest offcut can bring back a memory or spark a new idea.


Meaning in the Making

This month, I’ve been embracing the joy of scrappy sewing, not just for the fun of it, but for the meaning stitched into every piece. Using up fabric scraps is sustainable, yes, but it’s also deeply personal. Every stitch becomes part of your story, woven with love and a little bit of history.


A whimsical row of handmade cloth animals—a teddy bear, rabbit, cat, and owl—each adorned with art deco swirls, teal accents, and floral details. Set against a lively patterned backdrop, the image reflects the playful, personal spirit of sewing with scraps and celebrating handcrafted character.

Creative Freedom with Every Scrappy Sewing Stitch

One of my favourite things about working with scraps is how freeing it feels. There are no rules, just colour, shape, texture, and instinct. You can play. You can experiment. You can let go of perfection and enjoy the process. It’s like giving yourself permission to breathe again at the sewing machine.


Inspired by “Use & Ornament”

If you’ve been following along on Sewing Street, you’ll know I recently shared a book that’s had a big impact on me: “Use & Ornament” by Nicholas Ball. It’s a celebration of improv quilting and the beauty of working with what you have. It reminded me that we don’t need to wait for the perfect project or buy new materials to make something meaningful. Sometimes, what we need most is already right in front of us—in that box of scraps, in the soft edges of worn fabrics, in the memories they hold.


An image showing two panels from Use and Ornament by Nicholas Ball. On the left, a pink cover features the title “Cheshire Puss” in bold, colourful patchwork letters arranged vertically, with the subtitle “A quilt that speaks” in smaller text. On the right, a quilt hangs in a gallery space, composed of vibrant, improvised letters in multiple colours and fabrics set against a rich pink and red background. The quilt spells out a whimsical and chaotic phrase, visually celebrating expressive, text-based improv quilting.
Exerpt from the Book: Use and Ornament by Nick Ball

Try It Yourself

So this month, I invite you to dive into your scrap pile and see what magic is waiting. Stitch up something small, something joyful, like this month’s mug mat freebie—and let your creativity shine.

Because in the end, scrappy sewing isn’t just about fabric, it’s about freedom.


Scrappy Tip

Sort your scraps by colour, and store tiny favourites in a jar on your sewing table. It turns into a mini rainbow of inspiration, and who doesn’t love a rainbow?


A handcrafted cloth teddy bear with golden swirls and a teal bow sits beneath a rainbow arc made of colourful fabric strips. Surrounded by sewing notions, the image celebrates the joy and creativity of scrappy sewing, turning leftovers into a cheerful spectrum of inspiration.

Quote to Stitch By

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.”– Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 
 
 

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