Use Your Fabric Stash & Put Some Style on Your Table

This year I promised to talk about scrap busting and using up your/my over abundant stash of fabric.

I am discussing this very important topic because we want to be able to get more fabric one day soon right? 

There is a lot of pretty fabric in my studio but I don't always buy with a "quilt" in mind because.... well, fabric is just so pretty and I buy so much of it because the designers are so talented!  It is all their fault! LOL

 I end up with fabric that just sits and sits because it is so pretty and I don't want to cut into it.  I need to get these pretty princesses off their throne!!

​Is this sounding familiar to you?

So I will started with this fabric:

Pretty blue fabric with carrots, strawberries, some kind of bottle, apples, pears, hearts and a garden trowel on it.

Cute, nice colours and detail but it will never go into a quilt because it seems to belong in a kitchen sewing project.  I cannot tell you when, where or for what purpose I bought it? It is 42" (1.06m) of pretty fabric just lally gaggin' about on my shelf in my studio.  
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So what to do with it? Hmmm.......

Something for my kitchen but what?

The Question :

What to do with 42" (1.06m) of fabric and use it all up?

​What would you do?

The Answer:​

1) First get this out

It has been a long time since I have seen this little lady, last used in September 2016

2) Put on 2 spools of red -ish thread or any colour to match your fabric

3) Put the settings on 2 thread rolled hem
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​4) Cut my fabric up into 8- 14 x 14" squares (to max out the least waste and largest size I can get out of my 42" wide fabric)

5) Serged all edges of the squares with a 2 thread rolled hem and folded them into NAPKINS The quickest and easiest way to use up fabric!

6)*Important Tip*---Once you are finished serging all edges it is important to  FRAY CHECK the corners so that all of your serging does not come out and remains un frayed and intact.

FRAY CHECK is a product that is also useful for applique, embroidery and for sewing applications where there is a fraying concern.  You need just a droplet on the corners, a little goes a long way and  it is simply wonderful!

See photo of this recommended product below or purchase it here

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7) Set Your Table!

With Placemats I was given as a gift, they go very nicely!

7) Be satisfied with the knowledge that paper napkins will not be necessary this year as these cotton ones can be washed and washed!  They do not make for extra washing as they take up very little space in the weekly washing. You can make them for all seasons and change it up your dinner table.  As they say variety is the spice of life!

Making napkins is "Fat Quarter Friendly"

Consider using up some of those beautiful fat quarters you have laying about that you bought because they were pretty and you had no project in mind for them. You will have a variety of pretty napkins!

Don't have a serger? No Worries use your sewing machine straight stitches. Check out this great tutorial and link entitled  DIY Dinner Napkins with Mitered Corners by Lindsay Conner 

Have a party and make cloth napkins!

In September we hosted a bridal shower for my daughter and she wanted a vintage inspired theme.  We made napkins for each table and each table was set with one of the colour of napkins below:

Katie's Bridal Shower Napkins

We had to make 60 of these napkins and that's a lot on my own so my good friend Linda offered to help and we  made it into an opportunity to socialize.  So much fun! 

Can't you just imagine making a stash of napkins?  

​Your next party can be colourful and environmentally conscious!

 Avoid the paper napkins in 2017, save trees, money and the environment by using up your pretty fabric stash and put some style on your table!

Happy Tuesday!👍